Michelle MacKinnon is committed to spreading the word about healthy living.
The Antigonish, N.S. schoolteacher is a founding member of the Antigonish Late Bloomers running club.
“It was just a group of ladies sitting around the staffroom table basically, and we just wanted to get fit,” says Michelle. “So we just started the Off The Couch to 5k Program and we just gathered hockey moms and any woman who wanted to come and join us.”
This is the 10th anniversary of the club, which runs together three nights a week with as many as 30 participants, who all credit Michelle for her inspiration and her commitment to the group.
“She's constantly there encouraging us, sending us messages to motivate us to get out, always has a smile on her face,” says club member Shannon Travers.
Some of the runners are new while others have been with the group from the beginning.
Each year, the goal is to get everyone fit enough to do a five-kilometre run by the end of summer.
The runners say Michelle has a way to make everyone in the group feel special and that she is a true ambassador for better health.
“She's constantly there to encourage the new members,” says club member Jenny Delaney. “She's one of the people that are always at the back of the group, encouraging the ones who are not quite as confident with the running, or just learning. So she's amazing.”
“This group has the social aspect, the health aspect, and also the camaraderie,” says Shannon. “We go within our limits, we support one another.”
While Michelle is grateful for all the praise, she is humble about her accomplishments.
“It's all on them, it's not really me. I just say, let's go and we go,” says Michelle.
Congratulations to Michelle MacKinnon, our Maritimer of the Week!
If you know someone deserving of our Maritimer of the Week award, we want to hear about it.
It doesn’t matter how old they are, the nature of the good deed they’ve done, or what part of the region they live in – we want your ideas!
Please send your nomination to:
maritimer@ctv.ca
or
Maritimer of the Week
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Halifax, N.S.
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