After ending their last race on September 30th, from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie, a team of 14 local fitness enthusiasts crossed half-way across Canada in a virtual race.
The team started in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on January 1st, 2019. There were six races, with most of the races going from provincial capital to provincial capital. The long trip across Ontario was the only exception, and was been broken up into three races of about 700 kms each.
Competitors paid $20 to join each race, and all the money collected went to a charity chosen by the lottery winner at the end of the race. Finishing earlier in the race earned competitors more tickets in the lottery. In the 6th race, Bob Hunter finished 3rd place overall, earning 20 tickets, and he was lucky enough to pick the winning ticket, allowing him to donate $400 to Huron Shores Hospice.
Competitors cycled, walked, ran, skated, swam, roller bladed, rowed, cross-country skid, or did any movement activity that covered measurable distance.
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Up to half of the kms could be earned by cycling, due to its comparative efficiency. Daily kms were logged on a shared google spreadsheet, where tallies, charts, graphs, maps and motivational messages allowed competitors to compare their performance with others.
(L) Carol Rencheck, Co-Chair of Huron Shores Hospice, accepts donation from Bob Hunter
“The donation will help us with unforeseen expenses that we are experiencing due to COVID 19,” says Co-chair Carol Rencheck. “Our wonderful and dedicated comfort care volunteers help us care for our residents during the day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. However, due to the current restrictions, our volunteers are not able to be in the hospice suite at this time. In order to provide quality end-of-life care to our residents and their family members, the hospice must now cover the costs for PSW/Comfort Care services during these hours. Your donation will help us offset these expenses.”
Race #7 started October 1st, had 16 competitors, and covered the distance from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay (705 kms), virtually passing by the spot where Terry Fox had to end his race 40 years ago.
Many of the competitors travelled the whole distance from St. John’s, and had a firm goal to cross the entire country and to virtually dip their foot in the Pacific in the not-too-distant future. In just this last race from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie, the group collectively travelled 14,290 kms, with 10 of the 14 competitors finishing the whole race in the allotted time.
As well as earning money for deserving charities, the group enjoyed the sustained fitness motivation that the challenge provides.
Special awards like the “Super Logger Award”, the “Golden Kilometre Award” and the “High Single Award” add extra motivation for one to exercise regularly. Winners of these awards earned five extra tickets in the lottery that improved their chances of the money going to their chosen charity.
The Cross-Canada Fitness Races are all about fitness, fun, friendly competition and helping our community.
Up to half of the kms could be earned by cycling, due to its comparative efficiency. Daily kms were logged on a shared google spreadsheet, where tallies, charts, graphs, maps and motivational messages allowed competitors to compare their performance with others.
