Celebrating Algonquin’s Iron Men and Women

Posted on Monday, March 9th, 2015

It takes courage to challenge yourself to do something that most human beings would never dream of doing, but at Algonquin College there is a collection of faculty and staff that are determined to push themselves to the limit. Trekking through a 150 kilometre snow trail on a bicycle is an extreme test of endurance. In fact, Outdoor Adventure Technician, Cam Dube, had tried it once before when he registered in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Ultra race, but he had to drop out about 40 kilometres through because of frigid temperatures that resulted in frostbite to both his fingers and toes. He learned from that experience and was determined more than ever to complete the race, setting a goal of finishing within 30 hours. He did much better, crossing the finish line in just over 19 hours. Business, Technology and Outdoor Training Department Chair, Murray Kyte, has run a few marathons in his lifetime, but he has rarely strapped on a pair of cross country skis. When he was challenged by some friends to participate in the world famous Vassaloppet race in Sweden, he couldn’t say no. He trained for several months and completed the 90 kilometer race in just over eleven hours. When she was in university, Environmental Technician Coordinator, Sarah Hall, was a competitive swimmer. Winning short sprint races in a pool is very different than swimming in an ocean, but in the summer of 2014, Hall was driven to help raise money for a charity that helps critically ill children when she participated in the “Big Swim.” Hall will do it again this coming summer, as she swims the 15 kilometres across the Northumberland Strait, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. And then there is Ben Shillington, a skills instructor in the Outdoor Adventure program, that is the ultimate warrior. Shillington has tackled the most extreme winter conditions on several expeditions including a 300 kilometer ski trek across Lake Winnipeg in the darkest days of winter. He has led an 11,000 kilometre, four-month long mountain biking expedition through Istanbul, Turkey to Beijing, China and he once biked solo across Canada in 27 days. In between expeditions, Shillington has found time to write a book on winter camping while he plans his next great adventure. There are others at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus who are planning personal endurance tests, prepared to face the aches and pains that come from these human challenges, but willing to do it for the personal satisfaction of knowing they have knocked one more thing off of their “bucket list.” What’s your “iron man/iron woman” story? Please share. Posted by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

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