Day 25: Mud, Massages, More Friends, and a Hang Glider
55 km ran today; 1,204 km total
Day 25: Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Distance Today: 55 km
Total Distance Completed: ~1,204 km
Projected Total Distance: ~1,570 km
Progress: ~76.7% complete
Remaining Distance: ~366 km
After a shorter day yesterday and another wake up at Pike Lake Campground, it felt good to get back to a full day of running.
Getting ready for another day of running on Saskatchewan backroads.
After a quick breakfast on the road, we picked up Gnome and Froggie and I started my day with a run!
Gnome and Frogger ready for another day heading south.
The route quickly reminded us that we were deep into farming country.
We spent much of the day running on road allowances, muddy tracks, and field roads.
A nice day for a run in farming country.
The muddy conditions created a few challenges for the crew.
At one point Sandy and Auntie Lorri found themselves navigating some particularly adventurous terrain while following the route.
A message soon came over the group chat:
"We're on a very muddy 2-track. Let us know when you're closer. I almost got stuck, we may have to redirect you."
Fortunately, everyone escaped without needing a tow.
Sandy and Auntie Lorri after some off roading with Auntie Carol’s vehicle
As the morning continued, Dylan, Auntie Carol, and I made our way along a dirt road toward lunch.
Making our way toward the lunch spot
Auntie Carol spent part of the day pacing me on her bike.
Auntie Carol joining the adventure from two wheels.
By lunchtime, everyone was ready for a break.
Cousin Kalim is making sure everyone is taken care of so the rest of us can relax
Lunch also came with some recovery work.
My legs have been carrying me for getting close to 1,200 kilometres now, and they occasionally remind me of that fact.
Sandy delivered a painful but helpful massage, followed by 15 minutes of ice before sending me back out for the afternoon.
A painful but necessary massage - Thanks Sandy!
Kalim and Dylan hanging out during the lunch stop
In the afternoon, my good friend Amro arrived.
We've shared many ultra-running adventures over the years. It was energizing to get a run and a visit in with Amro.
Running some kilometres with my friend, Amro.
One of the most unexpected moments of the day happened when we spotted a hang glider soaring extremly high above us.
At first it looked almost unreal against the clouds.
Later, we met the pilot.
His name was Dale Regehr, a grain and cattle farmer near Delisle. In his spare time, he competes in hang gliding events and travels throughout North America pursuing the sport.
We stopped for a great conversation before continuing on our way.
Meeting Dale and learning about the world of hang gliding. You never know what kind of interesting characters you’re going to meet on the backroads of SK!
Back with the crew, Dylan continued his ongoing mission of documenting snacks consumed by crew chief, Brad.
Dylan's ongoing photo project for today: snapping photos of Brad - but only while he’s eating. Proof that he’s only working 99.99% of the time while he’s out here :)
The afternoon brought more kilometres, plenty of conversation, and another familiar face.
Joey, who spent time with me in the north, came back out to pace.
It was wonderful to run some kilometres with him again.
…and yes, Joey’s the guy known to make a mean back-country poutine.
Joey rejoined the adventure and shared some kilometres once again.
This afternoon, Dylan also ran some more kilometres with Amro and me.
Dylan’s been out here for quite a few days now and he’s not just a pacer or photographer, he’s also been a great mindset coach too. I’ve been super thankful to have him running beside me in the low points when my shin splints have been kicking in.
Good friends make these days feel shorter.
As the weather turned later in the day, Amro and I briefly waited out the worst of the rain.
Naturally, this involved a donut.
The temperature dropped to around 11°C and a steady drizzle settled in.
Thankfully, the break was short and we were able to finish the day's final kilometres.
By the end of the afternoon, I had ran 55 kilometres.
Back at Pike Lake, an incredible surprise was waiting.
Kayla and Steve had arrived with multiple boxes of pizza for everyone.
After a long day of running, it was such a treat!
Post-run pizza may be one of the greatest recovery tools ever invented.
The evening was filled with good conversation, good food, and good company.
Amro’s classic selfie-group photo (from left): Amro, Chad, Megan, Steve, Kayla, and Dylan - Amro nails these selfies everytime
While I finally managed to sneak away for a shower in Chris and Garth’s trailer, Sandy took charge of the evening briefing.
Team meeting to plan for tomorrow and for this coming weekend.
55 km ran today. 1,204 km completed.
~76.7% complete.
Somewhere around 366 km to the Saskatchewan–Montana border.
The kilometres keep adding up, and so do the memories.
Today brought muddy roads, good conversations, familiar faces, and another reminder of how lucky I am to have so many people helping carry this journey forward.
Why I'm Running
My mom, Louise, passed from leukemia at age 38. On June 12th, I turned 38 myself.
To honour her memory, I'm running approximately 1,570 kilometres across Saskatchewan while raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Every step is a reminder that even the biggest journeys are completed one step at a time.
This daily update covers day 25 (June 18th, 2026) of this adventure
