With the best of intentions, Mike Hanson and Dave Morin concocted an outrageous challenge.
The Calgary runners have announced plans to complete 10 marathons in 10 days in 10 provinces in May and, in the process, raise $1 million for Autism Aspergers Friendship Society, KidSport, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Despite the whopper of an undertaking, they are optimistic—yet modest.
“You don’t have to be an elite athlete,” says Hanson. “You just have to work hard and plan. We’re just two regular guys.”
Regular, in the case of these gents, is a relative term.
Hanson, 44, tugs on his sneakers nearly every day, hammering out 170 kilometres per week. With family and work commitments, he rises at 3:00 a.m. to fit trots into his busy routine. (The excursions are so early that Strava logs them as night runs.)
In September, for the heck of it, he whipped through marathon-length outings – 42.2 kilometres – on five consecutive days. Hanson says he could have made it through six, but he “didn’t feel the need to push any harder.”
And Morin? Well, in the wee hours one day last summer, he decided to head to the neighbourhood track. There, he knocked out 250 laps—yes, 100 kilometres. And rather than rant about the monotony of the ordeal – in which he paced the same direction for all 16 hours – he smiles and talks about the “cool” experience of running while the sun was rising and still making strides when the sun started to set. “These different challenges appeal to me.”
We fully expect to be in pain for a good portion of this…
No kidding. During a recent six-month stay in New York City, Morin dashed down every street in Manhattan, an accomplishment that earned him a letter of recognition from Mayor Eric Adams.
“Running for me has always been a mix of adventure as well as the athletic side,” says Morin, 33, a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. “I’ve enjoyed being able to dive into that.”
So, it was no surprise when Hanson cooked up this 10-in-10-in-10 escapade four years ago, that Morin instantly pledged his participation. “I joke that I don’t think I actually finished the last sentence (of the pitch), and he was already in,” says Hanson, laughing. “He’s not scared to challenge himself.”
Despite the concerns of others – especially when it’s made clear that the mission is 10 marathons in 10 straight days – they remain wholeheartedly committed.
“Runners look at it like, ‘That’s really, really, really, really hard, but I could see it being done,'” says Hanson. But non-runners? “My dad is worried that I could die. People are like, ‘You can’t physically do that. That’s not humanly possible. That is insane.'”
Adds Morin: “It’s ambitious and a little audacious and a little bit crazy, but within the realm of consideration. Both Mike and I get excited about big goals, about pushing ourselves, about seeing what’s possible. And having the chance to pair that up with a big impact? It was an easy yes.”
Applauding the charities for empowering youth through mentorship, inclusion and community, the buddies point out that the connections are personal.
When Hanson’s twin sons, Tyler and Cole, now 14, were diagnosed with autism, he said they received a lot of support. Aware that others get left behind, he wants to pitch in. “Autism Aspergers Friendship Society is such an amazing organization,” says Hanson, director of field operations for Cenovus Energy. “I’ve seen the impact.”
Having grown up immersed in a wide range of athletic pursuits, they have soft spots for KidSport, which helps to reduce financial barriers for kids who are eager to play sports.
Morin, who volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters for nearly a decade, emphasizes the increasing reliance on these charities. He adds that the 10in10in10.ca website provides details for individual donations and corporate sponsorships.
“If we can help, that’s more gratifying than finishing the 10 marathons, knowing that kids out there are getting access to these services,” says Hanson.
Meanwhile, the pavement awaits.
Logistics settled, charities notified, campaign established, training miles banked, the challenge kicks off May 16 in St. John’s, N.L.
Then, via highway and air travel, they will drop into Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Vancouver for do-it-yourself jaunts, before concluding May 25 at the Servus Calgary Marathon, the only sanctioned event of the tour.
They are aiming to run 4 hours 30 minutes for all the marathons, planning to start every day at 7:00 a.m. and, of course, finish together. Closely monitored will be nutrition, hydration, and rest. Medical practitioners are lined up in each city, so, if necessary, the sore-footed heroes can arrange same-day treatment.
“We fully expect to be in pain for a good portion of this,” says Hanson. “I’m sure every step is going to hurt during the last several marathons, but it’s not the first time we’ve run like that.”
However, it’s anticipation, not dread, that the friends are feeling in the lead-up to the venture. Energized by the difference-making potential, they are stoked.
“We’re winging it,” says Hanson, “so we’re interested to see how this goes. This could get really big—we’re hopeful it does.”
Photography: Jana Miko
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