A few years ago, running wasn't a hobby for Sachin Latti.
Although the Canada Border Services Agency officer, who lives in South Surrey, has always stayed fit and active for most of his adult life, he'd never really given running a second thought. After going through a divorce, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other personal issues, Latti now runs long distances regularly, usually to raise funds and awareness for mental health initiatives.
Now five days into his current 52-day effort, Latti is running 60 kilometres a day for 52 days in a row – the equivalent of running from Victoria to the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay, Ontario, or 3,100 km – to raise awareness about the impact of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and associated mental health issues on first responders and veterans. Entitled Sach-in-Motion Run to Remember, Latti is fundraising for New Westminster’s Honour House Society.
Running became a passion for Latti while going through a difficult time in his life.
"It all just kind of all culminated at the same time, and I had a major depressive episode," Latti explained Sunday (June 9) in White Rock, while taking a quick breather from running. "I was like, 'What's going on with me?' I couldn't sleep – it was maybe two or three hours a night for months – until I came to a point where... it almost felt like a nervous breakdown, like I just couldn't. I was shaking a lot, I couldn't sleep, I was very paranoid, I had tons of anxiety and my emotions were just all over the place."
After a doctor diagnosed the episode, Latti started on medication and also, therapy with a psychologist. He hadn't realized, prior to the pandemic, how his activeness had helped him in the past, he noted.
"I used the gym and martial arts to manage my mental health, so when that was all taken away during COVID,I became very disillusioned... I felt helpless, powerless."
He started reading and one of the books, about chasing adversity, got him thinking about running.
"I hadn't ever even ran 5K before, so I started running 5K, three times a week," Latti said.
In November 2021, he scheduled himself to run 100 kilometres from Pacific Regional Training Centre for the RCMP in Chilliwack to Vancouver International Airport.
"I ran that in just under 15 hours and raised over $21,000 for the BC Legion for PTSD programs for veterans and first responders."
"That changed my life. I ended up finding something that I wanted to do, that made me feel a sense of purpose in life where I didn't feel I had it before," said Lattie.
That inspired him to run nine ultramarathons in nine months. An ultramarathon is where the participant runs 50 or more kilometres per race (a traditional marathon is 42.195 kms).
He learned a lot by challenging himself, Latti said, and he also raised $16,000, also for New Westminster's Honour House Society.
Honour House is a refuge, a “home away from home” for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, emergency services personnel and their families to stay, completely free of charge, while they receive medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area. Another facility, Honour Ranch, is a beautiful 120-acre rural retreat, where where military veterans and first responders can take part in programs to support the treatment of operational stress injuries, such as PTSD.
"After I did that, I was like, 'OK, this is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life."
Last August, Latti ran 22 marathons in 22 days, running from Revelstoke to Victoria, to also help fund the services at New Westminster's Honour House Society.
"The reason why I picked the number 22 was because in 2011, a study was conducted in the United States that revealed 22 veterans a day commit suicide," Latti shared. Many of those who commit suicide are men, he added.
He plans to take a TED Talk-style gala fundraiser like the one he held in March national, to Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, to help spread awareness about the importance of mental health. And that's not all.
Next year, he plans to run across the entire country, and is looking to break the record for fastest run across Canada.
Chances are, Semiahmoo Peninsula residents will see him in the next 47 or so days, running around the area and especially, on the pier, as he finishes his current challenge.
"If anyone wants to come and connect and have a conversation with me, I'll be out here running every Sunday in White Rock," he said.
"I'd love to create a grassroots movement leading up to my run across Canada next year."
Learn more about Latti's efforts at sachinmotion.ca