Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 10 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Completing over 888 race kilometres

One of my favourite places to go and talk about Marathon Quest 250 is the Running Rooms in and around Calgary. So far this year I've been to Glenmore Landing, Country Hills, Eau Claire and Crowfoot. There is always an enthusiastic group of runners who want to listen to and share tips on pace, gear, hydration and nutrition.

The man who started the Running Room experience is John Stanton and I've had the pleasure of meeting John on a number of occasions. John was born in Alberta and in the 1980s, a short fun run with his youngest son offered a wake-up call to improve his overall wellness and he began running, entering road races and marathons. John has since competed in over 60 marathons, hundreds of road races and numerous triathlons, including the Hawaiian World Championship Ironman competition.

Last Friday I was at the Crowfoot Running Room and over 25 people attended the presentation. These folks were made up of three groups; learn to run, 10km and half marathon. The 10 km and half marathoners are racing on the Calgary Marathon weekend, and for a number of them it's the first time at that distance. It's great to see so many taking up this activity and stepping into the unknown for a new distance.

I told them that I was attempting to set a Guinness World Record in the marathon by running in a full lacrosse uniform. I explained that I was doing it to raise money for the children's charity Right To Play. Using your running to raise funds for a cause, close to your heart, is a great way to go.

At the end of the evening I was chatting with 10 year old Grace. She had come with her mum and wanted to buy a copy of MARATHON QUEST. Grace is planning to do a duathlon and, looking ahead, she wants to try a triathlon. Way to go girl.

Quote of the Day

"A life has to move or it stagnates."

Beryl Markham

Grace, age 10, came to the Crowfoot Running Room to hear about Marathon Quest 250. Her next challenge; a duathlon.

Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 10 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Completing over 888 race kilometres

One down and nine to go. At 6.03pm on Thursday May 2^nd Aaron McConnell from TransRockies Events Inc. blew the whistle and a group of "Chasers" headed west, from the East Village Plaza in Calgary, along a path by the Bow River. Three minutes earlier a much larger group of "Skirts" had headed off in the same direction. This was the Skirt Chaser 5km, the first event in my 8^th Quest; TransRockies Quest 888. There are a total of ten events from May to October and my quest is to complete all ten, covering over 888 race kms.

This first event had stirred up some controversy. There were comments on Twitter and Facebook expressing the opinion that it was sexist and demeaning to women and even the CBC got in on the act. I asked Sue what she thought and she said the negative comments were a load of nonsense, that it was just a bit of fun and people should lighten up. I asked her how I should pace myself for the race and she told me to run as fast as I could but treat it like a fishing trip: Catch and Release.

I arrived at the East Village Plaza start area and met up with Aaron and Jonathan from TransRockies. They said that the media had been buzzing around earlier but had headed off before the start of the race. Aaron mentioned that 160 individuals had signed up and of these, 120 were women. I was in the "Chase group" and ran one of my fastest 5kms in years. Around the finishing area, everyone was laughing and joking and having a great time. I'm sure for a number of runners it was their first 5km. Way to go.

So Quest #8 has begun. The next event is Rundles Revenge in Canmore on June 22^nd and 23^rd. This involves a 100km mountain bike on the Saturday followed by a 50km trail run on Sunday.  Interested in joining me for one or more of the events? Then check out TransRockies at http://transrockies.com/ .

As with all my Quests, I'm raising money for the children's charity Right To Play. During the TRQ888 we hope to raise $25,000 and with matching donation of $3 to every $1 raise $100,000. When children play the world wins.

Quote of the Day

"I can live with disappointment but I can't live with regret"

Andre Agassi

TransRockies Quest 888: 6 months, 10 events, 888 race kms.

Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 10 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Completing over 888 race kilometres

At 9.55am on Sunday April 21^st, I was in London, England, standing with 35,000 other runners, in complete silence. A whistle had blown and for 30 seconds a hush fell across the mass of singlet clad individuals. This act of remembrance was for runners and supporters in Boston who had been killed or injured in the worst act of terror since 9/11. The Boston marathon had taken place just a week before and there was speculation about the status of the Virgin London marathon. Should it be cancelled or postponed? The consensus was overwhelming. It would go ahead.

A second whistle sounded and a huge cheer went up. We were ready to race. In the world of marathons, London is unique. It holds the Guinness World Record for "The largest one day fund raising event". In 2012 over $85m was raised for hundreds of charities. As I stood waiting for the 10.00am start gun to go off I could see a number of runners with their chosen charity printed on their shirt. There were also many in costumes. I spotted a man in a chicken suit, a two person Jamaican bobsleigh, a Rhinoceros, Wolverine and Mary Poppins.

The logistics of this event are mind-blowing. There were three starting chutes and I was in Red. There was also a green chute for the elite runners and a blue chute for fast age -groupers. From the time the start gun was fired, it took 20 minutes just to get to the timing mats. I started knocking off the kms and was spurred on by the packed crowds lining the streets. Every so often I'd here "Go, Right To Play, Go". The route takes in some of the historical landmarks in London including Tower Bridge, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

I kept a good pace but it's the first time I've been in a race where there were people around me for the whole 42.2kms. My step-son, Calum, lives in London and at the 40km mark I heard a yell and there he was. I couldn't believe how he had tracked me down amongst all the runners and spectators. It was a great day for running but the temperature was rising as I approached the last two km. I felt pretty good and pushed it a bit over the final 200 meters. I was therefore a bit surprised when Mary Poppins came up beside me and pipped me at the post. Next time Poppins!

My target time was 4 hours 40 minutes so I was very pleased with my 4 hours 37 minutes 42 seconds. I had arranged to meet Calum and Kathryn, from the UK Right To Play office, at a spot along Horse Guards Parade. The finish was a mass of humanity but fortunately RTP had a flag flying and I tracked them down. Kathryn asked me what my next marathon was. Well, on May 26^th I'm running Calgary and London has given me lots of ideas.

Quote of the Day

""It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short,easy words like 'What about lunch?"

Winnie the Pooh

Heading across Tower Bridge during Sunday's London Marathon

Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 10 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Completing over 888 race kilometres

Sunday was my final long run before I started to taper for the London Marathon on April 21st. The plan was to drive out 32km on Horse Creek Road then run back home. We've been having great weather the past couple of weeks and Sunday was no different. Members of the Cochrane Red Rocks Running Club; John, Joanne, Wayne, Roy and myself headed out at 8.00am. We drove up my old Marathon Quest 250 route, then on past Dartique Hall to the county line. The nice thing about this training run is that there's a 600 foot elevation drop from start to finish. We parked up and started the journey home.

On the way out we had spotted several herds of deer and on the way back there was an abundance of wild life. There were donkeys, horses, llamas and the highlight was a hawk that didn't seem to be bothered by us. A couple of strange sightings included a stuffed bunny and a chocolate egg in the middle of the road.

As we plodded along Horse Creek Road, the conversation switched back and forth between upcoming races, the types of nutrition that was being used and what Simon and Turbo were up to on Boundless. Another topic came up that had never been discussed before: Pope Francis. On Holy Thursday, the Pope had washed the feet of two women, one a Serbian Muslim, the other an Italian Catholic. This had upset traditionalist Catholics and had got our little running group talking.

I was brought up a good Catholic boy with mum take us six kids to church every Sunday. Over the years I've moved away from the pomp and ceremony of the church to a more spiritualist belief system. However, Pope Francis, with his simple life style and actions in helping the outcast, has renewed my interest in the Papacy.

So the timing couldn't have been better for a trip to Rome for Sue and I. We'll be there from April 3^rd to 10^th and I definitely want to go to St. Peter's Square on Sunday.

Pax Vobiscum.

Quote of the Day

"The way to get what you want in life is by helping enough other people to get what they want"

Zig Ziglar

A magnificent bird of prey in the foothills of the Rockies

Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 10 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Completing over 888 race kilometres

One of my favourite events is the Calgary Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show. It was held last Saturday and Sunday at Stampede Park in the BMO centre and the place is always hopping. This year there were two other events going on at the same time, the Health show and Golf show. The last couple of years I've been helping out at the Downunder Travel booth. Jason Webb, Managing Director of the company, has been a great supporter of "Quests for Kids" and Right To Play. Last year Jason started a "Back to School" fun run and all the proceeds go to the children's charity.

On Saturday, I had wanted to get to the event by 1.00pm. One of my Olympic hero's Adam Van Koeverden was talking at the Adventure Theatre and I didn't want to miss any of his presentation. However, I was "running" late. In the morning I had raced the L'Arche half marathon along the Bow river pathways and after a quick pancake lunch I booted it up to the Saddle Dome. Adam was already well into his keynote. The Downunder Travel booth was right next to the theatre and I couldn't believe it when Adam stopped his talk, called me up to the front of the stage and introduced me to the audience.

Adam is not only a gold medal kayaker but also a humanitarian. He is a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador and last November was part of a group that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and raised over $100,000 for the charity. After his presentation Adam came over and we chatted about Kilimanjaro. Boma Africa was the trekking company we both had used to get to the top and as fate would have it one of the porters, Kidori, had climbed with Adam and myself.

There were lots of interesting booths including the Calgary Marathon, Town of Cochrane and My Next Race. There was one booth with what looked like zebra skins as a table cloth and animal heads adoring the booth. Not really my cup of tea.

Quote of the Day

"Be so good you're impossible to ignore"

Steve Martin

A thrill to meet Adam van Koeverden at the Outdoor Show