When the ’88 Olympics were in Calgary, the torch made its way across Canada, similar to the recent Vancouver Games. I was in grade 7 and living in Winnipeg. Our school was let out midday to walk over to Portage Ave. where the torch relay was taking place. We all had mini torches in hand – ready to have them lit by the official torch.
Portage Avenue was buzzing and as I got my mini torch lit, I began to run with the entourage that surrounded the real torch, as did many of my classmates. But I found myself continuing to run, and run and run. My classmates had turned around to walk back to school, but on a cold winter day, I ran to the city limits of Winnipeg along with that torch. I wanted to keep running… and I did, until the runner with the torch hopped into the back of a truck and drove away. I don’t know what possessed me to run that far on that particular day, but in retrospect, that was the beginning of my dream to run across this country.

[blockquote size=”full” align=”left|right” byline=””]I don’t know what  possessed me to run that far on that particular day,  but in retrospect,  that was the beginning of my dream to run across  this country.[/blockquote]

Is it  early October and I feel fortunate to be training in the Haliburton  Highlands where I live. I explored an old logging road the other day off  the highway and ran into a moose about 4 kilometres in. Yesterday, I  ran up a local ski hill by my house and was in awe of the fall colours  tucked in behind Eagle Lake. The contrast of burnt oranges, yellows and  scarlet reds against a crisp blue sky give me a needed reminder of how  beautiful this country is. I am fortunate to have this as my backyard.  And as I put in my miles, somewhat begrudgingly at times, I remember  that day in Winnipeg and realize how happy I am to be chasing my dream.