Anton Plas has two reasons to be really proud. Firstly, he figures he has the record for the most consecutive registration and runs in the Around the Bay. He figures he started in 1978 and hasn’t looked back. But the second and probably most important reason is that he is the guy who is responsible for putting together the Ancaster Old Mill Race each year.
I ran it last year and had a blast. Anton promised me and other runners a challenging course. He wasn’t fooling. The hill on Jerseyville Road is challenging. I lost the Gazelle going down the hill. I never did see him again. But leads me to the second thing that the Ancaster Old Mill race promises, lots of spectators lining the streets.
There was such a sense of community when I ran the race. People lined the streets no matter where you ran on the course. And that sense of community extended to a sense of family. There were a bunch of homes that had sprinklers set up along the course. They claimed to have been watering the course. I think they just wanted to water the runners. And we didn’t mind that at all.
But the other thing that the Old Mill race offers is the most amazing food at the finish. The food is supplied by Ancaster Old Mill restaurant and by Liaison College.
Maybe its time to be honest. That was one of the big draws for me. The food and the family. And the medal that I got at the end of the race was pretty nice too.
The Gazelle ran a personal best at the Old Mill race. He was pretty proud of the 26 minute 5 km he clocked. I managed to run in about 34 minutes.
I’m debating whether to enter the 5 or 10 km race set for June 9. If I enter the 5, I can convince myself it is to better my time from last year. If I enter the 10 I’ll be able to eat more food at the end. Thank goodness I still have a bit of time to decide.
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