15th May 2016
Cambell Johnstone is 8 years old. With a keen interest in music, space, science and how things work, he is also nurturing an increasing love for running, preparing to run the QUT Classic on 15 May. Cambell also happens to be managing Spectral Disorder challenges.
Cambell’s father, Paul Johnstone, an Academic at QUT, believes that running has helped Cambell to effectively manage his spectral behaviours, and gain confidence and composure.
“Running has been great for Cambell, improving his mental and physical health, as well as his sleep patterns. He is able to concentrate better in the classroom and has a greater understanding of what he needs to do to cope with issues that arise at school,” said Mr Johnstone.
Cambell started developing a love for running as a toddler, with his Dad pushing him along courses in a jogging stroller. Mr Johnstone says that Cambell loved being outdoors.
“As he got older, he kept asking me to run faster and not slow down”, he said.
After finishing second last in his Prep cross country race at school, Cambell expressed that he would like to practice running and improve his results for the following year.
“He said to me, I want to do better, Daddy. Will you help me? And so I did. His school PE teacher gave some great advice, and with a new pair of professionally fitted shoes and his Dad on his side, he commenced running. Over time, he has worked up to his current distance of 6.5 km, and has even developed his own three running ‘levels’ – Turbo 1, Turbo 2, and Nitrus,” said Mr Johnstone.
Cambell regularly attends group running events like Parkrun, and says that running improves his focus, even setting himself personal step challenges. Recently, he has been working on strategies to improve his personal best time, including thinking carefully about his diet and hydration, as well as areas of the course where he needs to concentrate his energy during a run.
The upcoming QUT Classic on 15 May gives families and individuals the opportunity to get involved in a running event, no matter what their pace or skill level.
“What I love about the Classic is the span of running you can do. You can choose if you want to take on a 1km, 5km or 10km course, and also feel great about the fact that it’s a charitable event,” said Mr Johnstone.
He says that Cambell is very excited about participating in the QUT Classic at his Mummy and Daddy’s workplace for the first time. The two have been training for the 5km course, which they hope to complete in around 30 minutes.
“Cambell is no stranger to QUT Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. We may well see him back here in years to come, as he hopes to become a Scientist or Engineer,’’ he said.
The 2016 Annual QUT Classic fun run is being held on Sunday 15 May at QUT Gardens Point, with 1km, 5km and 10km routes through the Brisbane CBD and South Bank. Entry is open to the public and starts at $15, with a 15% discount for teams of 4 or more. Proceeds support the Learning Potential Fund, which provides scholarships for students experiencing financial hardship, who may not otherwise be able to go to university.
Visit the website to register, or just come along on the day, which kicks off at 7:30am.
