Day 8: A Changing of the Guard
52 km today; 442 km total.
Day 8 - June 1st, 2026
Distance: 52 km
Total Distance: 442 km
Route: South from the Stanley Mission area toward Purdey Lake
Weather: Warm start, gusty winds, afternoon cold front, thunderstorms to the south, cooler evening
Road Conditions: Dry and dusty until a brief rain settled things down
Wildlife: Swans along a roadside pond
People Encountered: Barb and Cam joined the crew; Jack and Joey completed their final day on the road
I ran 52 kilometres today, bringing the total distance to 442 kilometres.
I’ve been feeling a bit more fatigued lately. The cooler temperatures that arrived today were a welcome relief. I’m happy to be out running!
Team 3: I’m so grateful Jack and Joey were able to drive all the way up here to support me. They are heading home after running today!
Day 8 brought a little bit of everything.
The biggest change wasn't on the road - it was in camp.
After spending the first week helping support the run, Jack and Joey completed their final day with the crew while Chad's parents, Barb and Cam, arrived to join the adventure.
The timing couldn't have been better.
The weather was changing fast. Gusty winds picked up throughout the afternoon as a classic northern Saskatchewan cold front pushed through the area. Dark clouds built to the south, thunderstorms rolled through nearby, and temperatures dropped nearly 12 degrees in as many minutes.
The rain amounted to little more than a brief shower - just enough to knock down the dust that has become a constant companion on these northern roads.
We saw some swams during the run today.
One challenge we've run into repeatedly in the far north is communication. Cell service is highly ‘iffy.’
One piece of gear that has been surprisingly helpful is a pair of walkie-talkies that Jack brought along for the trip. They've allowed the crews to stay connected.
Jack has generously offered to leave them with the project so future crews can continue using them throughout the run.
These little radios have come in super handy
One of the highlights of the day was seeing Barb and Cam pull up along the side of the road.
They had driven all the way up from home in their trusty little "buggy" to join the adventure and support the next section of the run. There's something pretty special about being hundreds of kilometres from home, running down a gravel road in northern Saskatchewan, and suddenly seeing family waiting for you.
They arrived with smiles, food, encouragement, and fresh energy for the crew. After more than a week on the road, it was awesome to have them join us.
After lunch with Barb and Cam, Joey and I headed back out for the afternoon section. The sky looked dramatic, but it was super pleasant for an afternoon run.
Heading back onto the road with some weather building in the distance.
Earlier in the day, before the cold front arrived, temperatures were climbing and every opportunity to cool down was appreciated.
It’s hard to pass up a cool stream in the heat…especially when it’s clear and running right beside the road!
One of the unexpected highlights of the day came courtesy of Joey.
At some point during the afternoon kilometres, he somehow managed to acquire a bottle of bubbles and spent part of his pacing duties running alongside me blowing bubbles down the road.
After hundreds of kilometres of gravel roads, dust, and sore legs, it was exactly the kind of ridiculous entertainment that makes a long expedition feel a little lighter.
Before settling in for the night, it was time for Froggie to report for duty.
Before starting this adventure, my good friend, Amro Alansari, handed me a small toy frog with a very specific assignment: mark the end of each day and the beginning of the next.
Every evening, Froggie gets placed at the exact spot where I stop running. Every morning, he patiently waits there to mark where the next day's journey begins.
At this point, Froggie may be the most reliable member of the crew. He never complains, never misses a meeting, never asks for snacks, and always knows exactly where tomorrow starts.
By evening the cooler air had settled in and we regrouped at camp for supper.
Barb and Cam spoiled us with good food and plenty of support while stories from the first week of the journey were shared.
Maybe not the prettiest of camps but it was home for night 8
One final laugh together before Joey and Jack start the long drive back to Saskatoon.
This journey is about more than kilometres.
I'm running the length of Saskatchewan in memory of my mom, who passed away from leukemia at the age of 38 - the same age I'm turning on June 12th.
Along the way, we're raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada and for the people and families whose lives have been touched by blood cancers.
Every donation, message, share, and word of encouragement helps carry this project forward. It reminds me that while this may look like a solo run from the outside, it is really a community effort built one step at a time.
If you'd like to support the cause, you can find the donation link at the top right of this page.
Thank you for following along.
And thank you for helping turn these kilometres into something bigger than a run.
