Norm Patenaude
The Founder of the Friendly Massey Marathon and the creator of the modern course measurement system, Norm was also one of the founders of the Ontario Roadrunners Association, and helped write the standards used for race accreditation, which have since been adopted by the CTFA and the OTFA. If you go to Nova Scotia or B.C. and run a marathon that has aid stations every 5 km, St. John's Ambulance, drop bags, course marshals, good course markings and so forth, think of Norm, because he was thinking of you.
Norm Patenaude Remembered
by Tim Uuksulainen
The telephone call from ex-Longboat Roadrunners Club member Brian McDowell was unexpected and hard-edged. Did I know anything about the details of Norm's death? I had just returned from my umpteenth trip to Toronto and the call raised more questions than answers. However, the finality of the outcome was confirmed with a call to Longboaters Bob Kidney and Mike Turner. Ironically, I had written a letter to Norm and posted it on the day he died. While Norm didn't get to read my letter, I took solace in my parting words to him.
My first encounter with Norm occurred in July 1977, on Long Lake, situated on the outskirts of Sudbury. I was up there coordinating a summer camp for physically disabled adults. One day, while out for a run, who did I meet but Norm, who happened to be living on Long lake. As a competitive runner in those days, I was quite familiar with Norm's accomplishments but had never met him. In typical Norm fashion, he talked me into helping him with his Voyageur Marathon that would be taking place the following week. What I didn't realize at the time was that, in subsequent years, I would end up being either a volunteer, racer or coaching presenter, and sometimes all three, at fifteen of his races.
While Norm and I managed to do some runs together over that summer, our paths rarely crossed over the years beyond my annual pilgrimage to Massey, Espanola, Hanmer or Sudbury, which represented the home sites for the Voyageur Marathon over the years. However, Norm was an incessant writer (as many of us can confirm) and so writing became our most frequent form of contact.
To say Norm loved running is an understatement. It was his life's PASSION. It shaped his life, his relationships and his goals. If, as Thoreau stated, "a man's richness can be measured by the things he can do without," then Norm was indeed rich. His house was an open museum on running-if you could find the memorabilia. House cleaning was not a priority with Norm. I can only hope that someone saved what Norm had collected.
As many of you know, Norm never learned to drive and somehow managed to get around on foot, bike, bus or hitching a ride. In later years, when I spent one term on the ORA Board, I always marvelled at the drive and determination that led him to spend 12 to 14 hours on the road for a two-hour meeting that would further improve the sport of road racing and the athletes involved. And he did this without much recognition or thanks. But that's not why Norm was doing it. He knew if he didn't do it, then likely no one else would. Not many people realize that Norm almost single-handedly developed the standards for road racing certification that has now been virtually adopted by running associations across every province and in many other countries as well. He was also involved with measuring the marathon course for the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
As an athlete, Norm was a throwback to the old days. A staunch supporter of a high mileage program, Norm always preached the importance of long runs and would often ask if someone was injured because they were "only" doing 40-60 miles a week. I don't know all of Norm's times, but I do know they were impressive. For a self proclaimed "no talent" runner, Norm had a PB of 2:21:43 in the marathon. He probably ran about 100 marathons, of which I would estimate 25 were sub 2:30. He had a 10K PB of 31:00 and was in the 10-mile race at the old CNE when Jerome Drayton set a world record for 10 miles. I believe Norm may have run 50 to 51 minutes on that day. He turned to ultramarathoning in his later years and again excelled at many distances.
Norm's perseverance, tenacity and constant optimism on the roads transcended to his everyday endeavours. Whatever Norm was involved with, it was with 100% commitment. It often came with a price. Norm overcame many hurdles that would have buckled most of us. On the job, he was active in his local union and became president. While in Massey, he ran for a position on the town council and although he didn't win, he came close. To make ends meet, he also worked at a local animal zoo, cut wood and raised goats, all the while helping to rear four boys and a girt with his wife Shelda. Weekends would often be consumed by trips to races around Ontario and as far away as Colorado, Michigan or Wisconsin, often sleeping in the tent or the back of their truck if billeting wasn't available.
When Norm lost his job at age 45, he immediately began pursuing retraining opportunities, first locally and then outside his community. It was in this capacity that Norm ended up living with us for four months in North Bay, while taking courses at Canadore College. This period of time helped to answer some of my questions concerning Norm. I had always wondered how the heck he managed to write to so many people and get so much done. My wife, Irene, a nighthawk who often does not get to bed until after midnight, mentioned that Norm was still up when she retired. As a morning person, I frequently get up at 6 a.m. to find Norm already about. Seems like he only needed three to four hours of sleep to get by (I can only speculate what kind of hyperactive child he might have been). He would constantly be writing to friends, race directors, the OTFA, race sponsors, etc. It was the same winter that I had finally had enough of the snow and ice and bought a treadmill. I still remember Norm looking at me and shaking his head, saying "Has it come to this? Where is your toughness?" The last laugh was mine, though. Several weeks later, I came home from work and caught Norm running on the treadmill. He tried to assure me that he was merely testing it out. Right! Touché.
Unfortunately, it was during his time with us that his wife decided that life without Norm wasn't too bad after all. While devastated, Norm seemed to be picking up his life and found new roots in Orillia. His efforts in putting Orillia back on the running map were nothing short of a miracle. As one local runner commented at the memorial service, Norm did more for running in Orillia in two years than the rest of them had done in the past twenty. Norm recently raised the most money in the community for the Hip Hooray Walk fund-raiser, which supports patients who have had orthopaedic surgery. In typical Norm fashion, he had risen again from his own tragedy and saw the needs of others.
I think everyone is aware of the horrendous accident Norm incurred last December, when he was hit by a plow while running home after work during a snowstorm. His story could have ended there. It didn't, though, and he survived to show all of us what can be attainable when one's goals and objectives are tempered with sheer determination, optimism, will power and courage. He also acknowledged the important role of the support structure around him-the many friends, runners, medical staff and fellow church members who helped him persevere. I still haven't decided whether I was initially more shocked by the fact that lightning had indeed struck twice and Norm was dead, or that he had recovered from his injuries to the point where he could now bike from Orillia to Lindsay and was on his way back when it happened. It still is hard to make sense of it all. Perhaps life isn't fair, but I don't think Norm would buy that. To Norm, life was meant to be lived full throttle. There weren't enough hours in a day to do everything he wanted to do. I'm sure if he could have gone without sleep he would have done it. If there are parting messages from Norm, it is these: "To reach your goals, don't waste what talents, time or resources you have." "Remain optimistic as there is always a solution." And finally, "Which way are you going? Maybe I can get a lift."
The Founder of the Friendly Massey Marathon and the creator of the modern course measurement system, Norm was also one of the founders of the Ontario Roadrunners Association, and helped write the standards used for race accreditation, which have since been adopted by the CTFA and the OTFA. If you go to Nova Scotia or B.C. and run a marathon that has aid stations every 5 km, St. John's Ambulance, drop bags, course marshals, good course markings and so forth, think of Norm, because he was thinking of you.
Norm Patenaude Remembered
by Tim Uuksulainen
The telephone call from ex-Longboat Roadrunners Club member Brian McDowell was unexpected and hard-edged. Did I know anything about the details of Norm's death? I had just returned from my umpteenth trip to Toronto and the call raised more questions than answers. However, the finality of the outcome was confirmed with a call to Longboaters Bob Kidney and Mike Turner. Ironically, I had written a letter to Norm and posted it on the day he died. While Norm didn't get to read my letter, I took solace in my parting words to him.
My first encounter with Norm occurred in July 1977, on Long Lake, situated on the outskirts of Sudbury. I was up there coordinating a summer camp for physically disabled adults. One day, while out for a run, who did I meet but Norm, who happened to be living on Long lake. As a competitive runner in those days, I was quite familiar with Norm's accomplishments but had never met him. In typical Norm fashion, he talked me into helping him with his Voyageur Marathon that would be taking place the following week. What I didn't realize at the time was that, in subsequent years, I would end up being either a volunteer, racer or coaching presenter, and sometimes all three, at fifteen of his races.
While Norm and I managed to do some runs together over that summer, our paths rarely crossed over the years beyond my annual pilgrimage to Massey, Espanola, Hanmer or Sudbury, which represented the home sites for the Voyageur Marathon over the years. However, Norm was an incessant writer (as many of us can confirm) and so writing became our most frequent form of contact.
To say Norm loved running is an understatement. It was his life's PASSION. It shaped his life, his relationships and his goals. If, as Thoreau stated, "a man's richness can be measured by the things he can do without," then Norm was indeed rich. His house was an open museum on running-if you could find the memorabilia. House cleaning was not a priority with Norm. I can only hope that someone saved what Norm had collected.
As many of you know, Norm never learned to drive and somehow managed to get around on foot, bike, bus or hitching a ride. In later years, when I spent one term on the ORA Board, I always marvelled at the drive and determination that led him to spend 12 to 14 hours on the road for a two-hour meeting that would further improve the sport of road racing and the athletes involved. And he did this without much recognition or thanks. But that's not why Norm was doing it. He knew if he didn't do it, then likely no one else would. Not many people realize that Norm almost single-handedly developed the standards for road racing certification that has now been virtually adopted by running associations across every province and in many other countries as well. He was also involved with measuring the marathon course for the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
As an athlete, Norm was a throwback to the old days. A staunch supporter of a high mileage program, Norm always preached the importance of long runs and would often ask if someone was injured because they were "only" doing 40-60 miles a week. I don't know all of Norm's times, but I do know they were impressive. For a self proclaimed "no talent" runner, Norm had a PB of 2:21:43 in the marathon. He probably ran about 100 marathons, of which I would estimate 25 were sub 2:30. He had a 10K PB of 31:00 and was in the 10-mile race at the old CNE when Jerome Drayton set a world record for 10 miles. I believe Norm may have run 50 to 51 minutes on that day. He turned to ultramarathoning in his later years and again excelled at many distances.
Norm's perseverance, tenacity and constant optimism on the roads transcended to his everyday endeavours. Whatever Norm was involved with, it was with 100% commitment. It often came with a price. Norm overcame many hurdles that would have buckled most of us. On the job, he was active in his local union and became president. While in Massey, he ran for a position on the town council and although he didn't win, he came close. To make ends meet, he also worked at a local animal zoo, cut wood and raised goats, all the while helping to rear four boys and a girt with his wife Shelda. Weekends would often be consumed by trips to races around Ontario and as far away as Colorado, Michigan or Wisconsin, often sleeping in the tent or the back of their truck if billeting wasn't available.
When Norm lost his job at age 45, he immediately began pursuing retraining opportunities, first locally and then outside his community. It was in this capacity that Norm ended up living with us for four months in North Bay, while taking courses at Canadore College. This period of time helped to answer some of my questions concerning Norm. I had always wondered how the heck he managed to write to so many people and get so much done. My wife, Irene, a nighthawk who often does not get to bed until after midnight, mentioned that Norm was still up when she retired. As a morning person, I frequently get up at 6 a.m. to find Norm already about. Seems like he only needed three to four hours of sleep to get by (I can only speculate what kind of hyperactive child he might have been). He would constantly be writing to friends, race directors, the OTFA, race sponsors, etc. It was the same winter that I had finally had enough of the snow and ice and bought a treadmill. I still remember Norm looking at me and shaking his head, saying "Has it come to this? Where is your toughness?" The last laugh was mine, though. Several weeks later, I came home from work and caught Norm running on the treadmill. He tried to assure me that he was merely testing it out. Right! Touché.
Unfortunately, it was during his time with us that his wife decided that life without Norm wasn't too bad after all. While devastated, Norm seemed to be picking up his life and found new roots in Orillia. His efforts in putting Orillia back on the running map were nothing short of a miracle. As one local runner commented at the memorial service, Norm did more for running in Orillia in two years than the rest of them had done in the past twenty. Norm recently raised the most money in the community for the Hip Hooray Walk fund-raiser, which supports patients who have had orthopaedic surgery. In typical Norm fashion, he had risen again from his own tragedy and saw the needs of others.
I think everyone is aware of the horrendous accident Norm incurred last December, when he was hit by a plow while running home after work during a snowstorm. His story could have ended there. It didn't, though, and he survived to show all of us what can be attainable when one's goals and objectives are tempered with sheer determination, optimism, will power and courage. He also acknowledged the important role of the support structure around him-the many friends, runners, medical staff and fellow church members who helped him persevere. I still haven't decided whether I was initially more shocked by the fact that lightning had indeed struck twice and Norm was dead, or that he had recovered from his injuries to the point where he could now bike from Orillia to Lindsay and was on his way back when it happened. It still is hard to make sense of it all. Perhaps life isn't fair, but I don't think Norm would buy that. To Norm, life was meant to be lived full throttle. There weren't enough hours in a day to do everything he wanted to do. I'm sure if he could have gone without sleep he would have done it. If there are parting messages from Norm, it is these: "To reach your goals, don't waste what talents, time or resources you have." "Remain optimistic as there is always a solution." And finally, "Which way are you going? Maybe I can get a lift."
