VIDEO: Robert Hardy runs first marathon with a walker

It has been said many times before that racing isn’t purely about getting the fastest time of the pack. Those who doubt this concept should sit down and chat with Robert Hardy.

Hardy showed up to the Ottawa Race Weekend last month to race his first ever marathon… with his walker. While Hardy is fit, especially giving his limits, he’s certainly not in the best condition of his life. Likely there was a more opportune time to give the 42.2K a shot, but he arrived at the start line with his walker and pushed through anyway.

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The runner says his story started in 1997 when he battled leukemia. After his recovery, he got involved in cycling and racing as well as running Terry Fox runs. Slightly over a decade later, in 2009, he had to have a hip replacement. In 2012, he dealt with blood clots which really took a toll on his health and approach to exercise. “That really slowed me down,” he says.

The year later, Hardy bought his first walker. He’s been with one ever since. While for many, that would be a fair enough excuse not to get into running marathons, that’s not the case for Hardy. “Today was very very difficult,” he says.

Though he received medical attention after the race, he was in good spirits saying he finished happy and is feeling great.