A pair of Foothills area runners will focus on grabbing as many zeds as possible this weekend in order to help women sleep better at night.
Okotoks’ Andrew Morton and John MacKenzie of High River will run the 4x4x48 Challenge March 5-7 in Okotoks to raise money for the Narrow Road Home in High River.
Narrow Road Home is a faith-centred residential facility that assists women who have faced drug, alcohol, abuse and other issues.
The challenge has the participants running four miles in four hour stints for 48 hours. For example, if a runner completes his or her four-mile run in 45 minutes he or she can rest for three hours and 15 minutes before starting their next lap.
In total, MacKenzie and Morton will both run 48 miles.
“John and I both started following (ultra-marathoner) David Goggins on Instagram," Morton said. "And he is doing this challenge and we said 'we are doing it, we might as well do it for a reason.”'
They chose Narrow Road Home in part because Morton’s wife, Jenn, went to high school with Narrow Road founder Kim Engbrecht from Okotoks. It was Jenn who got Andrew interested in running two years ago.
As well, the 48-year-old Andrew knows the reality of addiction.
“I have been in recovery myself for 29 years,” Morton said. “So we decided to raise money for Kim’s organization. Kim takes people in when they can’t afford to – she just never says no.”
As for the strategy for the challenge, it’s pretty simple.
Keep on truckin’.
“I’ve never been up for 48 hours, but I will get to sleep because you are only doing a little bit at a time,” Morton said with chuckle. “No, I don’t have a strategy, we’re just going out to do it.”
Trying something new was one of the reasons MacKenzie is running.
"Just the challenge itself," he said. "I have done lots of runs in the past and other challenges and this is just another one to chalk up... And Narrow Road Home does amazing work."
He admits not getting sleep is a concern.
"It's definitely a concern of mine is the lack of sleep -- not having enough energy for the back half," MacKenzie said. "If I can keep it around the 35-minute mark (for each stint) I think I will be okay -- I gotta make sure I stretch too."
Engbrecht called the Foothills men's effort amazing.
"It fits in with what we do," Engbrecht said. "The women at Narrow Road Home every day, on their own, walk or run, we always start the day with some exercise.
"We are really regimented and disciplined. Coming out of a life with addiction the last thing you sometimes do is take care of your body and yourself.
"It (the runners' efforts) really parallels what we are trying to do - go outdoors, go on hikes, it's a big part of recovery":
They wouldn’t mind some help. Morton and MacKenzie will run each lap starting at one of their sponsors, the Econo Lodge in Okotoks. Runners are welcome to join the pair for each stint.
The first run starts at 8 p.m. on March 5. Subsequent run are: March 6 – 12 a.m.; 4 a.m.; 8 a.m.; 12 p.m.; 4 p.m.; 8 p.m.; March 7 – 12 a.m.; 4 a.m.; 8 a.m.; 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Runners are welcome to run with them. Each stint starts at the Econolodge at 59 Riverside Gate in Okotoks, across from Denny's.
To donate to Narrow Road Home go to https://narrowroadhome.com/donate/