Jarvis Googoo

The 2023 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games (NSMSG) were held in Millbrook First Nation. The 5K (which is normally the only event that I do) was on a Friday (August 25). While the NSMSG returned in 2022 (in Potlotek First Nation), they were in late-July, and the 5K was the day before a Half Marathon that I already registered for. So I skipped last year’s 5K. The last time I did the NSMSG 5K was in 2019 in We’koqma’q.

On June 17, I did the Ulnooweg Summer Solstice 5K, and at the time, I set my then-personal best of 16:54. Months before that, there was some sort of 5K Canadian competition. A contact on The Social Media finished at a time of 15 minutes and some seconds. Michael-Lucien Bergeron commented to the effect, “Welcome to the sub 16 club.” After reading that, it became a goal to join that club too. I think it’s less than 1% of all runners who’ve done a 5K have finished it in under 16 minutes (based upon Run Repeat). About two weeks before the NSMSG, I read a news article about the CrossFit Games where the top winner was deemed the “fittest” person on Earth who did his 5K in 16:46. If I wasn’t going to hit sub 16:00 on this one, I vowed that I was going to at least beat the CrossFit Games record (which is 16:39).

My last race before the NSMSG 5K was a 21.1K that I did at the Nova Scotia Marathon, where I earned a personal best of 1:19:12. So I was feeling pretty good going into this one. Earlier in the week, I learned that the NSMSG 5K route was the same as the Summer Solstice. This was both welcoming and uneasy to find out. On the one hand, I just did it in June – things were fresh in my head. But that’s the thing; I knew the course, and it had several turns, two sharp turnarounds, gradual hills, and some dirt road. These were factors that would hurt my chances at breaking sub 16:00. I essentially had two months to work on knocking off a near minute and maintaining an absolute average minimum of a 3:12 pace. But like anything, I was giving it a shot and my best at the time.

The morning before the race, I did CORE, my shakeout, and some yoga. Hours later, I was elated to learn that Atlantic Chip was going to be timing the race. I shortened my lunch walk and practiced a bit more yoga over the noon hour. That night was my typical carb loading meal of spaghetti, protein garlic bread with cheese, chicken, and Gatorade. Although it was only a 5K (obviously shorter than the longer races that I do), I was going to be burning lots and tons of energy for those five kilometres. I didn’t get the best sleep as I was playing the course over and over in my head.

Friday morning, I had a breakfast of a Cliff bar (which I’ve grown to absolutely love), a banana, orange juice, oatmeal, and Gatorade. Kerri and I, along with Looloo and Eevee, then departed for Millbrook First Nation. Upon arrival, I got to see the Chief of my home community Chief Annie Daisley along with Rara and Pauline Gould (who was also of We’koqma’q and was going to do the 5K too) and briefly caught-up and chatted for a bit. I went to go get my race bib and did a 2.5K warm up. I started seeing some familiar Mi’kmaw runners and a few new ones. While the run was supposed to start for 9:00 a.m., it didn’t begin until 9:19 a.m. Actually not bad given I’ve done races that began much later than the scheduled time.

Before we started, I kept repeating to myself, “it’s a 3:12 pace for a sub 16:00. It’s only for five kilometres.” Once the horn went off, I blasted out but immediately came to a short panic. One young guy got ahead of me right away. It was kind of a surprise, and my first thought was, “Uh oh! I think I have some serious competition in this one.” But after about 150 or so metres, I took the lead and kept it.

Throughout this race, I was much smarter to run proper tangents. My advantage of having done the Summer Solstice 5K was that I knew what would delay my times and add to the distance. I kept it a sharp A to B point, didn’t run with the curve of the roads, and stayed as absolutely straight as possible.

In the first kilometre, it was uphill to Tower Road (with an eventual left). But once onto the turn for Glooscap Drive, it was going to be downhill. Remembering the Summer Solstice 5K, I told myself that I needed to maximize off of this as much as possible, because after the first sharp turnaround at Clinton Drive, the course brings me right back up, and it was going to be the longest (and thus, hardest) part of this race. I stayed with my tangents. This was also where I started seeing the other runners. I felt bad as one young boy tried to high-five me on the road. I appreciated it, but I needed to focus on a new personal best and every second counted.

As I was getting back onto Tower Road, my pace dropped slower than 3:12. I thought that I lost my sub 16:00 goal. But maybe I could at least earn a new personal best and beat that CrossFit Games 5K record. I was relieved that the only major steep hill was finished. Tower Road does have elevation, but it’s much less than trying to go up Glooscap Drive. I felt my 3:12 pace return and remembered to stay on tangents. Approaching the second and last sharp turnaround spot, I was mindful of the dirt road (as another runner slipped on it back in June). The course marshals offered me a bottle of water but I obviously declined.

Then I remembered something that was to my advantage; what goes up must come down. The hills were done. I dealt with enough gravity. Now it was time to utilize it, and to just push for the last two kilometres. While I knew that one really couldn’t “bank time” on a full marathon, maybe I could break that rule for a 5K and make-up for the non-3:12 pace from earlier for the rest of the race. So it wasn’t just about trying to stay on 3:12 anymore; it was about going faster than that. Glancing at my Garmin, it was showing paces at about 3:05 and 3:10, going back and forth between them.

Off of Tower Road and back onto Treaty Connector Road, folks were cheering. No time to celebrate. Race wasn’t over. Happy that I still had downhill, I took full advantage. There were three turns remaining in this short area. On the second last turn, my Garmin showed a 3:05. I said let’s make-up with – and cash-in on – that banked time. Maybe it evened out. But if anything, at the least it would be a new personal best. I never once looked at my entire time running (although it’s the largest digit on my Garmin).

Pushing and pushing, I made the last turn, and saw Troy Musseau had his arm extended for a high-five. Looking at the official timer, I saw 15 minutes and 50-something seconds. I couldn’t process anything. I high-fived Troy as I crossed and went into a fast walk. Congratulated by Kerri and others, I kept moving for a bit to cool down, but Looloo and Eevee were jumping and barking with excitement. I got down on the pavement so that my two baby girls could give their daddy celebratory kisses. I wasn’t on the ground for too long, as Troy returned and asked me how I thought I did. Still mentally fuzzy, I said that I think I did 16-something. He gave me my official time; 15:59, my first sub 16:00 finish by one second. I was floored. I honestly thought that I didn’t make it. I figured I’d earn a new personal best, but wouldn’t make it in under 16 minutes. Holding my head in bewilderment and walking in circles, I celebrated. I rarely do such a thing after any race – I don’t think I ever have – but I had to for this one. Not only did I beat the CrossFit Games 5K record, but more importantly, I joined some rare company; the sub 16:00 club.

After the good news, we started a cool down walk around the parking lot. Along the way, I was being congratulated for the finish and on the time. I went back to my car to hydrate with a post-race smoothie. Knowing that the medal ceremony wasn’t until that evening, I wanted to pose with something for a photo. So I got one done with my old school WW[F] Championship title, which was the first thing I bought with my Indian Day School settlement in 2021.

We went back to the finish area to cheer on the other runners. While running is – strictly speaking – a very individual sport, it’s the ultimate team one. The simple reason is that you’re always supporting and rooting for everyone else; no one gets booed in a race. You want every participant to make it, no matter their time. The finish area started to get more populated and louder as folks crossed the timing mat. One amazing and inspiring moment was a young girl (who maybe wasn’t even ten) complete the race. I’m certain that she must have received the loudest applause.

After a shower, Kerri and I and our two baby girls had a celebratory lunch at The Nook and Cranny. I was reflecting back on the race, and sharing where I found things challenging. Playing some of my running music on shuffle from my iPhone, I suddenly welled up. Hearts on Fire from Rocky IV played, and it reminded me of how emotional the 2022 Marine Corps Marathon was, as I did that one for Clint. I often think about how my friendship with him was akin to the one Rocky had with Apollo Creed. I’m also wondering if the new personal best that morning just made me more emotional.

After lunch and a good walk through Victoria Park, we returned to Kjipuktuk to drop off Looloo and Eevee and came back to Millbrook First Nation. We got an early evening dinner at Habaneros (I badly needed the protein and carbs) then made our way to the Pow wow grounds for the medal ceremony. We went to hang out at the Team We’koqma’q tent before going to the bleachers when things got underway. Before the medal ceremony, Trevor Gould (the Masters of Ceremonies) and Chief Bob Gloade shared some words about the NSMSG and how racism has no place in sport nor anywhere else. Everyone in attendance then participated in a round dance. The NSMSG is obviously many events, and the 5K medals were given out last. When it was time, they announced the top three overall male finishers and what our times were. I beamed with pride when I received my first gold medal from Chief Terry Paul (and Chief Bob). Chief Annie also made it to the ceremonies. Right after I got my medal, Trevor jokingly remarked that at 15:59, it wasn’t even close. After some photos on the podium, I congratulated the other two male runners Lochlann Pictou (second place) and Jonathan Julien (third place), both of Millbrook First Nation. Shortly thereafter, I received my second gold medal for my division finish.

Driving back to Kjipuktuk, I was talking to Kerri about how I’ve changed my running habits over the years (especially since September 2021). Of the many switches, I am now very selective about the races that I do and how often I do them. The NSMSG 5K is one that I try to prioritize. Even though it’s just two gold medals, it’s two gold medals for We’koqma’q First Nation. I always think of it as doing my part for the community that raised me.