A runner from Cape Sable Island is about to take on a challenge that will take him from one end of Nova Scotia to the other, all to raise money for autism.
Landon Smith plans to run from The Hawk on Cape Sable Island, the southernmost tip of Nova Scotia, all the way to Meat Cove in Cape Breton, the province’s northernmost point.
Smith says the inspiration for the run comes from his nephew, who is autistic.
“We babysit him a little bit, and I was thinking it’s so hard for parents, especially if they’re nonverbal,” he said. “They don’t know what’s wrong because the child can’t communicate. It’s just so hard on the parents and the children, too.”
The money raised will support summer camps for autistic children across Nova Scotia. Smith says the camps require one counsellor for every child, making them costly to operate.
While Landon has run marathons before, this challenge is on a completely different scale.
“Oh, by far,” he said when asked if it’s the longest run he’s ever attempted.
To prepare, he hired running coach Jody Eisner. Living on the flat terrain of Cape Sable Island has created a unique challenge when training for the hills of Cape Breton.
As a result, he’s spending plenty of time running on an incline treadmill.
Smith hopes to cover between 70 and 80 kilometres each day. His plan is to jog for 25 minutes and then walk for five minutes to help save his legs during the journey.
“I’m hoping between 70 to 80. That’s my goal,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll hit that every day, but I know when I get to Cape Breton things will really slow down.”
He’s still finalizing his route but expects to follow a path similar to the one used by Allison McFadden, who completed a tip-to-tip run across Nova Scotia in 2024.
If all goes according to plan, Smith hopes to complete the journey in 12 days.
People who want to support the effort can donate through Autism Nova Scotia. You can also CLICK HERE to donate! His $5000 goal is almost met already!
A Facebook page called Landon’s Tip-to-Tip has also been created by his family and will provide daily updates on his progress and location throughout the run.
Good luck Landon!
Listen to my interview with Landon below.
