For today’s Saskatchewan running pop-quiz, put your hand-up if you knew the Canadian Armed Forces has a running team of elite men and women. (I did not know this.)
And for bonus marks, did you know that one of the fastest runners in the Canadian military has been living in Moose Jaw for the last two years? (I did not.)
Daniel Kelly captured the 10KM crown at the Moose Jaw Running Festival on Sunday with a 35:18 clocking – and he didn’t drain the energy tank because of his upcoming schedule. A member of the Canadian Armed Forces Running Team – which consists of 10 men and 10 women – Kelly has been in Moose Jaw for two years for flight training.
“It was great to race at home… and it was a good test for myself,” said Kelly. “The bigger (running) picture is I am doing a relay in Prince Edward Island (this coming weekend) when I will be doing back-to-back half-marathons (during the relay).”
Unfortunately for the local running community, Kelly’s performance last Sunday in Moose Jaw will be his last in Saskatchewan for the foreseeable future as he’s moving to an exciting new position in the military.
“I am going to my new squadron in Trenton (Ontario) to fly the Hercules (aircraft),” continued the 34-year-old pilot.
While he’s moving halfway across the country, Kelly will continue to train for his major military running assignment in October. “I’ve been selected to go to Paris in October (to represent Canada),” he said. “The race is the Harmonie Mutuelle 20KM de Paris, which is (part) of the French Military Road Race Championships.”
Kelly’s running resume shows he should be very competitive against some of the best military members in the world. His 10K PB is 32:56; 1/2 marathon PB is 1:11.30; and he’s aiming for a 1:07 20KM in Paris.
“My dad was a marathon runner and he went to Boston three times,” continued Kelly. “We went (with him). The first time I went I was nine-years-old and that rubbed-off on me as a kid.”
All these years later, Kelly is flying high – as a great Canadian runner and as a pilot to keep our country and world a safe place.
