Finding her stride: Clementine’s journey from Peterborough to Acadia cross country

When I was a kid, I was always on the move.

I was born in Edmonton but grew up in Peterborough, Ontario.

In between, we lived in Windsor, Ontario and Cape Breton.

And when my parents did research abroad, I was also fortunate to spend time in Spain, Texas, and the UK.

I feel incredibly lucky to have had those experiences, but they also made me adaptable and adventurous, which is why I chose to come to Acadia.

It was just something I had to do.

I’ve been running since Grade 4, but there was a long time when I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to compete at the varsity level.

But I’ve never loved this sport more than I do now, and that’s 100% because of my teammates and coaches.

RUNNING THROUGH THE YEARS

I have to credit my dad for getting me into running.

In Grade 4, he convinced my brother and me to try out for cross country.

I wasn’t as naturally athletic as my siblings, so I was hesitant at first and had a lot of race anxiety as a kid.

But I ran for a few years on my school’s team, and what really made me fall in love with the sport was going on easy runs with my mom.

This allowed me to appreciate running as something fun and relaxing — as a way to improve my mental and physical health, not just compete with my peers.

That balance between slow, chatty runs with my friends and family and the energy and anxiety of race day is what first drew me to cross country and what keeps me coming back.

CHOOSING ACADIA

I always knew I wanted to come to the East Coast for university, but what brought me to Acadia was a combination of a few different factors.

One of my best friends from home always planned on coming here because her parents are alumni, and the prospect of having a familiar face with me made the move feel less daunting.

I was also drawn to Acadia because it’s a smaller school and community, which was different from most of the places I’ve lived in my life.

However, the welcoming atmosphere of the cross country team made the decision to come and compete for Acadia very easy.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to compete at the varsity level at first because I was worried running at a high level would heighten my stress around racing and generally make me fall out of love with the sport.

Once I got in touch with coach Ralph (Williams), I started to understand that I would not have to worry about this.

While the team is certainly competitive, my coaches are big on instilling a lifelong love of running into the athletes, and I can honestly say that I have never loved this sport as much as I do now.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A typical day looks like waking up bright and early for our morning run.

Usually, these are pretty slow and between 8 to 12 km.

While I’m not always thrilled about getting out of bed to run before the sun is even up, the morning run really sets the tone for the rest of the day and allows me to be more productive later on.

After the run, I head home to eat, shower, and grab a coffee before class.

I spend the rest of my morning in class and usually have either a class or lab in the afternoon as well.

After classes, I take some time to rest and see friends before getting some schoolwork done.

We often have a lift in the evening, and I kind of like it when I get to see my teammates and work out at the very beginning and very end of each day.

I think, for me, the key to balancing school, life, and running is to use my time training as a break for my brain and my time at school as a break for my body.

Not to say that running doesn’t require my brain, but it definitely helps me to decompress from school stress.

My teammates also help a lot with balancing everything by providing support and also proof that it is possible to do it all.

THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE

My dad is my biggest influence.

He ran when he was younger and has always been my biggest supporter and coach for as long as I’ve competed.

My relationship with my dad and with running will always be linked, and he will forever be the first person I call after a good race or a particularly tough workout.

My dad is tough, thoughtful, and smart and will always be ready with (extensively researched) advice about everything from race strategy to mileage.

I am incredibly lucky to have someone who understands, supports, and pays diligent attention to my running, and I would not be here without him.

THE MEANING OF THE ACADIA UNIFORM

To me, wearing the Acadia uniform connects me to my teammates and helps me to realize that although running seems to be a pretty solitary sport, we are all connected and running for something larger than ourselves.

My most memorable moments at Acadia so far have always had something to do with my teammates.

From race days to long runs to spectating other athlete events, the girls on the cross country team have made my experience incredible.

There is such a spirit of camaraderie and respect that exists among the team and Acadia Athletics as a whole, and it’s obvious at each and every race we run.

I love the small-town atmosphere and the “university town” aspect of it all.

Plus, the runs along the trail and down in the Gaspereau Valley are absolutely stunning.

RUNNING FOR LIFE

I hope people see that running is fun. And difficult.

And the fact that it’s difficult is what makes it fun.

In general, I think people tend to shy away from cross country because it’s so grueling, but it is incredibly rewarding, and I hope they are able to see that.

I want to improve as much as I can in running and in general.

I want to help build the cross country team and encourage others to run in competitive and non-competitive environments.

After Acadia, I want to move to either Montreal or Toronto and get my master’s in research psychology.

Long-term, I want to be able to run as much as I can for as long as I can and get a doctorate in psychology.

Our weekly student-athlete features share the stories of Axemen and Axewomen in their own words. From why they chose Acadia, to how they found their sport, to the people and moments that have shaped their journey, these first-person pieces highlight the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Acadia’s student-athletes on and off the field.