A BRC Runner In Longboat Clothing

A funny thing happened on the way to the race, I became a Toronto Longboat runner for the day.

I didn't plan on defecting when I awoke that day. Nor did it cross my mind that I might be masquerading as a Longboat runner as I gathered my gear together to leave for the Chilly Willy Half Marathon that Sunday morning. I did plan on just taking it easy and treating this race as a training run, but again, life and circumstance conspired against me. Honest, spit promise, cross my heart and hope to die.

I work with Art Stockman, who times a lot of races in the area. I also time the odd race for Art as well. Art knows I like to cherry pick races (don't we all?), so when a small one comes up, he lets me know. When Art mentioned that the Chilly Willy race in support of the Mississauga Canoe club only had 50 participants the last time it was held, I couldn't resist. Besides, thirteen miles was about what the training schedule was calling for. When the midweek weather report indicated that Sunday would be cold but sunny and calm, it seemed to be a perfect fit.

I packed my bag in a hurry that Sunday morning, filling it with everything that I might need, jacket, vest, gloves, and extra clothes for after the race. When I got to the parking lot, I reached into my backpack and… No Burlington Runners Club race singlet. Let me revise that, I packed my bag with almost everything I might need.

Oh well, I thought, I was going to run this one easy anyway. At least this way I won't embarrass myself or any club members that might also be here. No problem, today I'm unaffiliated, an undercover runner, a secret agent.

I stood in line to sign up and quickly found out that I'm in the wrong one. "You are in the line for the Dragon Boat Teams, you want the other line at the end of the table," said the young man taking money and personal information.

Dragon Boats? Art didn't say anything about Dragon Boats and there was nothing about them in the race flyer. I ask a quick question and yes, this is the registration for the Chilly Willy, yes it is a foot race and the closest to water I'll get is the stuff they hand out in cups at the aid stations. After a couple more questions I find out that most of the runners are planning on participating the Toronto Dragon Boat races next year and the reason they are here is to win coaching time in a local pool to hone their team's paddling skills. Ah, that explains many things.

After getting registered at the proper desk, I move to the line in front of the only open bathroom in the building. As I'm standing there, I overhear two of ladies behind me in conversation. Apparently they are on a Dragon Boat team and they would be DQ'ed (disqualified) from a shot at the big prize because they are short two members for the run. Being the gentlemen that I am and knowing squat about Dragon Boat racing, I offer to fill the spot of one of their AWOL team members.

It is only after I have agreed to join their team that I find out that they are members of the Toronto Longboat running club. Sure, they are rivals, but not arch-rivals like the Hamilton Harriers, so I can live with that. And besides, I'm not wearing club colours, so I can get away with it, right?

I mention to one of the ladies that I wasn't planning on racing today, and that I was only going to do 1:40 or so for the full half marathon. Her eyes opened wide. I guess my offer is a plus. Something like the five best times per team get counted and the fastest total time wins the free paddle session. I tell them, "Glad to be able to help out." Maybe there was a reason in the grand scheme for me to have forgotten my singlet after all. "The Gods conspire that we might perspire," I think to myself.

Now, I know I said that I'd take it easy, but DAMN IT, there's honour and prizes on the line. Besides, I figure with my dead legs, I'm not doing a PB today anyway.

Why dead legs? Let's see... An 8.6 km rabbit run on Wednesday evening, competitive league hockey on Thursday (hey, they were desperate for a goaltender), hill training on Friday, plus another two hours between the pipes in the evening. OK, I did take Saturday off, but the old legs were still complaining on Sunday.

Being the smart person that I am and even smarter runner (yeah right!), I can't run this one easy. I decide on the way to the start line that I'm racing. I just need to see how far I can push my abused legs for the honour of the Longboats rather than the BRC.

At the race start area, I'm minding my own business when I hear someone yell, "Hey Rocketman!" The owner of the bellow is Farside Al. I know Alan from a computer discussion group called the Roads Scholars. Amanda and I have picked up the nickname Team Rocket and being a member of the team, I also got the name Rocketman on the RS egroup. Running into Al was very cool and unexpected.

The people around Al look at him and then at me and ask, "Is that Mark from the list?" Then the next question was "Where is Amanda?". This was not unexpected.

If it had been just a little warmer Team Rocket would have ran our first half marathon, but at just a degree or two above zero Celsius, I had decided that morning that it was too cold for Amanda to sit in the racing buggy for almost two hours. There will be other occasions, but the course would have been perfect for a Team Rocket appearance. Who knows, maybe next year...

As it turned out Al was one of the Dragon Boat runners as well. Even more cool. As in most things, there is a cost to be paid. I did make them promise that if they won the coaching session, they would get me a Longboat T-shirt to wear. Even I have my price.

The weather was perfect for running and I even managed to push myself to a new distance PB (Personal Best) with a time of 1:31:35. Not too bad for a spur of the moment race.

And what about the Longboat Dragon Boaters? Well, they came in with the best aggregate time and won the coaching session. I even managed to make it into their top five runners to help them with the win. Arrangements have been made for T-shirt delivery at the Robbie Burns Road race.

I also made a promise that Amanda and I would join them in the spring for one of their club runs. After all, Amanda is famous.

By Mark G. Collis

Revised: May 17, 2004.