STARTLINE
TRAIL OF TRANSFORMATION Jason Deluce, of the Night Terror Run Crew, changed his life in the woods. iRun’s guest editor documents his story
M Before trail running
After trail running
iRun to spend time with friends and to be healthy. — Alex, Montreal
y name is Jason Deluce, and I am pleased to be the guest editor of this trail edition of iRun. When I entered my 40s, living a sedentary lifestyle began to show. In July of 2014, I reached 230 pounds and found tying my shoes a chore. I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea and would be winded after a flight of stairs. I needed to get off the couch. Throughout grade school I was a runner. I was on the track and cross country teams and placed well. What happened? I determined that running should be easy enough to start doing again. What I thought would be like riding a bike, took effort and determination. Initially I was run/walking 5km, and the results were hard earned. Eventually I was running the full distance, losing weight and even getting quicker. My dad asked if I wanted to run a marathon. I thought he was crazy, but after some thought, I figured it was feasible given the amount of time I’d have to prepare. I followed a basic program, increasing distance and frequency. As I got closer to the marathon date, I had become a full running convert, and was seeking more challenges. I started reading how Dean Karnazes got into running — the trails started
calling my name. Two months after running my first marathon, I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge Series 50-mile race at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood. Wow! I didn’t finish in my goal time, but how does one set a goal for something they’ve never done? Either way, I finished, and became hooked on trail running. Today I’m a Dirtbag Runners Ambassador and lead the trail chapter of the Night Terrors Run Crew (NTRC) in Toronto. NTRC Trails introduces urban runners to trail running and we’ve partnered with the North Face Endurance Challenge Series to set their Ontario race as our goal race for 2016. I’m running the 50mile race again this year and have set my goals higher, having signed up for a 125km race through the Charlevoix region of Quebec. Trail running isn’t really about distance or speed. For me, running trails takes me out of the day to day, and even takes me out of my own headspace. I’ve rediscovered a passion, while discovering a whole new me. Over the following pages, I encourage you to join me and do the same. Life can be different, and the trails can take you there. Jason @deluce_on_the_loose
iRun.ca
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