Eric's 24 hour Adventure

Running, in one form or another, has been a constant presence in my life. When rec-league soccer and youth hockey became more competitive, I began to run simply as a means of conditioning for those sports. Back then, running a whole mile straight was a big accomplishment, but I stuck with it long enough for running to become a habit that I’ve maintained through to the present.

A few years ago, my sister, Jacque, herself a keen runner, let me know that she had begun training for a half marathon. Up to that point, I had only ever raced in local 5Ks, making her goal look outright Sisyphean. She did it, of course, and her success inspired me to try for longer distance races too. 

Since completing my own first half marathon in 2023, and marathon in 2024, I have continued to pursue new running challenges, leading me to enter the MCW 24H Ultra.

Another constant across so many years of athletics – and one so basic as to go unnoticed – is potable water. And if ever there was an occasion to highlight the reality that this basic human necessity is not enjoyed by all, it’s during an ultramarathon.