From March (2025) through until the end of December, local long-distance runner Michael Wilson fully expects to cross a finish line every month or so; in a few instances, even a little more often than that.
Still, the 56 year old man who has undertaken the challenge of completing a half-marathon in each of the Canadian provinces and territories over the course of this year knows that he will not cross the finish line ever, metaphorically speaking, in tackling his inner demons.
A recovering alcoholic, Wilson understands fully that the conquest is never complete. But in so many ways, this latest athletic undertaking is borne of that tug of war in one’s soul and the attempts to deal with the trials and tribulations that life can throw our way.
“I am not proud of it – but I am proud that I went away and got some treatment,” said Wilson.
The past twelve months have seen Wilson encounter the latest of those defining moments, those forks in the road, those critical times when the choices you make can lead to life-altering repercussions. As has been the case in the past, the local businessman cleared many of those hurdles, while stumbling over others.
Growing up as a youth in Valley East, Wilson was hardly a runner. Not even an athlete, by his own admission. “In grade nine, I don’t think I could have run even a kilometre,” he noted.
High-school years spent at St Charles College would lead to a post-secondary pathway at the University of Western Ontario, returning north in the end and eventually making his way to the family business.
Far heavier than his current 130 pound frame (Wilson stands roughly 5’7”), his lifestyle still featured a daily dose of cigarettes into his mid-thirties, when he decided to kick the habit. “I knew that all of the data stated you are going to gain weight – and I did,” he said.
It would take about six months before change would come his way. The process, simply putting one foot ahead of the other, was as tried and true as they come. A riding bicycle in his basement; some athletic undertakings here and there; and finally, an off-the-cuff one kilometre jog from the corner store to his home.
Folks could not help but notice as Wilson embraced a new passion, a regular local runner pointing the new convert in the direction of Vince Perdue and the Sudbury Rocks Running Club. As so many have realized, this group is as welcoming as they come – and with mainstay Paul Washchuk at his side, Wilson covered a 10km trek with the crew – much to his surprise.
“I was slower than the group but Paul stood by me and we ran the 10km,” Wilson recalled. “That was the catalyst to it all. Running became something that we did every day. It was our social life.”
Friendships within the group were plentiful. Still are.
Family vacations were booked around destination races, with fellow Rocks runners all part of the mix. Wilson was a regular, adding the marathon to his running resume – along with several other distances.
In 2017, however, his first wife (Elaine) was diagnosed with cancer, passing away in March of 2019. Sweethearts since their high-school days, Wilson endured the grief and pain and loss – not always dealing with it well.
Thankfully, he never drifted all that far from the group he so loved.
“The Rocks are such a tight group and they checked in on me and brought me right back into it,” said Wilson. “But I went through some ups and downs.” Last October, it reached a tipping point.
“I went through some personal things where I had to go away for a while and get treatment.”
There was little to no foreshadowing of the role that running would play in his recovery.
“It was just something I found that I had to do,” said Wilson. “I wasn’t accepting the treatment and I was using the running as a brain clearing thing. They caution you not to go from one addiction to another, but running is healthy, it’s mind-clearing.”
“It was the first thing I did in the morning.”
Wilson knew enough not to fight this fight alone. Connecting with Cal McGibbon and the crew at Healthy Living, he expanded his fitness regimen beyond just running, the cross-training paying dividends – a revelation that was clear as he ran the Chilly Half Marathon in Hamilton in March.
“I got stronger as the race went on and posted a decent time for my first race back,” said Wilson.
“That was really rewarding. And like most runners, as soon as you finish that race, you somehow forget all of the pain that you just went through and you start looking for your next race.”
Toronto gave way to Montreal (April) – and as Wilson sat at the airport, waiting to return home, the thought of criss-crossing the country while incorporating his love of the environment that is a 21km race organically came to mind (though he did note that he is fully aware of a similar quest that Vince Perdue had conquered, albeit over several years and at the marathon distance).
With Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Alberta now checked off, Wilson is truly appreciating the journey. Montreal: “I loved the city, enjoyed the people and had so much fun doing it.” Winnipeg: “I have never seen a city support a race so much in my life. The people were cheering you on the entire route.”
Maintaining his sobriety is a day by day goal – though Michael Wilson can keep his mind busy with other priorities. “I am definitely a lot more focused (on running) than I have ever been. I am definitely training harder and more consistently.”
“And I’ve been fortunate enough that every single race since the Chilly Half, my time has gotten better.”
The finish line is now clearly in sight – and for Michael Wilson, that is a very good thing, whether he crosses it or not.
