Think back to your high school days.
Go back even farther, to elementary school.
Chances are you'll remember a guy who, when it came to athletics, was the best at everything he did.
During my five years at Duchess Park secondary, and my eight years at North Nechako elementary, this incomparable individual was one of my best friends, Reid Roberts. Whether it was volleyball, basketball, cross-country running or track and field, Reid was the man. Heck, even when we played scrub -- a version of softball -- he was always the toughest out when he was at bat.
At Duchess Park, Reid was the backbone of our volleyball team and he was even more skilled on the basketball court. Basketball was his preferred game, probably because he grew up as the son of a longtime Prince George basketball coach, Pat Roberts. As a point guard, Reid kept the Duchess Park offence in sync and could knock down the outside shot with ease even when the game was on the line. Volleyball or basketball, he was always chosen as an all-star at the end of tournaments.
Reid wasn't a big guy and was more sinewy than muscular. His dad often called him Bones and the nickname suited him perfectly.
Really, he had the build of a marathon runner. At elementary school cross-country meets he was always the top finisher for North Nechako and in his senior years of high school he was unbeatable in the annual Milk Run.
Reid grew up to be a teacher and has been a staff member at D.P. Todd for years. Much like his dad before him, he became one of the most respected and successful basketball coaches in the city.
About six years ago, Reid renewed his passion for running when he signed up for a 10-kilometre trail tromp in Kamloops. From that day forward, he started tackling longer and longer races, to the point where he was doing ultra-marathons. As the name suggests, an ultra-marathon is any race that exceeds the traditional marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres.
This past weekend, Reid took on one of his biggest challenges to date. He was in Grande Cache, Alta., for his first-ever crack at the Canadian Death Race, an aptly-named 125-kilometre grind through some of the most severe mountain terrain in North America. From start to finish, runners had to navigate 17,000 feet of elevation change and overcome a slew of hazards both physical and mental.
And how did Reid do?
Incredibly well, of course.
Out of the 371 soloists who started the race, he finished eighth overall in a time of 15 hours three minutes 21 seconds. In the age 40 to 49 category (Reid turned 44 on July 24), he was second to Joe Huising of Edmonton, who clocked in at 13:46:37.
And consider this -- the Death Race was so brutal that only 148 of the soloists (40 per cent) finished it.
Reid has always been blessed with natural athletic ability and, no doubt, it has contributed to his success as an ultra-marathoner. But he has also worked extremely hard to get to where he is now. In preparation for the Canadian Death Race, he logged 3,200 kilometres in training runs from January to August.
Most of us will never run that far in our lives.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Prince George's Jeff Hunter finished second overall in the Death Race (13:35:25) and that P.G. athletes Aaron Bond (16:18:36) and Steve Staves (19:23:14) were 16th and 37th respectively.
In the team category, the Go Go Girls from Prince George (Cindy Hartford, Lisa Neukomm, Robyn Kaplan and Nicole Rishaug) were first among women for the second year in a row. Their winning time was 14:38:04.
Meanwhile, To Hades With Haste (what a great name) ended up seventh in the mixed team standings with a time of 14:33:24. Hades members were Gord Cross, Gwen Preston, Alena Charlston, Kevin Charlston and Don Williams. Also in the mixed team division, Sticks And Berries -- formed by Darcy Rihtamo, Luke Veeken, Mike Booth and Nancy Pilon -- stopped the clock at 17:43:02 and finished 64th.
Hunter's time, incidentally, placed him behind race-winner Aaron Heidt of Vernon, who crushed the course in 12:31:44. In the 14-year history of the event, Heidt and Hunter now own the two fastest times by Canadians.
What a tremendous showing by P.G. people.
All this makes you want to try the Death Race, right?
Perhaps not.
Me? I think I'll just tip my hat to all those who are brave enough and dedicated enough to attempt it.
Back when I was a kid, I could never keep up with Reid anyhow. And I know for a fact that hasn't changed now.
