Skip to content

Harrison firefighter faces uphill battle in this year’s No Fun Run

Zack Martyn’s self-imposed challenge supports Agassiz-Harrison Community Services
28171747_web1_220218-AHO-No-Fun-Run-Zack_1
Zack Martyn reacts to the outpouring of support for the No Fun Run…and the dawning realization that he actually has to face the physical challenge of his own creation this weekend. (Contributed Photo/Zack Martyn)

Zack Martyn is about to host what he dubs “The Most Boring Event of All Time” – again.

Martyn’s No Fun Run has returned for its second and final year, raising money for Agassiz-Harrison Community Services (AHCS). In exchange for donations, Martyn is about to put himself through the self-imposed Everest Challenge on Saturday and Sunday in Harrison Hot Springs.

It was the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted Martyn to create The No Fun Run in the first place. The first year’s event supported the B.C. Lung Association after COVID-19 prompted the cancellation of the annual, province-wide Climb the Wall event in Vancouver. Martyn’s goal was to run four miles every four hours for 48 hours; he met the goal and raised nearly $5,000 for his cause.

RELATED: Harrison firefighter launches ‘No Fun Run’ for BC Lung Association

In the Everest Challenge this year, Martyn will attempt to “climb” the 8,849-metre elevation of Mount Everest through 161 55-metre climbs to the Harrison Hot Springs water tower in under 48 hours.

However, that wasn’t enough; it had to feel like an actual mountain climb, in Martyn’s eyes. According to his own rules, Martyn cannot leave the hill for the duration of the challenge. There will be a camp set up at the base of the hill.

“It kind of has that extra edge,” Martyn added.

The “fun rating” for this challenge is a half-star out of four, according to Martyn’s website, NoFunRun.com. The website also boasts several cheeky comments from “fans” of the event.

“This again? Seriously?” – Wife

“You know our family has bad knees…” – Mom

The hill Martyn plans to summit over and over again is the same hill he uses for training.

“Every morning, I try to do at least five breaks up it,” he explained. “I’ve put in so many climbs on that hill; I’ve easily climbed Everest on that hill in the last five years, so I just went ‘ah, maybe I’ll just climb that hill a bunch of times!’”

Martyn has lived in Harrison Hot Springs for more than five years, three of which were spent as a firefighter for the village; he also works as the maintenance manager at Springs RV Resort. Some time after this year’s No Fun Run, Martyn plans to split his time between his tiny home on Gabriola Island and running his in-laws’ farm in Saskatchewan during the growing seasons.

RELATED: VIDEO: Harrison firefighter’s No Fun Run raises nearly $5K for lung association

“They do so many great things for children, youth, families and seniors,” Martyn wrote on his website. “They run literacy programs, the local food bank and even the Agassiz thrift store.”

In the years before the pandemic, the Harrison Hot Springs Fire Department was frequently involved in multiple events to support AHCS. To date, the Facebook fundraiser has received 21 donations for nearly $2,300.

Martyn appreciates the many services AHCS offers and wanted to support them as a final farewell to his rendition of the local No Fun Run. Martyn plans to take the No Fun Run with him when he goes, hoping to put his penchant for punishing physical challenges to good use wherever he calls home.

“I’d love to just inspire people through this to challenge themselves in any way,”Martyn said. “t doesn’t have to be this crazy, but I just want to show them that even crazy ideas are possible.”

Martyn is still finalizing live-streaming possibilities during his No Fun Run this weekend. However, right now, you can support The No Fun Run through the Facebook fundraiser page by searching “The NoFunRun…for Harrison!”