Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #250 (0 to go, 0 day left)
• Date: Friday Dec 31st 2010
• Donations to date: $208,036.50.50
• Course: Spray Lake Family Sports Centre, Cochrane, Alberta
• Run time: 4hr 36min 50sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 118 BPM
• Temperature C: -27C
• Distance covered to date: 10,550.0km (6,550.0ml)
• Total number of runners: 362

Where do I start? I guess the weather. I checked the thermometer outside the front door and it read -27C. On Jan 1st 2010, when I started Marathon Quest 250, it was -32C so today was a little warmer. Sue and I packed up a bag containing a Right To Play banner, MQ 250 pamphlets and posters. We headed down to the Centre and arrived there at 8.00am. It was already a hub of activity. Mark from Trailblazers was setting up the raffle stall and Bobbi had collected the two vats of Tim Horton's coffee and hot chocolate. By 9.00am there were 30  runners, bundled up, and at the sound of the whistle we were off.

The course was a 2km out and back along the Bow. The scene was stunning with frost-covered trees and mini ice-bergs floating down river. We were joined by camera crews from CTV, CBC and Global. At 10.30am I had a call from Tony Harris of CNN. Tony had contacted me exactly a year ago and called me nuts. It was great to tell him, that in my opinion, I wasn't. All through the day we had adults and kids join us and by km 40 there were over 300 runners on the pathway. I had been told that at the end I was to come around, on my own, to the back of the centre and enter through the goal of the indoor soccer field. I knew entering the arena on my own was not the way to do it so I rounded up a group of kids and we all ran in together. Fantastic.

By the end of the day, donations had reached $15,195.86 for Right To Play. My favourite donor was 6 year old Kimmy. She came up to me, with her mum, and said that she had saved $2 from her Christmas money and wanted to give it to help the kids.

Avatar Marathon Martin is back in Cochrane and enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Thank you to everyone who supported me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2011. Over and out.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: How do you start a teddy bear race?
A: Ready, teddy, go!

Quote of the Day

"I hate quotations. Tell me what you know"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Running with the kids on the final 2km of Marathon Quest 250

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Tuesday Jan. 4th 2011

• Donations to date: $225,272.50
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 4505
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 31

Day 4 of no-marathon and it feels strange. Day 1 and 2 were easy, eating bacon sandwiches and watching English footie. Day 3 (Monday) was not so easy. Sue and I were up at 5.00am and out the door at 5.45am. CBC Radio had contacted me over the weekend and wanted me to come in and chat with Jim Brown on the Eyeopener. I had chatted with Jim before and he makes you feel very comfortable. He had wanted to know how I was feeling and how the fundraising was going. I said that I felt fine and we had reached $212,000. Within 20mins we were out of the studio and heading back to Cochrane. At home I checked the phone messages. CBC TV wanted us to come back at 6.30pm for a chat with Mark Kelley.OK.

That afternoon I received a call from Xstrata Nickel, my old employer. They wanted to make a $30,000 to the Quest. Brilliant. Sue and I headed back into Calgary at 5.00pm and I was infront of a TV camera at 6.00pm. "Connect with Mark Kelley" is a show that digs into current issues. The segment was on obesity. He stated that weight loss programs, equipment and books are a 55 billion dollar industry yet as a collective we are getting fatter and fatter. What is going on?.

Today, it was a visit to the Doctor. Time to set up a battery off tests to see what impact running 10,550kms in 1 year has on the body. In the next two weeks I'll have blood and urine tests, thyroid, knees and hips scan, bone density, an echocardiogram and a VO2 max test (endurance level). The results will be released to the Canadian Military if requested.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: What kind of money do polar bears use?
A: Ice lolly!

Quote of the Day

"Should I stay or should I go?"

The Clash

MQ 250: The writings on the wall

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Friday Jan. 7th 2011

• Donations to date: $226,367.50
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 4527
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 28

I've always had a great love of poetry. One of my favoutite poems is "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth: "I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o'er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils".

Along the same vein, is a poem written by my triathlete friend Jamie. Jamie flies for West Jet and has lots of free time while the plane is on autopilot.

Enjoy.

Ode to Marathon Martin

• Martin could swim, and Martin could bike and Sue made sure Martin did just what he liked.

• Martin's life you see, was all about fun, always jetting and strutting about in the sun.

• While Sue was at work, or scrubbing the floor, he laced up his shoes and ran out the door.

• It's all about fun Martin, today is your day, for you of all people, it's your Right To Play.

• So he ran and he ran, 'til he ran out of routes, in the snow and the rain, he ran in his boots.

• He ran with his friends, he ran with his foes, how he kept running, nobody knows.

• And while Martin ran, Sue led the attack, she shoveled the snow and threw out her back.

• She went to see Serge, she hoped to feel fine. Serge said she was lucky, to have a young spine.

• Said Martin to Sue,"I could use your young back, here, grab these two straps and carry my pack".

• "I'm at 249 with just one to go, here, you dress like me and no one will know".

• "Just take it out slow, run 10 and walk one. Next year it's your turn to have this much fun".

Thanks Jamie. Much appreciated.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: What should you call a bald teddy?
A: Fred bear!

Quote of the Day

"Sue and I are on the same page, just different books!"

Marathon Martin

A Daffodil

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Tuesday Jan. 11th 2011

• Donations to date: $227,968.50
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 4559
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 24

Last Friday, medical testing started in earnest. I had a complete blood and urine analysis then it was off to the medical clinic at Market Mall for knees, hips and chest x-rays. Yesterday were two very specifics tests: VO2 max and 3D bone imaging. VO2 max is defined as: the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during incremental exercise which reflects the physical fitness of the individual. The name is derived from V - volume per time O₂ -oxygen, max - maximum. I arrived at Physio Serge's lab at 3.00pm and got kitted out with a mask and heart rate monitor. I had completed this test at the start of the "Quest" and again after 83 marathons. We wanted to see what shape I was in at the end. The test involves running to exhaustion by increasing the pitch of the tread mill. Excellent. Results to follow.

I had been told at the begining of the "Quest" that certain things would happen to me. My ankles would cave, my knees and hips would be destroyed, and my leg bones fail, due to the continual pounding. This all could have happened so I felt it was important to check out the old bod. Last evening, I headed over to the University of Calgary to undergo a 3D Bone Imaging Analysis. The first room I went in looked a bit like Star Trek. I had to lie on a bed, while an overhead tracker did a full body bone scan. Then it was down a floor to the main show; the Scanco Medical Xtreme CT 3D Bone Analyser. I had to sit down and stick my right arm in and then my right leg into a hole. This machine takes a 360 degree scan of your wrist and ankle to determine bone density and health. This  was easier than the VO2 max test. Excellent. Results to follow.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: Why do bears have fur coats?
A: Because they'd look stupid in anoraks!

Quote of the Day

"Ideas won't keep; something must be done about them"

Alfred North Whitehead

VO2 Max test (lots of fun)

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Friday Jan. 14th 2011

• Donations to date: $248,043.36
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 4961
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 21

I love numbers and Marathon Quest 250 generated loads of them. Over the next little while I will share some facts on: the time and distance run, the body, the weather, the routes, the schools, the shoes, the donations and the people.

So lets go:

Distance:

• Marathon distance: 42.2 kms (26.2mls)
• Number of marathons: 250
• Total distance run: 10,550kms (6,550mls)

Time:

• Total marathons time: 61days 9hrs 56min 50sec
• Average time for a marathon: 5hr 53min 45sec
• First 125 marathons: 30days 13hrs 14mins 31sec
• Second 125 marathons: 30days 20hrs 32min 19sec
• Not a negative split!

Weird stuff:

• Circumference of the earth: 40,017.16kms
• % of circumference run: 26.4%
• Distance cycled in 2005, Cario to Cape Town: 10,330kms
• Average daily time on the bike: 5hr 41min 00sec

and that's not all!

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: What do you get if you cross a teddy bear with a pig?
A: A teddy boar!

Quote of the Day

"Lies, damn lies and statistics"

Benjamin Disraeli

% of circumference of the Earth run in 2010:            26.4%

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Monday Jan. 17th 2011

• Donations to date: $250,000

WE MADE IT!!!!!!!

• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 5,000
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 18

At 2.25pm this afternoon I got a call from my family doctor, Bill Hanlon. He asked me how far we were from hitting the $250k target. I told him $1,271.64. He generously covered this amount with a donation, which meant that, at 2.30pm, the "Donation to date" figure read $250,000. Unbelievable. This figure will provide 5,000 children with a Right To Play program in 2011.

This got me thinking about all the people, like Dr. Hanlon who had supported me during the year and I'd like to relate a few of their stories. Jim Rooney is owner of Dynastream Ltd, a Cochrane based company. Jim puts his money where his mouth is. Not only did he sponsor the first and last marathon but he also held a "Health and Wellness" day for all his 60 employees. They enjoyed skating and running at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Fitness centre and got paid for their efforts.

During 2010, twenty people donated $1,000 to run a marathon with me and one of those was Norine. Norine, with her husband, had flown from Ontario in order to run with me. Unfortunately, I was injuried so Norine and I walked a marathon on the Calgary pathways one glorious August day.

Finally, the kids. Time and time again, as I was running at one of the 60 schools in the Calgary area, children of all ages would come up to me and give me their pocket money. This would be a toonie, loonie or a quarter but they all said it was to "Help the other kids". Jillian and Treyton, both age 8 donated their birthday money to Right To Play. My youngest donator was Alexandria, 6 months old. She donated her Christmas toy money.

To everyone who has donated I want to say a huge thank you and on behalf of the 5,000 children: much appreciated.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: How do you hire a teddy bear?
A: Put him on stilts!

Quote of the Day

"Adventure is not outside, it is within"

George Eliot

On Jan 17th at 2.30pm (MST) the MQ 250 goal of $250,000 was achieved

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Thursday Jan. 20th 2011

• Donations to date: $280,665.00

Xstrata Nickel donates $30,000

• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 5,613
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 15

On the morning of Jan 3rd, Steve Flewelling, Senior VP, Projects and Exploration, of Xstrata Nickel called. He wanted to know how much was needed to achieve the $250,000 Marathon Quest 250 / Right To Play target. I told him that we were at $220,000 and needed $30,000. He said he'd call back.

I'm a Mining Engineer and immigrated from England in 1977. I went to work for Cominco Ltd. at the Sullivan mine in Kimberley, BC. Over the next 5 years I worked at the Con gold mine in Yellowknife, NWT and an open pit lead / zinc mine in Pine Point, NWT. After some travel, I arrived in Sudbury, Ontario and joined Falconbridge Ltd (now Xstrata Nickel). I worked for Steve for a number of years before I left in 2003. The industry is known for pulling together and helping others in times of need.

Steve called back that afternoon and said that the company would donate $30,000. Today, the dream came true. This donation will allow another 600 children to have a Right To Play program in 2011. That's a schoolful!

This afternoon Sue and I went to listen to Dick Beardsley. Dick told the story of his 'Duel in the Sun' with Alberto Salazar at the 1982 Boston Marathon. Dick also talked about his recovery from a near-fatal farm accident, his subsequent addiction to painkillers and his path to recovery. He is an amazing speaker and a true gentleman.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: Why was the little bear so spoiled?
A: Because its mother panda'd to its every whim!

Quote of the Day

"It's unbelievable that, wherever I go, people still want to talk about that race. It beat me up more than any other race in my life"

Dick Beardsley

Boston's Freedom Trail: The site of Dick Beardsley's greatest race

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Tuesday Jan. 25th 2011

• Donations to date: $280,994.25
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 5,620
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 10

On the weekend I decided to play a sport I hadn't played in 10 years: Ice Hockey. I had been asked by the local Rotary club to be a member of the "Raucous Rotary Relics' in the upcoming Kimmett Cup. This event is held every year in memory of Lindsay Kimmett. It involves playing seveal games of 3-on-3 pond hockey. On Saturday morning I dug out my old hockey bag and opened it up. I knew I should have washed my gear 10 years ago before I put it away. Still the show must go on. We started at 8.00am on Mitford pond. As the sun came up the puck was dropped, game on. It was a long day and I had lots of fun but the muscles the next morning were screaming.

Right To Play is carrying out a big awareness campaign across Canada from Vancouver to Moncton and their first stop is Calgary. On Tuesday, February 1st Right To Play are hosting a free awareness event at Macewan Hall. The program starts at 6.45pm. There will be coaches and representatives from Ghana and Athletic Ambassador and three time Olympic Gold Medalist, Hayley Wickenheiser, will be talking about her experiences with Right To Play. They've asked me to say a few words as to why I did marathon Quest 250. That is a very good question.

Come on out and bring the kids. To sign up just click on the tab below:

• Right To Play Calgary 6.45pm Feb 1st Macewan Hall

Let's play!

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: What kind of money do polar bears use?
A: Ice lolly!

Quote of the Day

"Fatigue is the best pillow."

Benjamin Franklin

Hayley Wickenheiser will be talking at a free RTP awareness event on Feb 1st at Macewan Hall in Calgary

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Below are the Latest Donation stats:

• Date: Friday Jan. 28th 2011

• Donations to date: $281,044.25
• Cost of a Right To Play program: $50
• Number of children who will benefit : 5,621
• Donations open until: Feb 4th 2011
• Days left to donate to the "Quest": 7

Today, I was heading back to Glenbow School, in Cochrane. I had run marathon #184 there back in early October and it was great to say hi to the kids. It was a sports day and the students had been trying a variety of events: hockey, curling, bobsleigh, snow-shoeing and luge. I was there to chat with them about Marathon Quest 250 but what they didn't know was that some very special guests would be present.

At 12.55pm a mini van pulled up and five Right To Play representative emerged from the vehicle. Jamie, Sarah and Jules are from Right To Play's head office in Toronto. The final two representatives, Irene and Asana, are coaches from Ghana and arrived in Canada yesterday (burrrrrrr!). The Principal called the children to the gym and I started off the presentation with the video below:

"You Ran": Elnora (lyrics) and Neil (video)

The kids loved the music. Then Jules talked about what RTP does overseas. After Jules had finished, I told the students what I had been doing since the marathons and let them know about I trip I was taking, in June, to the African country of Benin. I would be visiting RTP schools and hanging out with the kids. Finally, five Glenbow students presented the RTP reps with MQ 250 hats. Lots of fun.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes (bear's)

Q: What is a bear's favorite drink?
A: Koka-Koala!

Quote of the Day

"Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point."

Harold B. Melchart

The RTP gang: Jamie, Jules, Irene, Asana and Sarah visit Glenbow School

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