Mike Shaw wears a VO₂ max mask while Nate Adams adjusts his gear at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl, capturing aerobic and heart rate data in the field.
Nate Adams understands that you need to act quickly to keep pace with retired athlete, ski coach, and spinal cord injury (SCI) advocate Mike Shaw.
Adams, a doctoral candidate in kinesiology at UBC Okanagan, met Shaw through a unique opportunity—a chance to collect real-time physiological data on an athlete with SCI training for a marathon. It was an unexpected but valuable case study, offering insight into an individual pushing the boundaries of endurance.
“This project wasn’t about making broad claims or setting expectations for others with SCI; it was about learning from Mike’s unique experience,” says Adams. “The reality is that Mike is an exceptional athlete, and our role was simply to document and understand his journey.”
Adams worked rapidly to prepare specialized lab equipment for an outdoor test at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl Stadium. Unlike controlled lab conditions, this field study required Adams to adapt portable technology to track Shaw’s performance under real-world conditions.
Mike Shaw runs a timed track test as part of a one-of-a-kind case study into spinal cord injury and endurance.
“It was a challenge, but that’s part of good science,” Adams says. “Mike’s willingness to push his limits allowed us to gather data we wouldn’t have been able to capture in a typical lab setting.”
“Nothing about us without us”
Adams’ research at UBC Okanagan focuses on community-engaged science, specifically sedentary behaviour in people with SCI.
His work is rooted in the principle of “Nothing about us without us,” ensuring that the communities affected by research are actively involved in shaping it.
“Too often, research happens to people rather than with them,” Adams says. “At UBC Okanagan, we engage directly with the community to ensure that what we study is relevant to their lived experiences.”
This ethos carried into his work with Shaw. Adams outfitted Shaw with a specialized portable metabolic device, replacing the bulky lab-based equipment traditionally used to measure oxygen uptake and heart rate.
Final adjustments: Mike Shaw and Nate Adams fine-tune the portable testing system before the run begins.
The result was an opportunity to collect real-world endurance data on an athlete with SCI—something rarely done at this level.
“For me, being part of this kind of research feels incredible,” Shaw says. “It’s surreal to contribute firsthand to studies that could shape how we understand performance and recovery after an SCI.”
Resilience after injury
Eleven years earlier, a freestyle skiing crash left Shaw with an SCI and uncertainty about his mobility. Defying the odds, he walked out of the hospital and was back on skis a year later.
Shaw’s decision to run a marathon captured the attention of UBC Okanagan researchers. It wasn’t about proving what people with SCI can or should do—it was about observing what one remarkable individual could accomplish.
As the study progressed, Adams and his team observed that Shaw’s body was adapting well to the rigours of long-distance running.
Using a custom setup, UBC Okanagan researchers tracked Mike Shaw’s performance metrics during outdoor training sessions.
“The early numbers showed he still had energy reserves, which was fascinating to see,” Adams says.
Despite his relentless optimism and work ethic, Shaw had his doubts about running 42.2 kilometres. “It turns out I’m pretty fit for someone with an SCI,” Shaw says, laughing.
Shaw completed the 2024 Kelowna Apple Marathon in just over four hours. His social media post reflected the journey: *The first 15 kilometres felt great. Then the pain set in—hip flexors, quads, calves. From 26km onwards, it was all mental toughness. But I kept pushing.*
Research with purpose
For Adams, this project was a reminder of why he chose to pursue research at UBC Okanagan.
Growing up in Washington State, Adams first became interested in SCI research as an undergraduate, volunteering with a wheelchair basketball team.
The hands-on nature of that experience inspired him to work with leading experts in the field, ultimately bringing him to UBC Okanagan to study with Dr. Chris West and Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis, two prominent voices in SCI research.
Nathan Adams prepares high-precision metabolic testing equipment used to assess Mike Shaw’s real-time physiological performance.
“Our goal is simple,” Adams says. “We want to better understand how people with SCI experience physical activity and health—without making assumptions or generalizations. Mike’s case study was an opportunity to explore something rare and unique, not to suggest a model for others to follow.”
This case study won’t lead to sweeping conclusions about SCI performance. Instead, it adds to a broader understanding of how diverse SCI experiences can be.
“It’s not just about the finish line,” Adams says. “It’s about who you’re running with and what you learn along the way.”
