In the Beginning...

Dick's Last Resort

What started as a gathering of a few friends in 2002....Has developed into a "must do" activity on Marathon Weekend. While working in the industry, Peter Donato was competing in the April 2002 edition of the marathon. He remembered the great get-together that took place in 1996, the year of the 100th anniversary, when the local Canadian Consulate arranged for all Canadians to gather on Sunday and celebrate "being Canadian" and being a runner.

"Why don't we start this again" was the thought of the day. It was late March, it was an especially brutal and cold winter, training was of course tough. Exhausting, mindless and nearing completion, hence the need for a major distraction! So emails started flying and before you could say "Tea Party", friends told friends who then told friends, and so on. The location was now an issue, and the location made sense - a bar! With a caveat - all-you-can eat brunch AND live Gospel Music, who could say no to this? Suddenly, an event was born. So how do we celebrate being Canadian? Wear red. slap a Canadian tattoo on your arm, and share stories of where you're from, what the local running scene is like in your region, and of course, where did you qualify.

The staff at Dick's were a little unsure about this. "We're a Bahr, sports Bahr, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, not too many skinny runners come here. Maybe after the marathon, to get a little drunk!

My kind of place, we'll book two sittings!

Then something unusual happened, unexpected but not surprising. Runners showed up with friends and family, and at the very first sitting, just about every province was represented! And the tradition began. Great food, good times, happy faces. and a respite before the BIG day on Monday. Go Team Canada!

Rallying the Country

You're Not Crossing this border!

Year #2...now we've got our own business, All Sports Marketing. Etsablished a mere 45 days before the 2003 Race Weekend, Peter sees the need to continue the "brunch thing". But it's not his idea...people actually emailed from the year before, some from casual conversations around the running "cooler". "I heard about your brunch, are you doing this again?"

(:

The buzz had started, so the emails REALLY started to fly this time. We didn't have full representation across the country, no one from PEI or Vancouver Island! Not running the 108th edition to instead focus on speed, Peter knew he had to "be there" at the Race Expo, to schmooze and network with Race Directors, and of course this little "brunch thing" that hosted 50 some-odd athletes in year #1. "Hi, it's me again, from Canada, remember us, the crazy Canadians and our gathering?". "oh, you guys, well it's Easter Sunday this year, we'll be really busy so we don't think there will be room."

Oh oh...

"But we've already had over 100 people ask about the Brunch".

"100 people? In that case let me ask the manager".... funny how that works!

Fast-forward to Good Friday, I'm at the annual Good Friday Road Races with my display, then leaving my car in Burlington and meeting with David Coulter, Manager of the Yonge Street Running Room, a friend and my driving companion on this trip. He's running, I'm working. We leave my van, we head to the border, remember, it's a holiday today....

(B is for Border person, mean looking, grumpy, short on patience, NOT a runner).

(D is for David, the "Jimmy Buffet" of the marathon. Not much fazes this guy...)

P is for me, Peter, the person who has trouble speaking with Border Guards)

B:"Where are you from and where are you going?"

D:Toronto...I'm the manager of a Running Store, and I'm running the Boston Marathon."

B: "And you sir?"

P: "I own my own Sports Marketing company and I am hosting a brunch for Canadians".

B: "What does that mean, are you selling something down there?"

"No". Just networking for new clients and hosting the 2nd annual Boston Tea Party Brunch."

Oh oh....

B:"A brunch? Are you making money off this?"

P: "No, people pay their server, I just facilitate."

B: "Let me see the trunk."

Oh oh...

B: "What are these race brochures doing here?"

P: "Oh, they're my clients, I'm handing these out at the Brunch, to promote these charity based events."

D: (sweating profusely in the driver's seat)

B: "Take this form and park over there, you can get your I.D.'s inside".

Oh oh...

After approximately 60-minutes in a room full of people, mostly families clearly heading to see their relatives for Easter, except for a group of golfers who are obviously not a "security threat" (this is a mere 20 months after 911 and 20 hours after Prime Minister Jean Chretien would say yet another STUPID anti-American statement on National Television, so we're not exactly entering the USA at the best of times"

David finally gets to speak with the Border Guards, after they've presumably checked into our criminal past.

He doesn't seem to be too happy.

D:"I can't believe this is happening to me, I'm not allowed into the country" (or something like that, he's in a state of shock actually).

The Border Guard has kept his identification, and handed him another piece of paper.

B:"You, come with me. Your friend is not entering the United States today."

Oh oh....

P: "me?"

B: "Let's go to the car, your friend stays here".

P: "What's wrong with David, is he not allowed in?"

B: "That's for him to tell you". (his exact words, I'll never forget this)!

now we're looking into the same trunk that Border Guard #2 looked into, nothing has changed apparently.

B: "What the $%#$ are these brochures for?" (not exactly what he said, but it wasn't delivered in a pleasant tone)

P: "they're race brochures, from my clients."

B: "You can turn around, dump these somewhere, and come back into the United States, but not your friend."

Oh oh...

We head back inside, David has the look of incredulity on him. But he has his Driver's Licence back.

P:"What happened to you, unpaid speeding tickets?"

D:"I owe money from 7 years ago from some small county in upstate New York, I guess it's speeding or parking, I actually have no recollection of this." (this is where the Jimmy Buffet connection comes in, likely David was stoned and partying at the time, and wrecked his car around a telephone pole... at least that's how I imagined this, a much better story than speeding, wouldn't you agree?"

P: "Wow, the long arm of the law, big deal, let's just phone this county police office and pay the fine, then we'll be on our way."

D: (optimistic) "Yeah, that's a plan, let's use that pay phone over there."

ring ring

Remember folks, it's Easter Friday....

machine comes on, the office is closed until Monday.

Oh oh...

P: "Rats. Screw it, let's go to another bridge, Queenston-Lewiston is easier"

D: "No, $%#% it, I'm pissed off, I can't believe I've trained for this long, and now I can't cross the border. What will my clinic students think when I show up Sunday for run club.? I'll be the laughing stock of the Running Room."

P: "I think we should try the Rainbow Bridge"...

D:"Screw it, let's go for a run, play blackjack at the Casino and think about this after a good meal."

P: "Good idea, did I tell you I'm a bit of a player myself?"

4 Hours later, we're driving back to Burlington, to get my car and David will head back to Toronto, tail between his legs, possibly the first ever no show in the history of the Boston Marathon because of an un-paid speeding ticket.

D:"what are you going to do?"

P: "I have to go, I have the Brunch!"

So, the next day, after crashing at a friend's house in Hamilton, I rented a small car (my van wasn't up for the trip, and with the logo "Metro Railing" on the side, I wasn't about to cause any un-necessary red flags to derial my entry a second time, after all, the brochures were coming with me! This time, I'm just telling them I am running!

The show must go on....

The 5th Anniversary

Tia's On the Waterfront

So here we are, the 5th year anniversary. Heck, not many marriages last this long!

After continued success, more road blocks face "the Brunch", in our anniversary year no less. We discover after four successful years at Dicks', where they now roll out the red carpet for "the Canadians", that the Race Expo is now down by the waterfront, too far for the runners and their "entourage" to squeeze in breakfast with so much else to do and see. We need to find a new venue, plus, we've started to outgrow many options, as the 4th annual brunch would support almost 350 athletes, requiring several seatings. The buzz is indeed cross-country, and more runners are contacting " This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it peter@mynextrace.com " to book their seats early!

Yes, we now are able to use the web-site, banner ads and other means of promotion to make this "little brunch" a serious endeavor, and sponsors are starting to call. Imagine that! So we hire our intrepid on-the-street reporter, Laura, a transplant Canadian, and runner, now working in Boston, to scout the city. We call her in January. Then February. Now it's early March, and the BAA is going to email all Canadian runners to announce the 5th Anniversary!

P: "Laura, we REALLY need to confirm a venue!"

L: "Okay, okay, I'll get out there and make this happen."

We find a super place, and as a bonus, the owner is actually running the 110th edition herself, which is the good news. The bad news, she's freaking out as our numbers start to jump, 300-400-500-600! The emails are every couple of hours.

P:" I think we need more bagels!

L: "How do you know all these people will show up?"

P: "Trust me, they are runners, they need to eat!"

L: "I'm not sure, I need some guarantees, that's alot of food to buy and prepare, how can we be sure I'm not stuck with all this food, it's my opening weekend after being closed all winter".

P: "okay, let's offer on-line registration!"

The first brunch to achieve this historic first! Fitting in Boston of all places...

Onwards and Upwards

A brunch with a web-site?

Yes, surprisingly, we needed a web-site, especially for the Newfoundland runners who thought that Tea Party meant an excuse to bring their screech and cod fish with them. We had to explain that the marathon on the next day was a serious affair, and that they could "kiss the fish" in celebratory mode on Monday afternoon, upon successfully completing the Marathon. If yu are a newfie and reading this, please bring your own brown bag lunch if the piles of food are not sufficient enough for you.

We also needed a web-site for the many folks from B.C., as they might think that hash browns have performance enhancing benefits the rest of us are not familiar with. We are a family affair afterall and some minors will be present.

The #1 province, Ontario naturally, fully expect a web-site for just about anything they get involved with, and if there isn't online registrations, advance bookings and other first-class facilities they would end up having a $45 brunch at the Ritz Carleton and feel pretty good about themselves....

We wanted to omit any and all runners from New Brunswick, as we very rarely see these kind souls out and about, especially after digging themselves out of another record snowfall. We figured the marathon weather was enough of a chore, can we feel their aching backs??

If you are reading this and you are from Nova Scotia, bring some fresh atlantic Lobster with you and we'll provide a seriously steep discount on your meal, but don't be asking for a Keith's or Moosehead as the bar won't be open till closer to noon. By all means, we're happy to celebrate with you eastern souls afterwards, when the drinking marathon starts in earnest....

6th Annual Hard Rock Cafe

The year the race was almost cancelled...first time in history, due to heavy wind and rain pounding the East Coast. The bigger concern was not the runners, heck, they're made of steel these A-types, it was the safety of the 10,000 volunteers and potential 500,000 spectators that was the issue. Water Station tables, clocks every mile, scaffolding for spectators throughout the course, old trees along the way...what would happen if something blew into a pack of runners? Serious consideration was given by Race Director Dave McGilvary and staff to cancel the Marathon, as late as 10pm the night prior this was the anticipated result.

In the end, the weather gods smiled on the 111th running of the historic race, and after all the fuss and bother, the completion rate was higher than normal! The evening prior, when yours truly "ran" from a bar to my hotel, the one kilometer distance was horrible, the wind and rain was intense, all I could think of was, "I am so glad to not have to run in this the next morning". The 6th Annual Brunch was not so fortunate, despite a merry occasion this year celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Canadian Tom Longboat's victory in 1907. The rain was heavy all morning, resulting in a negligible walk-up crowd, the venue proved to be "challenging" shall we say and we were glad to put this Brunch behind us. The bright spot was some leftover Second Cup $10 cafe cards we were given from our sponsor, but before long you're actually sick of eating and drinking here three times a day!

7th and 8th Annual - Cottonwood Cafe

We were originally pleased with this venue, spacious, roomy, ideal location in downtown Boston...everything was great in 2008. The highlight was the gorgeous weather!

2009...who was there and did you get any eggs. Despite the largest team of staff and volunteers we ever had (18), and so many FUN things going on, we were left disappointed by our hosts who ran out of food, and coffee at one point! I knew we were in trouble when a fuse blew at 8:15 am and the large coffee pot wasn't working....and the staff were ssssllloooowwww in cleaning tables. Even the new President and First Lady were disappointed, but the Canadian Mountie stood his ground and happily took photos for everyone, even passersby on the sidewalk who weren't registered.

We apologized and gave refunds to those who were turned away by the large, walk-up crowds, the 500-person sell out proved to be too much for the chef in the kitchen apparently, and the owner produced the Quote of the Weekend when he commented, "these guys eat alot"! "It's a carbo load breakfast you moron"....was my reply as we haggled over the final bill. They are running a marathon the next morning and we advertised All You Can Eat.....

Thanks to everyone who showed patience and resolve, waiting for the food to finally show up, and to those who had to sit on the floor while we hurriedly cleaned tables throughout the restaurant and on the patio. Maybe you were rewarded with a reserved pace the next morning, and a return qualifying time for 2010.

C'est La Vie.....onwards and upwards as we head into the 10th Anniversary soon.....

9th Annual - Vilora Restaurant

So in addition to finally attracting our first-ever Title Sponsor, and bringing our mascot down for the first time, what else can we say about this event. It was the best ever! For the second straight year, we brought a foreign student with us - Sandra from Germany last year and Minke Jang from South Korea this time, appropriate enough as Boston is such an international race. Despite saying after last year's mess, "never again"....now we can't wait for the 10th edition. I think I might actually run again, finally, after 5 years off.

Yes, it rained all weekend, and I was exhausted before we even arrived in Boston after a busy winter, and my bike got stolen outside Laura's apartment in Back Bay (it was locked up), and I wasn't able to use the free flights myself and had to drive down. And I smacked my leg which is still bothering me a month later...but it's Boston!

Still...we almost didn't make it across the border.....here was the email I wrote as we (finally) crossed the US border at the Lewiston bridge and headed towards Rochester.

Hey we (barely) made it across the border 60 minutes ago....we had to go inside as Minki was charged $6 like Sandra last year.

The guy starts asking a lot of questions...makes me go back to the car to show my biz card and such...of course I also put my hat on and grab a sticker...

BG. (Border Guard)

Any Fruits, Vegetables, goods to be left behind including alcohol??

PD

Nothing (Actually a 6-pack of beer for Jack Fleming and 2 bottles of wine for Laura Lipscei...and the Korean intern made Kimpab (sushi...which is raw food)....among other things....

BG

"So you're going to the Marathon as members of the media??

PD

"Yeah...we have been for 9 years now....who are the Sabres playing tonite?"

BG

"So you're not selling anything down there and these students are volunteers??"

PD

"Yes....volunteers, it's a real priviledge to get accredited for the Race, it's as big as the olympics or super bowl for media reporting....have you heard of the Boston Marathon??"

BG

"Yes, of course (as he rolls his eyes). Have you run it yourself?" Doesn't some guy from another country always win it? "What did you say your business is all about?"

PD

Yes, I have run myself five times but I retired from running and cycle more now. It's a great weekend in Boston every year cause the Red Sox open their season and the Bruins and Celtics are always starting the playoffs". Boston is probably the biggest sports town in North America. And there is actually a white guy american as favourite this year, believe it or not....he was even born here too.....(Laughing)
BG

(Laughing)....

(Now I am getting anxious and starting to think that after 9 years we're finally busted)

PD

"So is Ryan Miller going to help the Sabres get to the finals this year?? "Minki have you paid the $6 yet?"

BG

"Buffalo is actually a pretty big sports town and more people watched the hockey final than any other city.

(And I can barely stop myself from choking and saying too bad there aren't any winning teams around here....then of course we are from newly named Loserville Toronto)....

BG

"Just don't be a Yankee fan over there, my son went once with his New York plates and got some comments.". So do you get some kind of plastic laniard (he didn't use that word but he meant to)....thing around your neck?

(Meanwhile he's pulled up MyNextRace.com on his computer screen and his punching away and presumably surfing the site)

PD

"Yeah we have credentials I can go back to the car and show the paperwork to you (and I am thinking dear God please don't follow me to the car 'cause there's a bike, a dog, 350 issues of Canadian Running Magazines, a flat screen tv, dvd player, and a tent and funny looking plastic suitcase on the roof....)

BG

(Laughing)...."It's okay you don't have to go back to the car"..."Boston Tea Party"....(Reading aloud the home page of MyNextRace.com)...."There seems to be more than just running on this site....

PD

(Holy Crap if he actually knows how to surf and click on banners we're really in for it)...or maybe we're LUCKY once more and he's pro Sarah Palin and thinks it's a politically paid advertisement....

"Well we're just a small operation at the moment, pretty crap site actually, hopefully one day it's something meaningful....

(In other words, we're a small, insignificant blip on the grand USA-Canada border issue what with Shoe Terrorists boarding flights, Islamic sleeper cells in Cheektawaga and a Homeland Security Operation that hasn't really identified or figured out who to waste their time or the publics' money on to this day, 9 years post-911)

BG

(As he pulls out a Korean-worded green slip and starts to pound the approval stamp)....

"Okay just show this to the guy standing outside (doing nothing)....

PD

"Make sure to watch for us on TV Monday....."

BG

"Yeah I'll be checking your site for all the updates.... (and looking at Minki who we have pumped up as this amazing photographer)...."And looking for your excellent pictures"!

Lol

(That's how we build our web traffic folks....one customer at a time....)