Race: Alfie Shrubb Classic 8K
Website: http://www.alfieshrubb.ca
Where: Bowmanville
When: June 6, 2010
THE LEGEND OF JOHNNY JOGGER – PART 1
This story goes back to the first time I ran the Shrubb Classic, in June of 2005. I remember it well because it was the first time I had won prize money ($100). I came in 5th overall in 30:43, which was good enough for top master. The winner finished in 28:47. I took notice of the winner, because he was no spring chicken. John Tranter, at that time, would have been 53 years old.
The race organizer, Al Storie, has taken great pride in setting up this race to rebuild the memory of the great runner Alfie Shrubb who dominated amateur and professional races in the early 1900’s. Shrubb had made his home in Bowmanville, not too far from where the annual race is held today. Al also tries to ensure that racers get exceptional value for their entry fee. And there are few races of this size offering cash prize money not only for the top finishers but for the top master as well.
A few years passed since I ran that race, and in 2008 I decided to run the Shrubb again. By this time, I had made my acquaintance with John Tranter, who I discovered was the butcher at my local store. John always finds time to talk about running, and makes sure I get well cut steaks! John was running the race this year too. I have been trying for years to break 30:00 for an 8k. I figured, if I could just stay with John for as long as possible, that sub-30 time would be mine. But as it was, recurring injuries had taken a bit of a toll on John over the past three years. I followed Johnny closely, but somewhere at about 6k I realized the pace was a touch slow for my goal. I passed him, and held off his charge to finish in 30:22, with Johnny just three seconds behind.
The Shrubb course is set up as a 4k and back, with a good hill at about 3k. So it is up over and down, turn around, up over and down. The backside of the hill is steeper than the front side. After we passed the turn, I was astounded. From every other runner going the other way came a hearty “GO JOHNNY!” The man was truly a local legend!
It is now 2010, at the start of the latest Shrubb race. Believe it or not, through years of improvement at other distances I have STILL not managed to finish any 8k race in under 30:00. It also seemed, based upon his recent races, that John was still not quite 100% or perhaps just his age was finally catching up to him. I am now sponsored by Team Running Free Ajax and feel compelled to get a good result.
By the time 6k came, I was pushed to my limit. I had just passed a runner to take over 3rd, and immediately felt the footsteps of another runner. It wasn’t Tranter, or the chap I had just passed. We traded leads a few times, and at 7k I let fly with all I had left. With 500m to go another Johnny, Johnny Lee, passed me to take 3rd place and left me 4th place, guaranteeing another masters prize for myself.
I was not happy getting blitzed so close to the finish. However, the last laugh was mine. I finally had my sub-30 time of 29:18 and the best: The master’s prize was a better value than 3rd overall, and it mattered none that Johnny Lee was in my age group. I was also quite honored to share the masters podium with Lee Ann Francis, another Team Running Free Ajax runner. As for Johnny Jogger, his 30:03 was his best in a few years and hint to his year to come.
