A 1998 Saskatchewan marathon winner is passing on his passion for running.
Tarrant Crosschild spoke to students at Alvin Buckwold School to motivate the students running in the Saskatchewan MaraFun race this weekend.
Crosschild is the ambassador for the MaraFun, where 40 schools will be competing in the 2.2 kilometre race.
"Seeing these kids running, doing some exercises, seeing their leaders, their teachers helping them, rooting them on and seeing them progress over these last 10 weeks is really motivating myself to run the race," Crosschild said.
Crosschild uses his own life struggle of depression and addiction as motivation to other runners, like Mike Baars.
With Crosschild’s training, Baars lost 30 pounds and will be running his first ever 10 kilometre race this weekend.
"With the proper training regimen you can do it, you know I came from only being able to run one minute to now being able to run over 60 minutes, it's absolutely incredible if you just stick to it," Baars said.
On Sunday, more than 4,000 runners will compete in a series of races this weekend — the MaraFun, the 5 kilometre, 10 kilometre, full and half-marathon.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 7:15 a.m.
Roads will be closed around the Exhibition area, in the Riversdale district, and along Spadina Crescent East until around 4 p.m.
