Sunday, October 28, 2018

Indivisible opened in 830 theaters across the USA this weekend

Last year in June I was in California at a studio ranch outside Hollywood for two weeks acting the part of a US Army soldier in the movie INDIVISIBLE. A lot of energy and sweat went into those days on set running around in full US Army body armor climbing in and out of Humvees. Sometimes explosions went off around us as we did this. You can read more detail about my experience including the miraculous way I was able to be involved in this in a blog I wrote back in July of 2017 HERE. It released at 830 theaters this weekend across the USA and debuted just outside the top-10 at number 13, below the new Rowan Atkinson release, 'Johnny English Strikes Again'. On the 'Tomatometer' presently it's 95% liked by audiences and 69% Fresh (Check here TOMATOMETER). Overall INDIVISIBLE is getting good reviews. I was able to see an early preview in an online screening and was amazed at how the production turned out. Even though I was on set for many of the scenes that were to have taken place in Iraq 2007, and could remember what was going on behind the scenes, I found myself emotionally caught up and moved by the film. Sarah Drew and Justin Bruening do a powerful job portraying the main characters Darren and Heather Turner. All the supporting cast are strong too, including Skye P. Marshall who plays Sgt Shonda Peterson. The director David Evans doesn't shy away from showing the raw realities of a war zone. He takes you into this Army chaplain's emotional ride as he deals with the suffering and loss of his brother's in arms - how it changes him while he's there and when he returns home.

I felt passionate about being involved with this production because I've had friends who have struggled with post traumatic stress (PTSD) due to what they've experienced on deployments with the military. INDIVISIBLE offers hope to those who are struggling in this way showing that healing and reconciliation is possible.


(Above, next to Humvees, My 2002 Pontiac Montana van with Syrian license plates - insurgent vehicle)

I had such a great working experience on INDIVISIBLE I'd do another film like it again in a heartbeat.

If you haven't seen it yet in USA theaters, please do. It opens in Australia November 2nd. Find out more about the movie here:INDIVISIBLE

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Photo opportunity saves trail runner from bear encounter

I was on my usual long mountain run on Saturday morning following the steep, winding, logging road up Cumberland Mountain, when I was overcome by the beauty of the view below. As I gazed out at the fir-tree forests, and beyond that, the Georgia Strait, separating Vancouver Island from the mainland, and the Rocky Mountains silhouetted across the horizon in the early morning sun, I felt I just had to take a photo. I stopped near the summit to remove my smart phone from my backpack, powered it up, aligned the view finder, and took the best shot.

When I turned around to take another photo of the trail ahead, I spotted a black bear, not too far off. It was eating ripe black berries from the bushes at the side of the logging road. I took a shot of it too, and then, quietly, I backed away, moving down the steep hill I had just run up, thinking, "If I hadn't stopped to take that photo I would've had a close encounter with a black bear."
Since I was up at the summit so early, there weren't other bikers or trail runners around. I descended the mountain the same way I had come, quickly, hoping that the bear was not alerted to my presence. I checked over my shoulder a couple of times to make sure that I wasn't being followed. I was relieved when I got back to the lower trails where there were plenty of bikers and dog walkers.
Since 2015 I have been running the Cumberland Mountain trail system. I had seen posters with cougar and bear warnings, but had never had an encounter or even spotted one. I had seen evidence of them like tracks and dung. My only other encounters with bears while on trail runs were on the Pipe Line Trail north of the Stotan Falls bridge, and the Cape Scott Park trail on northern Vancouver Island. In those incidences I was making enough noise that they knew I was there, and they took off.

The best way to avoid bear encounters while trail running:

- Make noise; sing, shout, wear bear bells.
- Use trails frequented by dog walkers (dogs mark their territory).
- Avoid trails where berries are ripe.

Wednesday, January 03, 2018

Celebrated 50th birthday with a 50 mile run

To celebrate my 50th birthday I planned to run 50 miles on a 10km circuit route (8 x 10kms) nearby in Comox, B.C.. With 216 feet of elevation gain per loop I would end up with a total of 2,777 feet elevation gain. I hadn't considered that ice and snow would be a problem since the temperatures at sea level on Vancouver Island are usually mild mid winter. However, as the day drew near for the run a high pressure weather system moved over much of Canada producing record low temperatures east of the Rockies. The day before my planned running date, my birthday, December 31st, snow fell, and black ice became a problem on several sections of the route. To finish before the sunset I would have to start before the sunrise. This meant I had to wear a head-lamp. I wondered how I would navigate the snow and black ice with a head-lamp for over two hours. I would have to be cautious.

Near 5 a.m. I set off running alone from my self-serve aid station at Point Holmes, heading west along a coastal trail that wound along beside the beach. Snow fell, flashing in front of me in the brightness of the head-lamp. Heading up the edge of Lazo Road, I could see ahead about 4-5 metres, and dropped back the pace when I encountered black ice. Once onto the sidewalks on Guthrie Road I was out of the woods and had much better visibility. There were some good climbs coming up Guthrie and Pritchard Roads that took some work. At the top I was encouraged by the thought that when I switched directions for my next loop after my aid station I would be coming down the same hills. I had to take things cautiously in the dark on Knight Road as there were long sections of black ice and uneven patches of snow on its shoulders.

The sun came up on my third loop so I could take in the ocean and mountain views the route had to offer. Upon completion of this I was met at my aid station by my wife, Olivia, with a bacon and egg sandwich and veteran marathoner Ken Richardson who would pace me around to the halfway point. It was good to have someone to talk to, as this helped the miles to fly by. He gave me some advice on how to mentally move through the final 40kms. When we reached my aid station at the completion of this stage we were greeted with cheers by a group of members from the Comox Valley Road Runners. One of them asked me how long I had been training for the run and Ken Richardson answered them, "He's been training 50 years for this one." Before I left on the fifth loop though they sang "Happy Birthday" to me. They had a delicious spread of desserts and drinks laid out. I would've liked to stay longer with them to enjoy the tailgate party but I had to keep moving so my legs wouldn't cramp up.

To get through the second half of the 50 miles I mentally divided the remaining distance into aid station stops. With only two remaining, I felt a burst of energy and optimism. "I can do this," I thought. While running loop six I passed a tow truck pulling a 4x4 truck out of a ditch. It had spun off of Knight Road by Siefferts Farm Market. Black ice was still a problem in the shade. I had to be careful. Ken Richardson found me at my aid station as I was preparing to start the final 10km loop. Because he had an appointment at 4 p.m. he could only run with me for the first kilometer or so. Before turning around he encouraged me that I was in good shape to reach my goal.

With a great sense of joy and accomplishment, as the sun set over Mount Washington, I arrived at Point Holmes. I didn't realize how cold I had become until I got home and was helped into a warm bath by my wife. I went directly from there to a bed under three blankets. I turned on the room's electric heater (unusual for me). It took me a couple of hours to calm the chills.

SUPPLIES
Shoes: Altra Olympus 2
Drinks: Nuun, (Active, Boost)
Nutrition: Ensure protein drink, Mars chocolate bars, Cliff gels, bacon.