tribute to David Blaikie by Ed Alexander

Ed Alexander, former OUS coordinator, salutes David Blaikie

TRIBUTE TO DAVID BLAIKIE UPON RETIRING AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CANADIAN ULTRARUNNERS

Saturday, November 24, 2001

I ran my first ultra in September, 1986, before I ever heard the word. I had run four or so marathons over the past five years, and I noticed an ad in a now deceased Ontario running magazine for a 50 mile race from Hamilton to the Niagara River called the Golden Horseshoe Fifty Miler. As an enticement, finishing place numbered sweat tops were offered to the first 50 finishers, but I know I didn’t have a chance at that. However, I thought I would perhaps run 30 miles, just to go beyond the marathon. Much to my chagrin, there were only 35 runners at the starting line, and there was only one thing preventing me from getting that sweat top. Although I suffered much during the middle stages of the event, the finishing was quite exhilarating and I was completely hooked.

The following year, I phoned race director Peter Rhodes, who directed the Around the Bay race for many, many years, and learned that he was not going to put the event on again. In a moment of insanity, I asked his permission to put the race on myself, and he agreed. Among other things, he gave me my first copy of UltraRunning Magazine.

It was at that moment that I realized that there was a whole world of ultras out there.

I don’t remember how I found out about Ultramarathon Canada and David Blaikie, but it was around that time and I quickly ordered his then annual overview publication. This was an incredible work that obviously took a huge amount of time to track and compile, as it not only contained a summary of all the events of the year, month-by-month, and a list of all World and Canadian records, but also a complete directory of every Canadian that David could find listed as ever finishing an ultra, giving not only their name and address, but a list of every event they ever ran!

It was from this incredible source that I set up my mailing list database when I put on the 1988 Golden Horseshoe Fifty Miler. And it was there that I learned of other events in Ontario and of other ultrarunners. I still have most of the past issues of the bi-monthly publication of the same name.

To make a very long story short, in the final analysis it was David Blaikie that made the whole sport of ultrarunning possible in Canada and gave us all a sense of belonging to something truly great and world-wide. Who knows what would have become of us all without him.

He not only kept us linked, but he was our only source of praise and notoriety. Since I first heard of David’s fount of the sport, I have met him perhaps a dozen times over the years, usually standing around the track at Ottawa, but once in Hamilton at the Around the Bay race where he spoke, and once at the inaugural meeting of the ACU in Burlington, Ontario. Despite the infrequency of our direct personal contact, there are few whom I would count closer friends along the way.

Hearing all this, most people would be truly amazed to learn that David does not actually participate in ultras as a runner due to injuries sustained many, many years ago. But perhaps this is what makes him one of the truly pure runners in the sport, because he truly kept going even when it became impossible.

I hope I speak for all the past, present, and future ultrarunners in the Province of Ontario in expressing my gratitude for providing the crucial focal point that provided the initial foundation for this sport in which I have had the enormous privilege of participating these past sixteen years and for the fellowship of pilgrims it has fostered and for the great spiritual lessons it has afforded.

The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:26

Ed Alexander