In just a couple of weeks, Jason Holtvogt and others will once again take on one of the most grueling endurance challenges out there once again, the 4x4x48 ultra-marathon. Running four miles every four hours for 48 hours straight, Jason isn’t doing it for medals or records — he’s doing it to raise money and awareness for diabetes research, a cause that holds deep personal significance.
Holtvogt’s daugther was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018 at the age of four-years-old. In 2021, Holtvogt wanted to challenge himself not only physically, but to acknowledge the challenges that Type 1 diabetics live with, which led to the inspiration of the T1D 4x4x48 in Humboldt.
The ultra-marathon will begin at 8:00 pm on Friday night (May30) with his last run on Sunday afternoon starting at 4:00 pm (June 1).
He says there are a lot of similarities between taking part in an ultra-marathon and caring for someone who has Type 1 Diabetes.
“Just us being up at night and having to wake up during the middle of the night, it was pretty common for us, so even though four miles isn’t that long of a run when you look at it, that’s kind of how diabetes is, it’s all these small things that make the overall a pretty big deal.”
Before the ultra-marathon, there will be the dine and dash fundraising banquet. Along with the meal, there will be speakers including Dr. James Shapiro, who is currently working on a cure. Shapiro’s work is being funded by the Edmonton based organization DRIFCan (Diabetes Research Institute Foundation Canada). Over the past four years, the T1D 4x4x48 has raised nearly $250,000 to help find a cure.
Holtvogt says Shapiro has been testing on mice for quite a while and says that Shapiro believes that’s he nearing completion of his goal of finding a cure. He’ll be speaking at the fundraising banquet about his findings and as well he’ll participate in the first portion of the marathon.
Chris Jarvis, who is a former Olympian rower who created the organization I Challenge Diabetes, which pushes diabetics to perform difficult tasks whether it’s running, cooking, or managing diabete will be in Humboldt for the weekend. Jarvis is a type one diabetic, and he will be participating in the entire ultra-marathon.
Jarvis wears a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and during the ultra-marathon, both Jarvis and Holtvogt will be wearing CGM to show the differences in what both individuals need to do to participate in the ultra-marathon.
Holtvogt said, “To have a type one diabetic run this ultra marathon what I do is pales in comparison to what they have to manage to do this.”
Right now, there are 18 participants taking part in the ultra-marathon which is something that Holtvogt is pleased about.
“Blows me away from the first year when I started just running out of a parking lot so it’s really exciting to see that there’s a number of people that are taking on this challenge.”
Participants aren’t required to raise money for the event as Holtvogt explains that the ultimate goal is to create awareness, but teams can register at the 4x4x48’s website and either donate or collect pledges there.
Tickets for the fundraising banquet are available here, with the deadline coming up on Friday, May 16.
Along with the banquet there will be a silent auction, and the Saskatoon Soaps will be providing the entertainment.