Yesterday my good friend Pete
Bottomley was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame.
I was honored to introduce Pete and talk a little bit about his
wonderful individual running accomplishments.
What is clear is that Pete's proudest accomplishments and
deepest friendships came from running for Dirigo RC.
Pete has always been a person who doesn't talk about their own
accomplishments and he only told a few friends he was being inducted.
When I was introducing Pete, I was surprised by how emotional I
became. Running has had a deep positive impact of me and my children, so I
guess I should have known that would happen.
When I was done speaking Pete walked up, shook my hand and gave
me a big hug. I stepped aside and as Pete stepped to the podium he said,
"You weren't supposed to make me cry." Of course, that's when my eyes
really started to well up and I stood there with my arms folded across my chest
holding myself tight so that I didn't start crying.
As expected, Pete didn't talk much about himself, but
immediately said that, "The reason I chose Cameron to speak is because he
is a great friend and I've known him a long time and he lives and breathes
running, like most of us in this room, but it's really in his DNA."
This is the point when I started hugging myself hard and my
mouth started to quiver. Then he mentioned that Kourt and Bran were college
coaches and told the story of Sam's long journey from trying to break eight
minutes in the mile in high school to now being able to run a marathon under
eight minutes. Then he pointed to Sam, who was sitting at our table, and said,
"So Sam stand up!" Sam shyly stood up while the crowd applauded, and
I hugged myself a little tighter. "The room is full of inspiring people
and you are one of them." Pete said over the applause.
He went on the thank the folks on the board of the Maine
Running Hall of Fame for setting the event up and Jim Toulouse for doing an
analysis of Pete’s Beach to Beach to Beacon accomplishments. The analysis shows
what an incredible runner Pete has become when you use “age-graded analysis” of
his performances. Pete used this information in his self-deprecating way to
make fun of himself for “being a slacker” in his younger years.
He spoke with reverence about fellow runner Todd Coffin “jump
starting” Pete’s career in 1977 when Pete, as a JV runner, watched him “float
around” the cross-country course, winning and inspiring Pete to want to “run
like Todd Coffin”.
The best part of the speech was when Pete spoke of his wife,
Marlene, and her support of his running dreams. When he looked at her and thanked
her for being his best friend and “adventure partner” for the last 37 years,
you knew it was heartfelt and true.
Not once during his speech did he mention any of his own
accomplishments. He simply pointed to others who inspired him and that is one
of many reasons that Pete inspires me.
