Day 1.... The start of my Big Trek for Isaac

 Today is day one of training for my Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Thames Valley Trail, in 25 weeks I will be heading out on the 110 km trail with the goal to finish it in under 12 hours ( actually I would really like to finish it in 11 hrs and 30 mins but that feels scary to say out loud).

Why am I starting on this very long training cycle to run a pretty long distance? There are several reasons, the one that is most important to me is to do something big in honour of my son Isaac and his trek with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  This run and the journey to it, is my opportunity to share the experience and impact of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).  

DMD is a neuromuscular disease that causes all types of muscle cells to be weak and breakdown when used because their cell membrane is missing an important structural protein dystrophin. Over time the muscle is destroyed and cannot be repaired, it is replaced by fat cells and water.  DMD primarily affects boys as it is an x-linked genetic disease that is passed down through the mother, although in Isaac's case it is the result of a spontaneous mutation and not inherited. Boys with DMD begin to lose the ability to walk around the age of 10-13 and will continue to lose the ability to move independently as the age, DMD also affects the muscles of the digestive system, diaphragm and heart.   DMD is a life-limiting disease with no treatment or cure. 

Our family has been working with the Canadian Charity Jesse's Journey (https://www.jessesjourney.com/) to raise funds to support research into treatments and possible cures for DMD.  Since Isaac's diagnosis in 2016 we have helped to raise close to $70 000 for Jesse's Journey.  We hope to continue to support Jesse's Journey as recently there have been some promising breakthroughs for potential treatments. 

Isaa (7) is not alone in our family, he is younger brother to Luke (11) and Peter (9) and older brother to Evelyn Anne (5) and son to myself and my husband Mark.  I use my running to raise funds for DMD research and raise awareness but I also run for my kids.  I run so they can see me strive for my own personal goals and so that I can set an example.  I want to show them that setting goals and working towards them day by day, accepting setbacks and celebrating gains helps me to be strong and resilient.   Isaac is the only one in the family that has DMD but his diagnosis impacts all of us and has changed what our family's future looks, what our priorities are and what we do with our family time.  The impact doesn't have to be negative but it is not always easy and just like training for something big....like a 110 km run it takes work everyday. 

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