Passed through Virden then Hargrave and Elkhorn

Passed through Virden then Hargrave and Elkhorn by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: 9 C to start High of 17 (48.2 F to 62.6 F) Windy but behind me.

• Distance for today: 42.56 km (26.45 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5637.7 kl (3513.31 miles)

• Song of the Day: 'Till I Collapse. Eminem

We parked at the Tourist Information Center for Virden last night. It was right on the side of the road. It was an interesting night as we were right beside the train tracks. So it was a loud night. 

Hello Virden

After we woke up we had to drop off the RV to have a vent cover fixed. Then I was off. 

I ran about 10kl before we had an interview with Lindsay White from WCG TV. He was super nice and had some great questions. I always like it when reporters do there own research. 

Lindsay setting up 

I always move my hands when I talk. 

I continued on my run after the interview. I had a really great run day. I had a few things going for me. I had my feet taken care of yesterday. I had my much needed new shoes. I had a very strong wind at my back all day. I mean really strong wind. 


I also had lot's of honks and  waves from people today. I was jetting along listening to my tunes and enjoying not having to fight the wind. When I a car pulled over.

Fabien, Violet and Leon Benn and Ina McKay 

A truck filled with people pulled over and I was met by a great group of people. They all shared some stories with me about some brain injury issues. It was a great time. 

I finished up the run and we drove back to the RV and moved it to Aspen Grove Campground. Where we sit right now. 


We had some Pasta and Salad for dinner. I apparently eat the amount of four people. I am now going to enjoy having power on my Laptop and watch a Bourne Movie!! Stretch and go to sleep. 

Alexander, Griswold, Oak Lake and through Sifton

Alexander, Griswold, Oak Lake and through Sifton by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: High of 25 F (77) Windy.

• Distance for today: 35.14 km (21.83 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5595.14 kl (3486.86 miles)

• Song of the Day: Schnappi Song. Happy Birthday Nadja!!

Today's run was dedicated to Nadja 

I just want to start of the blog with a Happy Birthday wish to Nadja. She is a very close personal friend and is currently at home for her birthday. Eating a great dinner made by her mom, and desert made by my wife. So today's run through the farms was with Nadja in mind, who works in Forestry Conservation and as a seasonal farmer. So as I passed the great huge farms of the Manitoba I was thinking of how much Nadja would love it. 

That's me way down there. 

Farm Vehicle. 

As the day went along I started to get very tight right behind my left knee. I stopped and did some stretches. I did some rolling on a ball to loosen the muscles and then headed out. It went away for a short bit but came back. So my run was a little slower than normal. 

We hit about 35kl and it we had to cut the run short as I had an appointment for some foot care by We Care Branch Manager Lynn Robertson. Lynn was amazing. Not only did we hit it off and chatted up a storm. She was also so very caring. She took care of some of the issues that have developed from running so much every day. She was just a great person to be around. 

So a very special thank you Lynn. By far the best part of the day!! I will transfer today's foot care to long term memory. ;') 

We Care Home Health Services is filled with some very special people. They go to you when you can't get to a health care worker. Each single person I have met has been a very special individual. Very caring, concerned and professional. A huge thanks goes out to them for helping my feet be able to keep doing what I am doing. It has been a true gift. 

The rest of the pictures below are just to embarrass Nadja. Who is sitting at home right now looking at this on the blog having just eating dinner with family and friends and can't believe I put a picture of her up. To that I just say "where is my peace of cake Nadja? Where?" 

Nadja and Marcel on our trip to Germany

Schnappi and friends

Happy Birthday Nadja and hello to Mandy, Hans, Nicole, Marcel, Nadja, and pet's. Have a great meal and save me some for when I get home. 

Running through Brandon with Sean Deleau

Running through Brandon with Sean Deleau by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: High of 25 F (77) Windy. 

• Distance for today: 40.80 km (25.31 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5560 kl (3465.03miles)

• Song of the Day: Chatting with Sean\

Today I got to run with Sean. Sean was in a car accident a few years ago and also has a brain injury. 

It was interesting because as unique as each brain injury is, there are some similarity's. We each had some damage to our temporal lobe's. We each face some of the same cognitive difficulties. Math makes sense now to both of us (one of the weirdest things about my brain injury in fact). Muscle memory is pretty much ok, however we both suffer from short term memory loss. 

Sean and Mom. 

Sean

And were off. 

I am my normal chatty self. Sean was also sharing his story with me. 

Some of the street's we ran through. 

We finish off about 10kl of the morning. 

Sean and Mom (I am so sorry for the pose I took) 

I was off again. 

Sean also talks to people about his injury. He is a very remarkable guy. He went into carpentry school and has even fixed up his own house. He keep active biking and running and building things for his friends and family. He hopes to become a Journey Man Carpenter. 

What I really liked about Sean was the attitude. We both understand life is challenging and is a little harder now. Yet what's the point in being down about it? Why not test your limits and live up to whatever this new "us" is. 

Sean felt that he had been given a second chance at life. I totally get this. We had a mental reset. We got to be the authors of our "new" self's. I get the freedom that having short term memory loss gives me. I can't hold on to shit to long. That and it takes so much mental energy. 

I had a great run with a great guy, who has a great family. It was very inspiring for me to see someone go through so much, to continue to go through so much, yet keep on truckin. 

He told me his favourite song and I was going to make that the song of the day. However I forgot it. So Sean email me your song and I will post it on the blog. 

Take care and stay in touch. 

I am done for the day. 

North Cypress through Douglas to Cornwallis with the Neepawa Tigers Football Team

North Cypress through Douglas to Cornwallis with the Neepawa Tigers Footbal by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: High of 27 F (80.6) Windy. 

• Distance for today: 39.89 km (24.79 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5519.20 kl (3439.72 miles)

• Song of the Day: "Taking Care of Business" Bachman Turner Overdrive

 The weather today was fantastic. I mean it was just stunning. The never ending view of the Prairies is amazing. However that was nothing compared to running with the guys from Neepawa Tigers Football Team

You know what will tell this better than I can. This. 

Pretty normal day of running in a stunning province. 

Then we had this. 

The Neepawa Tigers Football Team. 

The team (yes they ran in jeans) 

We owned the road. Well at least this side of the road. 

This is (left to right) Ike, Dennis, Me, Josh) 

They have a brother who has a brain injury and Dad Dennis and Mom Jodi put together today's team to join me. (Dennis and Jodi, if I got this wrong please let me know and I will change it. I hurt my head and sometimes I get things wrong ;')) 

I don't know how else to explain the feeling when I am around survivors, or family or care takers of survivors  There is an unsaid understanding. The resilience and the fortitude is palpable. You can feel there energy. It's an unspoken understanding and acceptance.

It's like meeting those really good friends you for some reason grew apart from. Yet when you meet up it takes only a second to reconnect. That is the closes analogy I can put it to. 

I can only imagine what it must be like to have children and a direct experience of brain injury and still let them, well, be kids.

I am so reluctant to do things that will put my head at risk now. I have no idea how I could handle having kids and let them have the life they deserve to have, without my own fears overriding it. I will just make them wear helmets all the time. Or live in a bubble. I am down with the bubble. Will have to talk to my wife about this. 

I was then back to running. and it was another day of running. However the rest of the run just could not compare to the brief time I had with the guys. 

Thanks Guys. You absolutely rock!! 

Today was one of the day's I love. Getting some the people who have so much ahead of them get the take home message to protect there head. Made my day. 

I went to Austin and Sidney in One Run!!

I went to Austin and Sidney in One Run!! by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: Today started off at 10c (50f)  and got up to 24c (75.2 f) sunny and some strong winds. 

• Distance for today: 43.07 km (26.76 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5479.31 kl (3414.93 miles)
• Song of the Day: "Cinderella Man" Eminem (not for kids) 

I must say I am kind of falling in love with the Prairies. Manitoba is just stunning. The colors, the air, the people. It has a completley different energy to it. Watching the sun set and the colors of red, orange, blues and greens and the endless vista of colors. It's hard to put a word to it. 

I am not a fan of the wind when it is against me, but wait an hour or so and it will change direction. At the end of the run I had a nice back wind. So here is my plan for tomorrow. I will only run when the wind is pushing me. 

Today was a long talk with Mandy who is back at home and working. She is a little stressed out without my income coming in. I mean it's not much and I take a loss in my disablity income as in Canada you get a certain amount of funds from the federal government and a certain amount from the province you live in. Because I am no longer in my province I lose a percentage of that income. While this amount is not much. Working part time for minimum wage you make more than both amounts combined. It does matter when I am not working at all. 

So part of my run was talking to her about our future, jobs, income that sort of thing. I was going to take some time off when the run finished but I don't think that is the best way to go. It's not she get's a day off from working her butt off while I get to run across the country. 

That was my thinking for the majority of the day. I feel a little useless and unable to help because there is not allot I can do. I don't like not being in control. That being said this run is so important. It is bigger than Mandy and I, it is so important to me and those that are supporting me. 




I passed through a big chunk of the world today. In just one run. 

Holland

Austin

Melbourne

Long stretch of road. I think they call this a hill. 

So after running across the world in just 43 km (27 mi) we called it a day. We drove ahead to Brandon Manitoba and parked at a Wall-Mart. 

We chowed some Chicken and Potatoes and Veggie's that Melissa made then we drove over to the Starbucks so we can power up our Laptops and these awesome pictures from all over the world.

From Portage La Prairie to Macgregor

From Portage La Prairie to Macgregor by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: Today started off at 6c (42.8f)  and got up to 22c (71.6 f) sunny and some strong winds. 

• Distance for today: 39.22 km (24.37 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5436.24 kl (3388.17 miles)
• Song of the Day: CBC Weekend News. 

Well today was warmer, sunnier and windier. My ankles hurt a little because I wore the faster shoes yesterday. They are lighter and quite a bit faster. They do however cause some ankle discomfort. If I was not running every day. I think I would use them as a pare of race day shoes. My Brook's are good trainers and in the current amount of distance I am doing each day comfortable enough. 

If you look at the link for the run you can see that it was pretty straight. Lot's of wide open space and beautifull open views. CHeck out the pics. 

Portage La Prairie

Never ending sky

Long straight flat road. 

Same long straight flat road. Just a different angle. 

We had two stops on the road by local media. So I was able to get the word out about the importance of  prevention of brain injury.

Melissa was very excited to get a Coke. 

I also got to Skype with my niece tonight and we are parked right by the largest Coke can in the world. 

Dacotah to Portage La Prairie

Dacotah to Portage La Prairie by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: Today started off at 7c (44.6f)  and got up to 21c (68 f) sunny and some wind (but pushing me ;'))

• Distance for today: 41.24 km (25.62 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5397.02 kl (3363.8miles)
• Song of the Day: CBC Radio "Quirks and Quarks" 

Well after yesterday's super busy day it was a little more slower. I loved all the action yesterday, loved the school, the interviews. However it takes time. It's time well spent but it does alter the daily routine. Again this is not a complaint just a statement. 

So we were off today. Making our way out of Winnipeg and into Portage La Prairie. 

One of the great talks I had with some of the people yesterday was how much running helped me after my Brain Injury. I was fed up at being "taken care off" or being "tested". Getting a thumbs up because I remembered to eat on my own. There were so many things I could not do on my own. I think I started running out of desperation and frustration. When I ran I felt like I had so much control of me. I felt my injury I kind of, well I lost me.

This new brain was being poked and prodded, fiddled with and adjusted, watched and monitored. Every single new task was given an uneven reward. 

"hey he  put on show's". 

"Your remembered your sisters name" 

Or things were just played down. 

"it's OK if you didn't remember how to get home, I get lost all the time" 

People with great intentions but just a lack of understanding. Hell I didn't know what I wanted. I still don't. 

Actually that's not true. I do know what I want. I don't want anyone to ever go through what I went through. Or what I have seen others go through with TBI. We become invisible, we become the hidden secret, we become forgotten. We are talked about with the way a child is that takes it's first shit without a diaper. Yet we are not children. Our view's and our opinions and are thoughts are to easily to tuck away. 

Our thoughts are not taken seriously because we have a brain injury. It's easy to dismiss us, it's easy to manipulate us, or our situations. We manipulate ourselves. I get angry that people take pity on me, yet I get mad if I don't get special treatment for things. 

Sometimes I feel like I was screaming to just let me swim and I was thrown into the deep end of the pool. I am scared and yet I feel stupid if I say "I can't do this" 

I also want a job. I want to work somewhere that's rewarding, within my limits that does not take every single amount of mental energy I have. Leaving with an empty take for the rest of life. 

So I ran. I could do this on my own. No else did this for me. No one could take it from. Especially me. 

That is what I want. How about you? 

A Very Busy Day

A Very Busy Day by temporallobe at Garmin Connect - Details

• Weather: Today was about 20 Celsius (68 f) sunny and some wind 

• Distance for today: 26.84 km (16.68 mi)

• Total Distance to Date: 5355.77 kl (3338.18miles)
• Song of the Day: All the people I was with. It was awesome to run with people today

I don't know how to describe today. "Wow" comes to mind. "Overwhelming" would work. "Exciting, energetic, informative, fun, informational......" Pic the word, they would all work. 

A picture is worth a thousand words. Well check this out. 

City News Morning Show Winnipeg 6:40 am

Getting ready for the interview.

Hey I'm on TV!! 

Me during the interview. 

We leave the interview and we were met by Pat Prevost who showed up really to come for a run with me. She had been up so early in the morning and I was so excited to run with her. 

We drove to yesterday's run stop and met up with Diane Gregoire who is a physiotherapist and works with people who have had brain injuries. 

Pat (Purple) and Diane (Green) Me (Blue) 

The girls ran with me for about 10kl. We had an absolute blast. It meant so much to me that they came out and ran with me. Two amazing women. Thank you both. 

After running with the girls I was then off to Elmwood high school to be there at noon. We were cutting the time pretty close but Melissa got us there. 

I was not expecting this however. 

The Great Elmwood High School (Go Giants) 

 

They were just fantastic. 

After the School. We had an interview with CTV. 

Then I was back to running the last 18 km or so. 

Doug took it easy on me and kept it slow. 

Then we drove back to drop off Doug. Then back to the RV to move it a little closer for tomorrow. I showered and headed to Boston Pizza to eat and upload today's stuff. Melissa is off to Costco and some other meetings. I am now going to go home and pass out. I have a marathon to run tomorrow.