My goal for 2021 is to complete my FalloRick Home-to-Home Challenge, a 4,200 km run from Victoria, BC, to Sault Ste. Marie, ON.
Many events have inspired me to run this Home-to-Home Challenge. I ran in 14 marathons throughout my lifetime, and I also ran with other athletes who have run across Canada, passing through my hometown of Sault-Ste-Marie. I was involved with organizing the local Terry Fox Runs for ten years and I am now looking to make a difference, raising money for Childhood Cancer and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
A Great Canadian Running Challenge keeps me motivated to complete the challenges I give myself throughout the year, no matter the degree of difficulty they are. The challenge and community also helped motivate me to achieve my goals over the past three years.
I do various running, walking and hiking exercises throughout the day, but running is my favourite.
I started running as a child and through high school. I started doing longer distances in 1981 when I was recovering from an injury (not running related). I ran my first marathon in May 1981. I kept running but never ran my second marathon until 2010, when a local Chamber of Commerce put on their first running event. I have not stopped since.
Now at 61 years old, I plan on running “The Marathon of my Life!”
This year, my greatest obstacles have been running back-to-back-to-back 1/2 marathons and enduring 1/2 marathon hill training in preparation for my 4,200 km run.
I keep myself motivated by setting a challenge or goal and setting my mind to completing what I started. Too often, people give up on things when they start finding it too hard. Finding the time to run sometimes is hard, and I miss the odd day running, but most days, I can make the time, even for a short 5K run.
If you are struggling with a challenge, don’t give up! Change things up and do something different. Slow your pace. Add more but shorter daily physical activity to your routine. Most of all, look at why you have started the Challenge and dig deep to find that power that will drive you to reach your goal!
Keep it up! Everyone doing this Challenge is doing great! If, for some reason, you do not make your goal this year, let it be the beginning of a new journey for you to achieve next year. You may have to rethink your plans to make things achievable for you and your lifestyle. But NEVER GIVE UP!!
You can follow Rick’s journey as he aims to reach his goals in 2021 on the Leaderboard.
You can also follow Rick’s journey at FalloRick.com as he strives to run from Victoria, BC to his hometown of Sault-Ste-Marie beginning April 12th, 2021, covering 4200KM! We wish you the best of luck Rick! Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Best wishes in your challenge to run 4200 km run from Victoria to Sault Ste. Marie. That’s a big task, and the reason for your run so inspiring, generous and kind. Cancer is a big killer, but with ongoing research so many people are surviving this horrible disease than ever before. I know because I am one of them. So is my son and my sister!
During this difficult time of the pandemic when all the talk is so negative, for a change it is very refreshing to read about your past accomplishments with the Terry Fox runs, your love for running, as well as your plans for this coming year.
I’ll make it to follow you on the Leaderboard and cheer you on as you go! Safe travels Rick! Nancy, a GCRC walker.
Thank you to all who have “Fall-o-ed” this journey.
I completed the run from Victoria, BC to Sault Ste. Marie, ON in 119 days which included 13 rest days, getting me into the Sault August 7th, and “Home” on August 8th. for a
Thank you to all who have “Fall-o-ed” this journey.
I was unable to keep my up dates going during the run, so finally, here is the end results.
I completed the run from Victoria, BC to Sault Ste. Marie, ON in 119 days which included 13 rest days, getting me into the Sault August 7th, and “Home” on August 8th. for a total of 3,960.12 km. I was able to complete the 4,200 km September 12th, 5 months after starting.