Stories like Tom Longboat’s, need to be shared and remember by everyone. These stories of self-sacrificing pursuits, carry with them a special message, for each and every individual that hears them. Without hearing the story the messages would be lost. These stories not only inspire, but have the power to completely change the direction of a person’s life. I know, because this is what happened to me!

In February 2004, for the first time I heard the story of my great-grandfather Billy Loutit.

During river break-up in the spring of 1904, the small town of Athabasca, AB, became captive to a great flood from the nearby river, and needed immediate emergency assistance from the city of Edmonton. The Hudson Bay Company stood to loose a great deal from the flood, and as such dispatched two messengers to get help. One messenger was sent on horseback, from Stony Creek, 80 miles north of Edmonton. The other messenger was sent on foot, from Athabasca 100 miles north of Edmonton. This messenger, whom was a Metis dispatch carrier, for the Hudson Bay Company, was my great-grandfather. My grandfather ran cross-country through flooded terrain, and made it to Edmonton in 16 hours, an hour before the guy on horseback!

Wow, we never heard of this story before. Then, we were told that in honor of my grandfather’s heroics, the town of Athabasca hosts an annual Triathlon in his name, called ‘The Billy Loutit Dispatch Triathlon’. This was their second season and they were looking for a Billy Loutit decent to participate. Well, after listening to this story, and still in our awe inspired moment, a couple relatives and I offered to enter the 2004 sprint triathlon.

Later, when my relatives had left, I ask my husband, “What is a triathlon?”

I nearly fainted when I found out what I had signed up for. I had to swim ½ km, bike 20km then run 5km, all one right after another. Was I nuts! I hadn’t swam for a least 15 years (floating on beach doesn’t count), I had a $5 garage sale bike that probably only did 5km/hr, and I had just quit a 15 year smoking habit.

After some quick research (thanks hubby), the help of a wonderful Just Tri-it group, and my grandfather’s inspiring story, I readied myself to do this race. Unfortunately, I was going to be the only one doing the race, as others conveniently backed out . But ok, all I needed to do was complete the race for my family, in front of some strangers and maybe 2 or 3 family members. Imagine my surprise when 32 members of my family, all the way from Seattle, Wash. to northern Alberta, showed up to see the race. Eeeeek! “Now I really have to finish this race!” Then I find out the Athabasca newspaper announced my entry into the race, a week prior, and that there was going to be the Legacy Magazine and other reports present to interview me and my family after the race. “Holy Cow, the pressure!”

Thanks to a lot of wonderful people and the amazing inspiration of my grandfather, I finished the race! Furthermore, I got 3rd Place. Thank you grandpa!

The lives of my family and I had changed forever, and was now embarking on a whole new direction. The following year I competed in 6 Triathlons, including “The Billy Loutit” in Athabasca, and “The World Masters Championships” in Edmonton, I had age-group placements in all, except one. I had also completed my first half-marathon. My 6-year-old son, Damian, competed in 4 triathlons in 2005, and was the first of his generation to complete his great-great-grandfathers race. All this from one story! Well one would think that this type of story, and life changing inspiration comes to a person but once in their lifetime. Not so! Shortly after my 2nd season of triathlon, I was told the story of Tom Longboat.

I was so amazed at how this aboriginal man so quickly became “The Man Who Ran Faster than Everyone” amidst much skepticism and racial challenges, and how he set the world-record in Boston. And if that wasn’t amazing enough, at the height of his career he put everything aside to enlist in the war to protect a people and country, whom at that point had not treated him with the same regard. He chose our future over his! What an incredible human being.

I hadn’t run anything near a marathon distance yet and never anticipated doing so, but at that moment I made the decision to honor this amazing man the only way I knew how. I would qualify and then run the 2007 Boston marathon in his honour. In January 2006, I set out on my journey for Boston.

With my running book 'Running-Start to Finish' by John Stanton in hand, I trained hard for 7 ½ months. Through much sweat and tears, I got myself to my first marathon in Regina, Saskatchewan, on September 10, 2006. I finished this race but was disappointedly 6 minutes away from qualifying for Boston. With only a couple of qualifying races left in Canada, and my time and resources limited to one more try, I signed up for the Toronto marathon scheduled for only four weeks after Regina. Everything rode on this Toronto marathon. I needed to finish in 3 hours and 40 minutes or I would lose my opportunity to commemorate our national hero, Tom Longboat.

I started out the race at a faster than normal pace and was feeling the backlash of such pace at the 15km mark. My breathing was laboured and I could feel the cramps around my stomach coming on, so I tossed my bottles of water and opted for the aid stations instead of the extra weight. My eyes and legs stayed steady with the 3:30 pace bunny, and I prayed that I could maintain this rate for another 27km. With so far yet to go and the pace bunny slowly disappeared in the distance, my thoughts and feelings were not very positive. My husband, bless his soul, gave his best rendition of a Saskatchewan Prairie Dog, and was popping up at every other aid station, to cheer me on. The wonderful people of Toronto also did their part to try and motivate me further down the road, by hollering Go Shannon Go! However, as my body started to waver and spirits started to falter, one thought keep my legs moving, and propelled me forward towards the finish. Tom Longboat. For every negative thought that crept into my mind, a picture of Tom would appear, along with the feelings of strength, courage and incredible determination. I would imagine him running with me along with my great-grandfather and say to myself, “just this once, just this once, then it's Boston”.

Then as I approach the finish area, my handsome Prairie Dog appeared again, boosting my spirits more, by running with me for a bit. I new this was an incredible feat for my Prairie Dog, because for the last 6 years he has suffered with a long-term disability, that would have left him quadriplegic, if it weren't for 2 unbelievable spinal surgeries. For him to run was not even considered an option, yet here he was beside me.

As I closed in on the finished line, a wave of anticipation engulfed me, and with the spirits of these grandfathers running with me, I broke out into a sprint. Running faster and faster for the last 200 meters, I crossed the finish line at an incredible 3 hours and 35 minutes! 11 minutes quicker than four weeks prior. Thank you so much grandfathers, thank you so much Tom!

I am not finished yet! Just prior to the Toronto marathon, inspired by all my running, my husband informs me that he has been training and now can run 5 kilometers, 3 times a week. This from a man whom wasn't expected to be walking!

So here again, an amazing story has set my family on another incredible journey. Thank you Tom Longboat, for all that you have given! We will see you, in Boston!

Shannon Loutitt, Saskatoon, SK, March 2007