Ultramarathoner Joe Mauko took on another test of willpower – a 24-hour treadmill run during the Junction Business Improvement Area’s annual Summer Solstice Festival, Saturday, June 21.
Mauko, a High Park area resident, raised more than $5,000 in the name of the Terry Fox Foundation running from 11 a.m. on Saturday until 11 a.m. on Sunday. Community members donated more than $1,300; The Bank of Montreal donated $1,000 and A2N Security gave $3,000. Once it was over, Mauko had run 168 kilometres.
The charity event was borne out of necessity, Mauko told The Villager.
"I’ve got a 2014 fundraising goal of $50,000 to The Terry Fox Foundation. I haven’t raised a penny to-date and I don’t have a network of people with deep pockets," he said. "A bright idea and partnership with the Bank of Montreal, together we co-ordinated this 24-hour treadmill run, something unusual to grab the attention of people coming to the Summer Solstice Festival and to trigger donations."
The run also served as training for Mauko, who says his next challenge is a race across the Atacama desert in Chile, the driest desert in the world, this October.
Twenty-four hours on the treadmill did not come without its hiccups. Mauko’s treadmill suffered a loose wire caused from transportation, disassembling and reassembling. The treadmill would stop intermittently many times over the course of the first hour.
"Initially, there was lost mileage unaccounted for and we just accepted the fact we had to start at zero miles again in the first 45 minutes of the run," he said. "From that point on, we tracked every single metre of distance until a technician arrived to troubleshoot and find the culprit inside the electronics while I ran. The problem was solved by 12 p.m. and it was smooth sailing."
The smooth sailing continued until about 10 p.m. when Mauko said he began suffering gastrointestinal issues after about 13 hours of running.
"Two quick bathroom breaks and ginger ale was the cure," he said.
At 3 a.m., fatigue set in and Mauko found himself sleep walking for a bit. However, the sunrise was "rejuvenating" and gave him the jolt he needed to get to 11 a.m.
Mauko said the atmosphere at the festival was "awesome," "overwhelming at times and emotional."
"On my right side, (there was) a Ferris wheel the size of the bank building. At night it illuminated the entire area with its lights," said Mauko. "The goal was to run 200 kilometres which was posted - it stopped many people in their tracks, and they came over to me to ask questions, tell me their personal stories (of cancer or weight loss, exercise, their successes and failures). One person who donated asked for a hug."
Between 2 and 6 a.m., there was quiet – only the hum of the treadmill and diesel burning generator created a white noise that made Mauko sleepy. He went into auto pilot.
"I was naïve to think 200 kilometres would be a (given). It wasn’t. I went to war just to finish with 168 kilometres," he said.
Yet, Mauko said he’d like to take on the challenge again, perhaps in a crowded mall during the Christmas holidays.
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free).
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation