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32 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 Long-distance running not getting old By Jon Kuiperij BORN TO RUN: Mississauga resident Gordon Salisbury will be the oldest participant in Monday's half marathon event of the Oakville Labour Day Half. The 78year-old takes pleasure in finishing the 22-kilometre race ahead of runners much younger than him. RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER reason, I'm catching them in the last couple kilometres. I say `If I can do it, you can do it.'" Salisbury began running more than 30 years ago to While most long-distance runners focus on limit- keep fit for playing tennis and soccer. His daughter, ing the number of people that finish ahead of them, Carol, talked him into running competitively, and he Gordon Salisbury is just as happy to count the num- began running half marathons in 1973. ber of people that he left behind. Carol runs as well, as does her husband Dave and And, even at 78 years old, the Mississauga resident their three children. In fact, three generations of the still does his fair share of that. family participated in this year's Salisbury will be the oldest partici- "I have no intention Mississauga Marathon -- Carol and Dave pant in Monday's Oakville Labour Day of stopping. My ran the full marathon, Gordon completHalf, a distinction that he also held in body will tell me ed the half marathon and the children the previous two editions of the annual when to stop." ran the 10K race. half-marathon and 10-kilometre event. "It's sort of in the family," Salisbury He doesn't plan on hanging up his Gordon Salisbury says. "That's one reason I keep going." running shoes anytime soon, either. Salisbury, formerly the deputy mayor "I have no intention of stopping," he says. "My body of Tiny Township near Georgian Bay, used to practice will tell me when to stop." his speeches while he ran. Now a member of the Obviously, it hasn't yet. Salisbury wears a heart Oakville Art Society, he will likely spend Monday's race monitor (it acts as a speedometer, he says) to ensure thinking about how he will improve his latest painting. he goes at an appropriate pace. Still, he generally comHe'll also have something to look forward to. pletes the 22-kilometre half-marathon distance in well Salisbury's wife Valerie cooks a victory banquet after under three hours, often leaving some younger run- each race, with roast rack of lamb, ice cream and ners behind him. liqueurs on the menu. "On the last three or four kilometres, of course "You have to be careful what you're eating for two to people are always going past me, but I am also catch- three months beforehand," says Salisbury. "When the ing some of the people that went out too fast," says race it's over, it's nice to say well-schooled today and we See Races page 33 Salisbury. "Better athletes than me but, for whatever BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The Wait is Over Open registration for our Fall and Winter indoor programs now available Visit www.oakvillesoccer.ca for complete information on fees, days of play, and more. Registration must be in person. Please visit the website to download a registration form. Online registration is no longer available. Oakville Soccer Club, 1520 Pine Glen Road (Dundas and Third Line), 905-849-4436 The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club A proud sponsor of the Oakville Soccer Club