RIP Gord Dickson

[wind-hater]

Just a quick note to share the sad news that Gord Dickson - 5 time winner of the Around the Bay Road Race - passed away yesterday. Coach Gord was a very kind man and a selfless coach and contributor to the sport of running. Here is a little more about him.

http://www.sports-reference.com/olympic ... son-1.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kQJzZM9gjY

Rest in Peace Gord.

[5km]

I’m very sorry to hear this news.

Gord Dickson was one of the few running “celebrities” I’ve met and the only one I’ve actually run with, once.

It was back in the 1981. I was in the fifth mile of a ten mile training run in the hills on Northshore Blvd. east of LaSalle Park when I was joined on the road by an older runner who asked if he could run with me. He introduced himself and I was flattered that he would want to run with someone like me. I knew who he was. I knew my running would not impress him but I also didn’t want to appear to be a lousy runner. I can’t remember what we talked about, probably running. I was working really hard to maintain the pace, between 6:30 and 6:40 per mile. I could just about manage to gasp out my replies while he didn’t seem to be working hard at all. We parted ways after about four miles which meant I could, thankfully, ease up a bit. It was a humbling yet great experience.

I spoke with him briefly at a race we were both spectating many years later. I asked if he was still running and he said he wasn’t anymore due to some physical issues but that he was coaching kids, one of whom was running that evening in the same race as my son.

Based on my two meetings with him, he seemed to me to be a very nice and modest gentleman. The running community in Burlington is poorer for his passing.

[Jo-Jo]

Thanks for sharing this Rick.
And thanks 5km for sharing your run with him.

[wind-hater]

Just a quick note to provide his obituary:

http://www.smithsfh.com/book-of-memorie ... ituary.php

Windy

[5km]

Here's a link to Canadian Running Magazine's tribute :

http://runningmagazine.ca/6-time-nation ... n-dead-83/

[5km]

Here's a link to another article about Gord Dickson. This time it's by Reid Coolsaet.

http://reidcoolsaet.com/