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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I am Peter McKay and I run...

I am Evan Solomon and I run...

I am Susan Hay and iRun to maintain my life

As longtime weather anchor and host of "Making a Difference", Susan Hay showcases positive and inspirational stories on Global Television. But behind the scenes, that philosophy has spilled over into her outlook on life and her approach to running. Every time she does a marathon, she dedicates her efforts to a childhood leukemia survivor.

I was just an occasional runner until somebody said to me, "Hey, do you want to do a marathon?" My first reaction was, "No." But it was my Peter Kent and he had lost a parent to leukemia and he said, "Why don't you run with me and we'll do it for leukemia research?"

I started out thinking, "If I do this, I'm going to do it for me," but it ended up becoming about these two wonderful girls I met. They were eight and 10 years old, but when they were three and five, the older one had leukemia and the younger one was the perfect bone-marrow match. I fell in love with these girls. So I went back to Peter and I said, "Sure, I'll do it."

Two weeks before the marathon (in 2000), I had a severe groin injury. I was devastated. I went to the doctor and I said, "I don't know what you have to do to me, but I am running this race. I didn't come this far for these girls to end up saying I'm injured."

So I had only trained up to 29 kilometres. But the girls came to the halfway mark and the finish line. At the halfway mark, they gave me their hugs. And I just went into this deep thought and this focus on life and why I was running for these girls.

The girls met me near the finish and they grabbed my hands. They crossed with me and after they said, "We're very proud of her." John Stanton of the Running Room was announcing at the finish and he told me, "That was the most memorable and heartfelt crossing that I've ever called."

When I do my marathons, I do my marathons for leukemia research. Every time I do a marathon I do it for a child who has survived. I did my second marathon three years ago in Barbados. And my last one was last year in Hawaii. I ran for this little girl who had leukemia when she was six and was in remission.

To have a little girl say to you, "I couldn't stop when I got cancer. So you're going to finish this race today and I love you," how good is that? How good is life? I'm lucky I'm so physically fit and I can do this for somebody else.

I'm doing a lot of strength training. I'm with a trainer doing strength training twice a week. And I try to run three times a week. It will be interesting to see in my next marathon how different it will be because of the strength training. I think to be a runner, you have to be physically fit. But 90 per cent is your brain.

I love to run outdoors. I'm not a treadmill girl. I need the elements, I need to breathe the air. The winter months are hard because I'm not going to run by myself in the dark.

For me, a perfect run is one hour. I like to know when I go out that I have time. I don't want to be pressured. I always run by the water; it is energy for me. I like to warm up a little bit with a really fast walk, then I break into it. I usually walk for about 15 minutes at a really good clip and then I break into my run.

There are people that run everyday like clockwork. I'm not that kind of a runner. I want the space and the time.

I always say, it's you and the pavement. It's you just letting go of stressful thoughts and just not having a curfew. My professional life has always been to time. When I'm running, I just let go.

Running doesn't take from me, it just adds. It's a stress reliever. If you have a problem in the day and you go out for a run, you look at it a different way. You release those endorphins and it calms you.

I'm not doing it to lose weight. I'm doing it for me. I have to be in that right place. If I'm too tired, I'm not going to have a good run, so why push it?

I listen to just about anything when I'm running. I need stuff that's upbeat. I love jazz, I love R&B, contemporary. If there's a great upbeat country song, throw that in there too. It has to grab me. There are no love ballads on my iPod.

In a race, as soon as I hear people talking, I put my headphones on. I don't need that clutter. I don't need to hear people saying, "What time is it? What's your time going to be?" It's all about how'd you do and how fast did you go. I don't care about that. I care about who I see along the way. I care about seeing someone who is blind running a marathon. I care about seeing someone who has a photo attached to their back because they lost their five-year-old daughter to a terrible disease.

I go up north and I love to run in North Bay. I have to feel safe in my surroundings to have a good run. I don't want to feel I don't know this part of town and I don't know where I am.

I'm not get up and go first thing in the morning. I have to get up, have my coffee, linger. I like to go at 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon or 7 at night. To bounce out of bed and do it, that's not who I am. It's all about calm. I need to know that I've done all the other stuff and now this is for me. Whatever errands I have to get out of the way, or people I have to see.

I don't ever want to give up my running. To walk is not enough. That's who I am as a person.

I lost my dad seven years ago. When I did my first marathon, I called my parents first. My dad was just like, "Wow, 26 miles. You ran that." Every marathon since, he's been there. Sometimes I'll be running and I'll just burst into tears, just out of nowhere.

After I finish a marathon, I go and eat my french fries three hours later and I feel good about it. That's the only time I eat them, after I finish a marathon. I always call room service and I order a burger and they say, "Do you want fries with that?" and I say, "Oh yeah, lots of them."