In 2017, Trevor Coey became a regular on Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 running scene.
He ran roads, trails and mountains, whatever was in front of him, and he had great success doing it considering he started at 39.
Coey, of Central Saanich, entered the 2017 Vancouver Island Trail Running Series and finished on the podium for six of the seriesB次元官网网址� short-course races, first in the overall short-course standings for the year. He was first in the Mount Washington and Burgoyne Bay (Salt Spring) races, second in Ladysmith and Mt. Tzouhalem and third at Royal Roads and Cobble Hill.
That September, he finished ninth out of 115 finishers in the Finlayson Arm 50-kilometre ultra marathon. It was his first ultra long-distance event. In early February 2018, Coey ran his second ultra-marathon distance, the Orcas Island 50km.
In short, the guy was flying.
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B次元官网网址淚 had dove big into big distance. After the second 50 km race I had every intention to step it up to a 50 miler (80 km), and had no question that I would be doing a 100km soon after that,B次元官网网址� said Coey, now 44. B次元官网网址淭ime stands still when I run and everything else just disappears.B次元官网网址�
But the Orcas Island was the last organized race for Coey.
Late in February 2018, he spent a day off in Ladysmith helping a friend when he suffered a catastrophic accident. He escaped death but lost his right leg below the knee. In total, he underwent 13 surgeries, nine of them within the first eight weeks.
B次元官网网址淢y (right) leg was crushed, pelvis shattered, and part of the surgery involved numerous steel bolts and plates, to put it back together,B次元官网网址� Coey said.
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In addition to the physical challenges there were mental challenges, too. Running became a hole his life that heB次元官网网址檚 had to live without, a daily ritual that he longs to return to. He even met his wife through running. They live together with four boys, aged 6, 8, 14 and 16. And even though he canB次元官网网址檛 run these days, it remains a priority in his life.
It was 10 months before Coey could work again. He leaned hard on a successful Gofundme fundraiser of $40,000 organized by friends.
Despite the downtimes that Coey has endured, heB次元官网网址檚 had many to thank since the incident, he says.
B次元官网网址淒uring the two months in hospital the nurses would comment to my wife that weB次元官网网址檙e having too much fun, that I wasnB次元官网网址檛 like other patients. I had some down moments, but I donB次元官网网址檛 think, compared to others, I was that down,B次元官网网址� Coey said.
Eventually, he tried enough B次元官网网址榯est socketsB次元官网网址� until he found the prosthesis that he uses for day-to-day use, but itB次元官网网址檚 not perfect. The shape of his amputated leg continues to change, making it difficult.
All the while, running again has remained his ultimate goal.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 care if it was road, trail, or anything,B次元官网网址� Coey said.
Coey approached some big charities and theyB次元官网网址檝e helped. The Challenged Athletes Foundation awarded Coey with a high-performance running blade. But right from the start Coey knew it was only a piece of the puzzle.
B次元官网网址淚 tried it and I felt I like I was running, it was amazing,B次元官网网址� Coey said. B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, the fit of the socket was not right. But the feeling [of running] was there.B次元官网网址�
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Another non-profit, Team Catapult, provided a specialty liner that Coey can use in the blade or for everyday use.
Again, itB次元官网网址檚 another piece of the puzzle, but he still canB次元官网网址檛 run consistently on the blade.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 genius, such a simple modification,B次元官网网址� Coey said.
In the meantime CoeyB次元官网网址檚 tried lifting weights, heB次元官网网址檚 been cycling (with big thanks to CanAssist for modifying his mountain bike), and heB次元官网网址檚 spent time on the rowing machine.
But heB次元官网网址檚 limited on the bike, like the running blade, by the amount of time and distance his right leg can endure in a prosthesis socket.
B次元官网网址淲ith that comes sores and problems, so itB次元官网网址檚 almost like I can go mountain biking for the exercise and thrill [but] I pay for it afterward, sometimes for months.B次元官网网址�
Funding for prostheses is just as complicated. In B.C. youB次元官网网址檙e funded for basic mobility, Coey said, arguing that PharmaCare canB次元官网网址檛 dictate what his basic level of mobility is.
For now, Coey is grateful to have escaped the accident with what he did, and believes he might not have made it this far if not for a positive outlook on life that predates the accident.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was in the hospital, this doctor said, B次元官网网址楢ll that training you did for ultra running, all that you put yourself through, that mental anguish, that was training for what youB次元官网网址檙e going to go through,B次元官网网址� that I was about to run the toughest race IB次元官网网址檝e ever done, and he was right,B次元官网网址� Coey said. B次元官网网址淭he whole thing has been a race since the accident. I hit walls every day. ItB次元官网网址檚 about adapting and finding new and different ways to do things.B次元官网网址�
But Coey dreams of running again.
B次元官网网址淚 miss that freedom, that rhythm my whole body would get into. My heartbeat, the breathing, the sound of my feet hitting trail and pavement. IB次元官网网址檓 so happy to be able to have experienced it.B次元官网网址�
