Should you be tasked in choosing an individual who, in toto, represents the running doctrine of greater Victoria, past, present and future, you would choose Bob Reid. Bob is a cog and a catalyst to the sport of running in Victoria, yet he stands tall amongst the most dedicated of volunteers.

Whether being front and center raising thousands of dollars to purchase green space land for people to enjoy uninterrupted forested lands, assist elite athletes to make their all important qualifying race overseas or doling out bee sting ointment to a weekend warrior, out at the lakes, Bob Reid is the exemplar. "It'll be difficult to put into words how much he has done for the running community, I don't think you can do it in the space provided," offers one club member.

About Bob

Bob's greatest reward, his gratification, may be when relaxing in his hot tub, after running through the hilly, forested trails of Thetis Lake Park with his dogs. Should he spend equal time rewarding himself for his contributions to the greater running community, he could cook himself - a human stew.

To him Mecca exists in the Thetis Lake trails where moss gathers over giant fur tree roots and bedrock, blanketing the panorama like freshly fallen, green snow. Bob is a simple man. His happy meal includes a steak, baked potato with salad and beer with an apple pie and ice cream chaser. Later, a flip of the hot tub lid, a little Roy Orbison in the air and Bob is in his personal happy place.

He has run too many miles to count, raced too many races to remember and has been holding the candle on his running club's mantel for more than 30 years. He is past president of British Columbia's largest running club however; he continues to preside over many details and leaves the minutiae to the good people he surrounds himself with. Which is of course is an indication of a quality leader. Club member, Dee Ogden has this to say about Bob. "Bob Reid has motivated me to become a more focused runner. He is encouraging and helpful in pointing out strengths and where one could improve and does so in an open and easy manner. One of the best parts of racing is seeing and hearing Bob on the course and finish line offering encouragement. I believe the runner I am today, is due in large part to Bob Reid."

Since the late 1970s he has held an executive capacity within the club where the effects often extend well into the greater running community, here is a truncated list:

Director (many races)

Race Founder (several)

Elite Athlete Coordinator, Time Colonist 10k and Royal Victoria Marathon

Media Liaison

PIH Club President - 5 years 

PIH Club Treasurer

Equipment Manager

Select Teams Manager

Workout leader (refuses to be referred to as a coach)

Vancouver Island Runners Association (VIRA) Executive

Victoria Marathon Society Director

Iron Horse Running Club President

Dusty Sneaker Club President

The athlete

A one time rugby player, Bob found running when he was told to stop taking contact on his broken collar bone. To this day he continues to umpire competitive ball on the various diamonds throughout greater Victoria. An arthritic hip hardly slowed him and when he finally got it replaced, he was up and beating the medical staff across the hospital room floor performing one-legged hops. (I bet he timed himself and recorded his splits).

The man has a more detailed trail map system memorized, than the local parks department have documented on paper. His trail knowledge is probably second only to his long-time training partner Dan Harlow, to whom Bob claims to be most indebted to after many years and many miles run together.

On one marathon long run a few summers ago, Bob crewed a few us on a route aptly named, the Highland Grind, which roles over 22 miles of back-country roads and forested hills. The Highland Grind is a route where the climbs seem to have no end. He rode his bicycle to certain points and ran for stretches to show us short cuts and where to run in, when the signs read, stay out. Bob hung a left on one of these trails onto a bridge, which collapsed under his weight. We found him standing in the middle of it, knee-deep in the creek producing a giant, scat-eating grin. This was a happy moment for Bob.

A Bob gem: You haven't had a good run until you have bled. This would explain the sudden crawling through 10 meters of blackberry bush moments later.

Sandi Heal offers, "From leading club runs on Saturdays where no one is left behind, to Tuesday Night workouts where he encourages everyone to do their best; Bob is an inspiration to all."

Bob's Personal Bests (All achieved as a master)

400m - :58

1,500m - 4:19

Mile - 4:40

5K - 15:47

8K - 26:05

10K - 32:54

12K - 41:33

15K - 50:43

10 Mi - 54:55

20K - 1:08:47

21.1K - 1:11:47 - (Provincial M40-44 Record)

42.2K - 2:38:31

50K - 3:34:34

60K - 4:22:34 - (Canadian M40-44 Record)

50Mi - 5:59:05

100K - 8:09:30

100Mi - 27:39:13

He has won the Prairie Inn Harriers (PIH) Most Valuable Runner award, Master of the Year and the Durability Award three times. He continues to race, this year he will enter two Gunner Shaw Cross Country Classics, which takes place in Victoria and Vancouver respectively. His name may appear in the results as either I.P Knightly or Dr. Arthur Itis.

The Gunner Shaw Cross Country Classic

Reid launched the Gunner Shaw Cross Country Classic after his good friend, club founder and president, Bruce 'Gunner' Shaw died in a car crash, too early in life. Bruce, like Bob, enjoyed the trails. So in his honor Bob designed the race as a gnarly fixture; the way Gunner would have liked it. The race provides 10kms of hills, mud, rocks and roots. 'A fall classic' according to Runner's World Magazine. Most importantly the race proceeds go to bursaries. To date; raising $160, 000 for various projects. It is surprising how many hundreds of people show up to run this 10k cross country race, complete with a knee-deep, cold-water hazard at mid-point, which is about 50 meters long. In order to enter the finish chute, runners must first enter Thetis Lake for a waist-deep run for a further 50 meters. The race of course happens in mid-November. Some people swim those last few meters.

Other commonly heard Bob gems:

• When in doubt go up.
• There is no such thing as over-training, just under-training.
• When it says, 'Keep out', go in.
• Sometimes it is easier to run hard, than to run easy.
• When you reach a fork in the trail, take it.
• Only running will help your running.
• The only thing harder than running, is not running.
• Never think about yesterdays run, when you are running today.
• When your doctor tells you to alternate hard/easy runs, start running twice a day, so you can run hard every day.
• Every hill has a top, find it and enjoy.
• Never think about tomorrows run, when you are running today.

Bob is efficient, multi-tasking and scheduling to fit as much into his life as possible. Even his communication is streamlined, using truncated sentences to make a point. Recently I surreptitiously asked him a few questions. I knew in advance what the answers would be, but had to ask anyway, as a formality.

CK: Bob, you ran in an era when marathons had a fraction of the entries of today's races, but the fields were deeper. What has happened? What is wrong with today's running scene?

Bob: Too many gadgets, too much science, too much cross-training, not enough hills or intervals, not enough punishing group runs.

CK: What is the bare minimum mileage one needs to train well for racing events from the 5k distance to the marathon.

Bob: A minimum of 70 mpw is needed, 80 is even better, 100 miles per week is optimum.

CK's note: From an earlier profile done on Bob, when he was asked, "what is your personal training philosophy?"

Bob: Train with a two-by-four and when you start feeling really tired; hammer the shit out of yourself.

We need more Bob's in the world.

Long time club member and master of the trails, Dan Harlow says, "Bob Reid is a kick-ass runner, a trail fanatic, a meticulous organizer, supportive club member, a true mentor, the most loyal of friends. It has been a real privilege to run races, relays, mountains and trails with Bob, these past 20 years."

Photo Credit: Rumon Carter, Photographer

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org