Runner

March 11^th, 1972: overweight, out of shape and a smoker! It was time to quit. I did that day, and the same day, at about 6:30 AM, I dragged that sorry body out of bed and tried to run around the Duggan subdivision that Maida, Jeff and I lived in. It was slow, long, and hard. In fact, I stopped often to catch my aching breath and walked part way. Despite all, I continued and slowly got to the point where I could run the entire "track" I had picked out, and in time, the desire for a cigarette diminished.

I continued on that basis, extending the run little by little over time until that summer when I decided to ride my ten-speed to Vancouver. Fitness had returned (or, so I thought)! I got as far as Jasper that summer and had to end the trip – hands gave out! A beer with Ron and Lovie Nimchuk in the Jasper Inn was precious, even if I had to hold it with both hands. The ride had ended; running had not!

Running on the basis of neighborhood running continued until 1976 when I moved into my home at 9719 – 86 Avenue. It was that year that I met Doug Jones who took me under his arm, as he had done to others on so many occasions. He introduced me to "LSD" – Long, Slow, Distance! I loved it! I recall my running trails from home through Mill Creek Ravine, the U of A, Victoria Golf Course and the River Valley as if it were yesterday! I also remember my 1^st race – the Edmonton Journal 9 km race around Hawrelak Park. That was in June of 1977. Jeff and Stu came down to the park with me, as did Bruce and Therese Roberts – they took care of Jeff and Stu while I prepared to do the race! Memory serves me that the race required about 4 or 5 turns around the park. Memory also serves me that I got about 2 1/2 times around, asked myself what the hell I was doing, couldn't answer the question and walked off the course – much to the questioning of Jeff and Stu! By July 1^st of the same year I had answered the question – I loved running and competing! I entered the Canada Day 10 Mile from the Legislature grounds a few weeks later and ran and finished the race in a time that I recall was quite respectable; I believe some 77 minutes. I was hooked. I have not stopped since.

Regrettably, as I was writing this note on my running, I got an email from my friend Nick Lees telling me of the death of Doug Jones on the 29^th day of April 2003. It immediately brought a myriad of memories to mind of runs with Doug throughout the City of Edmonton. Doug was the "Pied Piper" of runners! I was honoured by his family – Helen, Heather, and Penny – who asked me to speak a few words at his celebration on the 3^rd of May 2003.

Marathons in Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Dublin [right], and New Orleans have been run – some more than once. They have been challenges and enjoyed. The friends and acquaintances that I have met and come by are numerous. Perhaps most advantageous of all was the Canada Day Race in 1980 – it was during that race that I caught up and ran with a buddy, Allan Manzie, who was chatting with another Aussie as he ran. At the end of the race we all gathered about, chatting, eating oranges and laughing, at which time I suggested that we all go over to my place for a hot tub. We did, and the Aussie that Allan had been talking to joined us – it was Keir Pearson. Not long after, Allan and Peggy brought him and Janet to a party at my place – Janet was very pregnant with Helen at the time. From those simple beginnings, the strongest friendship has developed that has seen Keir and I enjoy runs together in places such as Edmonton, Tonga, Seattle, Bellingham, Berlin, Anacortes, Friday Harbor, and so many other places. It was been great!

Racing as all but ended, there have been a few knee operations and there are more to come – however, those same trails near my home beckon just about daily – I love them and the run as well.

I have been most fortunate – I have run, literally, all over the world. A pair of runners, some running gear and a trail or street is all that is required – the tundra of Tuktoyaktuk, the streets of London, the stairs of the Eiffel Tower – so many other places – beaches in all parts of the world! What a wonderful sport!

And to cap it off, I wandered, quite innocently, several years ago into a group of runners in Edmonton that continue to facilitate running all over the world – The Edmonton Hash House Harriers (www.EH3.org). I have been christened as "Second Cuming" and as such, I am welcome all over the world wherever Hashers might set a trail. Again, I have made many and lasting friendships in the group – a group that has provided endless hours of pleasure to me!

So as you can see, running has been and will continue to be an integral part of my life. With luck I shall continue to meet many others who will become acquaintances and friends the world over.

And, guess what – many of them are sailors!!

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is to you.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson