Manyfingers hopes for October comeback.

EDMONTON

Though he hasn't competed in a race for 16 months, Ian Manyfingers is hoping some of his best running days are still ahead of him.

The 28-year-old Aboriginal runner, who is now living in Edmonton, has not raced competitively since he injured his right knee while participating in a 1,500-metre race at an indoor meet in Regina in March of 2008.

Manyfingers, who has both Cree (mother Gloria) and Blackfoot (father Norman) ancestry, has had numerous impressive wins and performances at local, provincial and national competitions since he started concentrating on track and field in grade 11.

After graduating from high school in Calgary, Manyfingers went to school in the United States. He attended a pair of universities, in the states of Idaho and Washington, before he returned to his home province and enrolled at the University of Alberta.

Some of his best performances, in both track and cross-country events, were while he was a member of the Alberta Golden Bears.

Manyfingers is rather keen to get back to running.

"It's the first time I've had an injury that kept me out an entire season," he said.

Perhaps what's even worse than being sidelined for so long is not knowing exactly what has been troubling him. Manyfingers said his injury was simply because of overuse.

"The doctors don't know what it is," he said. "It might be bursitis but they've never verified it."

To maintain his fitness, Manyfingers cycles one hour every day and he said his knee feels fine. But he has yet to test it by running at full speed.

"I could probably enter races right now," he said.

But he will wait a bit longer. He is expected to make his comeback on Sept. 1, competing at the St. Paul Rodeo Mile in his home province.

"That's probably the next one I will do," he said.

Manyfingers is no stranger to that race. In fact, he won the event five consecutive years, from 2003-07.

Manyfingers also competes in 3,000-metre races. But his speciality is the steeplechase event, which is also a 3,000-metre track event but with hurdles and water obstacles included.

Manyfingers participated in the steeplechase event at the Canadian senior national championships from 2002-07. His best finish was sixth place at the '07 nationals.

Despite his knee injury, his running dream has not altered.

"Since I got out of high school, I've wanted to win the senior nationals," he said, adding he hopes to accomplish this goal as early as next year.

Manyfingers is also hoping to one day become a high school teacher. He's currently taking distance education courses through Athabasca University.

And he's still hoping to add to his athletic laurels.

"I still have goals in running," he said. "I want to compete internationally. I want to travel overseas to the big events in Europe."

One day he'd also love to run his own Aboriginal track camp.

"One of my goals beyond track is to inspire youth," he said. "I want to spread my knowledge of track and field."

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BY SAM LASKARIS

Sweetgrass Writer