Event honours dedicated triathlete
Every second counts.
It’s a phrase used by the late Bruce Gordon to offer support to fellow athletes and friends. Well known throughout Saskatoon as a longtime police officer, former Saskatoon Blades hockey captain, and then a lawyer, one of Gordon’s favourite pastimes was training for events such as triathlons.
Less than a year after his death, Gordon was commemorated with the Belikebruce Fitness Festival this weekend, combining a triathlon with a workout competition.
Family friend Lacey Schroeder was no stranger to Gordon’s relentless support. She remembered how he would encourage her daughter Kaycee before every one of her own triathlons and remind her that in a competition, every second counts.
“He always sat her down and gave her pep talks,” Schroeder said. “Bruce was a huge supporter.”
Gordon was diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer last June and passed away in late September.
Schroeder said her daughter asked Gordon to write down his “every second counts” message for her before his death, and she now has it as a tattoo on her arm, so his message can still inspire her before races — including the triathlon in Gordon’s name.
This will be the first year the event formerly known as Moe’s Triathlon will take place in Gordon’s name as the Be Like Bruce Triathlon.
Gordon was also a dedicated Ironman athlete who loved training to be his best. His son James Gordon said it was an honour for the event to be named for his dad.
“The biggest thing that (Bruce) wanted his entire life was to make the community better than what it was before,” he said. “This whole event really helps enforce that.”
The events on the weekend included a fitness competition at the Reebok Crossfit 306 gym in north Saskatoon that’s run by one of Bruce’s friends, Jason Cain.
The triathlon itself was scheduled for Sunday morning with a swim at the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre before the cycling and running took the competition to the finish line at Meewasin Park.
An injury forced James Gordon out of competing, but he was there as an official judge. His sister Jillian Bodnar also competed, both of them taking part in the community their father helped bring together.
Bruce’s wife Chris Gordon said seeing everyone out and taking part in her late husband’s memory, some wearing Be Like Bruce Tshirts, meant that his legacy would be able to continue on in something he loved. The event is also a fundraiser for a memorial fund in Bruce’s name to raise money for pancreatic cancer research at the University of Saskatchewan.
“We’re hoping that our family is still making a difference in our community,” she said. “It’s been devastating to the community, and so we’re hoping doing these events helps.”
The Gordons said the old phrase of “every second counts” now means more to them than a way to compete. It’s become a way to live.
“To me, it means that you live life to the fullest,” James said. “You make every second of life count.”
We’re hoping that our family is still making a difference in our community. It’s been devastating to the community, and so we’re hoping doing these events helps.