iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu, Ontario
iRun because it’s like flying, only lower – Glenn Johnson, Ontario
iRun for me – Kiza Francis, Ottawa,ON
iRun because it’s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia
iRun because I’ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly, Ontario
iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy – Sara Campbell, Nova Scotia
iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON
iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville, Ontario
iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick
iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston, Nunavut
iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan
iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario
iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith, Manitoba
iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson, British Columbia
iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul – Sonia Mendes, Ontario
iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn’t – Peter Cicalo, Ontario
iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent, Québec
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba
iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx, Ontario
iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp, Ontario
iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen, Manitoba
iRun to correct years of sedentary living! – Mike Scott, Ontario
iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre, Ottawa, ON
iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham, Avonmore, ON
iRun because I can’t dance – Mario Javier, Ontario
iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins, Alberta
iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley, Stittsville, ON
iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta
iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friend – Nathalie Joncas-Caissie, St-Antoine, NB
iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan
iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario
iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan, Brampton, ON
iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris, Winnipeg, MB
iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil, Lombardy, ON
iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird, Ontario
iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt, Halifax, NS
iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw, New Westminister, BC
iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour, Ontario
iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton, British Columbia
iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker, Etobicoke, ON
iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries – Joanna Skomra, Ontario
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette, Carp, ON
iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston, Alberta
iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON
iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher, Alberta
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia
iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk, Vancouver, BC
iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang, Alberta
iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishment – Helen Kolodziejzyk, Calgary, AB
iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava, Calgary, AB
iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC
iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier, New Brunswick
iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter, Alberta
iRun so my daughters know that they can, too – Shelley Kirkpatrick, New Brunswick
iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis, Ontario
iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams, Ontario
iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie, Ontario
iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON
iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas, New York
iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec
iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall, Alberta
iRun for health, i Run for life – Pat Cheung, British Columbia
iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop, Yukon
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia
iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo, Ontario
iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan
iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario
iRun because it’s fun when it’s done – Sue Matte, Ontario
iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids – Catherine Empey, British Columbia
iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta
iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan, Ontario
iRun for the cool t-shirts! – Pina Bevilacqua, Ontario
iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle, New Brunswick
iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin, Manitoba
iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon, British Columbia
iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott, Québec
iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer, Quebec
iRun because it’s better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario
iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia
iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka, Alberta
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario
iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario
iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello, Ontario
iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan
iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas, Ontario
iRun because otherwise I’m grumpy – Alexandre Charest, Quebec
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba
iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec
iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK
iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard, Alberta
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario
iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase, Nova Scotia
iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza, British Columbia
iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta
iRun because I want to live to be 100! – Colette DeJean, Ontario
iRun to my happy place and some days it’s very – Doreen May, Alberta
iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie, Yukon
iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail, Ontario
iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts, Ontario
iRun so I don’t say never ever again – Linda Klaric, Manitoba
iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor, Saskatchewan
iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun because it gets my husband out there – Tricia LaLonde, Alberta
iRun for me! – Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan
iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur, Quebec
iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve, Ottawa, ON
iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario
iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel, Calgary, AB
iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario
iRun because I live – Georges Schneller, Laval, QC
iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur, British Columbia
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
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July 2012![]() Why I Run: The missing medalFrom my very first half marathon in 2003, all the way up to the Goofy at Disney World earlier this year, I’ve kept the medals from every single race I’ve run, except one. I have dozens of them. Big and small, fancy and simple, from marathons, half marathons, triathlons and other runs. They’re all in a very nice display case my wife assembled for me at Christmas last year. I’m not particularly sentimental and I don’t have a lot of keepsakes. But that was a special gift: my whole running career, summarized in a glass box. Yet the one medal that is probably the most special, the one for which I worked harder than any other, is missing from that display. On the running bucket list I created last year, I said I wanted to raise $50,000 with one run. Before I knew it, I was training for the Ottawa Marathon and pledging to raise that sum for medical research at the Ottawa Hospital. The first time I ran a marathon and raised money for charity, I was more worried about whether I would finish the race that hit my modest financial goal. This time it was the other way around. The most I’d ever raised before was $10,000 and that had seemed like a lot of money. This time, I wasn’t sure whether I’d even come close. A few friends even raised their eyebrows and wished me luck. Thanks to some generous friends and radio listeners, I got off to a good start. But one week before the race, I still had $17,000 to go. I put on a big push, emailed everyone I had ever known, asked for help on my radio show, offered up prizes to donors. With three days to go, donations had jumped to just over $49,000. I gave an update on the air and a few more gifts came in. Then my producer, Tom Woodward (who took up running in his 50s and has earned a few medals of his own) answered a call from a listener named Richard Weitzel. Mr. Weitzel said he was almost 90 and was suffering from terminal cancer. He wanted to make sure I met my goal and he asked Tom how far I was from the target. “Six hundred and twenty-eight dollars,” Tom said. “I’ll write you a cheque for that right now,” said Mr. Weitzel. “That’s a lot of money,” Tom said. “Well, I’ve been given a lot in my life.” His cheque put us over the top. By the day of the race, we had raised more than $56,000. While I was running the marathon, I thought about the many rewards I’ve received from running, and in this case I’m not talking about medals. One of the greatest gifts with which I’ve been blessed is being able to witness the truly selfless generosity of so many people, especially Mr. Weitzel. A week after the race, I paid him a visit at his home in Ottawa. We had a great chat. He told me about his cancer and that he was grateful for the loving care of the doctors and nurses and the folks at Veterans Affairs (he served in the RCAF in World War II). He said he wasn’t strong enough for an operation and that the treatments had ended. The doctors couldn’t help him anymore. “But it could be worse,” he said. I was amazed by his perspective and his graciousness. I thanked him for donating $628 to get me to $50,000. I told him how he had inspired me and so many others with his kindness. And then I gave him my medal from the marathon. He seemed quite touched by the gesture and wore it proudly. Three weeks later, Dick Weitzel passed away. His family put the marathon medal next to him at the funeral home. His son pointed out the word “finisher” in large print on the ribbon. I’d never made the connection before, but it was very appropriate. Mr. Weitzel was the finisher that got me to my goal. And that’s why I thought he deserved the medal more than I did.
If you like the “Why I Run” column, you’ll love the book! Drawing on more than five years of writing about running in newspaper columns, magazine features and blog postings, Mark Sutcliffe chronicles a journey that begins with a guy looking for a bit of exercise and evolves into running as a way of life. Read more about Why I Run here, or order your copy from the iRunGEAR store!
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