ABOUT BRENDA SHAUGHNESSY

Obstacle or Opportunity?

Brenda, the owner of Summit Coaching and Training, has led a bit of a different life. In 1988, when she was 7, Brenda’s parents moved from Vancouver, BC to the remote wilderness community of Tatlayoko Lake, BC. In this beautiful and mountainous place, Brenda grew up with her younger brother, learning about wilderness survival; growing, raising, and hunting for food; how to navigate through the mountains and read the movements of wildlife; dedication to a vision and pursuing a dream; a strong work ethic; and the value of community and connectedness. This setting and these circumstances gave Brenda a strong connection to Nature, an open and strong mind, and an adventurous heart.

After moving from BC to AB, attending university, competing in endurance racing on horseback for more than a decade, and having many adventures, Brenda was persuaded to join a relay team for her first trail race, the 2011 Canadian Death Race in Grande Cache, AB. During that race she thought she was crazy for doing it, but once she recovered, she was hooked and has been running trails and ultramarathons ever since. Since that race, Brenda has completed many ultramarathons throughout western North America, from 50 km to 100 miles. The more she ran the more success she had and the more she wanted to run. But this was not meant to last.

In December 2014, after a successful race year that also included marrying her partner of 15 years, Brenda suffered a severe concussion from a horse-riding accident. The injury left her unable to work, drive, use technology, perform basic daily tasks, or do any kind of exercise. She suffered many symptoms, including short term memory loss, coordination and vision issues, constant severe pain, debilitating exhaustion, anxiety, and depression. Then, one month after the accident, her husband ended their marriage. Brenda’s world had fallen apart.

The days that followed were the darkest of Brenda’s life, and she was on the brink of falling into the place of no return. She walked through the house and assessed her options to end her life. In that terrible moment she looked at her two dogs and knew she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t leave them. So instead of giving up, she reached out and asked for help.

Her friends and her family became her lifeline, and with the help of these amazing people and a team of concussion specialists, she climbed back into the light. She taught herself how to meditate and learned that she could control her thoughts and her pain. She chose to see the opportunity instead of the obstacle and focused on personal growth. One month stretched into two, stretched into nine. In that time, she worked hard on her recovery and was eventually able to return to work for two hours per day. With time and patience, her recovery progressed and she gradually returned to working full time.

At the same time, Brenda began walking again, building up her endurance in the company of her dogs. When she was ready, she began to run again, starting with the slowest but happiest 500 m of her life. Gradually she increased her distance, being careful to give her brain and her body time to rest and recover. Her first post-recovery ultramarathon, which she completed one and a half years after her injury, was the launch pad for her return to the ultra community. She cried and smiled throughout that entire 50-mile race because her joy could not be contained!

During her recovery, Brenda spent quite a bit of time examining her life. Her career no longer satisfied her and she needed to make a change. Life is too tenuous and short to work in a field you’re not passionate about. She chose to pursue her passion of fitness and become a Personal Trainer and Ultramarathon Coach. Within one year of returning to work, she quit her career and enrolled in the Personal Fitness Trainer Diploma at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). She was terrified, but it was the best decision she has ever made. She was turning her passion into a fulfilling career helping other people achieve their goals and accomplish things they did not think possible.

Then one month before graduation she was rear-ended. Everything came to a screeching halt due to multiple severe injuries that included another concussion. She was again incapacitated and in debilitating pain. Despite this, she graduated from her program with Honors only one month late. She is nothing if not determined and driven.

And thus began the next chapter of recovery, overcoming immense challenges including addictions to prescription medications, chronic pain management, mental health concerns, and leaning on those around her for help, all while building her business and helping others through their injuries and challenges. Recovery from the car accident was difficult to say the least, but she didn’t stop working toward her goals.

Sometimes the road that lies before you has twists and turns that you can’t see coming. None of the challenges Brenda has faced since the horse accident in December 2014, many of which are not discussed here, could have been predicted. However, instead of giving up, she has focused on creating the life that she wants to lead.

Brenda understands that successfully working through these challenges with grace and grit is what sets her apart from other Trainers and Coaches, because she now has unique insight into the depths of challenges that a person faces when they live with severe injuries and loss of physical abilities. Coincidentally, there are parallels between the unchosen challenges of injuries and the chosen challenges of ultramarathons. Brenda leverages her experiences, empathetic nature, and her education and training to help others face and overcome their challenges, whether they are chosen or unchosen.

And no matter what the future brings, Brenda will continue to work hard on her passion because she is building her own dream, one brick at a time.

Certifications:

In 2018, Brenda completed the Personal Fitness Trainer diploma with Honors from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, the Corrective Exercise Specialist certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and the Personal Trainer certification from the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology.

• • • Northern Alberta Institute of Technology / Designation: Personal Fitness Trainer Diploma
    • National Academy of Sports Medicine / Designation: Corrective Exercise Specialist / Certification #1180163876
    • Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology / Designation: Certified Personal Trainer / Certification #021548