The Run’s a Wrap

I’ve waited all week for someone to ask how my weekend was and what did I do? “Oh, I ran a marathon a day for three days, through some brutal weather and unspeakable physical pain while raising a ton of dough for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. What did you do?” In my mind I could hear that person’s jaw hitting the ground. In reality, they’d probably be questioning my mental health and wondering if they should get me to a safe place. Yes, I actually ran 132 kilometers and thanks to many of you managed to raise vital funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It was an outstanding success on all counts.

If you haven’t been following along, allow me to recap the story behind this crazy stunt. In the summer of 2020, I found myself in terrible shape. I was overweight and my blood pressure was in the “danger” zone. I knew I was going in the wrong direction as too much of the “good life” proved to be bad for me. That’s when I made a decision that changed everything. I vowed to be in the best shape of my life (BSOML) by the time I turned 60 in September 2021. What followed was a year of change. I became active by walking, then running, swimming, and working out. I not only changed my diet but also when and how often I ate. I stopped drinking alcohol. Through it all I managed to drop more than 40 pounds and get my health back on track. However, I wanted to find a way to prove I was in the BSOML. That’s where the marathon a day for 3 days comes in.

Wait, there’s more. Not being satisfied with this enormous run I also decided to add a reason beyond the self-serving proof that I was indeed in the BSOML. I decided to use the run as a vehicle to raise funds for the H&S Foundation. Here, I leaned on my years in television production and came up with a campaign to make people aware of what I was doing. I created a series of funny social media shorts (you can see them here if you need a laugh). I also leaned on friends, associates, and family to help create the shorts and publicize the project which included Colin Mochrie, Ron James, Darrell Fox (Terry’s brother), Mike Holmes Jr, and my PR-man/brother Jim.

As for the run, it was everything I expected and more. I had trained diligently since I decided to undertake this project last spring. The summer was challenging as I ran six days a week through some wickedly hot weather. I did back-to-back long runs on a regular basis. I worked on my core and leg strength. I managed my diet carefully. I’m happy to say the hard work paid off as my fitness was never in doubt during what was a grueling three days of running.

As for the run, day one started in Guelph and quickly went off the rails or in this case on the rails, literally. A lack of signage led me down the wrong path and I found myself running on a live rail line. How could this happen? What if I met a train? What if I got arrested? I could see the headline – “Charity runner goes from rail to jail”. My fears proved groundless, and I was soon off the train tracks and back on the rail trail. I finished that day in Millbank having logged 53 kilometers. Needless to say, I was ready for a good meal and a warm bed.

The next morning, we picked the trail back up at Millbank and started out in the sunshine. That lasted about an hour and the clouds rolled in. I was tired and a consistent pain had developed in my left knee. By noon the wind had picked up and the rain started. An hour later it was pouring, and the wind blew the rain sideways. The forecast had called for rough weather and I was prepared with rain gear but somehow in the rush to keep moving I forgot to wear my contact lenses – anyone who wears glasses knows what a pain in the ass rain can be. Now I was tired, sore, wet, and blind. At the height of the storm my wife texted me and encouraged me to find a tree to seek shelter under. On that point on the trail, I could have been in Saskatchewan. There wasn’t a tree in sight, (not that I could see anything through my rain coated glasses) it was as flat and open as the prairies. I simply slogged through it. At the next stop I had a bite to eat and popped contact lenses in, feeling relief all around. The rain continued to the late afternoon. On the final leg of the run, I was joined by the fit and charming Mrs. Beatty. Now I should mention that she joined me each day for the last 10 kilometers and brought a ray of sunshine. I’m not just talking about her disposition, but she actually brought sunshine. All three days were mostly cloudy until Tracey joined the run and that’s when the sun came out and everything felt better. She and mother nature got me through the toughest parts of the three days.

The final day was the most challenging. While the weather was nearly perfect my knee was far from it. The pain was unrelenting, and it took nearly 3 kilometers before I could run – if that’s what you call it. I had a Terry Fox-like gate and cringed with every step. Fortunately, my brother-in-law, Carl, met me at the 6-kilometer mark and ran with me for the final leg. I’m not certain I’d have made it without his help. His presence helped take my mind off the pain and before long we’d developed a steady running rhythm. The biggest challenge of the day was stopping. Anytime I stopped my knee would seize up and I’d have to hobble in agony for five or six hundred meters until the knee realized we were going to run, and it had better get used to it. To avoid the pain, I kept running.

The final few kilometers of the run were emotional. It was the culmination of a year of hard work that had seen me go from flabby to fit. I had realized my goal of being in the best shape of my life. I had accomplished something I’d never dreamt possible. This broken-hearted boy, a heart surgery survivor, had run 3 marathons in 3 days. I was greeted at the finish line by family, friends, and cheers from strangers. I hobbled into Lake Huron to let its cold waters easy my aching legs. Cold never felt so welcome.

I didn’t accomplish this goal alone. I couldn’t have done it alone. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a team to fulfill a dream (BTW – I’m trademarking that line and will have it on coffee mugs before you finish reading this article). Without sounding like an Oscars acceptance speech, I have to acknowledge the team that surrounds me and that team starts with my family. My wife Tracey was with me all the way telling me I could do it when I had doubt, putting up with months of a crazy training schedule, changing dietary needs and finally getting me across the finish line. I was cheered on by my kids, Annie, (who vital during the run and responsible for the fantastic social media posts throughout the race) Rob and Matt. My brother Jim was pivotal in getting the story told. My business partner, Julie Stall, was indispensable in organizing the run and producing the social media posts. Her daughter Arielle and partner Dan captured highlights (and probably the low lights) throughout the run. My brother in arms, Carl Oxholm, carried me on the final day. Paul Robertson of New Balance in London believed in the effort and donated running gear. Calvin Bagirakandi from BioSteel provided fluids and electrolytes to see me through the run. Friends and associates provided their time and talents in producing the social media spots. Everyone who was asked contributed and for that I am humbled and grateful. Thank you all.

I also owe you, dear reader, a debt of thanks. It was donations from you that made the fundraising aspect of my journey so successful. I had initially hoped to raise $2,500. I soon had to double that goal to $5000 and then move it again to $7500. Finally, I set it at $10,000 never thinking we’d reach it. I am so happy to tell you that we surpassed it and have raised over $11,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Thanks to you, they can continue their life saving research as well as their education & support programs. Thank you all. You were a big part of my team and this dream.

I’ll have more to say about my Project 60 Plus venture in coming installments. It has been an incredible year and I have learned a great deal. For now, however, I’m going to put my achin’ legs up and get some rest & repair. With luck, I’ll be back on the road in time to run off Thanksgiving dinner.