"Courage + believe = life"

John Challis, the teenager from western PA who became nationally known the past few months, died of liver and lung cancer Tuesday afternoon at his family's home in Freedom Township. He was only 18, but he passed away with a sense of accomplishment.

John's story is truly inspirational. He had an amazing way of looking at the world and was able to touch so many people and change their perspective on life. I wrote about him a few times earlier this year after seeing him on TV at a Penguins game. He was an amazing young man and his story touched my heart. Hopefully he has touched yours as well.

"Life ain't about how many breaths you take. It's what you do with those breaths" - John Challis

Mighty or Mousey?

Did anyone else read this article, Couch Mouse to Mr. Mighty by Pills Alone ? The idea of a normal, healthy person popping GW1516 so they don' t have to get off the couch and workout is about as silly as a mouse who is dresses like Superman and has super powers which allow him to fly and defend the world from crime and disruption. Seriously people?!?!?

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To be honest, I actually love the idea of mighty mouse, he's just so cute! But the idea of GW1516 or Aicar for use other than to help individuals in poor health (i.e. diabetes), I don't like so much.

Now if science could just redirect focus to engineering real life mighty mice to help stop the evil in the world, well, that would just seem like better use of their time. But that's just my opinion, I suppose. I guess some people might not like millions of flying mice with bulging muscles and capes defending us from crime. oh well.

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Btw, the runner chick still alive! muhahahahaha! ...She's a bit more tan these days and still only running a few days a week on a bum leg. However, I'm happy to report, that she has continued to work hard to strengthen her own muscles the natural way ....and hasn't resorted to pill popping at this point (thank goodness!).

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have a great weekend!!!

Afghan Female Olympian Missing

I know this is last week's news, but I'm just catching up to speed. I wanted to share this story with anyone who also maybe missed it last week or who is just interested in how it continues to develop. It saddens me when I realize that we still live in a world where not all female athletes are supported and encouraged to excel in sports and take pride in such accomplishments.

Mehboba Ahdyar, a 19-year-old track runner who competes in the 800 and 1,500 meters disappeared from the training center she was staying at last week. Her luggage and passport were gone and rumor has it that she is seeking asylum in Norway. She had been training on an International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship. The IOC scholarship program assists athletes from smaller, under -developed nations.

With the 2008 Summer Olympics less than a month away, it seems as though there is little hope of her participation this year. The Afghan Olympic body, Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti, said Ahdyar had suffered a leg injury and was receiving treatment in Italy. The linked article quotes Sayed Mahmoud Zia Dashti saying, "I can confirm that she has injured her leg and that she has will not participate in the Beijing Olympics and that her family in Italy is taking care of her,". However as of last week, no one had heard directly from Mehboba Ahdyar as to her where abouts.

This more recent article states that Mehboba Ahdyar has been in contact with her family she in formed them that she was seeking asylum because of fears for her life. She has received death threats on her mobile phone from Muslim extremists who object to a Muslim woman participating in sports. The article further reads that "...earlier this year, her neighbors called the police, claiming she was a prostitute -- a charge that landed her father in jail until the matter was cleared up."

And to add another twist, I found this article which states that her parents are "reportedly" under pressure from members of the Afghan Olympic Committee who are telling them that they risk being thrown in jail if Mehboba does not come back to participate in the games.

This sounds like an awful situation and my heart just breaks for this poor young girl and her family. Being able to represent your country in the Olympics should be a joyous event for everyone, but this is clearly not a joyous experience for Mehboba and her famly.

So you won't be an Olympian

Here's the e-mail Kathryn Bertine sent her supporters today:

My Dear Friends and Readers,

While I do not want to give away the ending of the article, I will say this: I am preparing to represent St.Kitts and Nevis at the World Championships in Varese, Italy this September. Tnities. ESPN thought this E-ticket series might make an interesting article or two. Not thirteen...and maybe more. I hawo years ago, when I started this Olympic quest, I never would have guessed my life would see such incredible opportuve not one regret, one inkling of disappointment.

www.espn.com (Just click on E-ticket or put my name in the search engine)

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who wrote to me, for all of you who cheered me on, and even to those who didn't...you motivated me in equal measure. The kindness and encouragement of strangers was more than I ever imagined. Coming home from a long day of training or a difficult race, it was truly a gift to turn on my computer and have supportive emails pour in from all over the world. Now and then there were some not-so-supportive emails, but the random marriage proposals definitely made up for it! :) Thanks, guys. You're awesome.

In addition to racing, I'll be working on the manuscript of this book for the next six months, which ESPN/Random House will publish in March 2009. At the moment the working title is So You Wanna Be an Olympian? but it will change when we think of something better. Any ideas are welcome. If my editor uses your suggestion, I'll give you more Sport Beans than you could ever digest. :)

Also, a lot of you have written to inquire about St. Kitts and Nevis...

I will be doing The Nevis Independence Day Cycling Road Race on September 6-7. www.neviscycleclub.com There are two events; a 60 mi Road Race and a 20K two person Team Time Trial. If you would like to come down to wonderful Nevis and partake in the race (or just have a super vacation), please let me know. Winston and I are planning to put on a cycling clinic/camp, beginners to experts welcome. This is one of my chances to "give back" and I am so excited to help the SKN cycling federation grow. If you are interested in ordering a SKN Cycling Federation team kit and/or tee shirt, we're getting ready to take orders...all proceeds to benefit the SKNCF. Will keep you posted! Please forward to your favorite cyclists and tropical island enthusiasts.

Have a wonderful summer and thank you again for all your kindness and support. See you in London 2012. ;)

March forth,

Kathryn

KB's 2008 Race Calendar

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic: July 3-6 Fitchburg, MA

Various Arizona races: August Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff

US 100K Classic: September 1 Atlanta, GA

Nevis Independence Day Road Race: September 6-7 Nevis, West Indies

World Cycling Championships: September 24-27 Varese, Italy

Looks like she will not be representing St. Kitts and Nevis in Beijing, but making the team to represent then in the World Championships isn't half bad. Either way, I think her story lasted longer than most people thought it would, which is fantastic.

PS: In Olympic track and Field news, did anyone see Marshevet Hooker fall over the finish line of the Women's 200m finals yesterday? Unbelieveable! Just shows how anything can happen. You can be as prepared as ever but there are so many other uncontrolable factors. At least in Marshevet's case, fate worked in her favor.

You just never know

I came across the news this morning that yet another tragic incident occurred during an endurance event over the weekend. A Des Moines businessman, Jim Goodman, 46, died during the swim segment of the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des Moines, Iowa. He signaled for help during his 1500 m swim in Blue Heron Lake, however the "22 lifeguards, five Jet Skis, 12 kayaks and five boats on site at the Hy-Vee Triathlon" were not able to reach him in time. Jim was a mere 150m from the finish of the swim.

Jim's story, similar to the other unfortunate and untimely deaths of endurance athletes we've seen in the news recently, must remind us of a need to take caution when pushing ourselves to our max and also to look out for one another. Stories like this also should make us take a moment to appreciate our own hard work in our lives and give necessary credit to ourselves and to those around us who continue to support and motivate us.

The article indicates that Jim's death was not due to drowning. Further, as reported by his brother, (Jim) "was an avid runner and good swimmer". The article does not specifically indicate the cause of death (as his family and officials still await autopsy results). Jim was the father of three young girls, Natalie, 11; Ellie, 7; and Rubie, 3 and also leaves behind his wife, Lisa.

Is it just me, or has there been an increase in the frequency of such fatal outcomes at endurance events? Is it just the fact that we're simply hearing about it more or are there other similar factors involved here? After doing some googling on the subject, I happened upon this intersting article, "Are Endurance Sports Good for You?", which then led me to this blog, V-Tach which accounts one endurance athlete's struggle to work with his own Acquired Arrhythmia. Both the article and the V-Tach blog are interesting (and relative) in that they explore research relating increased endurance training to the actual deterioration of one's heart. Sounds backwards, right?

Has anyone else read interesting articles/research on this topic? I'd be intersted to hear more about it.