Local runner takes on 132 km winter run for good cause

From ultra marathons to a mid-winter test of grit, one local runner is taking endurance to the extreme.

Liam Bell is running 132 km through the cold, all for a good cause.

Cheers, cold air, and a lot of layers – that’s how Liam kicked off his latest challenge. After tackling a few ultra marathons last year, he’s now training for his first 100-mile race on May 23.

And today’s training run? From the CN Tower all the way to Niagara Falls – a massive 132 km right through the heart of winter.

Liam started running at 6 a.m. Saturday morning with temperatures sitting around – 30 C with the windchill.

“Very cold but I like pushing myself to the limits, and I’ve got a great group of people around me. And it’s been a fun day so far,” said Liam.

To prepare, Liam’s been on a run streak, hitting the gym and building endurance — both physical and mental — for a bigger goal ahead.

But this run isn’t a solo mission. His support crew is leapfrogging along the route — with planned pit stops for hydration, electrolytes and extra clothes to stay warm.

“The water kept freezing. He got to his first stop and all the back of him was ice. And his water had froze and leaked all down his back and literally froze. So we had to get him changed up and try to get him warm,” said Michelle Bell, Liam’s mother.

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“In these conditions, it’s all about having a good head on your shoulders, bundling up a lot, having a good crew with you, good people that you care about and want to be there for you and just keep one foot in front of the other and keep going,” said Jack Brody, Liam’s pacer.

And there’s another reason Liam’s putting one foot in front of the other.

“I am raising money for the Halton Women’s Place. So this run is definitely more than myself and it’s the underlying factor of what’s been pushing me through this insanely cold weather,” said Liam.

“It’s pretty crazy. It’s very brave of him. I mean, even just to walk into the grocery store in this weather, it’s pretty cold but he’s doing it for a good cause,” said bystander Alex Palios.

One of Liam’s planned pit stops Saturday was a parking lot near Centennial Parkway North in Hamilton. He used it for a chance to warm up, hydrate and reset before taking on the second half of his run.

One step at a time, one cheer at a time, Liam is proving that even in the coldest conditions, heart can carry you forward.

Anyone looking to support his cause can donate at a GoFundMe page Liam has created.

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