Even my non-running friends marveled at Ed's accomplishments.
Even my non-running friends marveled at Ed's accomplishments.
this and this wrote:
... inspired everyone to believe that perhaps immortality was possible.
RIP Ed.
A constant source of amazement of the testing human limits.
Selfishly, I'm saddened that Ed, a hero, could succumb to such a mortal illness. Watching Ed run for hours each day inspired me to believe that we all could somehow keep the score close with Father Time.
I thought Ed would live another 20 years because he was so healthy at his age. This, of course, forces me to realize that your time is your time, no matter how many miles you run.
RIP.
Rip Ed whit wrote:
this and this wrote:... inspired everyone to believe that perhaps immortality was possible.
RIP Ed.
A constant source of amazement of the testing human limits.
Selfishly, I'm saddened that Ed, a hero, could succumb to such a mortal illness. Watching Ed run for hours each day inspired me to believe that we all could somehow keep the score close with Father Time.
I thought Ed would live another 20 years because he was so healthy at his age. This, of course, forces me to realize that your time is your time, no matter how many miles you run.
RIP.
Post of the year.
Your time is your time...shocked that Ed has passed...shocked.
His running was exceeded only by his humanity. A truly great human being.
I am so saddened by this news. I thought surely he would live to 100 and perhaps a bit more. RIP Mr. Whitlock. A great runner you me and all of the runners I know.
Saw this on FB. What a shock. I hope he gets a nice plot in that cemetery where he spent so much time running and training.
waiting on the rapture wrote:
This may be the most relevant photograph ever posted on the internet. I'll wear black on my afternoon run. May we all run as long as Ed Whitlock.
easy weeks wrote:I must admit, I thought this as well. Maybe not the haunting part, but it would be fitting for him to rest there for all eternity.
http://storage.torontosun.com/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1297889220745_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&size=650x
Does this picture finally settle the debate of shorts over tights?
Amazing person. He is an inspiration to all. RIP Ed.
Athlète hors pair et homme sincèrement sympa.
I never met Mr. Whitlock, but I feel as though I have lost a friend.
We will never see those threads on his latest amazing run again.
I celebrate his life.
At a time when it's hard to believe in the top performances, Ed Whitlock's continue to inspire me. RIP.
wejo wrote:
We just received news from the Canadian Running Series and Paul Gains that Ed Whitlock has died.
I am totally shocked. Nobody represented more what it means to be a runner than Ed.
News from Paul Gains and Canadian Running Below on Ed's passing from prostate cancer:
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/03/running-legend-ed-whitlock-dead-age-86/****
ED WHITLOCK DEAD AT AGE 86, by PAUL GAINS
Just a week after his 86th birthday the ever so gracious and remarkably talented long distance runner Ed Whitlock has died at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto.
In a statement issued this morning his family wrote:
"The family of Ed Whitlock is saddened to report his passing on March 13, 2017, of prostate cancer at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. His 86th birthday was on March 6th. His wisdom, guidance and strength of character will be greatly missed by his wife Brenda, sons Neil and Clive, and sister Catherine. The family requests privacy at this time."
Although he was an accomplished British club runner in high school and in university Whitlock put the sport on hold while he embarked on an engineering career in Canada. As a master’s runner, he quickly established his credentials becoming the first septuagenarian to go under the 3-hour mark with a 70+ world marathon record of 2:59:10 at the 2003 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, an event to which he became particularly attached.
A year later he improved that record with a 2:54:49 at age 73, again in Toronto. Eventually he set world master’s marathon records for age 75+, 80+ and, most recently, 85+ with a time of 3:56:38 M85 last October 16th, 2016 in Toronto. In all he set roughly 25 world master’s records over distances from 1,500m to the marathon.
Alan Brookes, the race director of the Toronto event, an IAAF Gold Label race the past three years, enjoyed a longstanding friendship with Whitlock.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ed Whitlock, The Master. The Legend. This is an enormous loss to Canada and the global running community. Somehow we thought Ed would just go on setting records forever. We are especially saddened at Canada Running Series.
“We grew up with Ed. He won many of his 20+ year-old shoes at our Series’ races in the '90s and, in many ways, he defined our Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. He will always be a vital part of the identity and spirit of that race.
“In 2003 Ed shocked the entire running world when at age 72 years he ran 2:59:10 at STWM, to become the first 70-year old on the planet to go under the magical 3-hour mark. Ed was, overnight, every marathon runner’s hero. He then ran the 2:54 with us the next year – a race he often said was his finest performance.
“Over the next couple of years, the STWM grew from 935 to 2,526 participants and keeps growing. ‘Don’t limit yourself,’ was one of Ed’s key messages, and it was one we latched onto. It gave us the vision and the inspiration of what STWM could become.
“We travelled many miles together. He will be deeply missed, but his indomitable spirit, his love of racing, his modesty and inspiration, and so many unforgettable Ed memories, will be with us always.â€
Whitlock’s story has been told in periodicals around the world. He lived a hundred yards from Milton’s Evergreen Cemetery where he did his daily training. It consisted of laps of the cemetery for hours. With his customary sense of humour he called it ‘very fast walking.’
“I actually got up to three and a half hours this time,†he said after his most recent marathon record. “The thing is three hours doesn’t do it any more. That’s the hell of it. I need four hours now. And it’s only going to get worse.â€
At races all over the world he was approached by runners of all ages who wanted pictures with him as well as autographs. The attention made him a little uncomfortable.
“I don’t know how to respond to them. Well how do you respond to that?†he said with a laugh. “I suppose it’s nice for people to say I inspire them but I am somewhat embarrassed and I don’t know what the appropriate response is to that.
“I don’t consider myself to be an inspiring person. I am not one to stand up on the stage and say ‘you all can do this.’â€
An inspiration to millions around the world, a reluctant one perhaps, but a gracious one nonetheless.
RIP Ed.
I guess I always thought Ed Whitlock would keep on running forever. His death is a reminder of what he gave to our sport and of our own mortality.
RIP friend.
Very sad news but a full and fascinating life.
I couldn't help wonder if he lived in the US whether he'd still be alive.
I don't mean to turn this into a political healthcare discussion (Obamacare blah blah blah), but I know sometimes treatment in Canada can take a long time to get. and sometimes too late.
When it's your time, it's your time. But just doesn't seem like my dad should have outlived him, and I really love my dad.
You are inspiring and heartwarming guy. You continue to inspire me. Warm respect & cheers to you Ed Whitlock, Gentleman Runner !!
Remember, excess running is bad for your health. Hell, Ed mIght have made it to 100 without all the deleterious consequences of his addiction.
Terrible news but a life lived well. Hell, I am 56 and he motivates me to no end.
Btw, I'd like to thank the Brojo's for putting him on the front page. He deserved that note.
I really thought Ed would keep running and running forever. I've watched him as his skinny ethereal body, white mop bobbing along disappeared into the distance in front of me. I got to hear him speak prior to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon some years ago. People were asking him about his training and he said his program was simply to go out and run for 3 hours most every day. He was asked about his mileage and he said he didn't know, that he didn't bother to calculate his pace or distance. He said all he knows is that he runs very slowly. Ed said that his training worked for him but he wouldn't profess to think that it was the right sort of training for anyone else. Doesn't like hills, doesn't like traffic, ice or dogs, doesn't stretch, doesn't care much for todays shoes, likes the convenience of the cemetery road so close to his house. Didn't think he was anyone to look up to. His answers were droll and funny in an Ed sort of way. His answers were deadpan serious but he had a twinkle in his eye. He a was a great character. What a sad loss for the running community. I've long imagined Ed alongside me on my runs, suggesting I slow down and go longer. He'll be with me for tonight's run, snow be damned!
Momsis wrote:
Remember, excess running is bad for your health. Hell, Ed mIght have made it to 100 without all the deleterious consequences of his addiction.
I almost deleted your post because I want this thread for people to celebrate Ed's life but I think your post exactly shows why we all loved Ed. He went and pursued greatness. His goal wasn't to necessarily eek out a few more years of a ho-hum existence. He was passionate about something and pursued it.
Ed is a ripple that long will be felt in the pond of humanity.
Old Man by the Sea wrote:
Terrible news but a life lived well. Hell, I am 56 and he motivates me to no end.
Btw, I'd like to thank the Brojo's for putting him on the front page. He deserved that note.
+1
Shocked and saddened then I heard the news. Ed remains an inspiration, both as a runner and a gentleman. RIP.
