'It's phenomenal really': Alberta man running across Canada for mental health
Most runners train between 12 to 20 weeks to run a single 42-kilometre marathon.
But compare that to 24-year-old ultra marathon runner Skylar Roth-MacDonald's current journey, and a single marathon seems like child's play.
He's been running every day since his cross-country expedition kicked off in Victoria, B.C. on June 1st and he's averaging a whopping 68 kilometres per day.
"I've always thought it is just a great challenge to go coast-to-coast and see what the body's capable of and what the mind is capable of," said Roth-MacDonald.
His effort is gaining national attention and inspiring people to join him on the road for a few kilometres while he passes through their community.
"To do it day after day is just... It's phenomenal really," said co-owner of Lethbridge's Runner's Soul Shawn Pinder.
"Many people have tried running even five or 10 kilometres per day. Even that kind of distance is really challenging so, to do that seven times over is pretty phenomenal."
(Supplied/Shalagh Quinn)
Roth-MacDonald is giving himself just 150 days to get from Victoria to St. Johns, Nfld.
It's all part of his fundraising effort 'Miles for Smiles' with proceeds raised going to support the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
"The cause was just a no-brainer for me. There's a lot of awareness that has to be made and I'm happy that we're starting to make waves."
Roth-MacDonald grew up in Red Deer with a tight-knit group of friends that he made through local soccer teams.
In 2009, the group lost a teammate and a good friend to suicide at just 12 years old. Three years later, a second close friend and teammate committed suicide at 16.
Today, Roth-MacDonald is pushing his body to its absolute limit as a way of overcoming his own bout with depression and shining a light on the issue to lift the stigma and spark conversations about mental health.
For Christopher Sookrah, Roth-MacDonald's good friend and crew member for Miles for Smiles, hearing about the cross-country trek didn't come as a huge shock.
"Skyler's always reaching for the top. I was kind of surprise when I heard, but also like, you're going to crush it and if anybody can do it, it's you," said Sookrah.
The pair made their way through Lethbridge on Wednesday and expect the next week or so to go by smoothly considering Alberta's flat terrain.
B.C., however, was a different story. Not only did the various hills make for an exhausting endeavour, Roth-MacDonald also had a terrifying close encounter with one of Canada's most dangerous wild animals.
On the tenth day of his journey near Castlegar, B.C., Roth-MacDonald was separated from the RV that was being driven by Sookrah.
There was no cellphone reception in the area, and the sun was starting to set. To make matters worse, Roth-MacDonald said he remembers having an eerie feeling that something was stalking him from the bushes.
"Just to be careful and just to be sure, I had my bear spray out and my gut was right. At around 9 p.m., a cougar jumped out at me and on to the guard rail," he said.
"It had it’s mouth wide open, but fortunately I had the spray right in my hand and had to spray it and then ran as fast as I could back to the RV, which fortunately was just 700 metres behind me. We definitely ended the day there."
That potentially deadly close call wasn't enough to deter him from giving up on the ultimate goal of reaching St. John’s by the end of October and raising at least $50,000 for the CMHA.
Throughout the past three weeks, both Roth-MacDonald and Sookrah said being able to experience the nation's natural beauty and meet helpful, warm-heated individuals along the way is fuelling them to continue pushing forward.
Roth-MacDonald is also in the process of applying for grants in an effort to create a film that he hopes to share with students across the country in an effort to highlight mental health issues and break down the stigma that can come with accessing the proper care.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.