Even for elites, it’s tough to not get sentimental about past races. And what better way to reminisce than with the first item that most runners receive once finishing?
For two-time Olympian Reid Coolsaet, whose 2:10:55 at the 2011 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is the fastest time by a Canadian in a marathon held in Canada, he keeps all of his race medals. See, elites get the same finisher medal as those who finish minutes, or hours later.
“I think about it [Canadian record] all the time (in training), but not so much the Canadian record because I can’t control that; rather breaking 2:10, that’s always been a big goal of mine.”
Speaking after the 2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon medal reveal, held in Toronto on May 17, Coolsaet revealed that his medal collection is more than 100 deep, including podium medals as well as finisher medals, given out to each and every participant who successfully crosses the finish line. For Coolsaet, a Hamilton native, the STWM holds a special place in his heart. He achieved the 2012 Olympic qualifying standard at the 2011 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Though Coolsaet doesn’t keep his race medals on display, he makes a habit of keeping them stored away, in a safe place. “I’m pretty sure nearly every marathon I’ve done, I’ve got the finisher medal, the same one offered to all finishers,” he says. “They [the medals] go right into my bag, and then into a Rubbermaid at home. That includes my track medals from high school, through to university, and all my road races.”
At 38 years of age, and being one of Canada’s most consistent racers, with many appearances on the Canada Running Series circuit, Coolsaet says he hasn’t taken them all out of a box in about six to seven years. Among them are medals from the 2015 Berlin Marathon, where he ran 2:10:28 (PB), the second fastest ever by a Canadian, the 2018 Boston Marathon, and nearly every race in between. (Some races, like Fukuoka, in Japan, or the Olympics, don’t have finisher medals, though Coolsaet saves certain items – race IDs, wristbands and bibs – to remember his experience.)
Coolsaet, who will be 39 this year, still has dreams of breaking 2:10, which would mean taking down the current Canadian men’s marathon record of 2:10:09.
“I think about it [Canadian record] all the time (in training), but not so much the Canadian record because I can’t control that; rather breaking 2:10, that’s always been a big goal of mine,” Coolsaet shares.
