KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — Wayne Gairns felt the emotion of the moment.
The 65-year-old from Emyvale was announced as the most dedicated runner of the 46th annual Malpeque Bay Credit Union Harvest Festival 25-Kilometre Road Race on Saturday morning.
“I had some tears in my eyes,” said Gairns, describing his reaction as he listened to race director Ivan Gallant announce him as the award recipient. “It’s nice to be recognized for that kind of an effort.”
Gairns has been running on P.E.I. for 30-plus years, but longevity is not why he was recognized.
“In the last 15 years or so I have had a few bouts of cancer,” said Gairns, who had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “It attacks your lymph nodes and I have had it in a number of different areas.
“It started when I was 48 and came back again when I was in my mid 50s and again when I was in my early 60s. I’ve had the last couple of years free of it and I keep going for treatments. Hopefully, it won’t raise its head again.”
Step away
Gairns had to step away from running during six months of “intense treatments.” But a desire to return pounding the pavement provided motivation.
“The running actually helped me get through those episodes,” said Gairns, who was greeted with a loud round of applause as he approached the stage inside Credit Union Centre in Kensington during the awards ceremony.
Gallant and a few regular race volunteers introduced the most dedicated award a few years ago.
“We felt it would be nice to give somebody an award who does something special in the race, but may not win it,” explained Gallant. “That could be whether they struggle and still push to keep going, or it could be a last-place finisher who just did their best and still finished the race.
“Sometimes you hear of somebody who has had to overcome an obstacle and are back at it. This year, Wayne Gairns, who is a great fella, he did have some health problems a few years ago. He ran it last year and this year he was back again and we felt he was a good choice.”
This race is no Saturday morning stroll in the park. It starts in Stanchel and features steep hills early in the race through Kinkora and numerous steady inclines through Freetown and Kelvin Grove towards the finish line at Alysha Toombs Memorial Park, alongside Credit Union Centre.
“Everybody says if you can do this you can do a marathon,” said Gairns. “It’s the ultimate race for the summer for anyone who is preparing for, or thinking about, a marathon in the fall. This is the challenge.
“If you can get through this event, you are fit and ready to go for the longer distance.”
Gairns completed the “Killer Course” 28th overall out of 43 runners in two hours 25 minutes 34 seconds (2:25:34).
“It’s a gruelling run, this 25K, but it’s always the challenge and motivation for the summer is to get yourself in shape so you can participate in it again because Ivan does such a great job organizing it,” said Gairns. “It is a fantastic event.”
The Harvest Festival run is one Gairns circles on the calendar every year.
“I have probably been running it since the late ‘80s and it’s always been one on the circuit,” he said. “I probably have 20, 25 runs (of the Harvest Festival race).
“It’s always great to come back. It doesn’t make it any easier, there are some brutal hills getting into Kinkora.”
Gallant pointed out Gairns has left an impact on P.E.I.’s running community.
“It’s certainly motivational when you see someone like Wayne and what he’s been through,” said Gallant. “There was no giving up there.”
Click here for story on overall winner of the 46th annual Harvest Festival 25K Road Race:
Click here for story on top female runner in 46th annual Harvest Festival 25K Road Race:
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