Marathon runner John Bobrel always makes sure his shoes are in his carry-on when participating in overseas races — just in case his luggage is lost.
“Shorts and shirts can be replaced, but you can’t buy a pair of broken-in shoes,” Bobrel told The Lake Report.
Both Bobrel and his shoes made it to the Tokyo Marathon in Japan on March 2, where he received a Six Star medal after completion.
The Six Star medal was introduced by Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2016 to honour runners who compete in the original six major marathons: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo.
The 68-year-old NOTLer’s journey to the Six Star medal started around 1994, when he began his running career.
“I started because of the stress at work,” he said in an interview.
When he started running, he says he was only doing five and 10 kilometres at a time until he met a running group in 2005.
“We ended up doing a whole series of races together and travelling,” he said.
The running group is where Bobrel met his coach, Benny Ralston, who manages Runner’s Edge in St. Catharines — the spot where Bobrel sources his gear and coveted shoes.
Bobrel’s first marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. in 2006, followed by Boston and Chicago in 2007.
The social aspect of marathon running adds a new dimension to the activity, Bobrel said.
He recalled coming toward the end of the Boston Marathon and catching up to one of his running partners.
“I caught up with him and it sort of re-energized me,” Bobrel said.
“We finished the race together and it ended up being my second fastest ever.”
After his first Boston Marathon, Bobrel took time off marathon running due to work and time constraints, until he ran New York in 2018.
After he retired from the role of head electrician at the Shaw Festival in 2022, Bobrel could focus on training and began gearing up for London, Berlin and Tokyo.
“I usually do a 20-week program,” Bobrel said.
His marathon training involves four days of running and two days of cross-training.
“It gives me a nice, gradual (preparation), so I don’t injure myself,” Bobrel said.
Training has its hardships, Bobrel said, remembering a day in the winter when he had to run 28 kilometres on a treadmill.
“I think any runner will tell you, running on a treadmill is mentally challenging,” he said.
Looking back on all the marathons he has run, Bobrel names Death Valley Marathon his number one — but the marathon in the springtime, not the Badwater Ultramarathon in the summer.
The desert weather during early spring is “absolutely amazing,” Bobrel said.
“I was thinking it was going to be dead flat as far as you could see, but the road kind of undulates around the valley,” he said.
Of the 95 people racing, Bobrel finished fourth overall in Death Valley.
But every marathon has something special about it, Bobrel said.
“London probably had the best crowds, the most vocal crowds, cheering and the most bands,” he said.
“In Tokyo, they’re very subdued.”
Berlin was the first marathon where Bobrel learned about the blue line, he said.
“The blue line is painted on the race course, it’s the shortest route. All the leaders — the people competing for money, they would fall on the blue line.”
In Tokyo, Bobrel was one of around 2,300 people who received the honour.
“After you crossed the line, you shuffle along, you get your water, you get your cake, you get your actual medal for that race and then there’s a booth for the world majors — you go right in,” he said.
“You walk out and everyone is clapping.”
Bobrel is far from done with running even after receiving his Six Star medal.
“I think we’re going to try and do Sydney next year,” he said.
Bobrel and his wife Debbie usually travel together and she has never been to Australia before, he said.
“That would be in August of 2026.”
