Inspired Soles

63. The Longest Night Run | Brent Manke

• Carolyn Coffin and Kim Senechal • Episode 63

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Brent Manke is a runner, web designer and writer who lives in Steinbach, Manitoba with his wife, three daughters, and new pup.

After an initial venture into sprinting in grade school, Brent became more serious about running over the last decade. After competing in many 5k, 10k, and half marathons, he ran his first marathon in 2018. The following year he found his love for trail running and participated in his first ultra. Since then, Brent has competed in many of the ultras and other trail races in Manitoba.

For Brent, running is a medium for exploring his world, and also for creating art. In 2018 Brent began writing a daily “run haiku” based on his morning run, and has compiled nearly 1000 little poems since. In the fall Brent released a book based on this project called “Morning Rounds.”

Also in 2018 Brent started the Longest Night Run as a way to show support and solidarity to a friend diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The overnight relay has become an annual tradition, in 2020 seeing 160 participants and raising $14,000 for the family. In the wake of this friend’s passing, the event carries on this year as a memorial as well as a way of showing support for others who are suffering in the community.  Although the Longest Night Run was founded with one person in mind, prolonged suffering, extreme presence, grief, acceptance and hope are part of the shared human experience for us all. Learn more at longestnightrun.com.

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Resources we discussed in the episode:

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