Athlete of the Month: Stephanie Case
"The Ultimate Race"

For most of us, the thought of a 250 km footrace sounds overwhelmingly daunting to say the least, but for others, such Stephanie Case - a young 25-year old UBC Law graduate - this six-day, six-stage footrace across Northwest Vietnam is simply another everyday challenge. The insanity that will begin for Case on February 18 th and will end on February 23 rd , is called Racing the Planet , an event that will host 100 competitors from over twenty countries across the globe.

To commit herself to an event like this, it is an understatement to suggest that Case is an adventurous type. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last February, which she claims motivated her to see what else was out there. "The Vietnam race was simply the one that worked best for me right now - I'm keeping the others in mind for the future," says Case. Case's desire for adventure will certainly be satisfied in Vietnam . All competitors are required to carry their own equipment, including a tent and food supplies, for the duration of the race - a challenge in and of itself. Considering that the entry fee for Racing The Planet is $2800, many of us are certainly left wondering what exactly the appeal is. Case admits that even many of her own friends and family members wonder why she would spend so much time, energy, and money on an adventure like this, but Case says, "For me, it is well worth it. I can't imagine spending my vacation days from work any other way."

When asked what it was about this particular event that interested her, Case says, "I was attracted to this event because of its unique character, the limited number of competitors that are involved, and the chance to push my physical and mental capabilities to the limit." That being said, all of these reasons seem to pale in comparison to her motivation to help fundraise for the Canadian Cancer Society. Case explains that she lost her father to cancer at the age of two. "He was an orthopedic resident in Kingston , and just a month or two away from completing his final exams when he passed away. My mother was left to take care of both me and my sister on her own. What made matters worse was that her father, my grandfather, also succumbed to cancer within the same month." Despite the tragedy, Case is one of those people who manages to put a positive spin on the situation. She explains that her mother soon met a man named Peter, who had also lost a spouse. "Through their mutual support and friendship, they not only grew stronger individually, but also together, and ended up forming a bond that has turned into a loving one," explains Case. Case's mother's current marriage to Peter, who Case has always called Dad, continues to remain strong after twenty-two years. "In this way, although cancer tore my family apart, it also pieced it back together again, which has been a life blessing," says the inspiring young lawyer. Case claims that this story of her family is what provides her with strength; she will be carried by family memories the entire 250 kilometers that lay just ahead of her in Vietnam .

In one brief interview with Case, it became obvious that she is not a typical 25 year-old. Although she claims that she is "a bit of a klutz," her sparkling resume of her life is certainly far from being klutzy. She is a former-sailor, an ex-varsity rower, and now a runner. She will tackle the Boston Marathon this upcoming April once she gets through the event in Vietnam . On top of this, she is one of those do-gooders, in pursuit of social justice. Case has taught Buddhist monks in Thailand , conducted wildlife biodivery research in the Amazon jungle in Ecuador , worked at a medical clinic in Ghana , and has worked for Lawyers Without Borders in Ethiopia , Rwanda and Liberia . But she has no intention of stopping there.

When asked about what her goals are for the race in Vietnam , Case explains that she will use the time to "think, relax, and reflect.' She even says that the race itself is not the hard part; the race is a reward after all of the hard work she has put in preparing. "I have found the training to be humbling, empowering, demoralizing, and energizing," she continues. When considering her race plan, Case jokes, "You mean, I can't just wing it?" She goes on to explain that she plans to keep things simple, "and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And don't eat all my food on the first day.