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

iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn�t – Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun because it�s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter , Alberta

iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie , Ontario

iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia

iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell , Quebec

iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu , Ontario

iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird , Ontario

iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall , Alberta

iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka , Alberta

iRun to my happy place and some days it�s very – Doreen May , Alberta

iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston , Alberta

iRun because I can�t dance – Mario Javier , Ontario

iRun so I don�t say never ever again – Linda Klaric , Manitoba

iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur , Quebec

iRun because it gets my husband out there – Tricia LaLonde , Alberta

iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard , Alberta

iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy , Ontario

iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur , British Columbia

iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson , British Columbia

iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop , Yukon

iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter , Alberta

iRun because otherwise I�m grumpy – Alexandre Charest , Quebec

iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton , British Columbia

iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang , Alberta

iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey , New Brunswick

iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx , Ontario

iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis , Ontario

iRun because it�s like flying, only lower – Glenn Johnson , Ontario

iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan , Alberta

iRun because I�ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly , Ontario

iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour , Ontario

iRun so my daughters know that they can, too – Shelley Kirkpatrick , New Brunswick

iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie , Ontario

iRun because it�s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney , British Columbia

iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin , Manitoba

iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith , Manitoba

iRun because it�s fun when it�s done – Sue Matte , Ontario

iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer , Quebec

iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas , New York

iRun for the cool t-shirts! – Pina Bevilacqua , Ontario

iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids – Catherine Empey , British Columbia

iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston , Nunavut

iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan , Ontario

iRun because I want to live to be 100! – Colette DeJean , Ontario

iRun for health, iRun for life – Pat Cheung , British Columbia

iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy – Sara Campbell , Nova Scotia

iRun because it�s better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey , Ontario

iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn�t – Peter Cicalo , Ontario

iRun iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter , Alberta

iRun iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie , Ontario

iRun iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

iRun iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell , Quebec

iRun iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia

iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo , Ontario

iRun iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey , Ontario

iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza , British Columbia

iRun iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen , Manitoba

iRun iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins , Alberta

iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott , Qu�bec

iRun iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun for me! – Judi Wearing , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie , Yukon

iRun iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello , Ontario

iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts , Ontario

iRun iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher , Alberta

iRun iRun to correct years of sedentary living! – Mike Scott , Ontario

iRun iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas , Ontario

iRun iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent , Qu�bec

iRun iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams , Ontario

iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville , Ontario

iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail , Ontario

iRun iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle , New Brunswick

iRun iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries – Joanna Skomra , Ontario

iRun iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier , New Brunswick

iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon , British Columbia

iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase , Nova Scotia

iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul – Sonia Mendes , Ontario

iRun iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp , Ontario

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Name Peter MacKay
Hometown New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Resides Ottawa, Ontario
Age 42
Occupation Minister of National Defence

Running From Parliament

Peter MacKay has been named Canada's sexiest member of parliament eight times. Maybe that's because he stays in shape by running whenever he can, wherever he can. In his past role as Foreign Affairs Minister and in his current job at National Defence, MacKay has taken his running shoes all over the world.

I've always run. I've been more into team sports for most of my life. In late high school or early university, I started doing running as part of the training for rugby and football. Rugby is very focused on running. When the ball is in play, you're always running.

I lived in the country so there were lots of fields and dirt roads to run on. There's a place at home, a route I used to run when I was a kid. It's quite hilly. It goes through meadows and along a riverbed. I've always felt a real serenity there. Problems just seem to evaporate. That particular area, I try to go to whenever I can. I find my body misses it if I don't run. You get addicted to that feeling and you need it. You want it. Even if you're really physically tired, you want to go run.

It's a great release. It allows you to rid your body of a lot of the tension. It helps me untangle things on my mind. It's a bit of solitude. I find it really quite therapeutic.

I like running because you can do it on your schedule. Early mornings and late nights are usually when I run. I usually try to run between 40 minutes and an hour.

I've seen more cities than Santa. I've run in Rome, Poland, Vietnam, China. I take my shoes with me wherever I go. Condoleezza Rice has a step machine on her plane. It wouldn't fit on the planes we have.

In Afghanistan, there's a track around the base. It was extremely hot and dusty. You're running on a road that is essentially for military transport. It's a fine dust so it gets in every pore, in your eyes, your mouth. They actually organized a Terry Fox run on the base.

I went for a run in Argentina in February. It was stifling hot, in excess of 40 degrees. It's the only time in my life I ever thought I was going to faint from a run. We finished the run and I went straight to the pool.

They usually put security on you. I had one very funny experience in Rome. They assigned these two middle-age overweight heavy smokers. I started to jog and they were coming behind me in street shoes. I said, "I'm going to go around the park. You wait here." They said that was okay as long as I didn't tell their superior officer.

I've done a couple of half-marathons. I'd like to do a marathon. I really would. It takes tremendous discipline and you really have to commit to blocking off the time. But in this job, you're a bit like a volunteer fireman. When the bell goes, you have to go. I'll do it eventually.

There's a 10k run I do almost every year. It's called the Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow. Johnny Miles won the Boston Marathon twice.