Stettler’s running senior Bridie Forde continues to shine as she won six gold medals at the Canadian Seniors’ Games held Aug. 24 to 28 in Brockville, Ontario.
Competing in the division for ladies 65-years-and-over, she individually finished first in the 10-kilometer road race as only competitor in her class.
She also won top spot in 3,000-meter race, 1,500-meter race, 800-meter race and 400-meter race, while on the Alberta team that won the ladies 4-X 100-meter relay race.
“It’s not really about the medals, it about the lifestyle – about participating,” said Forde, 66 years young.
Competing in her third Canadian Seniors Games, she qualified for the recent national games as the Alberta representative after she qualified at the 2009 Alberta 55-Plus Summer Games.
Running in the 10K road race was particularly challenging for her.
“It took me one hour to complete and the weather was hot and humid,” said Forde.
Temperatures during the games were in the mid to upper 30s Celsius.
Running in events for almost 30 years, she has turned this lifestyle and passion into a family affair with her husband Jim as her coach.
Her son, daughter and their spouses and grandchildren as young as four years old often join her on the course, even just for a short stretch of the distance.
“It’s nice to do it as a family,” said Forde.
Over the years, she has competed at the World Masters Games in 2005, marathons, half-marathons, 10K runs and participating more now in cross -country events.
She won gold as the Five Peaks cross-country run in Canmore on Sept. 18.
While at the Canadian Seniors Games, she was inspired by older seniors as one 79-year-old woman competed in running and a 90-year-old woman from Hanna threw the javelin.
“It gets people out and moving,” said Forde.
While she doesn’t run every day, she also competes in cross-country skiing events.