Tag: manitoba

  • No time to spare in Beaudry

    “You’re late.” In 2019 I signed up to run loops of this beautiful little trail along the Assiniboine River west of Winnipeg during the annual Beaudry Fall Classic. This particular year, the race was preceded by a couple weeks of heavy rain, and as I drove out on a dark fall morning, the windshield wipers…

  • Actif Epica

    I’d been curious about the Actif Epica, an annual race along the Crow Wing Trail, for several years, and 2025 was my year to finally be part of it. As the day approached, the forecast continued to promise “classic Manitoba winter” temperatures below -20° C. The race bills itself as a “celebration of human resilience,”…

  • Mountains of Manitoba

    Legend has it, after attempting to answer the call of Manitoba mountains but being defeated by swamps, mosquitoes, and a biting north wind, John Muir headed south. In fact, he is often misquoted. His actual quote is, “The mountains are calling, BUT I must go.”

  • Spirit Sands & Devil’s Punchbowl

    In spring we finally hiked the iconic Spirit Sands and Devil’s Punchbowl in the Spruce Woods Provincial Park with the whole family. Recommended as a unique landscape in the area, revealing our province’s glacial past, and the ever-changing nature of the land. In his book, “Lake Agassiz”, Bill Redekop explains the origins of the Spirit…

  • Manitoba Marathon

    In 2018 I attempted the impossible, running my first marathon, Winnipeg’s Manitoba Marathon. This was my first foray into long-distance running, what became the start of years of long-distance adventures. Today I’m grateful for the friends and community I found following this path. Congrats to all of today’s MB Marathon runners!

  • Epinette Trail

    Back in late October, inspired by an early snowfall, I called MB Parks to reserve the Jackfish Lake Cabin for an epic nordic skiing adventure. In the naivety of autumn I thought through the various obstacles we could face, including cold temperatures, physical conditioning, and supplies we’d neglect to pack. I never thought we’d be…

  • 25 Reasons I Didn’t Go For a Run Today (Winter Edition)

    When we were kids we got my dad a “Fisherman’s Excuse Mug”, which cleverly outlined all the reasons the fishing was bad. Which was useful, because the fishing often was bad. This time of year it’s important to probably prepare a list of excuses reasons you might not make it outside for your daily run.…

  • Seven things every Manitoban needs in winter

    These thanks to the Manke Product Lab (aka the dinner table). Number 8 was “cheek muffs”.

  • Bugs Don’t Bite in Winter

    Snow in the forecast, but there’s lots to appreciate about winter… right?

  • Mennonite Marathon NL

    Following the tradition established in August 2020 to commemorate the arrival of the first Mennonites in Manitoba, in 2023 I took the opportunity while visiting my wife’s family in the Netherlands to run to the birthplace of Menno Simons himself. Fortunately my in-laws live only a half-marathon distance from Witmarsum, so the mission could be…