Ronald J. MacDonald
Encyclopedia
Ronald MacDonald was a Canadian
runner and winner of the second Boston Marathon
in 1898.
at the start line of the Boston Marathon. He was 23 years old and a student at Boston College
. He was 5’6” and weighed 142 lb (64.4 kg), and had curly light hair. It was his first marathon and he raced in bicycle shoes. MacDonald ran the race conservatively waiting for the leaders to fall off the pace. Till the half-way mark, he raced 2-3 miles (4.8 km) behind the leaders, then he started pushing the pace. He chased Hamilton Gray, the New York cross-country champion, through the downhills in the later part of the race and passed him in the last couple of miles. MacDonald ran the whole way without taking any fluids. He ended up finishing in 2:42, the fastest of 15 finishers, three minutes faster than Gray, 13 minutes faster than the previous year’s time, and a time considered a world best at the time for a distance of about 25 miles (40.2 km). MacDonald and Gray shook hands after the race.
did not yet have an Olympic team, at the 1900 Olympic Summer Games held in Paris, France. MacDonald ran the marathon
, but finished the last of 7 finishers. He complained that the top 3 runners, who were French, had cut the course, and that only he and an American actually completed the whole course.
In 1901, MacDonald returned to the Boston Marathon with confidence stating that he would win and break the record of Jack Caffery
, another Canadian, who had run 2:39:44 the previous year. MacDonald joined 37 other runners that day and ran as part of the top 4 for most of the race. Unfortunately, MacDonald was seized with cramps and had to retire from the race, reported to be due to a sponge soaked with chloroform he unknowingly accepted from a spectator.
MacDonald returned to the Boston Marathon in 1902. He and Sammy Mellor were favoured, although Mellor had beaten MacDonald by 10 seconds in the previous year’s Thanksgiving Day 20 miles (32.2 km) race in Hamilton, Ontario. MacDonald and Mellor ran side by side in Boston until the 12th mile. Unfortunately, after the half-way mark, in the Newton Hills, MacDonald had difficulties, walked for a while and retired from the race.
In 1905, MacDonald was a handler for Boston Marathon runner Robert Fowler
who ended up finishing in 3rd. Fowler blamed MacDonald for advising him to stay with Olympic gold medallist Tom Hicks who ended up having a bad day.
in Antigonish
. He continued winning many races and setting Canadian and World Records. In 1902, he organized the first indoor meet ever held in Eastern Canada. MacDonald also raced in the meet winning the 3 miles (4.8 km) race over John Lordon, Ireland’s national champion. In 1903, he beat the winner of the 1899 Boston Marathon
, Larry Brignolia, in a 5 miles (8 km) race. Later that year, he entered medical school and he would become a successful doctor practicing in Newfoundland
and in Nova Scotia
.
In 1910, Ronald MacDonald raced and won his last marathon in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Later, MacDonald was part of the original inductees in the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame for Track and Field
in 1979.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
runner and winner of the second Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
in 1898.
First marathon
On April 19, 1898, Ronald MacDonald joined 25 other runners in AshlandAshland, Massachusetts
Ashland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the MetroWest region. The population was 16,593 at the 2010 census.-History:...
at the start line of the Boston Marathon. He was 23 years old and a student at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. He was 5’6” and weighed 142 lb (64.4 kg), and had curly light hair. It was his first marathon and he raced in bicycle shoes. MacDonald ran the race conservatively waiting for the leaders to fall off the pace. Till the half-way mark, he raced 2-3 miles (4.8 km) behind the leaders, then he started pushing the pace. He chased Hamilton Gray, the New York cross-country champion, through the downhills in the later part of the race and passed him in the last couple of miles. MacDonald ran the whole way without taking any fluids. He ended up finishing in 2:42, the fastest of 15 finishers, three minutes faster than Gray, 13 minutes faster than the previous year’s time, and a time considered a world best at the time for a distance of about 25 miles (40.2 km). MacDonald and Gray shook hands after the race.
Olympic representation
Ronald MacDonald represented the United States of America, because CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
did not yet have an Olympic team, at the 1900 Olympic Summer Games held in Paris, France. MacDonald ran the marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
, but finished the last of 7 finishers. He complained that the top 3 runners, who were French, had cut the course, and that only he and an American actually completed the whole course.
In 1901, MacDonald returned to the Boston Marathon with confidence stating that he would win and break the record of Jack Caffery
Jack Caffery
John Peter Caffery was a Canadian track and field athlete who competed in the marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics where he finished in 11th place. Caffrey was also a two-time champion of the Boston Marathon...
, another Canadian, who had run 2:39:44 the previous year. MacDonald joined 37 other runners that day and ran as part of the top 4 for most of the race. Unfortunately, MacDonald was seized with cramps and had to retire from the race, reported to be due to a sponge soaked with chloroform he unknowingly accepted from a spectator.
MacDonald returned to the Boston Marathon in 1902. He and Sammy Mellor were favoured, although Mellor had beaten MacDonald by 10 seconds in the previous year’s Thanksgiving Day 20 miles (32.2 km) race in Hamilton, Ontario. MacDonald and Mellor ran side by side in Boston until the 12th mile. Unfortunately, after the half-way mark, in the Newton Hills, MacDonald had difficulties, walked for a while and retired from the race.
In 1905, MacDonald was a handler for Boston Marathon runner Robert Fowler
Robert Fowler (athlete)
Robert J. "Bob" Fowler was an American long-distance runner who is recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations as having set a world's best in the marathon on January 1, 1909 with a time of 2:52:45.4 at the Empire City Marathon in Yonkers, New York.Fowler competed for the...
who ended up finishing in 3rd. Fowler blamed MacDonald for advising him to stay with Olympic gold medallist Tom Hicks who ended up having a bad day.
Enrollment in university
MacDonald returned to Nova Scotia in 1901 where he enrolled at St. Francis Xavier UniversitySt. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
in Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
. He continued winning many races and setting Canadian and World Records. In 1902, he organized the first indoor meet ever held in Eastern Canada. MacDonald also raced in the meet winning the 3 miles (4.8 km) race over John Lordon, Ireland’s national champion. In 1903, he beat the winner of the 1899 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, Larry Brignolia, in a 5 miles (8 km) race. Later that year, he entered medical school and he would become a successful doctor practicing in Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
and in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
In 1910, Ronald MacDonald raced and won his last marathon in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Later, MacDonald was part of the original inductees in the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame for Track and Field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
in 1979.
Records
- Winner of 135 prizes for running
- Winner of 1st Newton 1 miles (1.6 km) handicap run - 1896
- Winner of 7-Mile U.S. Cross-country Championship – 1897
- Second in the N. E. A. A. A. U. championship 3 miles (4.8 km) run – 1897
- Winner – Newton 1 miles (1.6 km) handicap race - 1898
- Winner – 3 miles (4.8 km) New England Championship - 1898
- World Record in 11-Mile Cross-country – 1898
- Winner B.A.A. 10 miles (16.1 km) Cross-country – 1898
- Winner 2nd Boston Marathon – 2:42 – 1898
- Canadian Record – 3 miles (4.8 km)
- Canadian Record – 5 miles (8 km)
- World Record – indoor 1 miles (1.6 km)
- Winner St. John’s Marathon - 1910