'Fast Eddy' returns to Thunder Bay on cross-country run return

The man who ran across Canada to raise awareness for Alzheimer's and breast cancer has returned to Thunder Bay.

Edward Dostaler, also known as Fast Eddy, has been speaking to students about his run, and about the power of perseverance.

Part of his message centres around what makes his raceunique - the fact he's now running home, instead of just a one way trip.

"When you actually run across Canada the first time, people miss you, and it doesn't get told until after you've left," Dostaler said.

He feels more people will only notice your cause, "if you're running there and back, once he gets to Cape Spear, he turns around and runs all the way back."

Dostaler said that since he began using a support vehicle for the return trip, he actually runs the route twice.

"Flying back to BC, grabbing my vehicle and driving all the way back," Dostaler said, "and, I've gone ten kilometres down the road, ten kilometres back, then drive ten. And then repeat that three times. I run 60 kilometres every day, and so the reason it's taken me so long to get back to Thunder Bay is because I ran every province east of here, three times now."

Fast Eddy considers himself a sprinter, not a marathonrunner

The marathon-like distances aren't a natural run for Dostaler, and he said that raising awareness is what motivates him when he's off his game.

"We're going to call it the way it is. It's horrible," he said, "I'm a sprinter, not a long distance runner. I don't enjoy it much, whereas other people do."

Dostaler hopes his message resonates with everyone, particularly students, who may often feel burdened by their own life's journey. He reminds them to keep focussed on the big picture.

"There's a lot of grit that goes into it," Dostaler said, "but I try to make the most of it because, like it or not, these diseases are important."