Run Barbados 2011 will go on!
And the island’s premier long-distance running event will be in the name of its fallen hero.
Jerry Friesen, the Canadian who co-ordinated the event the past two years, died doing what he loved most – running.
Friesen, who leaves to mourn his wife Jody, and three children, Lindsay, Rachel, and Brett, was taking his usual morning jog last Wednesday in Grimbsy, Ontario, when he collapsed. Fire Service officials called his spouse to the scene, and also attempted life-saving measures, but failed to resuscitate Friesen.
Friesen, 51, and an avid running event co-ordinator, shot to fame after attracting a number of overseas-based teams to the Run Barbados series. He then took over the event, maintaining the high level of overseas entrants.
“The event will go on for sure, but I know Jerry will be badly missed,” fellow Run Barbados co-ordinator Rawle Clarke told the SUNSPORT yesterday.
“Its ironic that he would die running. He ran four or five times a week,” Clarke noted.
Clarke, who has been around the Series since its inception in 1983, noted that though only having co-ordinated the event for two years, Friesen had worked extremely hard in the process. “He didn’t just sit around looking to supervise people. He would always get involved in whatever was being done and he liked to listen to people’s ideas. He would always get back to you once you had a good idea,” Clarke added.
Friesen was in Barbados last month, when he attended the official launch of this year’s series, scheduled to be held December 3 (Run Barbados 10K) and 4 (Run Barbados Marathon).
According to Clarke, the response to the event, which had lagged over the years for varying reasons, had started to pick back up after Friesen took over its co-ordination.
“This is truly a big loss, but we will have to keep working in his name. That’s the best thing we can do, to keep the events going with his hard work in mind.”
In Friesen’s career, he had also been involved with a number of international race events, including the famous London and Boston marathons.
“He didn’t even look ill when he was here in Barbados. He looked fine, and was very upbeat about how this year’s Run Barbados would go,” Clarke concluded.
Friesen’ race – organizing experience includes Ironman North America events in California, Wisconsin, Penticton, Lake Placid and Florida. He has also assisted at the St Croix Half Ironman, and the Chicago and Miami marathons.
“Today, I lost my husband, the father of my children, my best friend, my lover … my rock. He loved running. Everything about it. I can be somewhat consoled that he went that way. It was always his wish,” wrote Friesen’s wife, Jody, on Facebook last Wednesday.