SASKATCHEWAN — As the crow flies, the province of Saskatchewan is roughly 1,250 kms long. However, for one Saskatchewan runner, that distance will grow to over 1,500 kms before she celebrates her 38th birthday as she embarks on her Every Step is Good run.
Megan Wotherspoon will be running almost the full length of the province over 30 days, while raising money and awareness for leukemia in honour of her mother, Louise Tokaruk. Louise was diagnosed in May 1994 and lost her battle a year later at the age of 38.
“For me, turning the same age my mom was when she passed felt significant. I knew I wanted to mark it in a way that honoured her life, her memory, and the impact she continues to have on my family and me,” said Wotherspoon.
The runner will be starting her journey on May 25, dividing it into three sections: the Northern Section, the Central Section and the Southern Section.
The Northern Section, which starts at Stony Rapids to La Ronge, is roughly 663 km long. She will start on nearly 470 km of unpaved road through remote boreal forests and Canadian Shield landscapes. Wotherspoon will be camping along the way, joined by her dad and brother, Matthew.
“I’m so lucky to have my dad and brother crewing this section. Matthew is a bear and caribou biologist, and my dad retired after 40-plus years in the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch. They are true outdoorsmen, and I couldn’t ask for a better team in the north,” said Wotherspoon on her Instagram page.
The Central Section will see Wotherspoon make her way from La Ronge to Saskatoon, passing through the Prince Albert National Park. With close to 450 km of gravel and paved roads, Wotherspoon said this part of the province feels the most familiar to her, as she spent a lot of time in the park and Lakeland area when she was younger.
More crew members will be coming out to support Wotherspoon, helping to co-ordinate drivers, pacers, support crew and camp setups along the way.
“With all the different friends joining throughout this section, it’s going to be a great one. We’ve had some pretty great adventures together, and I’m really looking forward to having them out there,” she added.
The final section will see Wotherspoon aim for the border crossing closest to the communities of Climax and Orkney, where her mother was born and raised. Although the route has not yet been finalized, the runner will be joined by her stepmom and dad. She shared on Instagram that she is looking forward to watching the landscape change over the entire distance and spending time with her mom in the landscapes she loved.
Louise was the daughter of Walter, a grain seller for the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, and Eileen Silzer. She enjoyed the outdoors and was interested in conservation, and eventually attended a resource management course, where she became a forestry technician. It was also where she met her future husband, Brad, a conservation officer. She resigned from her position to raise her family while Brad’s job took them to many different communities. Wotherspoon said Louise had a talent for gardening and crafting.
“I remember her drying her flowers and working late in her craft room, making potpourri, sewing creations for craft sales, calligraphy and painting folk art with such a steady hand,” she said.
Wotherspoon began running during her time in university. Since then, she has completed two 160 km races, the first in 31 hours and the second under 22 hours. She has also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, a 4,270 km footpath that runs through the states of Washington, Oregon and California, taking four and a half months to complete.
“I feel like this current run, or adventure, blends these two endurance disciplines,” said Wotherspoon.
With support from her family, Wotherspoon’s dad said his thoughts are a mix of admiration, pride and a healthy and respectable amount of nervousness.
“As we get closer to the run, we are all thinking about Lou, spending some time in reflection, and holding space for her,” added Brad.
“My parents are amazing. They crewed my very first 100 km race. It was a remote race where we needed a lot of gear and preparation. At the time, they didn’t know it was practice for something bigger,” laughed Wotherspoon.
The run is not just to raise awareness, but to help raise donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). Wotherspoon hopes to raise $10 per kilometre, which would come to roughly $1,600. Currently, the Every Step is Good run has reached 27 per cent of their goal.
The runner has already received sponsorships from many Saskatoon area companies, including Graham Construction, Con Tec, North Ridge, Canadian Timber Homes and Still Physio. She has also received in-kind donations for gear from Outerlimits, Lululemon Saskatoon and Prairie Sky Running Company. Wotherspoon’s yoga studio raised over $500 from a donation-based class, and some of her friends are going to host a fundraising night at the High Key Brewery in Saskatoon on May 20.
Wotherspoon will begin the run on May 25 and hope to complete the trek by June 20. To follow Wotherspoon’s adventure, donate to the Every Step is Good run or donate to the LLSC visit the website.
