Dillan Ponders, a 32-year-old unbiased hip-hop artist from Toronto, has accomplished an unimaginable problem: operating 42.2 kilometres—the marathon distance—day by day for 100 consecutive days. Beginning on June 17 and ending on Sept. 24, Ponders lined a complete of 4,358 kilometres, shining a highlight on an often-overlooked situation—males’s psychological well being.
Ponders undertook this marathon mission each as a private problem and to lift consciousness in regards to the silent struggles many males face. “I was a drug addict; I used to be homeless. Now, I’m three years sober,” Ponders shares. He says his journey from habit to sobriety has been life-changing, with operating taking part in a key position in his restoration. “Working saved my life. So many males are battling with psychological well being and looking for their function.”
The thought for 100 marathons in 100 days was impressed by Nova Scotia’s Ryan Holding, who ran throughout Canada earlier this yr in help of the Coronary heart and Stroke Basis. Like Holding, Ponders organized a meet-up on the ultimate day of his problem, the place many Toronto runners joined him to have fun his achievement.
The street to restoration
Ponders remembers the turning level when he gave up alcohol throughout his birthday weekend in 2021, at an all-inclusive resort within the Dominican Republic: “I used to be ingesting a 26-er day by day for over two years, and I’d had an issue with alcohol since graduating highschool,” he admits. “I had stopped onerous medication, however nonetheless leaned closely on alcohol. I used to be chubby, deeply depressed, ingesting myself right into a downward spiral, and even throwing up blood. I knew I wanted to make a change.”
Working grew to become his instrument for overcoming habit. Each time his thoughts craved alcohol, he laced up his footwear and went for a run as an alternative. “Some days, I used to be operating three or 4 occasions a day,” Ponders remembers. “It was powerful, however it helped.”
After two months of constant operating, Ponders began noticing main modifications in his well being and well-being. “I started to see bodily enhancements. I used to be getting stronger, sleeping higher, and had extra vitality,” he says. In six months, he misplaced 90 kilos. He ran his first marathon on the Toronto GoodLife Marathon within the spring of 2022, and hasn’t regarded again.
The connection to music
Working hasn’t solely remodeled Ponders bodily and mentally—it’s additionally had a profound affect on his music profession. “I’ve gone by way of lots of change over the previous 5 years, and so has my music. I really feel like I’m making one of the best music I’ve ever made,” he says. “I’m at the moment the highest-streamed unbiased hip-hop artist in Canada. Working has given me extra readability within the studio, and I now really feel snug talking about my traumas in my music.”
Balancing his rigorous operating routine together with his music profession, Ponders has been persistently producing and releasing new songs. His music is offered on all main streaming platforms, and he credit his music profession with giving him the liberty to pursue his operating targets.
Though his 100-marathon problem has ended, a brand new aim awaits: in three weeks, Ponders will line up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, the place he hopes to beat his earlier marathon time of three:30.
