WORKING OUT WITH JOHN BYL

His journey: John Byl is back in the saddle after a drunk driver struck him five years ago while he was riding his bike.

The Redeemer University College phys. ed professor and fitness-book author was an avid long-distance cyclist until the crash left him with a broken leg, separated shoulder and a long-term head injury that still causes him to tire easily and affects his concentration.

Byl's spirit was in tatters.

"For a few years I was in and out of depression," says the Ancaster resident.

Two years after the crash he got back on his bike, but it wasn't the same.

"I was only cycling about 1,000 kilometres a year." He had been riding 5,000 kilometres a year before being hit. He had also played squash three times a week, but that ended.

"With my head injuries, I'm pretty tired, especially at the latter time of the day. And it's hard to play squash because it requires a lot of mental focus."

Byl was only mildly active for 4 1/2 years after the crash and his fitness level suffered.

"During that time I was just getting in worse shape."

Then seven months ago his daughter Hannah Braam extended an open invitation to family members to join her in the 30-kilometre Around the Bay Race on March 30.

"I've never run before," Byl says. "I'm not sure why I did it. Maybe I was just emotionally ready."

His training regimen: Last December, Byl started walking three kilometres around the block. He progressed to a run-walk regimen, running two telephone pole lengths, walking two, and repeating.

"The next thing you know you're running three kilometres."

To prepare for the race, he built up to longer runs, eventually borrowing a training program a friend got from The Runner's Den in Hamilton.

Proudest moment: "When I turned the corner at Copps Coliseum and saw the finish line," Byl says of the Around the Bay race, "then the tears came."

After the race Byl started cycling more.

"I've biked 1,000 kilometres this year already, since the Around the Bay Race."

To keep active, he runs or cycles three times a week for one to two hours, and also does strength training in his home gym.

"I think in the summer I'll mostly cycle," says Byl, who also golfs once a week.

"I feel, as far as the collision is concerned, that I've been in a tunnel for the last number of years. Recently, I'm coming out of that tunnel."

Words of wisdom: "I think we're meant to live amazing lives and I wasn't," says Byl, who credits the Around the Bay race with helping in his recovery.

His goals include running the Road2Hope marathon on Red Hill Valley Parkway on Nov. 2 and the March 2009 Around the Bay race.