Ottawa to Toronto run.

[Endorphineaddict]

A while ago I wrote a post describing how I had suffered a cardiac arrest towards the end of a half marathon. I had been without a pulse for somewhere between 5 and 7 minutes, while bystanders gallantly performed CPR. My life was eventually saved when paramedics arrived with a portable defibrillator (AED).

To celebrate the anniversary of that event I shall run (walk, stumble and crawl) from Ottawa to Toronto. The route I have chosen is 470 KM long and my intention is to run between 60 to 70 KM a day. On the 8th day I shall run the route of the marathon that I collapsed in last year. This time I intend to run the whole route!

I am outlining my journey, "From flat line to finish line", in my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/newlifemarathon

Please visit the link and if you have access to Facebook please 'Like' the page. I am training hard but it is the emotional support I need, and every 'Like' will carry me further.

[La]

Wow, quite the feat! Good for you.

[Spirit Unleashed]

I don't belong to face book but wish you a good journey.

[QuickChick]

Good luck! I've "liked".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[n_fraser]

I've liked! Look forward to following your journey.

[Midge]

good luck

is a good thing you do

[Endorphineaddict]

Thank you all so much. It is incredible what your support does for me.

[Jwolf]

That's a very cool thing you are doing. I have liked your page.

[Habs4ever]

I don't have Facebook, but I wish you the best for your journey.

[canalrunner]

You definitely have my like. As I said I know you will enjoy every step. I ran the marathon with my son the day of your collapse--his first marathon--and ran by the young lady who collapsed during her first and sadly died. It all teaches us to appreciate more what we have, for as long as we have it. Good luck on your journey.

[mlazenby]

Awesome! I love a good challenge. I shall be watching for this one. Bon chance!

[Endorphineaddict]

You definitely have my like. As I said I know you will enjoy every step. I ran the marathon with my son the day of your collapse--his first marathon--and ran by the young lady who collapsed during her first and sadly died. It all teaches us to appreciate more what we have, for as long as we have it. Good luck on your journey.

It was indeed very tragic and made me even more grateful for my good fortune.

[Endorphineaddict]

Awesome! I love a good challenge. I shall be watching for this one. Bon chance!

Thank you. It certainly will be a challenge and I am definitely looking forward to it.

[Jo-Jo]

Awesome! I love a good challenge. I shall be watching for this one. Bon chance!

Thank you. It certainly will be a challenge and I am definitely looking forward to it.

I see you're departing Ottawa on a Monday...I'm spending a fair number of weekends and Mondays in Ottawa these days...hopefully I can be there in May to send you off on your epic run

I have cowbell

[Endorphineaddict]

Awesome! I love a good challenge. I shall be watching for this one. Bon chance!

Thank you. It certainly will be a challenge and I am definitely looking forward to it.

I see you're departing Ottawa on a Monday...I'm spending a fair number of weekends and Mondays in Ottawa these days...hopefully I can be there in May to send you off on your epic run

I have cowbell

That would be amazing. I need all the support I can get!

[orleansrunner1962]

I have "liked" your page as well, and will do my very best to see you off as well -- hey, depending on the pace you are setting off at, I can perhaps even log a few km with you!

[Endorphineaddict]

I have "liked" your page as well, and will do my very best to see you off as well -- hey, depending on the pace you are setting off at, I can perhaps even log a few km with you!

That would be awesome. Oh and don't worry, I shall be going very slow. I have had several people asking about running with me in Ottawa. Nearer the time I will finalize a few things but for now I am planning to start on Parliament Hill near to the Peace Officers memorial at 8 am.

[Jogger Barbie]

I also "Liked" and wish you the best. If you are looking for people to run with you closer to Toronto, please keep us in the loop.

[Sustain26]

Well, my cousin's a doctor and he keeps reminding me that the original 'inventor' of jogging was a U.S. doctor who collapsed and died of cardiac failure while jogging.

We don't need bad publicity (hah!), so get yourself checked out, and by that I mean get a second opinion.

My very personal opinion is that endurance running (can be trails, preferably) is worlds apart from the usual 'pavement pounders' (tin foil hat on). Can you find a trail path - either partial or full? If you don't need to limit yourself to paved roads, don't!

[Jo-Jo]

Awesome! I love a good challenge. I shall be watching for this one. Bon chance!

Thank you. It certainly will be a challenge and I am definitely looking forward to it.

I see you're departing Ottawa on a Monday...I'm spending a fair number of weekends and Mondays in Ottawa these days...hopefully I can be there in May to send you off on your epic run

I have cowbell

That would be amazing. I need all the support I can get!

Can I wear my Hula Girl costume...please
p.s. The G&M has interviewed Hula Girl....just sayin

[BJH]

What an awesome challenge!!

Well, my cousin's a doctor and he keeps reminding me that the original 'inventor' of jogging was a U.S. doctor who collapsed and died of cardiac failure while jogging.

Jim Fixx was genentically predisposed to an early death. He was overweight and a smoker into his thirties before he caught the running bug. He died at 52, his father had died of a heart attack at 43.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fixx

[Endorphineaddict]

Well, my cousin's a doctor and he keeps reminding me that the original 'inventor' of jogging was a U.S. doctor who collapsed and died of cardiac failure while jogging.

We don't need bad publicity (hah!), so get yourself checked out, and by that I mean get a second opinion.

My very personal opinion is that endurance running (can be trails, preferably) is worlds apart from the usual 'pavement pounders' (tin foil hat on). Can you find a trail path - either partial or full? If you don't need to limit yourself to paved roads, don't!

Well BJH beat me to my first point, thank you BJH, indeed Jim Fixx is the simple example that those who don't hold up to justify why they don't and to taunt those who do.

I will try not to bring any "bad" publicity and as far as getting myself checked out, I have three cardiologists, a dietitian, a pharmacist, a family doctor, a doctor and nurse attached to my work and even a therapist, should I have encountered any emotional trauma due to my experience, (which I don't believe I have, but we all say that) So I make that a 1, 2, 3.... sorry I have lost count, opinions. I started running at the age of ten and I am now 48. I have run distances from 400 metres to 50 miles, and have divided my training between trails, tracks, tarmac and treadmills. (by tarmac I mean asphalt, but I was enjoying the alliteration). This venture was something I had wanted to do for several years but that really came into being as a solid idea in my hospital bed (I was hospitalized for three days due to cardiac arrest, May 5, 6, 7, 2013). The route is planned, my support team is planned and briefed. I have consulted with both Chris Finill who ran across America in 2011 and Curtis Hargrove who ran across Canada (both enormous fonts of knowledge and great inspirations to me). Sure there are still many minor details to sort out but we are well on the way.

Look I am sorry to sound flippant, (it is a little out of character) and I do genuinely appreciate your concern and advice, as it gets me to reflect on all those medical necessaries, but trust me. My eyes are wide open, I have a lifetime (almost literally) of experience, and I am fully embracing the the medical and rehabilitative process. It's just that I hope this journey stands for many things and is a celebration, and most of all I hope it is a celebration of running. The last thing I want to do is besmirch the name of running.

[Pat29]

I liked. Good luck!

[Endorphineaddict]

I liked. Good luck!

Thank you very much

[Sustain26]

Sorry, my bad. There is a 'publicity' angle to your effort (that precludes unpaved roads, let alone trails), and I'm sure (?) your support staff has or will ask(ed) all the hard questions. Best wishes! (AED stands for "Automated external defibrillator".)