Photo courtesy of Joe Crazy Legs
By Pauline Neilsen
Saturday November 27/2021.
The day was steeped in history. The Gunner Shaw race honours Steven Bruce Shaw, a running legend and the founder of the Prairie Inn Harriers (PIH) in 1978. He initiated the first Harriers Pioneer 8K road race in 1980 and the Royal Victoria Marathon. Gunner’s best recorded marathon time was 2:19:01. He was an all-round athlete and earned the name “Gunner” while shooting hoops in basketball. He was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident in 1984. He had fallen asleep at the wheel post nightshift working at the Times-Colonist, hitting a tree. The Thetis Lake run was a regular Saturday trail run and favourite of Gunner’s.
Race day was dark and drizzly. I checked the forecast and it called for 100% rain. Fitting as it is supposed to be a challenging cross-country race. I showed up early to obtain my race package and find parking. I lucked out and parked at the entrance by the crosswalk leading to the start line. I picked up my bib and returned to the car to tuck under a blanket and read a chapter from my book before the race. I had recently purchased Flourishing and Free More Stories of Trailblazing Woman of Vancouver Island written by Haley Healey.
I read of Minnie Patterson who left her husband and five children at the lighthouse where they lived to travel through a storm in the black of night. Armed with only her lantern and her dog at her side she set out to a telegraph cabin down the coast. Earlier she and her husband had spotted a ship in distress. Through their telescope they could see men clinging to the ships rigging . Her husband was unable to leave the lighthouse. So she set off to travel 10k from their lighthouse station at Cape Beale to Bamfield Creek at Carmanah Point - a part of the now famous West Coast Trail. The plan was to get word to the Quadra, a government steamer that carried mail and supplies.
In the darkness, Minnie lost and found the trail several times. Walking, running, climbing over fallen trees and sometimes gripping the telegraph line to find her way. Finally at the telegraph cabin, she dragged herself up the steps. Her friend Annie, wife of the linesman, answered the door. She reported her husband could not help as he was out fixing the telegraph line. It had been damaged in the storm. The two women got into a small skiff and rowed through the angry sea to the Quadra, taking turns bailing the boat. At the Quadra, they informed the captain of the shipwreck. He immediately set out in its direction while Minnie and Annie set to their task of rowing back to shore.
At the cabin, Annie fixed a bed and steeped a hot cup of tea for Minnie. Minnie refused the bed and took only the tea for she had a young baby back at home needing to be nursed. On her way home, her core temperature dropped. She shivered and her legs cramped. Exhausted, she continued forward and stumbled her way home. She fed her baby. A week later she received word: all 10 sailors on board the shipwreck had been saved.
Well, now it was time for my race. I opened the door and headed out toward the lake in the pouring rain. Three hundred entrants had turned out for the run. I saw lots of familiar and friendly faces. Some warming up, some standing still, people doing their usual preface rituals. Bob Reid was on the microphone. He gave the story of Gunner and the race rules. The horn sounded and we were off.
As I ran through the puddles and sidestepped my way around obstacles I thought of Gunner and his zest for life. I thought of Minnie and her grit and determination. I drew inspiration from them pushing forward through fatigue. Heading up one of the hills I saw a rival competitor ahead and managed to pass her. A short while later I noticed my shoelace was untied. Reluctantly I stopped and tied it feeling anxious I was losing valuable time. Oh well. What can you do?
The halfway point I came to the large “fuddle duddle puddle” as the PIH affectionately call it. Those puddles were extra stinky this year!! On the last third of the race I saw one of our own Sooke legends volunteering, directing racers: Bruce Hawkes. I managed a wave and a holler, “Hi Bruce!”
The last few hills at the end were a bit of work. My legs were tired and I could hear heavy breathing behind me. Knowing the end was near I tried to pick up the pace. The finish line required running through the water at the edge of the lake. Bob Reid was there greeting each runner saying, “Relax, you made it You are at the finish”.
WEHW!!! Marika, one of our new STARR members and future legend, came up to me after the race and introduced herself. She reported she had been following right behind me. It was her heavy breathing I could hear.
Post ceremonies, a few of us headed to the Six Mile Pub where beers, hot steeped teas and warm meals were consumed. Steven Shaw AKA Gunner and Minnie Paterson would have approved!
As a last aside and keeping with my history theme, I walked through the Six Mile Pub searching the old photos on the walls. I heard there was an old photo of my Great Uncle Paul sitting with all his old cronies enjoying a pint. He was a regular there back in the day.
A quote from the PIH early day meeting minutes, “If you run in front of a car you will become tired. If you run behind a car you will become exhausted.”