My name is Alex Macinnis and I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 12. On November 19, 2018, when I was 34 years old I lost my entire large intestine to the disease. This year, to celebrate my 5 years living with an ostomy I am going to try and complete the Squamish 50/50. What is that you ask? Well, it’s a 50 MILE trail race followed 1 day later by a 50 KILOMETER trail race!!!!!! What am I thinking?!?!?!

When I was at my worst suffering from Crohn's disease I felt isolated. I could barely leave my apartment, I had no energy, I was constantly in pain, and if I stood up, more than likely I would shit myself. I spent the better part of 3 years like this, in and out of hospital, just barely managing to get by. During this time Dr's told me that an ostomy was a real possibility, and an option I should consider. At the time I rejected it, like if I had to have an ostomy, that I had failed. I felt like I should be able to control my disease through diet, and exercise in combination with the medications I was taking.

It turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. I have been able to retake control of my life, and go and do some amazing things I never thought possible. That is why I am challenging myself to these two races back to back. I've stared down impossible odds and overcome them before, its time to do it again!

Each race, on its own, is a gruelling challenge that is difficult to complete. To try and do them both back to back…its honestly a challenge that currently seems insurmountable to me, but I want to push myself to my absolute limits to show that living with an ostomy is not going to hold me back.

In 2022 I ran a 50 Km trail race, and wow, was that ever hard. Each of these races I’m going to attempt to do are harder than the one I ran, independently. I am excited to brining you along and go through the process of training for this.

The Squamish 50/50 is scheduled to run August 17th & 18th, and is a gruelling weekend of running up, down and over the mountains around Squamish BC.

I’m going to be training from now until the event to put myself in the best possible position to successfully complete both distances, and I’d like to bring you along for the ride! There is no guarantee I will be successful, and that is part of what excited me about this. It’s huge, the distance and the elevation is mind boggling, and I am eager to challenge myself and push myself to my limits.

I am also raising funds for Ostomy Canada Society, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to all people living with an ostomy, and their circles of support, helping them live life to the fullest. OCS has not only shown me examples of people living a full life after surgery, but helped create a community that has helped me overcome my own initial physical and mental hurdles that have led me to the place I am today.

Ostomy Canada does so much for those living with an ostomy, and for those who are facing the prospect of having an ostomy.

I am looking forward to this challenge and I’m excited to bring you along.

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