Bloom [ Sports ] A Race Well Run February 2007

by Jacqueline Irwin
Images by Russell Byrne

Alison Boudreau surrounded herself with inspirational people to help reach her goals. Now she dedicates her time to teaching others to achieve balance and success in their lives.

Alison Boudreau began running when she was 16 due to the need to exercise her energetic dog. Although the dog was fit, Alison says she herself was fat, awkward, and uncoordinated. She found that her 25 minute run (or chase) connected her with nature. The daily routine of keeping up with her dog made her feel better and got her out of the house.

In the late 90s Alison, now a 20s-something, was making good money at Sun Microsystems. Then she discovered a running group at Rancho San Antonio, in Cupertino. Women in their 60s wearing purple shirts were running together, laughing, and having a great time while training for a marathon as part of a non-profit organization called Team in Training that raises money for cancer research.

She never saw those women again but will never forget that, even though she was much younger then they, at the end of the run they seemed fresh while she was exhausted. The experience completely changed her perspective.

Shortly after that encounter Alison signed up to take part in an effort to raise money for cancer research that succeeded in raising more than $50,000.

Shifting into High Gear
Through Team in Training she participated in a marathon and became a mentor during her second marathon that took place in Dublin, Ireland. Louie Bonpua spoke at Alison’s first event. The buzz of anticipation made Alison wonder what the hype was about.

Coach Wayne Spalding got the meeting started and warmed up the crowd. Alison described him as a marine built like a wrestler. Alison said that she felt out of place among the phenomenal athletes in that room. They all had “swag,” which Alison describes as any of a number of subtle clues announcing the presence of an elite athlete – such as a Deathride pin or an Ironman tattoo.

She wanted to escape but was determined to listen to Louie’s talk. He told how he was raised in the Philippines. As the oldest of nine children, Louie admitted that he had been full of himself – a ladies man, successful, and smart. Then at age 33 he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Louie explained that contracting cancer was the best thing that ever happened to him. He became a spokesperson for the Bone Marrow Registry in hopes of encouraging people of Philippine descent to register. Louie sought to dispel the Filipino cultural myth that giving something away in this life leaves the body incomplete upon death. He became a spokesperson proclaiming that it’s okay to save lives. He gave interviews on CBS and CNN among others.

Louie’s dying wish was to compete in Ironman Canada 2001.

This man who was so alive while in the process of dying inspired Alison. After Louie spoke, Alison knew what was special about the man and wanted to know more. She saw an opportunity when, at the conclusion of his speech, he announced that Iron Team was starting a third team and that he was going to join it. Alison knew how to run because she had just run a marathon, but she had never done an openwater swim, and didn’t even own a bike but decided that she had nothing to lose.

Alison decided to attend the meeting, knowing she had nothing to lose. She found the triathlon to be a challenge and vowed to make this her next goal.

Coach Wayne nominated her to be a mentor and PR person to help with fund raising while working with a team comprised of six athletes. She looked at the group of elite competitors who were like a bunch of little Lance Armstrongs. They, in turn, were sizing her up knowing that she had never done a triathlon in her life. She took on the challenge, however, realizing that it was a worthy and important cause.

Louie himself taught Alison to ride a bike. Louie’s health was failing. During the practices Alison and Louie were always peddling at the rear of the pack – she because of her inexperience and he because of his illness. Four days before the event he had a blood transfusion, but he was determined to compete.

On the morning of the event Alison awoke with a fever. Coach Wayne asked if it was in her chest and when she answered to the contrary he responded with, “You’re fine.” Alison joined the coach and Louie himself in being in denial about being sick. She knew that there were people who would kill to be at the starting line of that race.

The largest mass start in Ironman history with over 2000 participants began with a 2.4 mile swim that Alison completed in an hour and a half. When she got out of the water she made her way to the tent where four volunteers brushed her hair, helped her change into her biking gear, made sure that she dressed in the right equipment, and applied a healthy dose of sunscreen for what was sure to be a long afternoon in the sun.

The first 40 miles of the 112 mile bike ride were flat, followed by hilly terrain. Alison became overheated and started vomiting. She was mostly concerned about being sure to dismount before throwing-up. After cooling down she realized that she was dehydrated and knew she had to start refueling her body. A couple came by on a motorcycle and asked her how she was doing. They went and got her some ice.

Alison got back in the saddle and for the remainder of the ride she sipped Gatorade, and ate small chunks of ice, Clif Bars, and Power Bars. She deliberately maintained her fluid intake.

By mile 80 Alison had caught up to Louie! It was short-lived since Louie took off, and she never saw him again until the end of the race.

Alison was cruising the hills when at mile 95 Coach Wayne appeared at the top of a nearby rise shouting encouragement and warnings in his booming voice. She was nearing the cut-off time. “Kick it into high gear!” he commanded.

Alison had a fear of riding downhill, yet did not want to disappoint her coach. She recalls hitting a top speed of 48 miles per hour and made the cut-off time with two minutes to spare, allowing her to participate in the final leg of the race – the 26.2 mile run.

Once again Alison’s pit crew assisted in changing her gear and off she ran catching another glimpse of the couple on the motorcycle who shouted, “You go girl! You’re going to make it!”

Alison didn’t expect to make the cutoff time and when she began the run the shouts and cheers of the spectators drove her on. She began the marathon at dusk and by 10:00 p.m. was running in total darkness. There weren’t even reflectors on the road to guide her. Coach Wayne showed up on his mountain bike and barked out her strategy. He made her eat some beef stock and then he disappeared into the darkness.

The last half-mile of the race was out and back. Alison could hear the announcer shouting, “You’re an Ironman!” She was hearing the crowd cheering for Louie who made it across the finish line just under the midnight cut-off. Nine minutes later Alison, herself, crossed the finish line.

When Alison returned to work she made a life-changing discovery. No one in her office even knew what she had accomplished, or even what she had been attempting to do. Not long after that the dotcom bust happened. Alison, along with 8,000 other people in her company, was laid-off.

She recalls it as the happiest day of her life because it gave her the opportunity to take a look at herself and to take the necessary steps to get control of her career.

The Path to a Rewarding and Successful Career
Following her layoff Alison earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Psychology. Through her own experiences as a marathoner and triathlete, she became fascinated with how long-distance sports positively affect women’s personal and professional lives.

She researched a group of women who, before training for an event, were unsure of themselves and uncertain about their place in life. Alison found that these same women, when presented with the challenge of training and participating in long distance competitions had life-changing events in the form of alterations in attitudes and relationships.

Alison found that women experience empowerment through the movement of the body. An activated reinvigorated body leads to a renewed mind and spirit. Many of them exhibited a shift in body language. She was able to document the phenomenon through her research on two women. It’s well documented that sports help people mentally and physically, but what was this unconscious thing that takes place in the mind, body, and spirit without any deliberate intent that is a life changing phenomenon? Before Alison’s studies there was no literature on the subject.

Traditionally, women have multiple roles and are expected to take care of kids, family, and business whereas men are encouraged to focus on the success of their careers. Now women are beginning to invest time and energy to branch out from their traditional roles and to take care of themselves.

In her role as therapist, Alison dedicates herself to coaching extraordinary women to achieve life balance. She works with women from all walks of life, from Type-A over achievers to women who are introverts and unsure of themselves.

She helps women (and some male clients) devise a game plan for setting clear cut goals and creating a network of supporters to help achieve those goals. She aides her clients in creating a domino effect through improved time management, organization, goal-setting, problem-solving, relationships, leadership, and, of course, health and fitness.

Alison strives to help her clients learn to clarify and focus to attain achievement, success, increased income, personal and professional satisfaction, passion, and structure. She leads them in becoming more productive while facilitating life balance, behavioral understanding, alignment of lifestyle with life values, increased communication, and ease with decision making and moving forward.

Alison is a PhD candidate at Saybrook University in San Francisco and dedicates her spare time helping with the local running club BREW (Brentwood Runners, Everyone Welcome). In addition, she assists with the Brentwood Parks and Recreation Salsa Dance classes, she teaches Feng Shui 101, and Put Balance Into Your Life, a women’s workshop. Alison believes that as a local society we can help one another and finds it rewarding to be involved in our East County community.

Alison has only just started researching the body, mind, and spirit phenomenon that had never before been documented. She finds her job rewarding and enjoys benefiting her clients. She is hoping now that the awareness of the phenomenon can be carried beyond our national borders and include researchers and athletes around the world.

If you would like to make a donation or participate in a sport, log in to website: www.teamintraining.org.
And check out the current Iron Team at www.ironteam.net.°

Note: Louie Bonpua epitomized the Ironman spirit. Three days prior to carrying the Olympic torch he checked into the hospital. Because of his courage and zest for life, he was able to fulfill the honored position of torch bearer. Alison was able to visit him in the hospital and two hours later he was in a coma. Alison was the last person to have a conversation with Louie. Five days later, on Monday, January 22, 2002, at the age of 37, Louie passed away. He inspired Alison to dedicate herself to honoring the spirit by which he lived and has thus far raised nearly $600,000 for charity causes.