Al Howie
Encyclopedia
Al Howie is a Canadian long-distance runner who has won more than fifty marathons, ultramarathons and multiday races
in over two decades, including the 1991 Trans Canada Highway run (7295 kilometers) in the record time of 72 days and 10 hours. A brass plaque on Victoria's Mile Zero marker commemorates this athletic event for which he raised $750,000 for a fund for children with special needs. Two weeks after running across Canada he won the Sri Chinmoy
1300 Miler in New York improving on his own world record
time. Both the Trans Canada run and the 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) race qualified for the Guinness Book of Records. He has been living in Duncan, B. C., since 2005, where he is receiving treatment for Diabetes I. The City of Duncan awarded him the Perpetual Trophy for Excellence and Sportsmanship in December 2007.
near Glasgow, Scotland
. He attended the local schools and completed his secondary education
. He married an American living in Britain and a son Gabe was born in 1968. After his divorce, Howie immigrated to Canada with his son and settled in Toronto. A daughter, Dana, was born in 1976. He quit smoking
in January 1974 and started running as a hobby “to get rid of the aggravation from quitting a three-pack-a-day smoking habit.” Howie moved to Victoria, B. C. in 1978 and began training for the long runs, including training runs between cities. He married Claudia Cole in 1986; they separated in 2000. He has been living in Duncan, B. C., since 2005, where he is receiving treatment for Diabetes I.
as the race that brought together three of Canada’s unknown athletes for their inaugural marathon: Al Howie, Rick Hansen
and Terry Fox
. Howie had run from Victoria to Prince George to be in the race that promised the winner an all-expense paid trip to the Boston Marathon
.
At the race, Rick Hansen easily rolled his wheelchair across the finish line ahead of all competitors. Al Howie placed third in his first 17 miles (27.4 km) run. And amputee Terry Fox was the last to finish the race only ten minutes behind the last two-legged runner encouraged by spontaneous applause from the watching crowd.
Howie was inspired by Fox’s announcement to run across Canada in aid of cancer research
. “Fox unleashed a tremendous wave of energy and eagerness to excel, seldom seen in Canada on a personal level,” noted Howie.
in his first full-length (42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi)) marathon in 1980 in Edmonton. He then ran from Edmonton to Victoria to enter the first annual Royal Victoria Marathon
in which he placed fourteenth overall.
In May, 1981, Howie set the Canadian and North American record for the annual Sri Chinmoy
International 24-hour race in Ottawa, and the following year improved on his distance by covering 150 miles and 395 yards in that continuous day and night (no sleeping) race. He won the annual 24-hour race in Ottawa five years in a row, in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. In 1983, he ran from Winnipeg to Ottawa prior to participating in the 24-hour event. In 1986 while he was recuperating from a bout with cancer, he ran his worst 24-hour ultra in which he covered about 100 kilometers. He was back in top form for the 1987 Canadian 24-hour Championship in Ottawa, winning the event for the sixth time.
A cancerous brain tumour
behind his ear appeared in the summer of 1985 forcing temporary withdrawal from all races. Adopting a macrobiotic diet
, Howie had recovered sufficiently by spring of the following year to run 1200 kilometers from Victoria to Fernie in southern B.C. where some of his treatment had taken place.
In 1987 he broke the record for the longest, continual run, completing 580 kilometers in 1422 laps around the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium in 104.5 hours. That’s 4 non-stop days and nights to promote the forthcoming Commonwealth Games
. In 1988, he set a record for the fastest run in the 880 miles (1,416.2 km) British End to End. Then he ran the length of Britain—1400 kilometers—in 11 days. A few months later, he ran from England through France to the island of Sardinia in Italy where he participated in another marathon.
1300 miles (2,092.1 km) distance, setting the world record at 17 days and 9 hours. He also set a world record for 2000 kilometres in the same race.
Later that year, Howie set a record of 255.5 miles (411.2 km) for the 72-hour “Across the Years” race in Phoenix, Arizona
, which doubles as the last ultra of one year and the first of the next, running from December 29, 1989 to New Year’s Day, 1990.
Howie's longest and most famous run was in the summer of 1991 when he ran the entire length of the Trans Canada Highway from the Mile Zero sign in St. John's, Nfld, to Mile Zero in Victoria, B.C. covering the 7295.5 km in the record time of 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes. A brass plaque at Victoria’s Mile Zero commemorates the event, and qualified him for the Guinness Book of Records
. He had raised $750,000 for the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for children with special needs.
Two weeks after his Trans Canada run, Howie was back in New York where he improved his own record time for the 1300 miles (2,092.1 km), completing the distance in 16 days and 19 hours, and earning him his second entry that summer in the Guinness Book of Records. His Sri Chinmoy running mates called him "the trans Canada crossing god."
to Portage La Prairie, to Ottawa. It was part of Howie’s North America running tour “to promote world peace and famine relief
.” The run was halted dramatically in the Ottawa Valley
when a malignant brain tumour appeared behind his right ear, triggering thoughts of dying.
“Facing death, I realized the extent of my love for this life; I didn’t want to die,” he wrote in a medical journal
a year later. “Reluctant to submit to prescribed medical treatments of exploratory surgery, excision of the tumour and subsequent chemotherapy,” he searched and found alternate treatments, especially “the culinary adventure of macrobiotics,” a regimen of wholesome foods free of additives and preservatives, and shiatsu massage. As if miraculously, his illness reversed itself within months and he recommenced his training. In gratitude, he ran the 1200 kilometres from Victoria to the White Spruce Farm in Fernie, in southern B. C., where he had received some of his healing instruction and motivation.
in Arizona, he developed complications from blisters on his feet, forcing him to withdraw. It was this injury, he believes, that eventually led to the onset of Diabetes I, which, unfortunately, wasn’t diagnosed for three years.
He competed in the 1300 Miler in New York in 1993 but an inflamed nerve to his left knee forced him to withdraw after six days of running. By the summer of 1995, he had lost 30 lbs, his health was haywire, and “the pissing evil” had struck. “Type 1 diabetes was, until the discovery of insulin, a death sentence
within two years,” he wrote later.
“Death penalty commuted to life sentence of insulin injections,” Howie wrote after starting treatment. “Fighting back to life and health, this time via the more conventional method, the only way to go for insulin dependent diabetics—insulin therapy.” He attempted a running comeback in the 1996 Victoria 24-hour run, but could only muster 100 kilometres in the day and night run. Al made a couple of runs for the Victoria chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society
in 1996, running the length of Vancouver Island
for them.
However, Howie refused to let his illness thwart his rigorous training regimen.
“I’m back on the multi-day circuit, Novolin pens and a One Touch meter tossed into my sport bag with running shoes
, orthotics and petroleum jelly
. As with life generally, I am finding diabetes complicates racing yet accentuates the intrinsic adventure. More significantly my potential for success, even for record breaking in the grueling sport of ultra-marathon
racing, is not to be compromised by my diabetic condition. Running toward the horizon of human endurance on synthetic insulin is exploring an uncharted universe. Rather than the runner’s wall, hypoglycemia becomes the number one threat to be avoided. Once again I’m a pioneer in the aerobic universe, this time in the diabetic galaxy.” (Al Howie on the Come Back Trail, December 1997.)
He was back on track again in 1997, winning the Victoria 24-hour race. By 1998 he felt he had regained ultra form and won four out of four ultras entered at distances from 50 miles (80.5 km) to 72 hours.
His last race was the ultra 72-hour “Across the Years
” event in Phoenix, Arizona, which started on December 29, 1998 and finished three days later on New Year’s Day, 1999. Howie won the race.
Coping with the disease for a decade and a half has proven a formidable challenge. Howie was 46 when he ran across Canada. He is 64 now and residing in a residential and transitional care facility
in Duncan, British Columbia
where he is undergoing treatment for diabetes.
reads:
The Elks and Royal Purple of Canada
Commemorate Al Howie’s record setting
“Tomorrow Run 91”
Began at Mile 0 St. John’s, Nfld
June 21 and ended September 1, 1991 at
Mile 0 Victoria BC
72 days – 10 hours later.
Our gratitude to all who helped us raise funds
for Canadian children with special needs.
Qualified for the Guinness Book of Records for the Trans Canada run and the Sri Chinmoy 1300 miler race in 1991.
“The Al Howie Room” with a king bed at the CycleInn B & B in Langford owned by Joanne Cowan, a frequent running partner. Room contains pictures and prizes presented to Howie.
The story of Al Howie was the focus of a sermon by Dr. Eugen Bannerman at Gordon United Church, Langford, on February 19, 2006.
The City of Duncan awarded Howie the Perpetual Trophy for Excellence and Sportsmanship in December 2007.
First “between cities” run: from Victoria to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, 1978.
First marathon: “Prince George to Boston,” 1979.
Best marathon: 2:28:11 Vancouver, May 2, 1982.
Marathons: scores.
First Ultramarathon: Sri Chinmoy International 24-Hour race in Ottawa, 1981. Set North American record of 150 miles, 395 yards in 1982.
Ultras: scores
Average yearly mileage: 10,000 kilometres.
Longest documented solo run: Trans Canada Highway, summer 1991, 7295,5 kilometres, in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Most memorable ultras: Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour race, Ottawa, 1981; Sri Chinmoy 1300 Miler, New York, 1991.
Worst ultra: Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour race, Ottawa, 1986. “Recovering at the time from a bout with The Big C.”
Average weekly training mileage: 200K.
Peak week: 595 Miles (first week of a multi-day race).
Favourite shoes: Brooks Kona.
Most common injury: Blisters on feet; Diabetes I since 1995.
Average training pace: 14K/hour.
Favourite race drink/food: Water/Power Bars.
Running idols: “I don’t idolize anyone but I admire many.”
Greatest influence: Don Ritchie, Emil Zatopek
, Yiannis Kouros
, Hilary Walker.
Favourite place to run: Sri Chinmoy one mile loop, Flushing Meadow, New York.
Funniest running experience: Learning to tie shoe-laces without stopping during world record non-stop run.
Most memorable discovery: “Even very good runners can have serious health problems.”
Last completed race: “Across the Years” in Phoenix, Arizona, between December 29, 1998 and January 1, 1999.
Mile 4:44 (1982)
10 Miles 51:52 (1981)
½ Marathon 1:12:28 (1982)
Marathon 2:28:11 (1982)
50K 3:13:49 (1983)
50 Miles 5:35:12 (1983)
100K 7:30:31 (1983)
100 Miles 14:06:18 (1982)
200K 18:51:44 (1982)
24 Hours 150 miles 395 yards (1982)
48 Hours 203 miles (326.7 km) (1992)
72 Hours 255.5 miles (1990)
6 Days 514 miles (827.2 km) (1991)
1000K 7 days, 18 hours, 49 min, 18 sec (1991)
1000 Miles 12 days, 1 hours, 47 min, (1991)
2000K 15 days, 23 hours (world record, 1991)
1300 Miles 16 days, 19 hours (Guinness record, 1991)
Trans Canada Highway 7295.5 kilometres in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes (Guinness record, 1991)
Below is a chronological listing of Howie’s multi-day, multi-city runs, with estimated distances (a normal day’s run is about 100 km), and supporting charities.
October 1978.
Ran the length of Vancouver Island from Victoria to Port Hardy (500 km) in support of United Way.
April 1979.
Ran from Port Hardy to Victoria (500 km), with letter from mayor of Port Hardy in support of UNICEF.
August 1979.
Training run from Victoria to Prince George (820 km). Placed third in the “Prince George to Boston” marathon.
September 1980.
Jogged from Edmonton to Victoria (1350 km in 11 days). Placed in top ten in inaugural Royal Victoria Marathon.
August 1981.
Ran from Kelowna to Courtney on Vancouver Island (750 km) to promote the B.C. games. Arrived to great applause during opening ceremonies.
July 1982.
Ran from Calgary to Slave Lake, Alberta (470 km); won the Slave Lake Riverboat Daze Marathon; then ran back to Calgary (470 km).
August/September/October 1982.
Placed third in the Prince George Classic; then ran from Prince George to Victoria (820 km). Won his age group in Royal Victoria marathon.
May 1983.
Solo run from Winnipeg to Ottawa (2225 km). Won 24-hour race.
May 1984.
Ran from Toronto to Ottawa (450 km) for the 24-hour Race.
December 1984.
Ran from Victoria to Port Hardy (500 km) for Times Colonist 1000 Fund.
February 1985.
Ran the Trans Canada Highway, Yellowhead route via Prince Rupert and Edmonton to Ottawa (4740 km). Race interrupted by appearance of brain tumour.
April 1986.
Ran from Victoria to White Spruce Farm in Fernie (1000 km).
September 1987.
Ran from Victoria to Port Hardy to Massett in the Queen Charlottes (870 km), with letter from Victoria Mayor in support of United Way.
June/July 1988.
Ran the length of Britain (1400 km in 11 days).
September 1988.
Ran from England through France to Sardinia in Italy (1500 km) to enter a marathon.
1989 & 1990.
No between cities runs.
June to September 1991.
Ran the Trans Canada Highway from Mile Zero in St. John’s, NL, to Victoria, BC (7295.5 km in 72 days and 10 hours). Raised $750,000 for Elks and Royal Purple of Canada for their Purple Cross Fund for children with special needs.
June 1992.
TransAmerica Footrace from Huntingdon Beach, CA, to New York, NY. Severe blisters forced Howie to drop out in Las Vegas (370 km).
December 1992.
Ran from Victoria to Sacramento (1190 km) for the Helen Klein 6-day race.
1993 & 1994 & 1995.
No between cities runs.
October 1996.
Ran length of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy (500 km) for Canadian Diabetic Association. Stopped running due to insulin treatments for Type I diabetes.
Multiday races
Multiday races are ultramarathon running events which are typically either segmented into daily events of a specified distance or time, or staged so that runners can run as far as they want, at their own discretion, over a set course or over a set number of days...
in over two decades, including the 1991 Trans Canada Highway run (7295 kilometers) in the record time of 72 days and 10 hours. A brass plaque on Victoria's Mile Zero marker commemorates this athletic event for which he raised $750,000 for a fund for children with special needs. Two weeks after running across Canada he won the Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
1300 Miler in New York improving on his own world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time. Both the Trans Canada run and the 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) race qualified for the Guinness Book of Records. He has been living in Duncan, B. C., since 2005, where he is receiving treatment for Diabetes I. The City of Duncan awarded him the Perpetual Trophy for Excellence and Sportsmanship in December 2007.
The Early Years
Arthur “Al” Howie was born in 1945 in Ayrshire in a port townPort
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
near Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He attended the local schools and completed his secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
. He married an American living in Britain and a son Gabe was born in 1968. After his divorce, Howie immigrated to Canada with his son and settled in Toronto. A daughter, Dana, was born in 1976. He quit smoking
Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. This article focuses exclusively on cessation of tobacco smoking; however, the methods described may apply to cessation of smoking other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the...
in January 1974 and started running as a hobby “to get rid of the aggravation from quitting a three-pack-a-day smoking habit.” Howie moved to Victoria, B. C. in 1978 and began training for the long runs, including training runs between cities. He married Claudia Cole in 1986; they separated in 2000. He has been living in Duncan, B. C., since 2005, where he is receiving treatment for Diabetes I.
The “Prince George to Boston” Marathon: 1979
The 1979 Prince George marathon will go down in sports historyHistory of sport
The history of sports probably extends as far back as the existence of people as purposive sportive and active beings. Sport has been a useful way for people to increase their mastery of nature and the environment. The history of sport can teach us a great deal about social changes and about the...
as the race that brought together three of Canada’s unknown athletes for their inaugural marathon: Al Howie, Rick Hansen
Rick Hansen
Richard M. Hansen, CC, OBC is a Canadian Paralympian and an activist for people with spinal cord injuries. Following a car crash at the age of 15, Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the waist down. Hansen is most famous for his Man In Motion World Tour...
and Terry Fox
Terry Fox
Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research...
. Howie had run from Victoria to Prince George to be in the race that promised the winner an all-expense paid trip to the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
.
At the race, Rick Hansen easily rolled his wheelchair across the finish line ahead of all competitors. Al Howie placed third in his first 17 miles (27.4 km) run. And amputee Terry Fox was the last to finish the race only ten minutes behind the last two-legged runner encouraged by spontaneous applause from the watching crowd.
Howie was inspired by Fox’s announcement to run across Canada in aid of cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
. “Fox unleashed a tremendous wave of energy and eagerness to excel, seldom seen in Canada on a personal level,” noted Howie.
From Marathons to Ultramarathons to Multiday Races: 1980-1988
Howie began to train obsessively for longer and longer runs. He won his age groupDemographic profile
A demographic or demographic profile is a term used in marketing and broadcasting, to describe a demographic grouping or a market segment...
in his first full-length (42.195 kilometres (26.2 mi)) marathon in 1980 in Edmonton. He then ran from Edmonton to Victoria to enter the first annual Royal Victoria Marathon
Royal Victoria Marathon
The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, formerly known as the Royal Victoria Marathon or RVM, is a marathon race held on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada every October. It was first held in 1980....
in which he placed fourteenth overall.
In May, 1981, Howie set the Canadian and North American record for the annual Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
International 24-hour race in Ottawa, and the following year improved on his distance by covering 150 miles and 395 yards in that continuous day and night (no sleeping) race. He won the annual 24-hour race in Ottawa five years in a row, in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. In 1983, he ran from Winnipeg to Ottawa prior to participating in the 24-hour event. In 1986 while he was recuperating from a bout with cancer, he ran his worst 24-hour ultra in which he covered about 100 kilometers. He was back in top form for the 1987 Canadian 24-hour Championship in Ottawa, winning the event for the sixth time.
A cancerous brain tumour
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
behind his ear appeared in the summer of 1985 forcing temporary withdrawal from all races. Adopting a macrobiotic diet
Macrobiotic diet
A macrobiotic diet , from "macro" and "bios" , a dietary regimen which involves eating grains as a staple food supplemented with other foodstuffs such as local vegetables avoiding the use of highly processed or refined foods and most animal products...
, Howie had recovered sufficiently by spring of the following year to run 1200 kilometers from Victoria to Fernie in southern B.C. where some of his treatment had taken place.
In 1987 he broke the record for the longest, continual run, completing 580 kilometers in 1422 laps around the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium in 104.5 hours. That’s 4 non-stop days and nights to promote the forthcoming Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. In 1988, he set a record for the fastest run in the 880 miles (1,416.2 km) British End to End. Then he ran the length of Britain—1400 kilometers—in 11 days. A few months later, he ran from England through France to the island of Sardinia in Italy where he participated in another marathon.
The Peak Years: 1989 to 1991
The ‘Ultra Trio’ was born in 1987—a set of three ultra races of 700, 1000 and 1,300 miles. (Sri Chinmoy Centre, History). No runners finished the 1300 Miler in New York in 1987 and 1988, but in 1989, Al Howie was the first person ever to complete the grueling Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
1300 miles (2,092.1 km) distance, setting the world record at 17 days and 9 hours. He also set a world record for 2000 kilometres in the same race.
Later that year, Howie set a record of 255.5 miles (411.2 km) for the 72-hour “Across the Years” race in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, which doubles as the last ultra of one year and the first of the next, running from December 29, 1989 to New Year’s Day, 1990.
Howie's longest and most famous run was in the summer of 1991 when he ran the entire length of the Trans Canada Highway from the Mile Zero sign in St. John's, Nfld, to Mile Zero in Victoria, B.C. covering the 7295.5 km in the record time of 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes. A brass plaque at Victoria’s Mile Zero commemorates the event, and qualified him for the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
. He had raised $750,000 for the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for children with special needs.
Two weeks after his Trans Canada run, Howie was back in New York where he improved his own record time for the 1300 miles (2,092.1 km), completing the distance in 16 days and 19 hours, and earning him his second entry that summer in the Guinness Book of Records. His Sri Chinmoy running mates called him "the trans Canada crossing god."
Brain tumour
Howie’s first solo attempt to cross Canada was in the summer of 1985. The route was from West to East via Prince Rupert and the Yellowhead HighwayYellowhead Highway
The Yellowhead Highway is a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, the highway should not be confused with the more southerly, originally-designated...
to Portage La Prairie, to Ottawa. It was part of Howie’s North America running tour “to promote world peace and famine relief
Famine relief
Famine relief is an organized effort to reduce starvation in a region in which there is famine. A famine is a phenomenon in which a large proportion of the population of a region or country are so undernourished that death by starvation becomes increasingly common...
.” The run was halted dramatically in the Ottawa Valley
Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is the valley along the boundary between Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec along the Ottawa River. The valley is the transition between the Saint Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield...
when a malignant brain tumour appeared behind his right ear, triggering thoughts of dying.
“Facing death, I realized the extent of my love for this life; I didn’t want to die,” he wrote in a medical journal
Medical journal
A public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
a year later. “Reluctant to submit to prescribed medical treatments of exploratory surgery, excision of the tumour and subsequent chemotherapy,” he searched and found alternate treatments, especially “the culinary adventure of macrobiotics,” a regimen of wholesome foods free of additives and preservatives, and shiatsu massage. As if miraculously, his illness reversed itself within months and he recommenced his training. In gratitude, he ran the 1200 kilometres from Victoria to the White Spruce Farm in Fernie, in southern B. C., where he had received some of his healing instruction and motivation.
Diabetes I
In 1992, the year after crossing Canada from east to west, Howie joined 28 other ultra-runners in a run across the United States. Not wearing proper inserts in his shoes while crossing the hot Mojave DesertMojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
in Arizona, he developed complications from blisters on his feet, forcing him to withdraw. It was this injury, he believes, that eventually led to the onset of Diabetes I, which, unfortunately, wasn’t diagnosed for three years.
He competed in the 1300 Miler in New York in 1993 but an inflamed nerve to his left knee forced him to withdraw after six days of running. By the summer of 1995, he had lost 30 lbs, his health was haywire, and “the pissing evil” had struck. “Type 1 diabetes was, until the discovery of insulin, a death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
within two years,” he wrote later.
“Death penalty commuted to life sentence of insulin injections,” Howie wrote after starting treatment. “Fighting back to life and health, this time via the more conventional method, the only way to go for insulin dependent diabetics—insulin therapy.” He attempted a running comeback in the 1996 Victoria 24-hour run, but could only muster 100 kilometres in the day and night run. Al made a couple of runs for the Victoria chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based charitable organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of those living with the disease....
in 1996, running the length of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
for them.
However, Howie refused to let his illness thwart his rigorous training regimen.
“I’m back on the multi-day circuit, Novolin pens and a One Touch meter tossed into my sport bag with running shoes
Athletic shoe
Athletic shoe is a generic name for the footwear primarily designed for sports or other forms of physical exercise but in recent years has come to be used for casual everyday activities....
, orthotics and petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum or soft paraffin, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons , originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties...
. As with life generally, I am finding diabetes complicates racing yet accentuates the intrinsic adventure. More significantly my potential for success, even for record breaking in the grueling sport of ultra-marathon
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
racing, is not to be compromised by my diabetic condition. Running toward the horizon of human endurance on synthetic insulin is exploring an uncharted universe. Rather than the runner’s wall, hypoglycemia becomes the number one threat to be avoided. Once again I’m a pioneer in the aerobic universe, this time in the diabetic galaxy.” (Al Howie on the Come Back Trail, December 1997.)
He was back on track again in 1997, winning the Victoria 24-hour race. By 1998 he felt he had regained ultra form and won four out of four ultras entered at distances from 50 miles (80.5 km) to 72 hours.
His last race was the ultra 72-hour “Across the Years
Across The Years
Across The Years is a series of timed multi-day ultramarathons held from December 28-January 1 each year outside Phoenix, Arizona. It consists of a 24-hour race, a 48-hour race, and a 72-hour race....
” event in Phoenix, Arizona, which started on December 29, 1998 and finished three days later on New Year’s Day, 1999. Howie won the race.
Coping with the disease for a decade and a half has proven a formidable challenge. Howie was 46 when he ran across Canada. He is 64 now and residing in a residential and transitional care facility
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
in Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
where he is undergoing treatment for diabetes.
Honours
The brass plaque on the post of the Trans Canada Highway Mile 0 marker in Victoria’s Beacon Hill ParkBeacon Hill Park
Beacon Hill Park is a 75 ha park located along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait in Victoria, British Columbia. The park is popular both with tourists and locals, and contains a number of amenities including woodland and shoreline trails, two playgrounds, a waterpark, playing fields, a petting...
reads:
The Elks and Royal Purple of Canada
Commemorate Al Howie’s record setting
“Tomorrow Run 91”
Began at Mile 0 St. John’s, Nfld
June 21 and ended September 1, 1991 at
Mile 0 Victoria BC
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
72 days – 10 hours later.
Our gratitude to all who helped us raise funds
for Canadian children with special needs.
Qualified for the Guinness Book of Records for the Trans Canada run and the Sri Chinmoy 1300 miler race in 1991.
“The Al Howie Room” with a king bed at the CycleInn B & B in Langford owned by Joanne Cowan, a frequent running partner. Room contains pictures and prizes presented to Howie.
The story of Al Howie was the focus of a sermon by Dr. Eugen Bannerman at Gordon United Church, Langford, on February 19, 2006.
The City of Duncan awarded Howie the Perpetual Trophy for Excellence and Sportsmanship in December 2007.
Running History
Year started: 1974.First “between cities” run: from Victoria to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, 1978.
First marathon: “Prince George to Boston,” 1979.
Best marathon: 2:28:11 Vancouver, May 2, 1982.
Marathons: scores.
First Ultramarathon: Sri Chinmoy International 24-Hour race in Ottawa, 1981. Set North American record of 150 miles, 395 yards in 1982.
Ultras: scores
Average yearly mileage: 10,000 kilometres.
Longest documented solo run: Trans Canada Highway, summer 1991, 7295,5 kilometres, in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes.
Most memorable ultras: Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour race, Ottawa, 1981; Sri Chinmoy 1300 Miler, New York, 1991.
Worst ultra: Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour race, Ottawa, 1986. “Recovering at the time from a bout with The Big C.”
Average weekly training mileage: 200K.
Peak week: 595 Miles (first week of a multi-day race).
Favourite shoes: Brooks Kona.
Most common injury: Blisters on feet; Diabetes I since 1995.
Average training pace: 14K/hour.
Favourite race drink/food: Water/Power Bars.
Running idols: “I don’t idolize anyone but I admire many.”
Greatest influence: Don Ritchie, Emil Zatopek
Emil Zátopek
Emil Zátopek was a Czech long-distance runner best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He won gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres runs, but his final medal came when he decided at the last minute to compete in the first marathon of his life...
, Yiannis Kouros
Yiannis Kouros
Yiannis Kouros is a Greek ultramarathon runner based in Melbourne. He is sometimes called the "Running God" or the "Pheidippides Successor". He holds every men's outdoor road world record from 100 to 1,000 miles and every road and track record from 12 hours to 6 days...
, Hilary Walker.
Favourite place to run: Sri Chinmoy one mile loop, Flushing Meadow, New York.
Funniest running experience: Learning to tie shoe-laces without stopping during world record non-stop run.
Most memorable discovery: “Even very good runners can have serious health problems.”
Last completed race: “Across the Years” in Phoenix, Arizona, between December 29, 1998 and January 1, 1999.
Personal Bests
Mile 4:44 (1982)
10 Miles 51:52 (1981)
½ Marathon 1:12:28 (1982)
Marathon 2:28:11 (1982)
50K 3:13:49 (1983)
50 Miles 5:35:12 (1983)
100K 7:30:31 (1983)
100 Miles 14:06:18 (1982)
200K 18:51:44 (1982)
24 Hours 150 miles 395 yards (1982)
48 Hours 203 miles (326.7 km) (1992)
72 Hours 255.5 miles (1990)
6 Days 514 miles (827.2 km) (1991)
1000K 7 days, 18 hours, 49 min, 18 sec (1991)
1000 Miles 12 days, 1 hours, 47 min, (1991)
2000K 15 days, 23 hours (world record, 1991)
1300 Miles 16 days, 19 hours (Guinness record, 1991)
Trans Canada Highway 7295.5 kilometres in 72 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes (Guinness record, 1991)
Multi-Day, Multi-City Runs
Very early in his running career, Howie began running from city to city, partly as long distance training, partly to save costs (he would put his clothes on the bus, run to the city, change his clothes, put his bags back on the bus, and carry on), often for charities and other purposes.Below is a chronological listing of Howie’s multi-day, multi-city runs, with estimated distances (a normal day’s run is about 100 km), and supporting charities.
October 1978.
Ran the length of Vancouver Island from Victoria to Port Hardy (500 km) in support of United Way.
April 1979.
Ran from Port Hardy to Victoria (500 km), with letter from mayor of Port Hardy in support of UNICEF.
August 1979.
Training run from Victoria to Prince George (820 km). Placed third in the “Prince George to Boston” marathon.
September 1980.
Jogged from Edmonton to Victoria (1350 km in 11 days). Placed in top ten in inaugural Royal Victoria Marathon.
August 1981.
Ran from Kelowna to Courtney on Vancouver Island (750 km) to promote the B.C. games. Arrived to great applause during opening ceremonies.
July 1982.
Ran from Calgary to Slave Lake, Alberta (470 km); won the Slave Lake Riverboat Daze Marathon; then ran back to Calgary (470 km).
August/September/October 1982.
Placed third in the Prince George Classic; then ran from Prince George to Victoria (820 km). Won his age group in Royal Victoria marathon.
May 1983.
Solo run from Winnipeg to Ottawa (2225 km). Won 24-hour race.
May 1984.
Ran from Toronto to Ottawa (450 km) for the 24-hour Race.
December 1984.
Ran from Victoria to Port Hardy (500 km) for Times Colonist 1000 Fund.
February 1985.
Ran the Trans Canada Highway, Yellowhead route via Prince Rupert and Edmonton to Ottawa (4740 km). Race interrupted by appearance of brain tumour.
April 1986.
Ran from Victoria to White Spruce Farm in Fernie (1000 km).
September 1987.
Ran from Victoria to Port Hardy to Massett in the Queen Charlottes (870 km), with letter from Victoria Mayor in support of United Way.
June/July 1988.
Ran the length of Britain (1400 km in 11 days).
September 1988.
Ran from England through France to Sardinia in Italy (1500 km) to enter a marathon.
1989 & 1990.
No between cities runs.
June to September 1991.
Ran the Trans Canada Highway from Mile Zero in St. John’s, NL, to Victoria, BC (7295.5 km in 72 days and 10 hours). Raised $750,000 for Elks and Royal Purple of Canada for their Purple Cross Fund for children with special needs.
June 1992.
TransAmerica Footrace from Huntingdon Beach, CA, to New York, NY. Severe blisters forced Howie to drop out in Las Vegas (370 km).
December 1992.
Ran from Victoria to Sacramento (1190 km) for the Helen Klein 6-day race.
1993 & 1994 & 1995.
No between cities runs.
October 1996.
Ran length of Vancouver Island to Port Hardy (500 km) for Canadian Diabetic Association. Stopped running due to insulin treatments for Type I diabetes.