Most dedicated lead the way in CBS T’Railway Trek

By Craig Westcott

If you follow running in CBS, one of the more familiar faces you’ll see is that of Brittany Fitzgerald. That’s because she’s often the first woman to cross the finish line. An equally familiar face is that of Brian Caines, a top tier distance runner from Chamberlains who travels the island, and the world, competing in marathons and other long races.
Caines and Fitzgerald placed second in the men’s and women’s categories respectively in the CBS T’Railway Trek Half Marathon September 21 among a field of 400. And while neither one topped the leaderboard, they were justifiably satisfied with their performances. Because while both Fitzgerald and Caines are full of competitive spirit, for them running means so much more.
“The race was wonderful,” said Fitzgerald, a 38-year-old mom. “This was my first time doing the T’Railway race. I typically only run on the road and only race on the road, so I wasn’t sure how I was going to do with the majority of it being on the T’Railway.”
Fitzgerald didn’t run any races last year. A string of injuries and strains led to an eight-month lay off from pounding the pavement competitively.
“I needed some time off to stretch and strengthen,” she said. “It takes a toll. I have two small kids, I work full time, it’s pretty busy and I wasn’t doing all the things needed for the amount of mileage I was running. So, I compounded things and had some issues with my hamstring and my calf.”
Fitzgerald returned in style, winning the Soiree 8K road race in July, the third time she has been the fastest female in that event.
A highlight of this past race, she said, was the community spirit on display, especially the enthusiasm of volunteers and sponsors at the water stations along the trail, some of whom were dressed up colourfully to cheer on the runners.
“There was one I came upon, and they had some Newfoundland music playing and Newfoundland flags put alongside the trail, and that was really nice,” Fitzgerald said. “That gives you that extra little boost to keep going, along with a few high fives from the kids. I love that part, that’s what does it for me.”
Like many dedicated runners, Fitzgerald quickly grew to appreciate the sport’s mental as well as physical benefits.
“I found it really relaxing and meditative,” she said, describing how running felt when she started eight years ago after having her first son, Jake. “I love to be outside. I run for my brain and my body, and I just loved it. And once you start running, it’s hard to stop. You get used to all the good feelings from running, and it’s a nice break when you have two small kids when you get to go for a run by yourself. It’s a really nice treat.”
Fitzgerald runs eight to 10 kms about five days a week, usually early in the morning when it’s quiet and there’s little traffic. “It’s a very peaceful time for me,” she said. “My long runs I usually do on the weekend, and they vary from 15 to 25 (kms), depending on what I’m training for.”
After she had her second son, Owen, now four, Fitzgerald started training more consistently. She hadn’t expected to be good enough to be competitive.
“Not an ounce,” said Fitzgerald. “I had done a few small runs here and there throughout my life but had never entered a race or anything like that. But I think as you get older, life can be stressful with family and marriage and kids and full-time work and finding that time for myself became really important. And that drove the running. And then once I realized I was I kind of good at it, then I decided to start entering some races.”
Two weeks before the CBS trek, Fitzgerald placed third in the Uniformed Services Run, a very competitive half marathon in St. John’s. She was expecting to do good in the CBS.
“But when I saw Anne Johnstone on the starting line, I kind of knew I wasn’t going to take first from her,” said Fitzgerald, laughing. “She is a very seasoned Tely record holder, so I knew she was going to take first, but honestly, even winning second behind her is a win for me, because to hit the podium with that calibre of a runner is really, really awesome.”
After crossing the line, Fitzgerald congratulated Johnston then had to dash off to get her boys to soccer practice.
“Honestly, I’m really passionate about running and I love that no matter who’s doing it, you’re only doing it to beat yourself, to beat your own clock,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s wonderful, I love it, it’s my passion and I love every race I get to enter. I would have liked to bring home the gold for CBS, but maybe next year.”
For Caines, it was his second time in the T’Railway Trek. He ran the inaugural one last year, pushing a client and friend, Easter Seal Ambassador Brandon Bowen, in a hippocamp all terrain roller all the way. The pair have participated in two Tely 10s as well.
This time, Caines was on his own. He was beaten to the finish line by Vincent Dupont, a second-year student at Memorial University who hails from Montreal and is still in his 20s. Caines is 48. Even more remarkably, Caines had run the 22-km Damnable Train half marathon through muck and up and down hills just the day before on the Eastport Peninsula.
“He’s a very light, swift runner,” Caines said of Dupond, admiringly. “I was ahead of him for two miles and then we had a little chat when he passed me. I knew by the way he was breathing that he wasn’t labouring at all, and he just pulled ahead. It was good. I was happy. That was as hard as I could push following (the race) from the day before.”
Like Fitzgerald, Caines took up running later in life. He had played a lot of basketball and represented Newfoundland in the high jump in track and field at the Canada Games back in 2001, actually competing with his oldest brother and fellow CBSer Clifford Caines, a decathlete who had set multiple records in this province before moving to Manitoba for whom he won gold in the Canada Games. Caines’ younger brother Sheldon still has the Newfoundland record in the high jump.
“I enjoy this now,” said Caines. “I know that I will never be as fast at that gentleman who won the race, but I can get a minute or two faster over the next few years before my body, in my 50s, will slow down naturally. It happens to everybody.”
Caines likes challenging himself and studying the sport. His first distance race was in 2016, the fearsome Cape to Cabot, a 20 km skedaddle up steep hills and down plunging drops. He was 39.
“I was getting old and just felt like doing something new,” said Caines, who had arthroscopic surgery on his knees years ago for torn cartilage.
“I’ve done carpentry and I worked in Corrections in Manitoba and I worked in care facilities when I was in university, but outside of work I need something physical that’s draining and that I feel that I can grow at,” he said. “I find distance running is something I can constantly improve at. I get out of it what I put into it, so I’m still improving at 48. Running on gravel (in the T’Railway Trek) was about as good as I could have run at any age. I enjoy it… The trail slows you down because gravel steals about 10 seconds per mile because you’re slipping a little bit, but it’s more accessible for a lot of people to do it, because some people find the roads a lot harder on their bodies. And it was a beautiful day too, it was ideal conditions.”
By ideal, Caines was referring to 8 degrees Celsius and winds gusting to 50 kph.
“For a half marathon or marathon, that’s ideal, because you can push really hard and when you start feeling warm, the wind is taking the heat right off you,” Caines said.
Caines ran the Boston and Winnipeg marathons earlier this year, and two weeks before the T’Railway Trek he ran the 100-km Steep Ultra in Corner Brook. He’s never run the Kelligrews Soiree 8K, but he particularly enjoyed the T’Railway Trek because it took him on a trail that he runs nearly every day.
“It felt like I was in my own backyard,” Caines said. “It was awesome because you know visually what you are in for, you know the grade, you know the surroundings, and the community is really good. It’s really nice that they brought it back again this year.”