Wind at Your Back: What a Run Across the Confederation Bridge Taught Me About Life and Leadership
Sometimes the universe flips your plans upside down. What you thought would be resistance turns out to be grace. What looked like disruption becomes a gift.
That’s exactly what happened to me during the 45th Anniversary Terry Fox Marathon of Hope. Nearly 10,000 people walked, ran, and wheeled across the Confederation Bridge (Canada’s longest) raising over $830,000 for cancer research.
And in the middle of all that collective energy, I was reminded that the lessons we learn on the road aren’t just about running. They’re about how we live and how we lead.
The Detour That Became a Gift
The plan was to park on the New Brunswick side, shuttle to PEI, and run back. But with the sheer volume of people, the universe had other plans. We ended up parking in a field, boarding the shuttle, and running from NB to PEI instead.
At first, it felt like a disruption. But the moment my feet hit the bridge, I realized what we’d been given: instead of fighting headwinds, the wind was at our backs. And with each step, gratitude grew.
Community Changes Everything
What struck me most that day wasn’t just the bridge, or even the distance: it was the people.
Nearly 10,000 of us showed up to walk, run, or wheel across the Confederation Bridge. Survivors, families, children, an army team carrying rucksacks, and supporters of every age. Music floated across the water, laughter echoed mile after mile, and everywhere I looked were smiles stretched wide.
Even in our small group of seven, each role mattered. Six of us ran the full 13K, while my husband ran the 5K and then made sure the rest of us had what we needed: securing late checkouts, greeting us afterward with coffee, making the whole experience lighter.
It was a vivid reminder: support doesn’t have to look the same to matter profoundly. Every role counts. Every presence changes the journey. And joy, like courage, multiplies in community.
Lessons From the Bridge
That run etched a few truths I’ll carry with me:
Detours can hold hidden gifts. Disruptions are often grace in disguise.
Community multiplies joy. Grit comes from running alone. Joy comes from running together.
Fuel doesn’t have to be perfect. Cavendish fries and potato chips post-run, either far from ideal or exactly enough.
Training changes what feels possible. What once felt impossible becomes joyful when you show up, put in the reps, and let others support you.
A Cosmic Invitation
The timing made the lessons even richer. This run unfolded during both a solar eclipse in Virgo and the fall equinox.
Eclipses invite us to release perfectionism and the illusion that life has to be “right.” Equinoxes call us back to balance, reminding us that balance isn’t a permanent state, but a rhythm we return to again and again.
Those cosmic reminders were woven right into every step across the bridge: release, balance, presence.
Leadership Lessons That Last
As I step into my own new chapter, training to become a spiritual director, these lessons continue to ripple out:
Lead with intent, because intent shapes reality.
Build resilience on love, not fear. Fear constricts; love expands.
Ask for help. Leadership is not about doing it all yourself.
Remember legacy. Small acts of courage ripple further than we can imagine.
Walking Together
These aren’t just running lessons. They’re life lessons. Leadership lessons.
And if you’re ready to apply them in your own journey, there are two ways we can walk together:
✨ 1:1 Coaching a personalized space to dive deep into your growth as a leader and human, with support tailored to your specific challenges and dreams.
✨ Be the Light my community for leaders ready to shift from fear to love, from control to trust, and to be supported while doing it.
Whichever path you choose, the invitation is the same: to feel lighter, clearer, and more aligned as you cross your own bridges — with the wind at your back.
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