Day 29 - The Prairie Keeps Showing Off

63 km ran today; ~1,437.5 km total

Monday, June 22, 2026

Distance Ran Today: 63 km
Total Distance Ran: ~1,437.5 km
Projected Total Distance to Run: ~1,570 km
Progress: ~91.6% complete
Remaining Distance: ~132.5 km

The trains made sure nobody slept particularly well Sunday night.

The campground in Morse was nice, but I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say freight trains rolled by what we all agreed was every 30 to 60 minutes. By morning it was a chilly 8°C, and after many panicky moments where I thrashed in my sleeping bag for fear my tent was on the train tracks, I was happy to get moving again.

Like most mornings lately, the first few kilometres were more of a walk than a run. My legs have needed a little time to wake up before they're ready to cooperate. Dr. Alyssa has me sticking with Tylenol rather than Advil to help manage the soreness, since Advil can increase the risk of GI bleeding-something I've definitely wanted to avoid.

Every morning starts with another round of tape to put some compression on my shins. Thanks Sandy!

I had a bagel and some hot chocolate - a great combo for breakfast on this chilly morning.

We started the morning by picking up Froggie and Gnome just south of Highway 1 before continuing along Reed Lake.

The cool temperatures made for a beautiful start.

Brad snapping a photo of Sandy snapping a photo of me picking up Gnome and Froggie to start the day

Cool temperatures, quiet roads, and a nice little stroll beside Reed Lake to get warmed up.

Dylan walked with me for the beginning of the day while my legs loosened up.

A little later we were surprised by another visitor.

Iris pulled over after recognizing me from following the run online since Day 1. She jumped out to walk alongside us for a while. Conversations like that continue to be one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. It's amazing how many people have quietly been following along from home.

Iris has been following the project since the beginning and stopped to share a few kilometres with us.

Before long, Auntie Lorri joined us for a walk as well, making those early kilometres go by quickly.

We also passed an old abandoned farmyard with a rusted truck slowly being reclaimed by the prairie. It was one of those scenes that makes you wonder about the stories hidden along these back roads.

I don't think this one's making it to the finish line with us.

Those little specks beside the wind turbine are Dylan and me running.

The scenery continued to impress all day long. Rolling prairie, endless skies, and plenty of wildlife kept things interesting. We spotted pronghorn, mule deer, two white-tailed deer, and two fawns.

One local resident seemed less than happy to see us.

Mr. Bull was giving us the stink eye. He wasn’t convinced we belonged in his neighbourhood.

Lunch came with a bit of everything.

Sandy and Brad had another roadside feast waiting: hot food, a chance to sit down, and even a massage while I ate.

My crew takes amazing care of me.

Fueling up with an ice pack and a massage. Nurse Sandy doesn’t mess around

After lunch, Sandy went for a little rip in Dylan’s Jeep while he ran with me.

Sandy went on a little side-adventure while Dylan and me were running

The weather never quite decided what it wanted to do. Strong crosswinds and headwinds stayed with us for much of the day, but the rain held off.

Later in the afternoon, Auntie Carol cycled beside me as I ran.

Auntie Carol and Auntie Lorri are hilarious. They are always cracking jokes and laughing. Humour is so important on an adventure like this - they’ve been a great addition to the crew!

Eventually everyone peeled off, leaving me with the final 18 kilometres to finish alone.

Every day I’m getting closer to the border. Seeing the approximate number of kilometres I had left gave me a push to run some more at the end of the day while my legs were good and warmed up.

Sixty-three kilometres later, another day was finished.

As if the day couldn't end any better, Garth had a fire going when we arrived at camp.

After a cool morning, windy day, another long run, and a chilly evening, standing beside that fire warming up felt pretty close to perfect.

Daily Progress

Today's 63 km brought the total distance covered to approximately 1,437.5 km.

With a projected route of roughly 1,570 km, that means the journey is now about 91.6% complete, with approximately 132.5 km remaining.

Why I'm Running

This run is about much more than covering kilometres.

I'm running more than 1,500 kilometres across Saskatchewan in memory of my mom, Louise, who died from leukemia at 38 years old - the same age I am now. Along the way, I'm raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada while encouraging people to prioritize movement, mental health, and community.

When I first announced this project, my fundraising goal was $15,597. It felt ambitious, but thanks to the incredible generosity of so many people, we reached that goal on Day 1. That left me wondering if maybe my dream goal - $38,000, in honour of my mom's 38 years of life - might actually be possible.

Today, with just a few days remaining, we've already raised more than $35,000. I'm honestly overwhelmed.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared a post, followed the live tracker, read these daily updates, sent encouraging messages, honked as you drove by, stopped to chat on the side of the road, walked, ran, or biked alongside me, volunteered on the crew, opened your homes and campgrounds to us, supported us through sponsorships, or simply believed in this project from the very beginning. Every conversation, every dollar, every kilometre shared, and every act of kindness has helped carry this project farther than I ever imagined.

If this journey has inspired you and you'd like to help us reach that final dream goal of $38,000, I'd be incredibly grateful if you'd consider making a donation, sharing the project, or continuing to follow along for these final days.

Every step truly is good.

Thank you so so much!