When I found out my blood donations go to children, I decided to run for them too

Two years ago, Dan Grant co-founded the running club RunTOBeer— a Toronto based group that plans their runs around… you guessed it… beer. They set out and run but don’t call it a day until settling down with a tall glass of a frothy brew. Since then, his club has taken off, he has become the Toronto leader of City Running Tours (it’s what it sounds like) and this year, he’s one of the digital champions for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Ahead of this weekend’s marathon, we asked Grant a few questions about his reason for running at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Canadian Running: How did you get into running? 

Dan Grant: I got into running, seriously, after co-founding RunTOBeer in 2014. When it occurred to me that as the guy planning routes I’m expected to lead, I really kicked myself in the ass and dedicated to it. Now I run because I’ve figured out a way to make a modest living while staying in shape and doing something that I absolutely love.

CR: Talk to us about the charity you chose to represent.

DG: I picked SickKids Foundation because I learned a few years ago that my blood donations (123 and counting) often end up at the nearby hospital. I’m type O-Negative – the universal donor — with a very clean lifestyle and medical history. Ever since learning that, I’ve just felt connected to SickKids.

CR: What would you say are your defining characteristics as a runner?

DG: I’m all over the place. As a solo runner (mostly), I’m locked into my own world, soaking in my surroundings, smiling at dogs and at kids in strollers. It’s a very calm experience. Leading RunTOBeer though, I’m more likely sprinting and falling back, shouting encouragement and trying to keep the mood light. Then, with City Running Tours I’m all business (but still smiling).

CR: What do you admire most in a runner?

DG: I love people who see running as an opportunity to connect with their surroundings. In a city like Toronto, with so many fascinating little pockets that explode with local personality, there’s an abundance of opportunity to poke around, find something new and feel like you have a stake in the place. As a traveller too, there’s no better way to get a sense of a new place on your terms.

CR: What is your idea of happiness?

DG: Creating something I can share with others.

CR: Who are your athletic heroes?

DG: Jim Finlayson, the forty-something-year-old B.C. runner who set the world record for a double beer mile (eight beer, two miles) in 11:39.

CR: Other than where you are now, where would you like to live?

DG: The Netherlands. It’s such an active nation that understands the value of investing in well-maintained bike paths and adequate bike parking. They have cars, you just don’t see them much in the city centres, so people actually go out and live there instead of just driving through. Dutch history is rich with culture and for such a small nation geographically, the landscapes are surprisingly diverse.

CR: What is your greatest running-related regret?

DG: Not starting sooner.

CR: What is your greatest fear?

DG: Disappointing the people I love.

CR: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

DG: More focus. I tend to take on too many things at once and either neglect to do something that needs to be done or spend too much time on something not as important.

CR: What’s one thing you can’t live without?

DG: Personal progress.

CR: What is your motto?

DG: “I’m not as old as I used to be.”

Dan Grant is the writer of the blog From Pint A To Pint B on our website.