Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
It’s not everyone’s idea of a birthday wish.
But for Mark McCutcheon, it was a dream come true and one that he worked so hard to achieve.
On April 28, his birthday, McCutcheon set out at 6 a.m. to embark on a 100 km run ending in Fort St. James.
“This is something I’ve worked really hard for,” McCutcheon said.
And the 42-year-old certainly has.
He’s been training non-stop for the last year and a half. The vigorous training regime included a regular one hour climb up and down Mount Pope even during the winter months.
“I’m still wearing the same running shoes,” McCutcheon said as he bent down showing off the studs that kept him grounded.
At about 3:15 p.m. McCutcheon completed his run with family and friends waiting at the finish.
“I did it as fast as I could. I learned a lot. It really is a journey. It’s simple - just one foot in front of the other - but at about 70 km, pain set in. I just kept going and I was fine.”
But McCutcheon says that he wasn’t always fine.
“I overcame a lot of health issues in the past. I used to smoke and I developed a blood clot in my leg.”
But McCutcheon healed and a new lease on life unfolded.
It was all about running.
“I couldn’t have done this without the amazing support of my family and friends. They’ve always been there for me,” he said.
With sandwich in hand and not at all out of breath, McCutcheon contemplates his next run.
“This has always been recreational for me. I’m running with my daughter this weekend,” he said.
“But right now, I’m going to jump in the lake.”