West Kelowna man completes 63-hour run around Okanagan Lake and tells the tale

“I’m going to go for a run right after I get off the phone with you, so I’m happy, I’m feeling good,” laughed Tim Dickinson, the 41-year-old man who is the first-known person to run the 315-kilometre perimeter of Okanagan Lake.

"It was probably the most incredible experience in my life - up to this point."

Dickinson departed from City Park in Kelowna early Friday morning with the intent of conquering the unprecedented race route around Okanagan Lake.

He returned Sunday night shortly before midnight to a crowd of friends and family, completing the run in approximately 63 hours.

"When I got to the arch of the bridge there, it was probably the most incredible feeling I've ever had. Every single emotion was just on high and I couldn't help but start whooping and hollering and laughing out loud,” explained Dickinson with a chuckle.

"At that point, your body is kind of in hormonal overdrive, so everything is firing: your adrenal glands are firing, the endorphins are there, everything is flowing through your body just in order to keep it functioning. It kind of goes a little beyond a runner's high," he added, noting that after that feeling faded he was drained and ready for a nap.

During the 52 hours of running, with approximately 11 hours of sleep, Dickinson went through 12 pairs of socks and six pairs of shoes - demolishing three pairs. He also estimates that he went through somewhere “in the neighbourhood of 20,000 calories over the three days.”

After the ultra marathon, one would think Dickinson would be out for the count for the next week, but he says that he’s already strapping on the sneakers.

"One minor issue [is there is] some blistering on my right foot, but other than that everything is back to normal,” said Dickinson.

"I've got another 120-mile race in August, so it's basically back to training."

Dickinson has been running since he was in his 20’s but said that physical strength and endurance is only half the battle.

"At a certain point in a run like this, there's a switch that goes off and your body switches from just putting one foot in front of the other, to just being in the mode of running,” said Dickinson.

“It happens at about the 100-kilometre mark, you kind of hit a wall and everything kind of slows down and you feel terrible and then, so, you take a little break and then you get back up and . . . all of a sudden your legs just know what to do and your body knows what to do - we're just going to run now, and we're going to keep running until we're done."

Dickinson will be celebrating the run on Sunday, a week from his completion.

In attendance will be volunteers, pace runners and everyone involved so that he can give thanks with a side of beer and pizza.