Okotoks runners Jos Brinkhof, Jim Cadman, Wayne Gaudet and Richard Ellum don their medals on the streets of Boston after completing the world’s most famous marathon. photo submitted
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By Bruce Campbell
sports Editor
Being a senior is a matter of definition as a 68-year-old Okotoks resident found out at the famous Wellesley Scream during the Boston Marathon on April 21.
“I got to Wellesley College and there was a young lady there holding up a sign that said: ‘Kiss me, I’m a senior,’” said Richard Ellum. “So I went up and kissed her and said: ‘So am I.”
Ellum was one of five Okotokians who finished the prestigious Boston Marathon, which includes the Wellesley Scream at around the 20-kilometre mark where students from the all-women college scream their appreciation for the runners.
Ellum finished the 26-mile, 285-yard run in four hours and 48 minutes.
“It was tough because I didn’t have the proper training. As a result, I expected to be closer to five hours than four, which I was. At about the 24-kilometre mark, I started to get cramps and tightening in my back, so I had to stop and stretch it out,” Ellum said. “I kept plodding along and I finished.”
He admits to being frustrated that he wasn’t able to get the proper training in, but he said it was “a wonderful experience”— after all it was the Boston Marathon.
“I was about three-quarters into the field and still there were plenty of people along the route yelling their support,” Ellum said. “It was pretty amazing.”
Ellum isn’t about to put his running shoes away, but he doesn’t think he will be running Boston or any marathon again.
“I did this to experience what it is like to run a marathon,” said Ellum, who has been running for more than 50 years, but didn’t run his first marathon until completing the Royal Victoria Marathon in 2006 where he qualified for Boston.
“But, I don’t want to put the excessive stress of running a marathon on my body again,” Ellum said with a laugh. “I have been telling people that if I talk about running another marathon, hit me in the head and break my legs.”
Vindicated
It took him three years, but Jim Cadman has crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon.
Cadman, who had to pull out of the Boston Marathon in 2005 just two miles from the finish line due to injury, finished in a time of 3:39:59 on April 22.
“When I got to the finish line, I let out a huge sigh of relief,” the 56-year-old Cadman said. “I had vindicated myself and got rid of those demons.”
In 2005, Cadman had a mere six weeks to train after finding out late that he had qualified for the Boston Marathon. He started having problems halfway through the race, and then after successfully getting over the three hills at around the 21-mile mark (including the famous Heartbreak Hill), Cadman’s quadriceps tightened up during the downhill portion and he was forced to pull out.
This year, Cadman finished in a time of 3:39.59, fast enough to qualify for Boston next year.
“With about 300 metres to go, I realized I had five minutes to get there in order to qualify (for Boston) next year,” Cadman said. “I am thrilled. I felt really good (during the run). Sure there was the usual stiffness and the blackened toes, but I felt great.”
Cadman shied away from the 1970s philosophy of running mile after mile and then even more miles to prepare for marathon.
He ran three times a week, with at least one long run. When Cadman ran up one of Okotoks steeps hills (which are tougher than Heartbreak Hill, according to both Cadman and Ellum) he did it with the gusto of former Saskatchewan Roughrider back George Reed going through a hole –- straight ahead, with plenty of power.
The other runners from Okotoks who completed the Boston Marathon on April 22, were, Wayne Gaudet, 51, 3:16:41; Jos Brinkhof, 52; 3:27:54 and Marnie J. Stanton, 3:46.16.
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