Janet Downer
Newmarket
September 02, 2008 11:03 AM
By: John Cudmore, Staff Writer
Don’t tell Janet Downer swimming lengths of a pool won’t get her anywhere.
The Newmarket resident, in fact, has two million reasons — two million metres, actually — to her credit since undertaking the Million Metre Challenge — a Masters Swimming Canada program designed to promote swimming for health and fitness — nearly three years ago.
Let’s face it, starting from scratch, two million of anything presents a significant challenge.
“You think it is going to take a long time to get to that level,” said the Pickering College teacher and librarian, who completed her first million metres in about 18 months.
“But it adds up in a hurry when you are swimming five times a week.
“You just have to put it out of your mind until you get closer to your goal. As you get closer, you start thinking.
“It also motivates you to increase your mileage and monthly amount. It’s an incentive.”
In the most recent listing on the Million Metre Challenge website, Downer is one of only 13 people in Canada to surpass the two-million metre mark, or 2,000 kilometres. She is the first person in York Region to achieve the milestone.
Downer also coaches the Pickering College school swim team and felt it was important to gain race experience to relate with her students.
Swimming competitively was a logical bridge to her students and into the competitive aspect of swimming.
A member of the Aurora Master Ducks adult swim program, Downer entered her first meet in March at the urging of clubmates, coming away with a bronze medal in the 200-metre breaststroke at the provincial championships and several top eight finishes in her age group (45 to 49).
“I always said I wasn’t interested in competition, just fitness,” Downer said. “(Swimming) is a de-stresser and calms you down when you are swimming.
“But as I got going, some of the other (Ducks’) members encouraged me to come out. I think it’s easier to gauge your progress and improvement this way.
“I also felt it was important if I wanted to coach to find out what it is like to go and compete at meets.”
Athlete of the Week is a regular feature highlighting local athletes and their accomplishments. If you know of a nominee, contact The Era-Banner at jcudmore@yrmg.com or call 905-853-8888.