Roxy's Marathon
I’m Roxy! I am running a marathon to help support undergraduate students aspiring to join the space sector in Canada. Please read my story, which I hope will inspire you to take action and help me achieve my mission.
Click the link above to go to the Canadian Space Health Research Network's Donation Portal (hosted by the University of Calgary). Please specify this fundraising campaign in the "Comments" box.
July Update
We got some stunning running weather in Southern Ontario. I didn't do any more costumed training runs but I did some longer runs in the heat. I am also enjoying the group runs and post-run freezies with Tuesday Night Trails runners (pictured here). Check them out if you need some extra motivation (and peer pressure?) to go running!
Overall the training is going well and I'm continuing to build a bit more strength and endurance. Less than 6 weeks until the race!
​
Total distance July 2024: 143.02K
June Update
Early Summer is my favourite running szn!!
Long days and great weather. This month, I got to do a bit of altitude training above 10,000ft in the Colorado mountains. Hiking, conferences, and science + getting sick mid-way through the month resulted in absolutely terrible running mileage this month. Oh well. July will be better. Now that the race is in two months, I can finally start to do an intense training block, followed by a long taper. I did a 20K easy pace in the full astronaut costume (shout out to all the lovely people who commented on my costume while I was running!) which provided insights about how I will need to manage my hydration (the helmet traps heat VERY well) and the best way to secure the helmet while running.
​
Total distance June 2024: 69.86K
May Update
April showers definitely brought the May flowers. I've almost exclusively been trail running in green, muddy, and hilly forests this month, which is great for training. I've done two races: Conquer the Canuck 25K, where I finished 10th overall (2nd place in my division) and the historic Sulphur Springs 20K Trail Race, where I finished 48th overall (4th place in my division). Did you know that Sulphur Springs Trail Race is the oldest Canadian 100-mile race? And this year it has become a qualifying race for the prestigious 100-mile Western States Endurance Run!
It was so fun to run these two races alongside my speedy friends, and enjoy post-race treats! Which race should I do next?
​
Total distance May 2024: 148.6K
April Update
Time is just flying by! It's finally spring in Ontario, which means it's time for trail running. I've signed up for a fun 25K trail race with my trail running friends called Conquer the Canuck on May 11th. If you're in the Cambridge area, come say hi!
​
This month has been full of travel again, and my training suffered. I replaced running with swimming in the Indian Ocean to cool off during my week in the Maldives for two important space meetings: The annual Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshop and the 2nd Space for Island Nations Conference (SINC). We discussed many important topics including how space can help protect island nations from the impacts of climate change and new ways that space could help save corals from mass bleaching events (note: conservationists in the Maldives have announced that 2024 will be another record-breaking year for coral bleaching). I learned a lot about Maldivian culture and their close connection to the stars. There are several unique constellations, shown on the slide below, that Maldivians used to navigate the seas. If you'd like to learn more or if you'd like to volunteer, visit the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO)
​
Total distance Apr 2024: 57.24K
.jpg)
March Update
This month was filled with fun new running routes and furry running companions :) Pictured here are Kennedy the Duck Tolling Retriever and Leia the Havanese. They both love to run and encouraged me to get some extra miles in throughout the week.
​
I am satisfied with the training volume this month and made up for the deficit in February. One of my new pairs of running shoes is nearly at the end of its life already, which means I may actually go through 4 pairs by the end of the year...
​
On a different note, superstar ultra runner Camille Herron ran 901.76K in 6 straight days for the Lululemon FURTHER event, which is an astounding feat, and inspires me to push harder to reach my own running goals. Did you know that Camille is attempting to achieve a lifetime goal of running the distance between Earth and the Moon? That's 384,400 kilometres! Camille also studied space life sciences and had a dream of becoming an astronaut. I think we might get along pretty well if we ever met (I hope it happens one day).
​
Total distance Mar 2024: 168.09K
February Update
It is always a good time when you get to run in a different country. A change of scenery can be so refreshing. I was lucky to be in Toulouse, France for two weeks this month for work. I managed to squeeze in a few runs through the clay-toned streets of “La Ville Rose” and along the Garonne river.
​
The busy work schedule took a toll on my desired mileage, however, and I’m feeling like I lost a bit of my cardiovascular conditioning. The plan for March is to push a little bit beyond the original running plan and add 2-3 extra kilometers per week to catch up. Also, a lot more stretching!
​
Total distance Feb 2024: 98.96K
​
​
January Update
I am so thankful to those who donated to my campaign so far! Please continue to share the link and help me raise more. We’re still a long way from my fundraising goal. Also, if you have any burning questions for me, no matter what the topic, I’ll try to answer them in my next monthly update. Meanwhile, here’s a run-down of the past couple of months.
​
In December, I did a fun challenge called the “12 Days of Run”, hosted by Lewiston Ultra Events. It starts with a 1K run on December 1st, then adds an additional kilometer with each successive day, until December 12th, for a total of 78K. I highly recommend checking out their other events too! In the summer I did their 16K Moose Mountain Trail Race in West Bragg Creek, AB and finished 6th in my division.
As most runners know, training in the winter can be challenging. The temperature from one week to the next has fluctuated by almost 30 degrees Celsius at times. Unfortunately, I lack the proper gear to run safely in really cold temps, so I chose to use the treadmill on a few occasions.
​
I’ve had minor setbacks too. My old nemesis, shin splints, returned in early January and I’ve struggled to recover. That usually signifies my running shoes need to be retired, so I’m now the proud owner of two new pairs. Hopefully February will be shin pain-free!
Total distance Jan 2024: 118.33K