Whitey Sheridan in the 1963 Around The Bay Road Race

Coming up this Sunday, March 24 is North America’s oldest running race – Around The Bay.  Yes, it’s older than the Boston Marathon by three years. 

 I’m sure the runners who have endured their long runs in the snowy and frigid conditions we’ve had this winter will be happy to know that the long range forecast for Sunday’s race is clear with a high of 4.

There’s something for everyone at ATB.  There’s a 5K run, a 30K relay (each person runs 10K…that’s not too bad!), there’s a 30K walk and not for the faint of heart, there’s the 30K run.  Funds from the race benefit St. Joseph’s Healthcare.

I’ve run Around The Bay on two occasions.   It’s the race runners love to hate….but it is an exceptional race from the pasta dinner to the expo right to the beer after the finish!   It’s all good!

My love affair with “the Bay”  began on March 25, 2000, the night before I completed this grueling 18 mile event for the first time.

We were at the pre-race pasta dinner.   John “The Penguin” Bingham was the guest speaker and Waterdown resident,  Whitey Sheridan, an outstanding runner in his time, was an honoured guest.

The Penguin told the tale of how he got into running – and how it changed his life.  He’s known for running at the back of the pack…hence the name Penguin.  But by the stories he told, that’s where you have the most fun!  No pressure…you can talk to people, enjoy your run and just have a great time.

We had the opportunity to chat with and have our photos taken with the Penguin and Whitey.  It doesn’t get much better than this!

Michael, Robyn, Smitty, "The Penguin", Kathy & Lee

Created by Billy Carroll who owned the Hamilton Herald Newspaper, the inaugural edition of “The Bay” was run on Christmas Day in 1894.   This race has established Hamilton as a running mecca for long distance runners.   The list of winners for this event reads like a “who’s who” of runners including the infamous Tommy Longboat from Caledonia, Ontario who crossed the finish line first in 1906.

The closest finish for ATB was in 1997 when Paul Mbuga of Kenya beat two other runners by a mere footstep in a time of 1:35:35. 

In 2006, the race finish was moved indoors to Copps Coliseum and now friends and family can watch their beloved runners in comfort.

Since my body will no longer tolerate the 18 miles of road running (I’ve crossed over to trails), I’ve been a spectator at The Bay the past few years.

I find a spot near the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlingon, where the runners have about 5 km to go.  That’s where I offer my support as do hundreds of others.   Little do some of them know, they still have the Valley Inn Rd. Hill – Hamilton’s own Heartbreak Hill -  to climb!   

This year, I will miss The Bay.  I’ll be in Florida for a long weekend so I’ll have to watch the live updates on CBC’s on line coverage, or watch twitter and Facebook.

 

For those of you who are running on Sunday…have a great race and may the wind be at your back!