Posted On: Monday, June 14, 2021
Typically athletes attempt to run the Bruce Trail southbound from Tobermory to Niagara. Steve will take the opposite approach, starting in Niagara and ending on the Bruce Peninsula. This is considered a tougher run, as elevation and technical difficulty increase as the trail progresses northward. Running the trail in this direction will bring Steve back to home turf when he is nearing the end. Running on familiar trails, seeing friends and family and hearing encouragement will help drive him during the final days and kilometers.
Steve is relatively new to running. In the fall of 2018 he began to train, unsuccessfully, for a 10km run. He realized that some major changes were needed. Having already given up drinking and smoking, he added yoga, meditation, biking and running-specific strengthening to his daily routine, with advice and encouragement from Jade McMeekin, his partner and a Registered Massage Therapist. The true catalyst for change came when he decided to eat a plant-based diet for one week. After 2 days, he knew he was never going back. Within a year Steve had completed his first marathon, ultra trail race and 100KM run. He then set his sights on running The Bruce.
Steve and Jade have launched the website Fear Know Trail for those who would like to follow the adventure. People can track the progress of the run in real time thanks to GPS location services. The website also offers ways to get involved. Steve and Jade encourage everyone to visit the website and find out how they can get involved.
The run will help raise awareness of local food producers and healthy eating. Food is an important component to what Steve does. Food is fuel, and better fuel means he can perform at his best. As a vegan, he requires high quality nutrient dense foods to complete a feat of endurance like this. His plan is to run on average 100km a day which will require about 6000-8000 calories daily, with stops every few hours for food and water refills and anything else he may need.
Steve and Jade are proud to partner with and raise awareness for Eat Local Grey Bruce. ELGB is a not-for-profit member-owned farm and consumer co-op that provides to-the-door delivery of sustainable, locally-produced foods. Fundraising to support Eat Local Grey Bruce will help ELGB create a more equitable food culture so others can benefit from access to great local food. It will also help support ELGB’s Zero Waste initiatives, to make the organization’s practices even more sustainable.
Visit www.fearknowtrail.com to find out how you can take action and support this effort.
About Fear Know Trail:
Jade McMeekin and Steve Kenny are outdoor enthusiasts sharing their adventures on the trails. Their goal is to highlight their experiences and create support and awareness for projects and organizations they believe in.
www.fearknowtrail.com
About The Bruce Trail:
The Bruce Trail is Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath. Stretching 900 km from Niagara to Tobermory in southern Ontario, it provides the only continuous public access to the magnificent Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
About Eat Local:
Eat Local Grey Bruce is committed to connecting eaters with local growers and makers of food. It is a co-operative non-profit that empowers all its members to participate in an equitable and vibrant food culture.
Location: L.E. Shore Library