6 years to 16 Kilometres…
A Story About The Wings For Life World Run
Photos by: Royce Sihlis Photography
I raced in my first Wings For Life World Run in May of 2015
Back then, I set a goal before the race of running 8 km, which seemed lofty at the time. I surprised myself and practically everyone I know when I ran 9.87 km — a huge victory, only 1 year, 4 months, and 17 days after I broke my neck.
Considering the great strides I was making in my recovery from Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) , the following year I would be able to run 15 km — right?
It seemed achievable, so I trained hard, showed up on the start line the following year at Niagara Falls ON, and ran a whopping 10.49 km!
Not exactly the 15km I had in mind.
I trained, I pushed my body, I worked hard (really hard), it was all I focused on in my rehabilitation, so why didn’t I get there?
I felt defeated.
And sure, a 50% increase is a lot looking back, but I expected my healing journey to keep following the hockey stick growth curve I’d been experiencing. Besides, in my life before SCI, 15 km would’ve been no problem.
“Never give up on a goal because of the time or effort it’ll take to achieve it, the time is going to pass anyway…”
In the years to come I kept my eye on the 15 km goal. I wasn’t about to give up, however, my trajectory wasn’t exactly following a “hockey stick” curve, not even a linear trajectory…
In 2017, I only made it 6.79 km. The following year, 12.47 km—now we’re getting somewhere. In 2019, my app didn’t track my GPS coordinates properly (user error!), but I estimate I ran nearly 13km. In 2020, only 9.34 km — practically back to square one.
Along the way, I had plenty of opportunities to let go of my dream. I asked myself over and over, would I ever reach the goal?
Why the Wings For Life World run?
The Wings For Life World Run is more than a charity event for me, it’s my annual benchmark for healing. It lets me know how I’m doing in terms of recovery, and for me it has been a huge motivator in every physiotherapy session, every yoga class, and every workout. I work much harder knowing I’ve got the Wings For Life World Run to work towards.
The World Run is like no other run on earth…
There’s a start line but no finish line. Once you start running, the challenge is to see how far you can go. The motto is “running for those who can’t” and the collective goal is to go the distance. More kilometres = more fundraising for SCI research.
So, do you just run until you drop? Not exactly.
Your progress is measured by the Wings For Life World Run App using the GPS function on your phone. Thirty minutes after you leave the start line, the finish line starts coming after you. The virtual “catcher car” gradually increasing its speed until it catches you, and then you’re done.
It’s called the World Run because participants around the world start at the exact same time, running wherever they are using the app.
It’s all about running for those who can’t. It’s about seeing how far you can run—a personal challenge. You’re racing with everyone all over the world. And, you’re being chased. There’s an adrenaline rush too.
The elusive goal of 15 km, would I ever get there?
In December 2020, amid the throws of the global pandemic, I decided to change my pre-race strategy — I needed to do something different this year. I’m no stranger to the gym, I’ve worked out a ton in my life in sport, but this saying rings true, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” Even though I thought myself proficient, my ‘expertise’ in the gym just wasn’t cutting it. I needed help. So, I started working with a trainer in December who taught me new strategies, a new approach, and new perspective. Total game changer.
I did a leg-day workout once per week with Tanner Kardynal from December through until the beginning of May. I shared my Wings For Life goal — so we kept our eyes on the prize in every workout.
Side note… There are plenty of side benefits to working on your health and getting into a gym that much, I feel awesome! But my body had never been stronger (not since the accident anyway), and my capacity was growing right up till race day.
Fast forward to May 9th, 2021…
When I met a small group of awesome individuals at the Oyama General store in Lake Country before sun up at4 AM start—the West coast of North America has what’s arguably the least desirable start time around the world— I felt ready.
Tanner joined me on the run with the young gun, Nixon Swanson. In the WFL World Run, pace matters—you have to stay ahead of the catcher car as long as possible, so we set off quickly.
Once we got into a rhythm, my body settled into the same establish pattern of early fatigue and wanting to give up—my body just doesn’t like running. I found myself doubting I could do it, wondering, would I be able to get there?
I was worried I wouldn’t make the goal right from the get go. I’d been working so hard and did everything I thought I could to hopefully surpass 15 km.
I had to push through both limiting thresholds—mental and physical. By keeping track of my pace and staying below 6 minutes per kilometre, and if I could just hold on I had a shot at beating my goal. Head down, persistent, I kept going, with Tanner and Nixon giving me motivation along the way.
My body felt good through 5 km.
10 km came and went, still going strong.
At 12 km into the race my body really started to fatigue and slow down.
The pain set in. The uncertainty—abundant.
Just keep going.
I pushed and pushed every step of the way. When I saw the 15 km mark approaching on my GPS I thought, “this is incredible, I might actually make it!”
When the 15 km mark came and went on my phone’s screen, a wave of euphoria hit!
All the hard work and effort paid off, and all of the neurochemicals—the dopamine—they all hit at once!
Dopamine, for one, is ingrained in our internal reward system and it’s the reason why we do almost everything. It is acutely tied to motivation. My ‘dopamine dump’ was profound at that moment—15 km. However, the dopamine I enjoyed every day leading up to the race, in every gym work out, every early wake up, in the effort and strain process—it collectively surpasses anything I felt that day. “Falling in love with the process,” as they say, is possible if you keenly train your reward system and focus on the amount of dopamine derived in the effort and strain process overtime versus only focusing on how it will feel once you get to your finish line.
Don’t get me wrong, the finish line feels good (really good!), especially at 15 km in the Wings For Life World Run.
At 15km, my mind and body bursting, completely elated, I felt the rush. I felt success, but the race wasn’t over.
We could still keep running.
And we did! All the way to 16.2 km! I blew away my personal best and smashed my goal. But, if you asked me at the end of my last 12.5 km run if I thought I could go any further, I’d have said it probably weren’t possible. I pushed my body to the limit on those days.
With preparation and strategy, it’s incredible what we’re all capable of.
There are synergies in this story you can relate to other parts of your life like your business, physical health and well-being, or a self-actualization goal. The way you approach and prepare has more to do with the outcome than motivation or desire alone.
Thanks for reading and when you set goals, aim high. If you fall short when you’re shooting for the stars, you’ll still end up on the moon.
Join us next year!
Wings For Life world run is a cause that’s close to my heart. Our next big goal is to get enough people together running with the app to collectively log enough kilometers to go from coast to coast across Canada. If we do we will raise more money and awareness for Spinal Cord Injury research and collectively make a difference. Join us next year!
