Martin Parnell

Benin Right To Play (RTP) staff members Marie-Josephine and Romeo, had asked me to hold a running session for their employees at the Cotonou office.

Each week, on a Wednesday morning, they do an exercise routine on the roof of the building but they wanted to add a “learn to run” session.

RTP director Robert Witchel, hockey star Caroline Ouellette, bobsledder Heather Moyse and I arrived early at the office and the first thing I did was give them a Running 101 tutorial.

We chatted about shoes, hydration and nutrition, then we hit the crazy streets of Cotonou.

Some had not come prepared for this endeavour. The open-toed sandals and three-inch heels could prove to be an issue. The plan was to walk four minutes and run one minute, for 30 minutes.

In Calgary, when you get to a crossing, the motorists are very good and stop for you.

This was not Calgary.

We all survived the 2.62-kilometre run and lived to run another day.

The objective is to do this once a week and hit five kilometre in 12 weeks. I made Romeo club captain and he will send me a weekly report.

We had two activities planned for the rest of the day. The first was tree planting. After cooling down and consuming several bottles of water, it was off to Houekegbo School and “Tree day.”

Kids in Benin check out Martin Parnell’s soccer skills at the Fidjrosse Sports field. Photo courtesy Martin Parnell

We arrived at the school and the first thing we did was a Right To Play game, then we dug holes and planted 20 trees around the perimeter of the play area.

After saying goodbye to the kids it was off to the Fidjrosse Sports field.

Travelling with Caroline and Heather had been a blast.

They had been helping me with my French and had been so supportive of the children we had met.

They asked me what I was planning to do after the Benin trip and I mentioned that I was trying to get on Mantracker television show with my buddy Roy. It just so happened that Mantracker is one of their favourite shows and they offered to do a video, in support of Roy and I making the show. If I can’t get on with the support of two Olympic gold medalists then I’m not sure what it’ll take.

That afternoon, we were to meet members of the Benin women’s soccer team. They particularly wanted to talk to Caroline and Heather about women in sport.

A practice session was already in progress when we arrived at at the Fidjrosse Sports field.

Heather and Caroline talked to the young women about their sports careers. I headed off and found a bunch of young kids with whom I kicked a soccer ball around.

After 20 minutes I was soaked in sweat and headed back to the group.

The Benin Running Club. Photo courtesy Martin Parnell

Romeo explained that the young women had told the two Olympians that girls who do sport in Benin are treated as outcasts. They’re expected to be at home doing chores, instead of following their dreams.

Even getting an education is seen as a luxury for girls past Grade 5.

Caroline and Heather told them that they were leaders of tomorrow and change will happen. I listened to this and realized how brave these young women were.

© 2011 Martin Parnell

mjparnell@shaw.ca

www.marathonquest250.com

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