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No distance seems long enough for OT grad 33 · Wednesday, June 23, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com M ost marathon runners, for good reason, are on their last legs when they near the finish line of the 42kilometre course. That's when Alex Ikonikov is just getting started. "The marathon is a really tough event, and it's a big accomplishment for anyone that finishes a marathon or even attempts one," says the 41-year-old Oakville Trafalgar High School graduate, who now works as a marketing director. "But, for me, I've always felt that at the finish of a marathon, I could continue." So Ikonikov does, routinely "banging off" as many as 50 kilometres during his late-night training runs as if they were a half-hour jog on a treadmill, logging 140 kilometres a week on roads and trails near his Midhurst home. When marathons aren't enough of a challenge, you need to look pretty hard for something that is. And Ikonikov finally found one recently -- a 126-kilometre, 24-hour run through the southern African country of Namibia. Lone Canadian at Namibia race Ikonikov was the lone Canadian to compete in the Namibia Ultra Marathon, and one of only 30 in the world. Running from Brandberg Mountain to the Skeleton Coast, Ikonikov needed less than 16 hours to complete the equivalent of three consecutive marathons, finishing second overall. If Ikonikov needed any reassurance that he was challenging himself enough, he got it in Namibia. Several competitors had climbed Mount Everest or Mount Kilimanjaro, while another once rowed a boat across the Atlantic Ocean. "That was the fireside talk," Ikonikov says. "My first night, I was a little bit taken back. I was like, `Oh, gosh, I'm just a guy from Oakville. What am I going to as high as 45 degrees Celsius. "It felt like someone had a giant-sized hair dryer in front of me," Ikonikov recalls. It is moments like that when Ikonikov has to dig deep and remind himself why he's running in the first place. "I really like to challenge myself... and I like to motivate others. If I can motivate someone to believe that some challenge in front of them can be conquered and they can do it when their confidence is low, then what I'm doing is worth it," Ikonikov says. "If I can motivate someone to believe that some challenge in front of them can be conquered and they can do it when their confidence is low, then what I'm doing is worth it." n Alex Ikonikov PHOTO SUBMITTED BORN TO RUN: Former long-time Oakville resident Alex Ikonikov, pictured competing in the Big Sur International Marathon in Carmel, California, recently completed the 126-kilometre Namibia Ultra Marathon in southern Africa. say I've done?' "But the beauty of it is, those people don't judge. Everyone's there for different reasons, but the same reason in that we all like challenges." The daunting distance of the Namibia event was just one of several things for Ikonikov and the other competitors to overcome. The run through the desert was a solitary one -- save for the odd hyena, like the one Ikonikov encountered at one point -- and temperatures soared He's also passionate about helping people by raising money for charities. Although his participation in the Namibia Ultra Marathon was not for a charitable cause ("I ran out of time," he says), Ikonikov organized a marathon earlier this year to benefit those affected by the earthquakes in Haiti. Ikonikov's next project is the Simcoe Shores ultra-distance relay, a 240-kilometre, four-stage race that will begin in Barrie, wind through Orillia, Midland and Wasaga Beach, and conclude in Collingwood. Ikonikov plans to support Barrie's Season Centre for Grieving Children through his participation in the race. Of course, completing just one 60-kilometre leg of the relay wouldn't be enough of a challenge for Ikonikov. He plans to complete the entire race by himself. "That will be the longest one yet to date for me," he admits. Any Oakville individuals or companies interested in pledging their support are invited to contact Ikonikov by emailing alexikonikov@live.com or calling 705796-5559. U15 girls win Barrie Spiritfest Holly Miller stopped all three penalty kicks she faced in a shootout to backstop the Oakville Soccer Club's under-15 girls B team to victory over Brampton in the championship game of the recent Barrie Spiritfest tournament. Oakville, which had only 14 players available for the tournament because of injuries, led most of the final 1-0 until Brampton tied it on a controversial goal late in regulation, when the referee overruled the linesman on an offside call. Oakville also won the tournament semifinal in a shootout, edging the Aurora Stingers 1-0. Melissa Coulson scored the winner. Earlier in the tournament, Oakville defeated Brantford 4-1, whipped Vaughan 100 and blanked Brampton 2-0. Kira Ricci notched eight of Oakville's 17 goals in the tournament. Other members of the team (pictured, left) are Mikaela Lowe, Katie Bray, Rachel Rush, Sarah MacDowell, Emily Neil, Lia Barroso, Sarah D'Aurizio, Emily Smith, Sarah Belluz, Holly Burrows, Sera Smith, Jacqueline Samuels, Jane Wheeler, Lindsay Stenason and Bronwyn Davies. Joy Coulson and George Smith coach the team.