Harrison 50 Swim-Run for Purpose and Planet

This year marks the third time I will attempt the Harrison 50, my personal swim-run event covering 50 kilometers. I will complete the event on Saturday, August 9. The challenge consists of a 15-kilometer swim in Harrison Lake followed by a 35-kilometer run—almost marathon distances for both legs. The obvious question is: why 50 kilometers, and why Harrison Lake?

Harrison Lake holds a deep, and bittersweet, significance for me. It is known as a cold and often dangerous lake—a reality I am all too familiar with. In 1996, my father tragically drowned in Harrison Lake following a boating accident, shortly after turning 50 years old. Our family cabin at the lake was a place of joy for him, and it has left a profound imprint on my life.

In 2023, I decided to confront the lake's legacy and embrace its challenge by completing the Harrison 50 on my own 50th birthday. That milestone stirred something in me—I realized I had reached the same age my father was when he lost his life, with so much left to live for. It was a sobering, yet inspiring, moment.

My father was passionate about protecting the environment. He served as a Board of Directors for the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, which is now known as Ecojustice. Reflecting on this, I asked myself: what have I done to carry on his environmental mission? The honest answer was "not enough." Inspired by his legacy, I turned my first Harrison 50 into a fundraiser for Ecojustice, pledging to honor him with an annual event.

This year, the 2025 Harrison 50 will be even more purpose-driven. I will donate $750 to Ecojustice and $750 to the Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy. Ecojustice aims to use the law to defend nature, combat the climate crisis, and fight for a healthy environment for all. Ecojustice does three things: they go to court; they push for better laws; and they engage with the public. Transitioning to a circular economy would help Ecojustice meet their objective of creating a healthy environment for all https://ecojustice.ca/news/canadas-at-a-turning-po

The Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) is an organization that explores economic growth in earnest, focusing on its downsides. They refuse to ignore the costs of economic growth, and their researched position sets the record straight. They recognize the conflict between economic growth and the striving to create safe, healthy and inclusive communities with a high level of civic engagement. They stand up for rational macroeconomic policies. The main argue that CASSE puts forth is "continuous economic growth on a finite planet is wishful thinking".

I will use the event to amplify awareness of the circular economy—a concept that resonates with my father’s values. To make this happen, I will transform my journey into a “story” swim. Starting in June, I will chronicle my open-water training sessions, sharing quotes and insights from advocates of the circular economy. It will be a learning journey.

But what does the circular economy have to do with my dad? It’s a connection I see clearly. My father spent most of his career managing a racetrack. To me, the racetrack symbolizes the circular economy. Far from the invisible casino gambling of the finance world, horse racing was grounded in the local ecosystem and community. The circular economy is a system that challenges the linear "take, make, waste" model and instead promotes sustainable, regenerative cycles. As economist Herman E. Daly explains, "Material lifecycles within nature are circular, not linear."

The circular economy is built on three core principles outlined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: keep products and materials in use, design out waste and pollution, and regenerate natural systems. This contrasts starkly with the linear economic system, which thrives on "ecological overshoot" and excessive consumption.

Lakota Shaman Black Elk beautifully observed, “Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle.” The sky, the Earth, the wind, the sun, the moon—nature operates in cycles, not lines. A circular economy mirrors this balance, fostering stability rather than what Daly calls "growthmania"—the unsustainable pursuit of infinite growth on a finite planet.

By dedicating my efforts to the circular economy and honoring my father’s memory, I aim to blend personal endurance, environmental advocacy, and the wisdom of circularity into a singular narrative. The Harrison 50 is not just a physical challenge; it is a tribute, a mission, and a call for action.

Thank you for your support!