It's his first marathon, and he's running it for some furry friends.
Adam Duke, a native of Humboldt now living in Saskatoon, is planning to run the 2012 Pittsburgh Marathon.
Not only is he training for this 26.2-mile run, which will take place May 6, he's also raising money for the Humboldt and District SPCA (HDSPCA).
One hundred per cent of the money he raises through this effort will be going to the HDSPCA's new building fund.
The University of Saskatchewan education student, who works full time at a bar in Saskatoon, has never run a marathon before.
"I've run some half-marathons, but this is my first actual marathon," he said. It's been a goal of his to run one for a while, though, he indicated.
Why Pittsburgh?
" I'm a big, big Pittsburgh fan of anything," he said. He visited the city in 2005, and was looking for an excuse to go back. When he heard about their annual marathon, he figured it was a good excuse to go visit again, and achieve one of his goals.
Duke has a limit of about six hours to finish the marathon.
"I won't take that long," he said confidently.
He's in training right now, running five days a week, and covering about 20 miles in that week.
Duke says he isn't a runner - he started running because at one point, he had planned for a career with the RCMP. He stuck with it after he changed his career goals because it was something he hadn't been able to do well, due to knee injuries suffered on the football field in high school. .
"It's just a challenge - I was always so bad at it," he said.
Now that his knees are in good shape, he's getting better at it and uses running as a way to relax.
"You have to shut your mind off, you have to find a spot where you can let go and lose yourself," he said.
At his first half-marathon in Saskatoon, Duke's only goal was not to come in last.
"And that's my only goal for Pittsburgh," he said.
So how did the HDSPCA get involved in this goal of his?
His mother, Joan Duke, was one of the founding members of the HDSPCA, and she's been a dedicated volunteer with the organization ever since.
Duke hasn't given as much of his time to the organization as his mother, but he has helped out.
"When it first started up, people would be bringing in feral cats. I'd spent time with them at our house, taming them."
Dogs and cats were always around when Duke was growing up, and he still keeps pets.
"I'm a pretty big softie for them," he said.
So when he heard the HDSPCA was fundraising for a new building, he thought raising some funds for it would be a good way to contribute, since between school and work, he's not able to help out at the shelter physically.
Raising money for the organization also fulfils a long-held wish of Duke's.
In 2008, Duke and a group of friends organized a road hockey tournament on one of Humboldt's outdoor rinks. They had to decide between giving the money they raised from the tournament to Special Olympics, or to the HDSPCA. That time, they decided on Special Olympics.
"I knew if I ever did another (fundraiser), it would be for (the SPCA)," he said.
Now he's doing just that.
The timing works, he agreed, as the HDSPCA has recently embarked on a "Raise the Woof" campaign for their new facility.
Duke plans to do some doorknocking in Saskatoon to raise cash for the HDSPCA, and he has plans to do some fundraising through friends and family. He's also been using social media to get the message out about what he's doing.
When it comes to the amount of money he wants to raise, Duke has also refused to set a goal beyond as much as possible.
Duke hasn't set goals for a time on the marathon, or for cash raised for the HDSPCA.
"I'm just going to go and put in the best effort I've got," he said.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation can take it to the HDSPCA building on Hwy. 5 east in Humboldt.
Those who donate over $20 will not only get a tax receipt, but will have their name entered in a draw for a mini-fridge and other prizes Duke has been collecting.
