Tim Delaney ran more than 25 marathons and about 50 half marathons
Doing research for this week’s column, it was necessary to go back to the summer of 2001.
It surprised me the list of individuals interviewed, who gave comments or were paid tribute to 17 years ago in this column. Randy Roop, Trevor Ettinger, Donald Johnston, Reenie Rath, Ron Maccormack, Hughie Hutchinson and Eric Lynds were a few.
Also interviewed were Sidney Crosby, a 13-year-old draft pick by junior A hockey’s Truro Bearcats that summer, Jeff Smith – the Maritime league’s first overall pick (also by the Bearcats) and 14- yearold Zach Sill, a hockey prospect, an outstanding ball player and the batboy for the Brookfield Elks.
Crosby would go on to become a NHL superstar, Sill played in the big time with Pittsburgh, Toronto and Washington.
Sadly, both Ettinger and Smith passed away at very young ages.
Finally, I found the column I was looking for. It involved covering the 2001 Valley Harvest Marathon in Kentville in which Dr. David Blair and Mike Bailey of
Truro and Tim Delaney of Hilden participated. I recall both Blair and Delaney finishing the gruelling 26.2 mile run.
Hearing little on Delaney of late, a runner who had run more than 25 marathons and about 50 half marathons, with his running taking him all over Nova Scotia, throughout the Maritimes and as far away as New York City, I decided it was time to investigate.
“I ran a full marathon in Saint John, N.B., in 2014, Delaney, 56, said. “Three weeks later I ran in the local Cobequid Race, a half marathon. The Cobequid Race started at the Community College in Truro, out to Old Barns and back. It’s a beautiful run, it was in August and very hot. I had a bit of trouble with my right leg, that was my last race.”
Delaney explained that he developed a serious problem with his calf and surgery was considered.
“I went to see a specialist in Halifax, it was either surgery or taking a break, giving my leg a rest. It was at that point I decided to take a break from competitive running.”
For several months, Delaney had physiotherapy on his right calf. Feeling both healthy and strong these days, his desire to race again has resurfaced.
“I’m looking forward to getting back running marathons; this has me looking at the comeback trail. I’ve been putting in a number of turkey runs, I feel pretty good.
In the fall I plan to start training more serious and to work up to another race. I’d like to run a few more marathons – it’s a desire that doesn’t go away. I think about it too often.”
Delaney said training and getting ready for a marathon is no fun.
“You probably put in an hour and a half a day running. If I begin training in October, as my plan is, I will probably enter a race in May. To start with I want to take