After scratching that first marathon B次元官网网址� or half-marathon, 10K or 5K B次元官网网址� off their bucket list, the question for many runners and walkers is how to stay motivated to continue their training?
For ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Dawn Christenson, the answer was to pair her love of travel with her passion for running, and she committed to completing a marathon in each of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 10 provinces over 10 years.
The story begins with the B次元官网网址� ChristensonB次元官网网址檚 first marathon B次元官网网址� in 2008.
On Oct. 8, her 10-year quest ends on the opposite end of the country, when she finishes this yearB次元官网网址檚 Trapline Marathon in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.
B次元官网网址淚 think all runners are goal oriented and signing up for events is a public commitment that keeps the motivation high. Once I had done several half marathons, I was looking for a bigger challenge and signed up for the full Victoria Marathon in 2008. Even though I still think of that race as the toughest one I ever did, it motivated me to do another, because I knew I could do better,B次元官网网址� Christenson says.
While noting sheB次元官网网址檚 not an elite athlete, she describes running as B次元官网网址渁 B次元官网网址榗hange of lifeB次元官网网址� passion with the ultimate goal of aging gracefully by being active for as long as my legs will carry me.B次元官网网址�
Now 54, Christenson didnB次元官网网址檛 start running until age 40. B次元官网网址淚 was immediately hooked by how quickly my fitness improved the more consistent I was with my running,B次元官网网址� she says, noting at the time, B次元官网网址淚 knew nothing about marathon running.
B次元官网网址淭he B次元官网网址�10 marathons, 10 provinces, 10 yearsB次元官网网址� goal came out of my desire to make sure running stays a part of my lifestyle with that end game in mind, to keep active for the rest of my life.B次元官网网址�
Tying her fitness goals to travelling through Canada offered the best of both worlds.
B次元官网网址淎 B次元官网网址榞et to know CanadaB次元官网网址� quest, I had never been east of Ontario, and love exploring. IB次元官网网址檓 a very proud Canadian and would rather spend my vacation dollars discovering all the beauty and culture Canada has to offer,B次元官网网址� Christenson says, recalling both the 50-runner marathon in Treherne, Man. and crossing the St. Lawrence River with thousands in the Quebec City marathon.
B次元官网网址淭he race in each province has been so unique B次元官网网址� the people, the scenery, the places we stayed. Big city, small hamlet, grand hotel, mom-and-pop motel, alone and with family B次元官网网址� we made some fun memories and met fascinating people.B次元官网网址�
While Christenson will be running 10 provinces away, runners and walkers can join this yearB次元官网网址檚 Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon, half-marathon, relay, 8K or childrenB次元官网网址檚 fun run at .
B次元官网网址淭he course itself in Victoria is second-to-none. It is a world-class race B次元官网网址� so well done and so well suppor-
ted,B次元官网网址� she says.
And as she trains with her local running friends, Christenson is already looking forward to that next goal:
B次元官网网址淥nce IB次元官网网址檝e done the most easterly province, now that I live here I may have to do the Victoria marathon next year, just to see if I can do it better than I did 10 years ago!B次元官网网址�
jennifer.blyth
