Running away for a reason

My first blog entry should say a little about me, but I think I will tell a bit about myself by also highlighting the work of others. I want to tell you about those who have stepped outside, stared out onto the horizon, put one foot in front of the other and done it with more resolve and for the benefit of not just themselves. Those who have chosen to run away from the start line, to set out for a reason and to make a difference.

I’m sitting here with my pathetic charity moustache that is driving my wife crazy and probably causes parents to draw their kids closer as I walk by. I like good causes and I especially like those that connect running and fitness together. With over 20 years of running for myself I occasionally get it into my head to try and do something for others. I’m no Terry Fox, no Rick Hansen who most should have heard of, nor am I Mark Campbell (an east coast friend) — who recently dragged a canoe 140K to raise money and awareness for a kids camp. But I have had ideas.

Cross Canada Relay
Last summer, with the 2012 Olympics around the corner, having always wanted to make a mark, and do something for others, an idea started to sprout. The idea was to use my passion for running to raise awareness about running, healthy and active living. Although not a disease, inactivity, obesity and poor life choices are killing an epidemic of people across Canada and the world. This year the United Nations stated that obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, accounting for an estimated 2.5 million deaths per year. Yikes (check out this article).

Linking up with a friend from the great organization Run For Life an idea was hatched, a website, Facebook page and a plan began to materialize. There was support and a trip to Toronto to talk to CBC, but the fire began to fizzle. Looking back now I can see it was not the right time. Because of my relay that never happened, however, I met some great people and through doing my research found out about many others who were running for some great causes — doing some of what I would have been trying to accomplish.

Bryce Dymond

Bryce Dymond was one of the people I met. A great guy devoted to making a difference and raising awareness and money for something he believed in. The One Nation Run was a relay across Canada to raise awareness and funds for children in Canada who live in poverty. Sitting over a muffin in Ottawa we discussed our plans, ideas and how we figured we were going to accomplish them. I had found Bryce via Facebook and was looking for information and to tie in others who were doing something similar. Bryce was dedicated and his plans were solidifying faster than mine. Bryce would go on to run across Canada with friends and finished his run in September.

Other runs across Canada

Through hitting the web as I made my plans I also found about the Take Me Outside run, the run across Canada by an entire family (The Chicoines) called Marathon Health and the runs of a few others, who were using running to do an incredible amount of good. My Cross Canada Relay got as far as a few radio interviews and John Carson and I put in a lot of work, but all happens for a reason. In 2011, those who laced up and hit the roads for fellow Canadians did alot of good. I wasn’t one of them but I am telling you about those who did — so perhaps I am helping a little.

*Although my run across Canada idea never materialized I did manage an 80K run  in September after my marathon training fell apart and raised a few dollars for the Terry Fox Foundation.

Hope you have enjoyed my first entry into the blogosphere for Canadian Running. I intend to try and bring you some thoughts on running, some interesting profiles and stories and welcome comments and suggestions below.