300k MTL Ultra Marathon for Anxiety
Donation protected
My name is Elizabeth Pearl Morgan. I'm a Master's student at McGill University in Montreal, QC, in Canada. I'm raising money to complete my first-ever ultra marathon around the perimeter of Montreal and the surrounding islands. This challenge is not just physical--I am doing it to build mental endurance and raise awareness for mental health disorders, particularly anxiety.
So many people have asked me why I am doing this, so I've decided to write a Q&A explanation:
Q: Why...?
A: Some time ago, I decided to challenge my physcial, mental, emotional limits as I have never done before. I decided that my desire to challenge myself so intensely is partially due to the fact that I am not able to physically escape the life's challenges that make getting out of bed more difficult sometimes. Since last October, when my birth father died, even though I had not had any contact with him since I was 13, I was hit with a wave of newfound anxiety that resulted from the accumulation of buried memories which resurfaced upon the realization that my father, the culprit of my childhood abuse and neglect, was no longer alive. The sole relief from my anxiety and newfound angst was running. When I lost my appetite, I ran until I'd regained it; when I couldn't sleep, I ran until I was tired; when I felt lost, I found my spirit on the trails; when I felt powerless, I reassured myself of my resilience by the evidence of my mental discipline and physical strength, when I was ridden with nervousness, I eased my mind by meditation surrounded by the serenity of my surroundings, be they the chaos of an urban street or the quiet Lachine Canal after dusk.
Q: Are you running for a cause?
A: Yes. I have become increasingly aware and supportive of mental health issues and decided to contribute by pledging $1CAD for every kilometer I run, up to $300.00CAD, to the Anxiety and Depression Association of Canada (ADAC/ACTA). To learn about the organization, please visit: http://www.anxietycanada.ca/english/.
I know many people who have experienced some degree of anxiety and depression. Many people who suffer from mental disorders are never heal simply because they are unaware of their condition, or they don't know that it's something they don't have to struggle with. It's important to raise awareness about the mental disorders so that people can seek treatment once they recognize the symptoms. It's just as easy as relieving the common cold, but unfortunately mental wellness is still a taboo and people have difficulty coming to terms with it even when they are at the brink of giving up and committing suicide.
Q: Why running and not swimming, biking, or TV marathoning? Especially the last one is way easier!
A: I started running 8 years ago. I was 165 lbs (87kg) and had never participated in a real sport in my life. I wasn't proud of my appearance and I wanted to change it. After I shrank to 125lbs, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to keep running and set my first challenge to complete 1000 miles in one year. I prefer running over than swimming because I like to be able to look around me and view different, changing scenery. I prefer it over biking because I get to see life up close. It doesn't whiz by me, and I have time to observe my surrounding as I move through them.
Q: Is it healthy to run so much?
A: Chain smokers ask me that all the time.
Q: Aren't you hurting yourself?
A: Sometimes, my feet grow tender after running more than 2 hours, and my knees do swell a little, but with proper recovery and rest techniques, that is usually the extent of my pain. I never harm myself, and when I do incur an injury, I always rest until I'm completely recovered before I resume. I am not hurting myself, though, and I find it much more painful not to run.
Q: Okay, it's cool you're gonna donate some money, but what do you need the rest for?
A: Training is costly. Here is my budget, in CAD*.
1) Running shoes: $187.00 x 2 ( = $374.00). I already bought one pair in July, but I need another pair to complete the ultra marathon because each pair lasts only 500 miles and I've already gone over 250mi in my newest pair.
2) Lights: $39.99 I almost got run over by a bus, so I need them for visibility.
3) Attire: approximately $200. I am currently seeking sponsorship from an athletic clothing company, MunFoo, but so far I haven't had much success. :(
4) Camelbak water backpack: $129.99. I already bought this.
5) Glide skin abrasion protectant: $12.99. Because skin burn and sores all over my crotch and armpits is not sexy.
6) Cliff (or other energy) bars: $43.98. Bascially what I'll be chomping on during each each 50-85km sprint. I've contacted the Cliff Family Organization to request coupons. Still waiting to hear back from them.
7) Waterproof iPhone case: $49.99. So that I don't get stuck locked out of a park in the middle of a thunderstorm with a frozen phone again. Also just so that I don't ruin my $800 iPhone 5s. Currently I'm using a ziplock bag. #itsnotworking.
8) Transportation: $50/day for up to 8 days. Each host will drive me to and from my stop and/or go point. I am paying them a small amount to provide me with a real meal, bed, shower, clothes laundering, and an ice bath. They are already CouchSurfers opening their doors out of the kindness of their hearts. That's the least I can do.
9) Emergency money: $150.00. If at any point during my ultra, my legs fall off, I get struck by lightning, or feel like I'm about to drop dead, I need to be able to call a cab and pay my way to safety. So I will be carrying $150.00 with me at all times.
Well, that totals up to 1,400.94. Yes, I know how to count, but so I've just decided to round down and make it look normal. Can you help me reach my goal?
Thanks so much for reading this!
I hope to hear you cheering me on from Facebook's virtual sidelines (just like or comment on the Nike Running notification and I'll hear it!).
*All prices are estimated, mostly from runningroom.ca (Running Room /Coin des Coureurs), which is the store where I buy all my gear.
So many people have asked me why I am doing this, so I've decided to write a Q&A explanation:
Q: Why...?
A: Some time ago, I decided to challenge my physcial, mental, emotional limits as I have never done before. I decided that my desire to challenge myself so intensely is partially due to the fact that I am not able to physically escape the life's challenges that make getting out of bed more difficult sometimes. Since last October, when my birth father died, even though I had not had any contact with him since I was 13, I was hit with a wave of newfound anxiety that resulted from the accumulation of buried memories which resurfaced upon the realization that my father, the culprit of my childhood abuse and neglect, was no longer alive. The sole relief from my anxiety and newfound angst was running. When I lost my appetite, I ran until I'd regained it; when I couldn't sleep, I ran until I was tired; when I felt lost, I found my spirit on the trails; when I felt powerless, I reassured myself of my resilience by the evidence of my mental discipline and physical strength, when I was ridden with nervousness, I eased my mind by meditation surrounded by the serenity of my surroundings, be they the chaos of an urban street or the quiet Lachine Canal after dusk.
Q: Are you running for a cause?
A: Yes. I have become increasingly aware and supportive of mental health issues and decided to contribute by pledging $1CAD for every kilometer I run, up to $300.00CAD, to the Anxiety and Depression Association of Canada (ADAC/ACTA). To learn about the organization, please visit: http://www.anxietycanada.ca/english/.
I know many people who have experienced some degree of anxiety and depression. Many people who suffer from mental disorders are never heal simply because they are unaware of their condition, or they don't know that it's something they don't have to struggle with. It's important to raise awareness about the mental disorders so that people can seek treatment once they recognize the symptoms. It's just as easy as relieving the common cold, but unfortunately mental wellness is still a taboo and people have difficulty coming to terms with it even when they are at the brink of giving up and committing suicide.
Q: Why running and not swimming, biking, or TV marathoning? Especially the last one is way easier!
A: I started running 8 years ago. I was 165 lbs (87kg) and had never participated in a real sport in my life. I wasn't proud of my appearance and I wanted to change it. After I shrank to 125lbs, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to keep running and set my first challenge to complete 1000 miles in one year. I prefer running over than swimming because I like to be able to look around me and view different, changing scenery. I prefer it over biking because I get to see life up close. It doesn't whiz by me, and I have time to observe my surrounding as I move through them.
Q: Is it healthy to run so much?
A: Chain smokers ask me that all the time.
Q: Aren't you hurting yourself?
A: Sometimes, my feet grow tender after running more than 2 hours, and my knees do swell a little, but with proper recovery and rest techniques, that is usually the extent of my pain. I never harm myself, and when I do incur an injury, I always rest until I'm completely recovered before I resume. I am not hurting myself, though, and I find it much more painful not to run.
Q: Okay, it's cool you're gonna donate some money, but what do you need the rest for?
A: Training is costly. Here is my budget, in CAD*.
1) Running shoes: $187.00 x 2 ( = $374.00). I already bought one pair in July, but I need another pair to complete the ultra marathon because each pair lasts only 500 miles and I've already gone over 250mi in my newest pair.
2) Lights: $39.99 I almost got run over by a bus, so I need them for visibility.
3) Attire: approximately $200. I am currently seeking sponsorship from an athletic clothing company, MunFoo, but so far I haven't had much success. :(
4) Camelbak water backpack: $129.99. I already bought this.
5) Glide skin abrasion protectant: $12.99. Because skin burn and sores all over my crotch and armpits is not sexy.
6) Cliff (or other energy) bars: $43.98. Bascially what I'll be chomping on during each each 50-85km sprint. I've contacted the Cliff Family Organization to request coupons. Still waiting to hear back from them.
7) Waterproof iPhone case: $49.99. So that I don't get stuck locked out of a park in the middle of a thunderstorm with a frozen phone again. Also just so that I don't ruin my $800 iPhone 5s. Currently I'm using a ziplock bag. #itsnotworking.
8) Transportation: $50/day for up to 8 days. Each host will drive me to and from my stop and/or go point. I am paying them a small amount to provide me with a real meal, bed, shower, clothes laundering, and an ice bath. They are already CouchSurfers opening their doors out of the kindness of their hearts. That's the least I can do.
9) Emergency money: $150.00. If at any point during my ultra, my legs fall off, I get struck by lightning, or feel like I'm about to drop dead, I need to be able to call a cab and pay my way to safety. So I will be carrying $150.00 with me at all times.
Well, that totals up to 1,400.94. Yes, I know how to count, but so I've just decided to round down and make it look normal. Can you help me reach my goal?
Thanks so much for reading this!
I hope to hear you cheering me on from Facebook's virtual sidelines (just like or comment on the Nike Running notification and I'll hear it!).
*All prices are estimated, mostly from runningroom.ca (Running Room /Coin des Coureurs), which is the store where I buy all my gear.
Organizer
Elizabeth Morgan
Organizer
Montréal, QC
