The Frontrunners store on Vancouver Street, Victoria is like a museum, for interspersed among shoes and other running apparel are wonderful displays of running history spanning four decades. This history reflects the many and far-ranging experiences of Rob Reid, the owner of the store and one of Canada’s top distance runners. I was eager to meet him, as there isn’t anyone who has done more for running in Victoria than Rob.
Entering the store, Rob was immediately recognizable with his red hair and tall, slim build. As he toured me around, his loquacious Irish personality came to the fore: friendly, talkative and easy going.
He was accompanied by Buster, a tail-wagging, curly haired golden Labradoodle. Rob is tall for a distance runner (about 5’ 11”) and weighing about 165 pounds, up about 10 pounds from his competitive racing days, which, he says, are behind him now that he is 67.
Mounted on a wall is the Olympic torch he carried in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Next to it is a photo of him holding the torch with British actress Jane Seymour looking on. Many displays show the story of distance running, including the shoes worn by well-known competitors like Dick Beardsley, Katherine Switzer and Bill Rodgers. Also displayed is Rob’s own Reebok Aztec shoe that he wore while running the Toronto Marathon in 1982 in 2 hours 22 minute, his best time for that distance.
Outside the shop is a Running Walk of Fame, celebrating locals who have done well in running races and the triathlon such as Simon Whitfield, Bruce Deacon and Lori Bowden.
In a corner are several mementos of Canadian icon Terry Fox. A photo shows Rob at Mile 0 in Beacon Hill Park with the statue of Terry, which he was instrumental in having erected.
On a pillar, an attractive poster shows a giraffe and a tree silhouetted against an African sunset, an announcement for the Rift Valley Marathon in Kenya in 2013, which Rob helped to set up with a friend.
Rob’s running career started almost by accident. He had no idea that he was genetically blessed in this sport until at Western University in London, Ontario while studying for a Physical Education degree, a professor asked him to join a group in a run.
Rob turned up wearing basketball shoes. Even so, the professor recognized a huge, latent talent. Rob started training and, in 1978, ran the Niagara Falls Skylon marathon as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. His time of 2 hours 44 minutes was an outstanding accomplishment for his initial effort at the distance. Then, in 1979, he completed the Boston Marathon in 2 hours 43 minutes, another auspicious performance.
Rob moved to Calgary and lived there from 1980 to 1988. Running was a passion and he competed in many marathons, winning the Calgary Marathon five times. He enjoyed the competitions in the Napa Valley, which were set amongst hills, lush vineyards and a temperate climate. Probably his favourite marathon was in Sapporo, Japan, in 1988, where the scenery was delightful, and the encouragement and politeness of the crowds were overwhelming.
While in Calgary, Rob met John Forzani and started a running shop with him. Sponsored by Nike, Rob was encouraged in the new business by the company and its representative. Rob enjoyed supporting fitness, good health and the sport of running through the store.
Rob moved to Victoria in 1988 and liked the city for its friendliness, comfortable size and closeness to nature. He opened the Frontrunners store in downtown in partnership with Peter Butler, who later bowed out.
Frontrunners blossomed in the following years and Rob opened two more Frontrunners and a New Balance Victoria. Another Frontrunners store in Nanaimo was sold to the employees. During this time, Rob also dedicated himself to promoting running and good health by holding clinics, sponsoring races and much more
Almost immediately upon arriving in the city, Rob became closely involved with the Royal Victoria Marathon. He has only run the race once (a time of 2:29 in 1991) but has been a fervent supporter of the race, sitting on the organizing committee for 33 years and counting. His Frontrunners store has been a sponsor for all 33 years.
“That tradition will continue,” he states emphatically.
Rob is indefatigable, standing for hours at the marathon finish line, high-fiving all the finishing runners. He organizes speakers, holds clinics and, together with an army of volunteers, sees to all the minutiae that makes such an enormous event successful. And, yes, the Royal Victoria Marathon is considered one of the premier races on the tour. Rob and his Frontrunners stores also support many other races in the Victoria area.
Since 1980, Rob has been inspired to combine fitness and fundraising.
“To me, it made sense for runners not just to develop healthy hearts, but also to exercise compassion and giving, in becoming truly balanced human beings.”
One of Rob’s main inspirations was Terry Fox, whose Marathon of Hope was cut short in the summer of 1981. When Terry’s run ended tragically with his cancer — after 5,373 kilometres of running — Rob, who had long had an admiration for the man, sprang into action. He ran for 24-hours with his wife through downtown Calgary, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Rob says he has come to feel adversity in life, which he has personally encountered, can be helpful.
“If life is too smooth, I don’t know if you get the ache in your belly to always make a difference,” he says.
Since then, Rob and Fox’s family have become good friends and Rob is particularly close to Terry’s brother, Darrell Fox, with whom he communicates on a weekly basis. Rob was the driving force behind a Terry Fox statue erected at Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway in Victoria to mark the 25th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. Rob has long been involved with the Terry Fox Foundation and recently has been working to find a home for the Terry Fox Centre, likely in Vancouver, as a cancer education research facility and museum to hold the many memorabilia of Terry Fox.
Rob has developed a deep bond with Victoria. He’s highly visible on the business front through his Frontrunners Footwear and New Balance stores. In 2004, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce awarded him the Victoria Businessperson of the Year Award. A year earlier, his Frontrunners Footwear store was recognized as the Business of the Year. In 2012, he was awarded the New Balance Company Riley Award, honouring his community work. And the accolades keep rolling in.
Most importantly, Rob has been a tireless advocate of numerous charities. He approached like-minded runners who wanted to balance their running and giving goals and formed the Runners of Compassion in 2003. This charitable group assists with breakfast programs, carries out a Shoes for Youth program, so young people can participate in sports, assists a women’s shelter, helps to end homelessness in the capital region, sponsored Tibetan refugees, helped set up an AIDS orphanage in South Africa, and the good work continues.
Rob is constantly meeting running greats and other dignitaries. In 2009, for example, he met the Dalai Lama and was moved by his grace and serenity. The leader of Tibetan Buddhism said, “My religion is kindness.” A quality the two men share.
Recently, the primary responsibility for managing the stores was transferred to long-term employee Nick Walker, who became a business partner. This has allowed Rob to dedicate himself — even more than before — to projects that benefit the community, although he still maintains an active interest in the stores, as well.
Although he’s retired from competition, Rob still runs for the sake of his mental and physical health, logging a run every second day. His diet is also an important factor, and he consumes gluten-free and vegetarian food. Although he claims to have gained about 10 pounds since his competitive days, he is still slim and fit.
Rubbing Buster’s back, Rob says, “I love living in this area. Victoria is a nice size; people are friendly, and we’re surrounded by enchanting nature. I’ve recently acquired a Home on Salt Spring Island, which has an array of solar panels.” He summed up his philosophy well, “Life is good, but we have to keep giving.”
Sidebar
- If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give him?
“I would tell him to travel afar as much as possible and meet strangers who could become friends for life. Don’t make life-changing decisions until you’re older and more mature. Enjoy life.” - Who or what has influenced you the most and why?
“I have been most influenced by the fact I took up marathon running due to mentor Jerry Gonser, a prof at Western University who invited me to run with a group training for Boston.
I was also influenced by Calgary business legend, John Forzani, who invited me to manage a run shop in Calgary; by Peter Butler, Vancouver store owner, who I partnered with in Victoria initially; then with financial support by local business owner, David Gibson, who allowed me to be the owner of Frontrunners Victoria and New Balance Victoria. But most recently – and importantly – Nick Walker, my new partner, who oversees management now with our great staff allowing me to be semi-retired and have more time for community projects.”
- What keeps you grounded?
“My wife, Joan Geber, who grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and whose main traits are pragmatism and patience with me. She’s a wonderful person, is very important in my life and certainly keeps me grounded.”
4. What are you most grateful for?
“I’m grateful for my children – Jeremy, Braden, Nathan and Keegan and my daughters-in-law, Brier and Mena, and my grandchildren James, Margaret, Haley and Maximilliana. I’m grateful too that I took a chance of moving to a city named Victoria to follow my dream of having a run shop to promote a healthy lifestyle and be a part of this great community.”
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