It still doesn’t register that Ted Dash - long time member of both the Toronto Running Club and XSNRG Running Club - will not be running with Nathalie and the rest of us anymore. If you’re just hearing about this for the first time, Ted passed away Friday, July 31st from complications arising from a virus that led to a stroke, medically induced coma, kidney failure and more. Our hearts go out to Nathalie, Ted’s wife of just one year but partner of 10 years.

A short service will be held to remember and honor Ted Dash Saturday August 8th at 3pm. There’s an earlier visitation from 1 to 3 pm. All are welcome to the North York Y at Bayview/Sheppard after the 3pm funeral for food & refreshment. There will be no body at the funeral home, just his ashes.

The service will be at 3pm at The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre, 275 Lesmill Rd. Toronto. Tel: 416-441-1580. This is in the 401-Leslie St. Area.

For directions, visit http://www.thesimplealternative.ca/our_locations/toronto.asp

There is no visitation at the Funeral Centre on Thursday or Friday, only Saturday from 1-3pm.

Remembering Ted

One of our favorite stories about Ted happened at the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon a couple years ago when then, MDRC, was volunteering at the water station at Lakeshore and Sherbourne.  The station was spread out over a hundred meters for the 10,000 runners expected in a huge crush.  Ted was standing near the Elite water bottle table keeping an eye on things as the first few Kenyans whipped by.  Ted was impressed by their speed and how similar it was to his own!

The 4th or 5th place runner, a Kenyan, came speeding along and grabbed at his water bottle on the Elite table but didn’t get a grip on it and knocked it off the table. Ted watched it all unfold as if in a trance then suddenly made a decision, lunged for the bottle and started sprinting to catch the Kenyan.  Over 50 volunteers stopped what they were doing to witness the drama unfolding… an amateur Caucasian runner, twice the age of the Kenyan he was chasing, attempting to catch a 2:12 marathoner.  No one would have bet on Ted catching the Kenyan but he did. His heavy footsteps startled the Kenyan who thought a rival was catching him.

No, it was just Ted Dash, doing the Ted Blast over 125 meters of people cheering him on. His face was red, his cheeks were puffed and on his last gasp he thrust the water bottle into the face of the surprised but thankful Kenyan. Ted’s foolhardy but heroic action impressed all!  We’re not sure why he disappeared for a while but we suspect he needed a snooze after his ‘feet’!

Ted was a member of our running club for 11 years and during that time helped out at events, most notably as a volunteer at water stations the club coordinated for the Waterfront Marathon or Toronto Marathon.  He was a frequent volunteer at the Mad Dog Scramble too, nipping at the heels of runners as they passed him.  If Nathalie wasn’t running in the event, she was there with him to hear his silliness and to see his antics.

Ted was personable, full of life, encouraging and had a good sense of humor. At our last count he had completed 13 marathons but may have slipped a few more in when we weren’t looking.  Over the 10 years of his relationship with Nathalie they attended many dozens of races together.

So long Ted, it’s been great to know you.

Michael Brennan