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The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday O cto b e r 17, 2001 - A 3 Leslie A n n running for diabetics in A m ste rd a m M arathon Accountant went from novice to marathoner in just three years By Kathy Yanchus SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER tapered off her runs, reducing her distances and allowing her body to recover in preparation for Amsterdam. Currendy she runs up to four times a week a distance of 10K and one weekly 20K run. "I don't have high expectations. I want to fin ish. I suspect I'll be in the area of five and a half hours. People average about four. But I'm actu ally quite excited. During the 35K I felt great throughout the whole marathon. My food and insulin balance worked. I feel prepared." Fellow Team Diabetes members in this area, which include nine from Toronto and one from St. Catharines, have been in touch via e-mail but hope to meet before they board the plane on Oct. 18th, says Bent. In total there are 40 participants from Canada. With over two million Canadians affected by diabetes, and government spending to treat dia betes in the billions of dollars, Bent says aware ness is key. People need to understand the poten tial severity of diabetes, the complications that can arise and that insulin is not a cure, but allows sufferers to live a reasonably normal life. "We're doing some interesting research in Canada. The CDA supported 97 different research projects in Canada this year as well as provided support for people who have the dis ease and their families." It was the national organization Bent's fami Photo by Riziero Vertolli ly contacted for support immediately after her Leslie Ann Bent tests her blood sugar diagnosis and she has maintained volunteer ties before training with the CDA ever since. From door-to-door enough time to adjust mentally, complete the 16- collections as a child, to attending national youth week training program and adjust her insulin conferences and sitting as the provincial youth and diet to accommodate changes in her metab representative from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in her teens, to working at the nation olism as her distances increased. "It took me about 10 weeks to nail it down," al level as chair of the CDA's audit committee, she says, adding that she experienced some she has found it all "very rewarding." This opportunity to give back to the organi hypoglycemia. Used to between 7K and 9K runs in zation and help in the search for a cure proved duathlons, Bent completed her first long dis too tantalizing for Bent to pass up. "I don't think I would do a marathon if it was tance goal at the University of Guelph in April running 15K, her next step, participation in the just for me but doing it for the CDA and for all 2 IK Ottawa National Capital Half Marathon in my supporters, is an interesting way of going May. Her time, two hours and 50 minutes, was about it." After her goal is complete, Bent will contin "very slow" and from a diabetes perspective, was a "challenge but a necessary learning expe ue to run, not marathons, probably half rience" in her bid for success in Amsterdam. marathons because it's less of a time commit There, she plans to stop ever 10K to check her ment but still satisfying. "This time is just for me. I put my head blood sugar. Despite her busy travel schedule for phones on and run with the blues, Billie Accenture, the smog and heat of the summer Holliday...I definitely feel better." Anyone wanting more information about and continual management of her blood sugar levels, Bent managed to compete in several Team Diabetes Canada can do so by contacting duathlons as well as maintain her marathon www.diabetes.ca or by calling 1-800-BANTI training. Last month, she completed her longest NG. Bent says aside from running, there are also run to date, 35K, and also ran in the Toronto CDA teams that pursue mountain biking Scotiabank Half Marathon, shaving 18 minutes escapades and adventure racing. "Most people who get involved are not top off her time, and "felt great." Over the past couple of weeks, Bent has athletes, most are just like me." I t has been a life-altering journey, one that won't end until Leslie Ann Bent crosses the finish line of the 42K Amsterdam International Marathon on Sunday. That intoxicating moment will culminate a grueling year-long commitment for the 35-yearold Oakville accountant who three years ago couldn't run a block "without breathing heavi ly " Bent is not a professional athlete. Until three years ago, she wasn't even a jogger. Yet in mere days, she will be running a double loop course though the flat, historic streets of Amsterdam as she tries to complete her longest ever marathon. Always sports-minded and married to an avid athlete, she discovered duathlons, a combi nation of running and cycling, two years ago when she was newly arrived from Montreal. During a visit to The Running Room, she dis covered a brochure for the Canadian Diabetes Association's Team Diabetes, a unique combi nation of fund-raising and personal achieve ment. Once committed, participants must raise $5,500 for diabetes research that entitles them to participate in one of three international marathons, the others in Bermuda (November) and Rome (March 2002). "I've come a long way in the last three years," laughs the petite Bent, a Nova Scotia native and graduate of New Brunswick's Mount Allison University. Any initial reservations she had about such an "extraordinary" commitment have long since been squelched by her marked progress and stellar fund-raising efforts that have surpassed her expectations and tallied up to $8,500. "I didn't know how one individual could raise that kind of money," says Bent, who cred its her great support network of family, friends, colleagues and neighbors who propelled her over the top. As a Type 1 diabetic since the age of 10, Bent says she seemed like a good candidate for such an endeavour. "I thought who better to do something like this for diabetes. It's just a fantastic cause." Bent immediately immersed herself in the runner's world, voraciously reading about pac ing, form and training. She chose the October marathon because of its flat route, the cooler autumn temperatures plus she deemed a year Photo by Riziero Vertolli Leslie Ann Bent: ready to compete in Amsterdam marathon on Sunday W E N D Y 'S G R A N D O P E N IN G C E L E B R A TIO N SAT. OCTOBER 20 - SUM OCTOBER 21 You're invited to v is it us at 2304 Royal C elebrations. Balloons and face W in dso r Drive and join in our special Grand Opening painting fo r the kids w ill make it fun for the w ho le fam ily. Don't miss your chance to m eet W endy and enjoy a com plim entary Jr. Frosty dairy dessert. Experience the Quality, Variety and Value th a t have made W endy's famous. Enjoy the convenience of our Pick-up Window, open until Midnight Everyday. ROYAL WINDSOR DR. Dave Thomas; Founder of Wendy's " Q u a l i t y is o u r r e c i p e " 2304 ROYAL WINDSOR DR. ) 2001 Wendy's Restaurant's of Canada Inc. All rights reserved.