‘Feathering’ the storm with tuques, twerking, massage, muscle tips
OK, I admit, there are a lot more impressive things about Tilman von der Linde than his amusing attire, but he had me at: “I’ve worn shark, gorilla, Gingerbread Man and chicken suits to runs. Why? I found that costumes motivate and inspire other runners to run faster as nobody wants to be beaten by a guy in a costume! That’s what I get out of it.”
I could have easily started this story by mentioning the registered massage therapist, born and raised in Vancouver, completed his first marathon at age nine. He also qualified for the prestigious 2015 and 2016 Boston marathons and finished third in the 2014 Fort Langley 10K — all in costumes.
But my first question when he visited snow-covered Langley on the morning of Feb. 24 to discuss muscle imbalances, stretches and self-massage techniques with our Vancouver Sun Run InTraining clinic was: “Where did you get that cool Batman tuque?”
Yeah, I know, focus can be so fleeting, but it’s the simple things that impress this writer, who has been known to run in moose, turtle, pirate, Superman, bear and Flash costumes.
Tilman first caught my attention at the 2016 Granville Island Turkey Trot. All the excited “peeps” at the event flocked toward this “Chicken Man” for a photo-op.
He then beat more than half of the 10K field to the finish line in his wild outfit, including me.
I didn’t recognize him in “normal” clothes last week, but quickly figured our paths must have crossed because I tend to notice and/or photograph those who opt for race-day gear other than shorts, tanks and tights.
Tilman, who blogged for The Vancouver Sun Run from 2009 to 2013, had us do donkey kicks, bum wiggles (I swear it was more twerking than wiggling), half pigeon poses and self-massage for the hip, calf, hamstrings and lower back.
After the indoor session, Tilman joined us for a one-hour shuffle in the snow that included making snow angels and snowball fights.
The fun workout finished with a group photo of our footwear buried in the snow, only there was one foot in the shot without a shoe or a sock.
“Figured I’d be just a little bit different,” he said with a laugh.
He definitely was and that’s a good thing.
Gotta run …