On the run with Malcolm Smillie

Photo of Malcolm Smillie running in Pacific Spirit Forest

You’d be forgiven for not knowing that the Sauder School of Business is home to one of the best Master track athletes in the world. Malcolm Smillie is his name, and he is responsible for Business Development for the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre. Over his 36 year running career, he’s clocked a whopping 209,215 km (that’s the equivalent of more than five times around the world).

Malcolm, who’s been with UBC for three years in January, has an impressive track record (excuse the pun). Not only is he the 2005 World Masters Games gold medal winner for the 1500 meters race, he has won provincial championships in the 800 and 1500 meter races for ten consecutive years. He’s sponsored by Adidas, and has raced against some of the most famous names in running, including Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe (the latter he beat – just – in very muddy middle distance cross-country race in 1983).

"For me, running is an escape and a great stress reliever. If I’m ever concerned about something, going for a run helps me put it into perspective. I have some of my best ideas while I’m running!”
Malcolm Smillie

Malcolm started running in 1978, during his university days. A budding soccer player at the time, he was looking for ways to increase his fitness on the pitch. His first race was part in the Highlands games, in his native Scotland. He lost… by a long way. Not satisfied with the result, he committed to doing better the next year and joined a running to club to help him.

His plan worked. His fitness increased, and he was promoted from the third division university soccer team to the first. It wasn’t long before his stamina for running surpassed that for soccer and became Malcolm’s primary sport. He’s been running ever since.

Why does he like running so much? Malcolm explains: “For me, it’s an escape, and a great stress reliever. If I’m ever concerned about something, going for a run helps me put it into perspective. I have some of my best ideas while I’m running!”

Malcolm runs every day, sometimes twice a day. If you’re wondering how he fits his rigorous running routine in with a full time job, he explains: “Campus offers lots of beautiful running trails, perfect for lunch time runs!”

Malcolm has participated in over 1000 races and his medal box is overflowing, but his appetite for racing hasn’t diminished over the years. “The emotional and physical challenge of racing stays the same,” he explains. “And – as the famous running saying goes – the will to win is nothing compared to the will to prepare.” He’s currently preparing for the next World Masters Games in New Zealand in 2017.

Malcolm’s two daughters, who are keen soccer players, have inherited his competitive streak, and have benefited from his fitness training techniques. His oldest is a member of UBC Okanagan’s varsity soccer team.

For any of his UBC colleagues interested in starting running, he offers this advice: “Avoid the terrible ‘toos’: too much, too quickly, too soon. Start small. Don’t try to sprint off the bat, but rather, start by combining running with walking, and get your body used to the activity.” Malcolm invites anyone interested in learning more about running techniques, or the great trails around UBC’s Point Grey campus, to get in touch with him.

Written by Megan Czerpak, UBC Internal Communications