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CBRE’s Rudy Uhl Embarks on 8,500 km Cycle-Run Challenge for Mental Health
May 14, 2025 4 Minute Read
Rudy Uhl will soon embark on a challenge he says has never been attempted before in Canada.
Starting May 24, the CBRE Vancouver research analyst plans to cycle from coast to coast and run a 100-km ultramarathon in every province as part of a challenge he’s dubbed the BAR 100|100 (Bike and Ride 100 km|100 km).
By the end of the summer he is aiming to cover nearly 7,500 km by bike and 1,000 km on foot to raise $84,775 – $10 for every kilometer covered – for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
“I wanted to do something that scared me,” says Uhl. “I had already run a 50 km and an 80 km and survived. So I thought, ‘Why not just do 100 km?’”
His challenge is inspiring to his boss, who’s letting him take leave to undertake this feat. “We are thrilled to see Rudy's genuine passion to increase awareness and support for mental health in Canada,” says CBRE Vancouver Managing Director Jason Kiselbach. “His journey across the country embodies our RISE values and our vision to be ‘More Than Real Estate’.
“We encourage others to get behind his fundraising efforts for this great cause.”
Mental Health for Everyone
Uhl was born in North Vancouver, where he grew up playing sports. He competed in varsity football while he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Queen’s University and his master’s in economics at University of Bonn in Germany. He moved home after graduating, where he began working at CBRE and discovered a passion for cycling.
“I struggled with my mental health throughout my undergraduate degree but didn’t think I needed the resources,” he says. “Then the stress of doing my master’s in a foreign country during the pandemic got me to a low point. That’s when I realized that everyone is vulnerable to these issues.”
One in five Canadians experiences mental illness each year, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. By the time they reach 40 years old, half of Canadians have experienced mental illness.
Over the years Uhl witnessed teammates and peers struggle with their mental health. Last summer, everything changed when one of his close friends attempted to take his own life.
“I had been thinking about a cross-country ride for a while because I was inspired by a former teammate, Curtis Carmichael, who had done it to raise money for public housing,” he says. “I decided I would ride this year and raise funds for mental health.”
The BAR 100|100 Challenge
Uhl will begin his challenge on May 24 with a 100 km ultramarathon in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, followed by a cross-Canada bike ride, with stops to complete 100 km ultramarathon runs in Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Fredericton, Charlottetown and Antigonish. His last run is slated for St. John’s on August 20.
“I’ll be riding unsupported, meaning that I’ll be on my own with everything I need on the bike,” he says. “The plan is to ride 100 km daily and run the day after entering each city, followed by a rest day.”
Uhl is currently training six days per week in preparation for the challenge. He starts his weekdays with a run and a bike ride to work, followed by a lunchtime workout at the office gym and a bike ride home at the end of the day. Weekends are reserved for longer sessions.
Uhl is also working with a nutritionist to optimize his fueling strategy and plans to stay connected with his therapist throughout the summer for mental health check-ins.
“There are parallels between training for this challenge and working in real estate,” says Uhl. “Both require a strong work ethic and perseverance. I look forward to bringing the discipline from my training into my work after this sabbatical.”
Supporters can donate to Uhl’s campaign here and follow his progress on LinkedIn, Instagram or Strava.
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