The rain is raining folks.
It’s almost as if I can hear each individual raindrop tap, tap, tapping on my window pane.
And on the roof.
And the balcony.
To paraphrase Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister of the UK – rain truly is, all around.
Last week we were blessed with one last amazing week of summer weather: temperatures in the mid to late twenties, amazing sunrises and phenomenal sunsets, and blue sky for days.
And now?
Yesterday morning we woke up to this:
Holy exorcist batman.
The eerie weather ended up being an absolutely fabulous pairing to an early morning race.
Two great friends and I ran the Terry Fox Run, a ten kilometer (or five, or two – depending on your pick!) event that takes place every September, in cities all over the world, which raises funds for cancer research.
It also honours the memory of one of the greatest Canadians that has ever lived – Mr. Terry Fox.
From Wikipedia:
In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research. Although the spread of his cancer eventually forced him to end his quest after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), and ultimately cost him his life, his efforts resulted in a lasting, worldwide legacy. The annual Terry Fox Run, first held in 1981, has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries and is now the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research; over $500 million has been raised in his name.
There are a few individuals that make me so proud to be Canadian that I’m just about driven to tears when I think about them, and all that they accomplished during their life.
Terry Fox is one of those people.
So around 8am, I met up with Greg, and Daniela, they grabbed some breakfast Tim Hortons (just in case we weren’t feeling Canadian enough already) and we set off for the starting line.
Unfortunately the route was not well marked at all, so we all ended up running different distances, and courses, but in the end it didn’t matter at all.
It was fun.
Hands down.
I’ve been running a lot of late – at minimum thirty kilometers a week. It really is one of the only ways that I can properly unwind at the end of a workday, and I’m not exactly sure what I would do if I couldn’t strap on my runners and head out the door the moment I get home.
Running makes me feel alive.
It makes me feel whole.
Sometimes I think about what it would be like to just take off and run clear across this massive expanse of a country.
If I could commit myself to something so much bigger than my little life.
I think I could do it.
I think I would do it.
But until that day, I’ll just put one foot in front of the other.
Rant and Roll 
I am glad you find your release and outlet in running:) Now I know who Terry Fox is too! There is just too much cancer and it touches everyone because most of us know at least one person who has or is dealing with it:( Happy Week:)
Me too – it really is a live-saver for me! And yes, the run is so important, especially because it brings out all members of our communities! :)
Cheers to honoring terry fox! a true hero and kudos for the run :)
Thanks doll! I try to run it every year. :)
Nice! I take it you’ll be running tomorrow’s run for the cure then?
Did you get any Timbits at Tim Horton’s? ;-)
Hey, if Rick Hansen could make it through the world on a wheelchair, bet you could make it running across Canada. Just make sure to mail ahead several pairs of shoes to your destinations so they’re ready when you are!
And seriously, if you ever did make this trek, you could create some fabulous blog posts with it.
Timbits are the bees knees, but I only ever order the sour cream glazed and the cruellers!!
Sometimes I do think about running this crazy country of ours…each time I re-read Born To Run the urge becomes stronger, and stronger!
(And yes, Rick Hansen certainly brings the inspiration!!)
I’m not a runner, but I get the commitment to doing something physical — for me, at present, it’s painting (walls, not landscapes). Sometimes I get “painter’s high” — I don’t know if it’s the physicality, the sense of accomplishment, or the fumes. Whichever — It makes me happy.
I can’t ever really properly communicate how much you crack me up and bring happiness into my life. !!!
:)
yeah. i knew of T Fox. am sumwhut uvva historical hysterian, ya know. my last race i was 3rd over 20! ( an entire camp of nordic training camp for YOUTH entered, and pretty much swept the first 20 places) it was on top of rabbit-ears pass (near steamboat).
good for yez. rain? whut’s that?
(cynical “heh” here)
DUUUUUDE, that is awesome! Have you been running a lot? Good grief, I feel so behind on all my fellow bloggers adventures. I feel like I don’t have time to tie my shoes, let alone keep up with all the good things happening in the wordpress-o-sphere.
We have respite from the rain today. But I’m sure it will soon return!