iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur, British Columbia

iRun to my happy place and some days it�s very – Doreen May, Alberta

iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith, Manitoba

iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt, Halifax, NS

iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario

iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie, Ontario

iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts, Ontario

iRun iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario

iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston, Alberta

iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec

iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil, Lombardy, ON

iRun iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie, Yukon

iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase, Nova Scotia

iRun iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent, Qu�bec

iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker, Etobicoke, ON

iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham, Avonmore, ON

iRun because it�s like flying, only lower – Glenn Johnson, Ontario

iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia

iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC

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 iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

iRun because I�ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly, Ontario

iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop, Yukon

iRun iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher, Alberta

iRun so my daughters know that they can, too – Shelley Kirkpatrick, New Brunswick

iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul – Sonia Mendes, Ontario

iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris, Winnipeg, MB

iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia

iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre, Ottawa, ON

iRun iRun for me! – Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan

iRun because I live – Georges Schneller, Laval, QC

iRun for the cool t-shirts! – Pina Bevilacqua, Ontario

iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids – Catherine Empey, British Columbia

iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo, Ontario

iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy – Sara Campbell, Nova Scotia

iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx, Ontario

iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour, Ontario

iRun iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams, Ontario

iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail, Ontario

iRun iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan

iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba

iRun because I can�t dance – Mario Javier, Ontario

iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve, Ottawa, ON

iRun because it�s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta

iRun iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta

iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas, New York

iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis, Ontario

iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza, British Columbia

iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter, Alberta

iRun iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario

iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville, Ontario

iRun iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia

iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang, Alberta

iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON

iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin, Manitoba

iRun iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario

iRun because it�s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia

iRun because it�s fun when it�s done – Sue Matte, Ontario

iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard, Alberta

iRun iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta

iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw, New Westminister, BC

iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott, Qu�bec

iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton, British Columbia

iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur, Quebec

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn�t – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

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 for health, iRun for life – Pat Cheung, British Columbia

iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer, Quebec

iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan, Brampton, ON

iRun iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen, Manitoba

iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan, Ontario

iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario

iRun iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries – Joanna Skomra, Ontario

iRun because it gets my husband out there – Tricia LaLonde, Alberta

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn�t – Peter Cicalo, Ontario

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON

iRun iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins, Alberta

iRun iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello, Ontario

iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley, Stittsville, ON

iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario

iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston, Nunavut

iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas, Ontario

iRun iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle, New Brunswick

iRun so I don�t say never ever again – Linda Klaric, Manitoba

iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec

iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON

iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK

iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon, British Columbia

iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel, Calgary, AB

iRun iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp, Ontario

iRun because otherwise I�m grumpy – Alexandre Charest, Quebec

iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson, British Columbia

iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON

iRun iRun to correct years of sedentary living! – Mike Scott, Ontario

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland

iRun because I want to live to be 100! – Colette DeJean, Ontario

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette, Carp, ON

iRun iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario

iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario

iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava, Calgary, AB

iRun iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia

iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu, Ontario

iRun because it�s better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario

iRun iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier, New Brunswick

iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird, Ontario

iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk, Vancouver, BC

iRun for me – Kiza Francis, Ottawa,ON

iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall, Alberta

iRun iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor, Saskatchewan

iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka, Alberta

Cover photo from the current issue of iRun Magazine

Photo of Mark Sutcliffe's new book - Why I Run

Back to Table of Contents

Beginning the Adventure of a Lifetime

A year ago, Ray Zahab ran across the Sahara Desert in 111 days. Next year, he plans to run all the way to the North Pole. Not bad for a former pack-a-day smoker who went for his first training run barely four years ago. And if he has one message, it's this: You can do it too.

My friend Pat showed up at my place in December 2003, all geared up and ready to go for a run. He was wearing these funky-looking shoes with shocks on the bottom and he totally looked the deal. I, on the other hand, was not looking so ready. My running experience amounted to the grand total of four or five runs I had done between 2000 and 2003. Running just wasn't my thing.

But after giving up a pack-a-day smoking habit and a life of non-stop partying, this was my new identity: Mountain biker and adventure racer. The mountain-biking part was fine. I was doing lots of off-season training, riding an indoor bike trainer. But the only times I had ever tried to run, it was more like speed hiking through Gatineau Park in preparation for an adventure race. I felt comfortable on a bike. Running was not fun - it was torture.

Pat sized up the shoes I had bought for my new career as runner and said they'd do the trick. Then he explained how this first run was going to go down. We would take a left off my front doorstep and then run for eight kilometres. Eight kilometres! Where I live, in Chelsea, Quebec, it's pretty hilly. As in big hills.

"Much easier to use a bike," I thought as I tied my shoes, trying to figure out a way to delay the run. I think I re-adjusted the laces a hundred times.

I loved mountain biking - enough to bike sometimes ten times per week. I also loved to race. And I had discovered that the longer the race, the more fun it was. I attempted a few 24-hour mountain bike races and really enjoyed them. The pace was slower than conventional racing, and I didn't have to rely as much on my technical skills, which were lousy.

At one point I was biking so much that I started getting overuse injuries, mostly with my hip flexor. I was being treated by chiropractor, adventure racer and elite cyclist Duane Smith for chronic tightness in my left hip, and it was on one of these visits to Duane's office that my life would change forever.

In December 2003, on one of my usual visits to his clinic, I was sitting in Duane's waiting room when I picked up a copy of an outdoor magazine. I flipped the pages and landed on an article about an ultra-running race that takes place in the Yukon every February. Imagine 160 kilometres of non-stop running in Arctic temperatures, all the while dragging a sled with everything you need to survive the harsh, winter conditions.

I couldn't believe it. The people I was reading about blew my mind. One photo especially caught my attention. The runner in the photo - an average looking person - looked back at me from the pages with a look on his face that said, "I know something about myself that you wish you knew about yourself but don't."

That was it. I needed to know what this fellow knew. I decided right then that I would enter this race. Never mind the fact that it was taking place only two-and-a-half months later. Never mind the fact that I had never even run a marathon, a 10k or, for that matter, even a 5k road race.

I had no history of running to speak of at all, but I decided right then that I would run 160 kilometres in a matter of 10 weeks. I called Pat. Help! Teach me how to run!

We took off at a pace that seemed reasonable, I guess. As we ran along I got warmed up and thought maybe this isn't so bad after all. The cold winter air no longer was so cold, my feet actually warmed up and my hands followed suit. Then the wheels started to fall off. Pat seemed to pull ahead at a faster and faster pace. But he wasn't running faster. I was running slower, and at this point I couldn't help but think of what an idiot I was for thinking I would be able to keep this up for a hundred miles only a few months later.

Pat did his best to pass along words of running wisdom: "Stay relaxed." "Pick your feet up." "Look up, look ahead, look up, look ahead." Meanwhile, I wanted to puke.

On my bike I always felt like I was in such good shape. But this was different. This run was hurting my legs, and after we got to the halfway point I developed a stitch in my side that felt like I had swallowed a Frisbee. Pat looked back for me. I was now walking, and decided that perhaps I had bitten off more then I could chew.

Before Pat left my place that day he gave me some things to work on, including a plan on how to build mileage in the coming months. Three weeks later, I was able to run with Pat for much longer distances. "Wow," I thought then, "running is actually kind of fun. I think I get why people like this so much."

But a few weeks earlier, as we reached my doorstep after an 8k run I could barely finish, my last thought was, "I wonder if I'll stick with this."

Ray Zahab not only completed the 160-km Yukon Arctic Ultra, he won the race. He has since become Canada's most renowned ultramarathon runner. Beginning in November 2006, Ray and two other runners ran across the Sahara Desert in 111 days, averaging 70 kilometres per day without a single day's rest.

WEB EXTRA: Submit your question for Ray and we’ll pass it on.

How to Become an Adventure Runner

If you think ultramarathons and adventure races are beyond your capacity, remember this: Barely four years ago, Ray Zahab could barely make it through an 8k run and now he's planning to run 80k a day for almost two weeks. Here are some tips on making the transition from runner to adventure runner, from Canada's most prolific adventure racer.

1 Be prepared for something different. This won't be like a marathon run on downtown streets. You're really pushing yourself to all limits. The races are tough, they're in hard places. It can be extremely cold or extremely hot. You might be using a GPS to find your way. You might be dropped in the middle of nowhere.

2 Start with a goal. Have a race in mind and work yourself toward it. Give yourself enough time. I encourage people to dream big, but don't do what I did when I chose a 160k race that was 10 weeks ahead. Pick something that's six months to a year away.

3 Match your training to the race terrain. If your race is going to be on trail, then do as much training as you can on trail. That will give you the agility you'll need. If your race is going to be on the road, then you really want to get your body as accustomed as possible to long hours on pavement.

4 Train realistically and use a plan, but listen to your body. Train based on how you feel. Some people can take increased distances routinely. Other people need more time to adapt. Listen to your body. Really become in tune with your body.

5 Tailor your training schedule to the race. If you're doing a staged ultramarathon that lasts several days, do long weekend runs on both Saturday and Sunday. If you're doing a non-stop ultramarathon, do one long training run at a slower pace.

6 Hydration is incredibly important. You have to make sure you keep your body hydrated throughout your training and when you're racing. Get your body used to drinking and fuelling while you're running. This is even more important than when you're training for a marathon.

7 Set a budget and raise some money. Adventure racing isn't cheap. Figure out how much it's going to cost and start planning for it. The cost of the race depends on the location and the conditions. If you're going off to the jungles of the Amazon, it's going to cost you more. But it's worth it: These are life-changing experiences.

WEB EXTRA: Submit your question for Ray and we’ll pass it on.
WEB EXTRA: More From Ray: Bad mistakes, I've made a few.