Ponoka News. Posted September 22, 2026
On Sept. 19, 24 members of Ponoka gym Earned Fitness came together to take on a grueling fitness challenge to raise $820 for the Parkinson’s Association of Alberta.
The members met for the Misogi challenge (an annual, one-day event designed to push past mental and physical limits), at the Ponoka arena parking lot, starting at 7 a.m.
“Our participants ranged in age from their 20s to their 70s, which was pretty amazing to see,” said Allan Prediger, Earned Fitness owner.
“Everyone came into the event with different fitness levels and different goals, but the idea was the same — challenge yourself, see what you are capable of, and do it for a good cause.”
This year’s Misogi was called “The Clock Never Stops.”
Participants completed a two-kilometre run every 30 minutes while carrying a backpack loaded with 20 per cent of their body weight.
At the end of every 30-minute period, the clock started again.
The challenge is designed to get harder as time goes on: just like Parkinson’s.
“If you couldn’t complete the distance within the time limit, your challenge was over. There was no set finish line,” said Prediger.
“The goal was simply to keep going for as long as you could.”
As the day went on, the distance didn’t change and the clock didn’t change, but fatigue continued to build, Prediger explained.
“Something that felt manageable early in the morning became much more difficult hours later. That was intentional,” he said.
“We wanted the challenge to have a connection to the people we were supporting. For someone living with Parkinson’s, everyday tasks that were once simple can become increasingly difficult over time.
“Our Misogi obviously cannot replicate what it is like to live with Parkinson’s, but as the hours went by and the challenge became harder, it gave our members something to think about and a greater purpose for continuing when they were tired and uncomfortable.”
Between all the participants and supports, the 2026 challenged raised over $800, which for Prediger, is what events like this are all about.
In 2025, the gym’s Misogi challenge benefitted Old MacDonald Kennels. The 30 participants walked 23 kilometres to the kennel, hauling about 900 pounds of dog food donations between them – and then walked back.
“I believe when we train at Earned Fitness, we don’t only train to be healthy. We train to be capable, so we can help others and give back to the people around us,” he said.
“Whether it’s helping a friend move, saving someone from a burning building, or raising money for a worthy cause, our members are capable, and we will continue to work to build a strong community.”