Running over 80 kilometers a week, all outdoors, straight through the winter.
That feat was just accomplished by Carley Billups, a local Pediatric Occupational Therapist, who just ran 1000km this winter to raise over $11,000 for kids with disabilities in Prince George.
“It feels really good to be done,” Billups told My PG Now. “It is really satisfying that I was able to do all the runs outside, but I am glad it is done now and it is starting to feel like spring.”
She said most of her runs started between 4:30 to 5:00 in the morning.
“It was always dark. The weather was all over the place – some weeks it was pavement and no snow, but I did get my fair share of very cold temperatures and lots of snow as well,” she said.
Her run started on December 21st and ended on March 12th with a week left in winter to spare. Over that time she ran an average of 83.34 kilometers a week.
“There were certainly days where I would have preferred to stay inside than face [the weather],” she said with a laugh. “It felt good to get it done.”
“The three or four days when it was in the -30s, those were real challenges. I was pretty slow and I had a lot of layers on, and looked like an icicle when I got back,” she said. “When we had a big dump of snow, trying to run through a lot of powder and my calf muscle seized up, it was pretty challenging.”
Billups raised $11,800 for the Variety Children’s Charity through the run, which well exceeded her goal of $10,000.
The charity agreed to keep all that money in Prince George.
“Locally, there are kids who have applied for funding for wheelchairs and specialty equipment,” she explained. “That is not fully funded by the government… already I know there is one local child who got a phone call saying their equipment is fully funded.”
Her own donation drive is closed, but Billups said interested people can still donate to the Variety Children’s Charity – though that money may not stay local.
She is already considering running another 1000km for the same cause next year, and is in early talks with the charity about it.
“The hardest part was constantly feeling like I was promoting and having to find donors,” she explained. “I think if I had the community support ahead of time or had some sponsors, I think I would for sure do it again.”
After the three months of non-stop running, Billups said taking a few days off felt weird.
“It has become quite a routine… I have got a little more flexibility now, so if I need to take a day off, or I can do some days a little shorter or longer and not feel the same pressure.”
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