Less Stuff, More Road
64 km ran today; 790.9 km total
Day 17: Wednesday, June 10th, 2026
Distance: 64 km
Route: Wild camp east of Montreal Lake to near Timber Bay
Weather: Sunny and warm, temperatures in the mid-20s
Road Conditions: Beautiful sandy secondary roads through burn scar and trapping country
Wildlife: Bear tracks, moose tracks, and one bear sighting
Memorable Moment: Running through Molanosa, the geographic centre of Saskatchewan
There is something satisfying about simplifying.
This morning started with what the crew called a "shake down." With another crew preparing to take over soon, we went through all of my gear and supplies and asked a simple question: what do I actually need?
Three large gear bins became two. Three food bins became one.
Every item removed means less weight to haul, less clutter to sort through, and less work for the people supporting this run.
It felt good to streamline things
Burn scar, fresh green growth, and a long sandy road ahead.
After another mosquito-filled night at our wild campsite, we set out under sunny skies and warm temperatures.
Jen paced me for the first 29 kilometres as we made our way toward Molanosa, the geographic centre of Saskatchewan. The road was quiet, sandy, and beautiful. We passed through long stretches of burn scar where blackened trees still stand like sentinels, while bright green grass, shrubs, and young trees push their way back toward the sky.
The contrast was striking.
Every calorie counts out here.
Along the way we found evidence that we weren't the only ones using these roads.
We found plenty of wildlife signs today, including these moose tracks
Fresh bear tracks kept us paying attention throughout the day.
The farther we travelled, the more signs we saw marking active traplines.
We passed several active traplines today.
We stopped for lunch near the Molanosa Cemetery.
A quiet stop for lunch near Molanosa. Molonosa is the halfway point of this adventure
After lunch, Darryn took over pacing duties for the second half of the day. We continued south through more sandy roads, more burn scar, and more beautiful northern Saskatchewan scenery.
Partway through the day, I also received a cash donation from Gerry, the Deputy Mayor of Timber Bay.
Thanks Gerry!
Encounters like that continue to amaze me. People hear about the run and choose to become part of it in their own way.
By the end of the day we had covered 64 kilometres bringing the journey total to 790.9 kilometres.
This means we just crossed the halfway point - plus or minus a few kilometres.
Before I wrap up today's update, I want to say a special thank you to Jen.
Over the past several days, she has shared hundreds of kilometres of this journey with me. She paced long stretches of road, helped with crew duties, kept me fed and organized, and somehow always seemed to know exactly when encouragement was needed most. From muddy roads and storm clouds to sunny days and quiet campfires, she has been a huge part of this adventure.
Today was Jen's final day with the crew before heading back home. While we'll miss having her on the road, I'm incredibly grateful for everything she contributed and for the memories we made together.
I savour every stretch of gravel road. I’m much more of a trail runner than a marathon runner.
Later that day, my friends Andrew and Rachel arrived with their four children and a fleet of bicycles, ready to join the journey for the next stretch south.
Their energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to jump right into life on the road brought a whole new excitement to camp. I'm looking forward to sharing many kilometres, conversations, and adventures with them in the days ahead.
As I continue south, I think often about why I'm here.
On June 12th, I'll turn 38 years old - the same age my mom was when she passed away from leukemia. This run has become a way for me to honour her memory, celebrate the life she lived, and spend time in the Saskatchewan landscapes she loved.
It's also a reminder of how far blood cancer research and treatment have come, and how important it is that progress continues.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
And tomorrow, we keep heading south.
These updates are currently being shared two days behind. Today's post reflects the events of Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
