iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk , Vancouver, BC

iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava , Calgary, AB

iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel , Calgary, AB

iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishment – Helen Kolodziejzyk , Calgary, AB

iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw , New Westminister, BC

iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris , Winnipeg, MB

iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan , Brampton, ON

iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua , Caledon, ON

iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh , Nottingham, UK

iRun because I live – Georges Schneller , Laval, QC

iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter , Clearwater , BC

iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt , Halifax, NS

iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friend – Nathalie Joncas-Caissie , St-Antoine, NB

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette , Carp, ON

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling , Ottawa , ON

iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley , Stittsville, ON

iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve , Ottawa, ON

iRun for me – Kiza Francis , Ottawa,ON

iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan , Brampton, ON

iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker , Etobicoke, ON

iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier , Gatineau, QC

iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch , Ottawa, ON

iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham , Avonmore, ON

iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre , Ottawa, ON

iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan , Ottawa, ON

iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil , Lombardy, ON

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Toronto Marathon
October 19, 2008

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13 days, 1,000 kilometres, little sleep

One by one, Ray Zahab ran Canada's provinces and territories

Imagine traveling to every part of the second- largest country in the world in less than two weeks. Then imagine running 80k each day on that trip. That's what iRun Runner-in-Chief Ray Zahab did for 13 days in May. Joined by Tim Borland and Mike Sherman, he criss-crossed Canada, visiting every province and territory and, sometimes on no more than 90 minutes of sleep, ran almost two marathons each day. As if that wasn't enough, he also met with community leaders and did countless media interviews and speaking engagements at schools, all to promote the Canadian charity ONEXONE.

Onexone runners (Ray Zahab, Mike Scherman, Tim Borland) at Bethlehem school in Saskatoon.

Here are 13 memories from his 13 days in a whirlwind running tour of Canada. For the complete story of Ray's adventure, click iRunNation.com.

MAY 11
ALBERTA
We started in Calgary and the amazing thing was how many people were coming out and meeting us and running with us on the trails. We thought that first stage was just going to be about awareness, but all of a sudden people were starting to participate. And they were making donations to ONEXONE. And then we finished and it was a rush to get everybody in the Jeeps as quickly as possible and drive to Saskatoon.

MAY 12
SASKATCHEWAN
The most memorable thing in Saskatoon was running with 10,000 students who were involved in a city-wide relay. It started at the Bethlehem School where 700 kids ran with us en masse. A 30k stretch of our run was the students handing off a flag from one student to another. Every time we arrived at a school, the whole school population was waiting for us. It was incredible.

MAY 13
MANITOBA
Another nine or 10 hours in the car to Winnipeg. The biggest memory from there was running with Chief Phil Fontaine. ONEXONE supports the Assembly of First Nations, so it was great to talk to him about that. He's a very funny guy, but what I remember most is his passion for the issues. I was really inspired by him.

MAY 14
NEWFOUNDLAND
We made it to the airport just in time and caught the red-eye to Newfoundland. What really stands out from there is the weather: standing on Cape Spear in 70-kilometre-an-hour winds. We ran through all this weather, our bodies were getting beat up.Then we got to meet Premier Danny Williams and we spoke at a school. The kids were just so wound up, so full of energy.

MAY 15
NOVA SCOTIA
We got to the airport and our flight was delayed by hours. We ended up arriving in Halifax very, very late and we had limited time to sleep, maybe an hour or two at a community centre. And up we go and start running again. Now we're under the gun. We ended up doing laps of this trail system just so we could stay close to where we needed to be. We just laughed so much because we were running around and around in one place.

MAY 16
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
We got into PEI and we were so weak. But we had to get running. It was pouring rain and we knew we were too weak to handle the cold and the wet and the running. We found out that 25 kilometres to the west there was no rain. So we drove there and ran all night and finished up at this incredible school where the kids were just fantastic. The teachers challenged the students and told them that they could get a minute of extra recess for every dollar they raised and they raised $500. But the most memorable part was how the team pulled together to make the run work.

MAY 17
NEW BRUNSWICK
We finished that 80k and within five or six hours we were running another 80k. It was just one run right after the other. Stephanie Case joined us in Moncton and ran with us for all the remaining provinces and territories. But the best thing about Moncton was this guy named Armand Doucet, who helped organize that leg of the race. And he came out and ran with us. He'd never run a marathon and he said he was going to run 25k with us. And he ran 40 and then he said he was going to keep going and finish with us. And he did. He was inspired to try. The power of the human will. It's amazing.

MAY 18
QUEBEC
We ended the New Brunswick run at 4:00 a.m. We piled in the vehicles and stopped at a truck stop to grab some showers, then drove to Quebec City. And we started to run with Corporal Claude Rossignol of the Valcartier regiment. The trail system in and around Quebec City was just beautiful, but the biggest thing I remember was Claude's energy and enthusiasm and the Valcartier base.

MAY 19
NUNAVUT
From there, we drove all night to Ottawa to catch a flight to Iqaluit. All the sleeping was done in the vehicle. The minute my head hit the pillow in the vehicle, I was out. We arrived in Iqaluit around 12:30 and it gave us some time to sort through our gear because we knew basically that the sun was not going to set. So we could start early evening and run all night. We ran all throughout the community of Iqaluit and visited with people. Talking with local people and meeting with folks along the way and running through the night. We did every single possible road around Iqaluit. Sometimes twice.

MAY 20
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The nice thing about Nunavut was we actually had time to get to our plane. But we flew to Yellowknife and once we got there, the clock started ticking again. We had one hour to sleep and then were off and running in the Land of the Midnight Sun. We ran with a huge group of people. And they ran all night and all morning with us. The highlight of the trip was the beauty of the Ingram Trail.

MAY 21
YUKON TERRITORY
In the Yukon, we ran with some adventure racers who set up our course. It was mind-blowing scenery. I'll never forget that route through the mountains and trees. It really epitomized that part of Canada is still wild and almost unexplored. It felt so rugged. It was beautiful.

MAY 22
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Major time-crunch in BC to get the miles in. We ran along the waterfront and through Stanley Park. But the highlight was visiting the Squamish First Nations and hearing speeches from elders and Chief Shawn Atleo. And of course, they had traditional drummers who were just incredible.

MAY 23
ONTARIO
And then it was off to Toronto for the final leg. The highlight was that we ran with so many people on that Ontario leg. It was almost like a prologue. We made time for the media, we made time to visit schools, we made time to celebrate the end of this crazy adventure. We just enjoyed ourselves. It was a huge day for ONEXONE. And then we were done.