'I'm just this old guy that runs': Local octogenarian inspires trail running community
Henry Resta has been running 5 Peaks trail races for 15 years, and last Sunday – a day before his 86th birthday – he raced his last.
Henry, who has been running for 45 years, has become a bit of a local celebrity in the 5 Peaks community, and he was greeted with fanfare and a cold beer at the finish line as friends cheered him on while he climbed the podium one final time.
"What was mostly going through my head was looking for the finish line and seeing if I had enough left to get there," Henry said. "When I was 15 years younger I used to race full out, and now this race, just finish [and] don't fall down."
Kevin McDonald met Henry eight years ago when he became race director of 5 Peaks, and he said he noticed Henry on the podium every time he announced the 70 to 99 category. When he found out Henry's age, McDonald added, he was a bit shocked and very impressed.
"He kind of became my inspiration over the last eight years," McDonald said. "He kept coming out race after race, and I saw him with a smile on his face coming across the finish line."
"It's just kind of cool that he's been part of this community for 40-plus years, running and meeting buddies."
He was a leader in the 5 Peaks community, said Roy Youngberg, who has been running with Henry for 30 years. The 76-year-old Youngberg said Henry and his determination have set a bar that will be difficult to reach before he too retires from running.
"He is very very much a celebrity in our books and always has been," Youngberg said.
"Henry always says you gotta go out and give it your best and run as hard as you can," he added. "Regardless of how old you are, how young you are, you just gotta go out and give'r all you got."
Henry's daughter, Janet Resta, said running has been an important part of her dad's life, and it's helped keep him fit and meet friends. She said it was wonderful to see so many people cheering him on for the final race.
"It was great to see that this entire community [was] getting behind him and cheering him on," Janet said. "Everyone was supportive and he had a wonderful last 5 Peaks."
"Very proud of him today."
Despite crossing his last finish line, Henry isn't hanging up his running shoes for good and he said he will keep running recreationally for as long as he can. Though, Henry added, his runs are looking a bit more like walks with run breaks these days.
Whether he's racing or running for fun, Henry is a reminder of the importance of staying active for a long healthy life, McDonald said, and it was an emotional day watching him finish his last 5 Peaks race.
"It's kind of humbling because I feel just like I'm just this old guy that runs," Henry said. "And if people think it's remarkable, or if it helps them to keep going, you know, that's OK."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.