In the event you walked previous Toronto’s CN Tower on Thursday, Nov. 13, you will have noticed a younger man in a black Asics tracksuit operating round Canada’s tallest construction.
Two days earlier, Calgary’s Skylar Roth-MacDonald posted on Instagram that if his picture reached 1,000 likes, he would purchase a flight to Toronto and run a 100K ultramarathon across the CN Tower. By the subsequent day, the submit had surpassed 1,200 likes, and he caught to his phrase.
Roth-MacDonald admits the problem was “a little bit foolish,” however that was the attraction. When debating whether or not he ought to fly throughout the nation to run 100K round a tower, his mantra was easy: “Why not? Life is brief.”
Anybody who has visited the CN Tower or lives in Toronto is aware of that the bottom across the construction is something however flat. Every lap features a steep ramp and a set of stairs. Roth-MacDonald had mapped out a loop of simply over 500 metres: up the ramp on the east aspect, circling the north finish of the tower, and descending the steps on the west. He repeated this 200 instances.
What shocked him most was the elevation acquire. By the tip of his 12.5-hour effort, he had climbed practically 1,200 metres. To place this into perspective, utilizing the CN Tower, the full vertical was two stacked on high of one another.
All through the day, the 28-year-old was joined by a number of Toronto runners who got here out to help him. Midtown’s Turtle Run Membership founder, Kyle Sharp, additionally provided Roth-MacDonald a spot to remain throughout what he jokingly known as his “brief enterprise journey.”
This isn’t the primary excessive problem Roth-MacDonald has taken on. In 2021, he ran 7,200 kilometres throughout Canada (west to east) over 143 days to lift consciousness for psychological well being, gathering greater than $65,000 for the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation.
Though he wakened on Friday with some sore muscle mass and an extended journey again to Calgary, he says the expertise was value it. “I’m so comfortable I did it and created new friendships with some wonderful Toronto runners,” he tells Canadian Working. “That’s what it’s all about; inspiring others to get out and run, whether or not it’s one kilometre or 100.”
What ridiculous problem comes subsequent for Roth-MacDonald? Solely he is aware of, however he says plans are already within the works.
