Rain, sleet, snow or even sunshine! Whatever the weather brings, Paul is ready for the Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake. He’s in it for the ride!
Newmarket resident Paul Weston is a “bring it on” kinda’ person. Once again participating in the 2021 Natures Emporium Run for Southlake, this year, as he cycles his chosen distance he will consider it a “training ride”. He is working towards a very different type of quest, to complete repeated runs of an uphill ride continuously until he has climbed 8,848m, the equivalent height of Mt Everest. “This year I hope to work up to Everest’s base camp equivalent of 4,424 meters,” he says. “You have to do it all in one go so that will be good training towards my ultimate goal.”
Paul has proven he has the fortitude to complete ambitious missions. This veteran of five Ironman challenges, who has represented Canada at world championship duathlons, is also the author of Running in the Rain, a book that helps readers reach their personal goals. “The name, Running in the Rain is like a metaphor for life,” he says. “Life is about taking any opportunity that comes up. If you always make excuses for not doing something, you’ll miss out on a lot.” Paul will not only be riding for Southlake, he will also be leading a wellness session during this year’s schedule of Run events.
He loves the idea of the Run for Southlake as a training ride because, unlike so many of his other goals, this one has a non-negotiable deadline. “You have a window in which to complete the challenge, and you have to build and set your targets to work towards,” he says. Paul, who has never spent more than 7 hours straight on his bike, will have to call on his own best advice in order to complete the full Mt Everest challenge, which he estimates will take between 17-18 hours of non-stop cycling.
Like many of us, Paul gained a few “COVID pounds” so for him, the New Year came with a plan to drop those and begin building strength. In getting ready for the Run for Southlake, he will follow his own best advice for training. “It’s not about the goal, it’s about the system and it’s really important for people participating to put a system in place,” he says. “I don’t find time to train, I schedule it. I plan it, I know exactly what I’m going to do when.”
Paul has osteoarthritis so nutrition and repairing his body are important. Over the years, he has called on Southlake for outpatient procedures and is currently awaiting treatment for a couple of chronic issues. Every experience with Southlake was positive. “Care and attention were excellent,” he says.
In all honesty, though, as he hits the road to participate in the 2021 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake, he is likely to be thinking less about those minor healthcare nuisances than the 8,848m uphill challenge that is ultimately ahead of him. “Southlake has a great reputation,” says Paul. “I’m happy my training ride will help.”
Learn more about Paul’s wellness session and all the other fun the 2021 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake promises.
