There is nothing like the wind at your back when you can run like the wind. Okotoks’ David Proctor enjoyed some nice — and cooling winds — as he ran across Saskatchewan last week in his cross-country trip to raise money for the Rare Disease Foundation. “Right now, I have a 20km gust, maybe 30 and it’s great to have it behind my back,” said Proctor on Sunday, about 50km east of Regina. “I have really been enjoying it because it’s been 20 degrees so far today. “I have had some days when it’s been about 30 or 32. It’s nice to have the cooling breeze.” Proctor is more than 2,100km into his journey and was expected to be Manitoba as of July 17. He is attempting to run from Victoria, B.C. to St. John’s, N.L., in 66 days, breaking the record of Al Howie, who ran across Canada in 72 days in 1991. Despite pounding his soles and a few aches and pains, his running soul and spirits are doing fine. “You run every day and you wake up, you put your shoes and you’re scared about getting out there,” Proctor said. “The next thing you know, you have run 20km and before you know it your day is done. It’s okay. “What I am really enjoying is my body is adapting. I was worried day 5, 6, or 7 but it’s easier now.” He’s getting pumped up by those who have replaced their Rider Pride with Proctor Pride as he pounded his way across the Breadbasket of Canada. “I am getting high fives from people as I run down the highway,” Proctor said. “People encouraging me as they tell me their stories.” He also got to stay in a home — some family friends took him and his whole family in on Saturday night. “They had a big, big spread for us — lasagna the works,” he said. “It was really quite nice… but I think I was conked out by 8 o’clock.” But he was back at it at 4 a.m. eating breakfast in the RV, which was made with care by his crew of Okotoks’ Wayne and Trish Gaudet, as well as Dave’s wife Sharon. “I had a big, big, big bowl of oatmeal, hemp hearts and honey and a coffee — that kind of sticks with me for a while,” Proctor said. The ultra-lean Proctor consumes about 10,000 calories a day. He was on the road by 5 a.m. on Sunday – with his trusty crew behind and in front of him. Wayne was ahead of Proctor early in the morning setting up a site for some refueling of his runner. “I like to see him in the morning every 20km, but because we are on a freeway, I didn’t see him for about 27km and that gets me a little antsy, but Dave was cool he took it well,” Wayne said. “Right now, we are in a smooth little groove. “As we speak, Trish just rode by me on her bike riding to our campground for tonight.” Proctor had raised $162,000 as of July 15. To donate funds or to follow Proctor’s run go to outrunrare.com
