Joints in Motion, a company that raises money for arthritis research, continues to encourage people to sign up for its races that are held annually at designated vacation spots.
Participants agree to raise money in exchange for free accommodations and airfare, not to mention a mini-vacation, aside from the race. Over the years, Joints and Motion has accommodated thousands of people at a time, including Shawna Craig.
Q: What are some of the reasons that you decided to go traveling, and what advice do you have for others who want to run for Joints in Motion?
A: I was slowly starting to get back in the best shape of my life and was told about this experience through a friend. I was a little hesitant at first because I had only previously run in local races such as the Vancouver Sun Run, but I knew that based off of the research that I had done and because I knew many people going that it would be good opportunity and maybe one of the last vacations that I would have in a while away from my children. I would recommended doing this race with Joints and Motion or something similar because it’s all for a great cause and you’ll have a lot of fun. There are many places to mentally and physically prepare for this type of run, with running rooms and training programs that the organization prepares and monitors, so you’ll never feel alone and uneasy about running a longer than usual race.
Q: How did Joints and Motions help you prepare for the race once you got to Honolulu?
A: Well this was probably the most nerve-wracking part of the whole trip because I didn’t know what to expect when I got there, but I was impressed with the level of support on their end and felt super comfortable once I arrived. I had a total of three days to relax in great hotel that provided us with great food and service with additional amenities that made everyone feel at home. Joints and Motion also organized a dinner before and after the race, so that we could bond with fellow runners from around the world. It was surreal experience.
Q: Would you do this type of race again for a cause, and if not why?
A: I would love to travel again with or without friends. I can truthfully say that it was one of the best experience of my life that helped me escape to a wonderful hot-spot and helped me create life-long friends with people both in the race and others who were there vacationing. I was also able to accomplish my fitness goals, and I’m able to say that this was the extra motivation that I needed to continue to live a healthy, prosperous life in Vancouver.
It’s not every day that you can say you were able to run a marathon in Vancouver in temperatures of upwards of 20C weather. However, if travelling across the globe isn’t something you see yourself doing, then Vancouver offers some other races that you could enjoy during the summer months that could help you attain those dreaded fitness goals while also running for a cause.
