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The Long Run Home (Audio Story, Part 1)
Jack ran through the misty forest, moving on instinct, no longer counting miles—just running for its own sake. A younger runner passed and asked if he’d race again, but Jack smiled, saying his ultra days were behind him, having once completed four hundred-milers. His running journey had begun decades earlier in a Montreal winter when a friend, Rich, invited him to a group run up Mount Royal, where he struggled but found something that kept him coming back. He entered his first race, the Bill Lewis 5K, where unexpected competitiveness emerged, and he relished his first race shirt. Later, training for a marathon on Dallas Road, he learned about the “wall” and the mental resilience required to push through fatigue. Running became more than a sport—it was woven into his life, balancing fatherhood, career changes, and friendships forged on the trail. He took on ultras, including the grueling Courtenay-to-Nanaimo 120K, running through the night with no aid stations, where self-sufficiency was key. A friend and competitor, Matt, raced ahead, and Jack wouldn’t see him until the finish, where they both broke the course record. The crowd’s cheers at the stadium felt surreal, a fleeting but unforgettable moment of glory. Now, as Jack ran toward the city, leaving footprints in the dirt, he understood that the future wasn’t about records—it was about the rhythm, the quiet, and the simple joy of movement.
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By JackalJack ran through the misty forest, moving on instinct, no longer counting miles—just running for its own sake. A younger runner passed and asked if he’d race again, but Jack smiled, saying his ultra days were behind him, having once completed four hundred-milers. His running journey had begun decades earlier in a Montreal winter when a friend, Rich, invited him to a group run up Mount Royal, where he struggled but found something that kept him coming back. He entered his first race, the Bill Lewis 5K, where unexpected competitiveness emerged, and he relished his first race shirt. Later, training for a marathon on Dallas Road, he learned about the “wall” and the mental resilience required to push through fatigue. Running became more than a sport—it was woven into his life, balancing fatherhood, career changes, and friendships forged on the trail. He took on ultras, including the grueling Courtenay-to-Nanaimo 120K, running through the night with no aid stations, where self-sufficiency was key. A friend and competitor, Matt, raced ahead, and Jack wouldn’t see him until the finish, where they both broke the course record. The crowd’s cheers at the stadium felt surreal, a fleeting but unforgettable moment of glory. Now, as Jack ran toward the city, leaving footprints in the dirt, he understood that the future wasn’t about records—it was about the rhythm, the quiet, and the simple joy of movement.