When 24-year-old Kristian Jamieson runs, he always sees one person ahead of him: his great-great-grandfather, Tom Longboat. The legendary Onondaga distance runner won the Boston Marathon in 1907 and was an Olympian. Now, almost 120 years later, Jamieson is carrying on that legacy.
“I always ask myself, ‘Would he be proud of what I’m doing?’” Jamieson said.
Jamieson, an Upper Cayuga runner from Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, will compete in Sunday’s Ottawa International Marathon, part of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. He aims for a time better than two hours 30 minutes. Growing up on the same reserve as Longboat, Jamieson feels a deep connection to his heritage.
“I always try to remember that, to honour him,” he said. “It’s such an iconic piece of Canadian history. Looking up to him, it’s one of the best feelings ever.”
Jamieson’s interest in running sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a hobby turned into a passion. “This one run I did, it was supposed to be a 10K run, but it ended up becoming a 30K run,” he recalled. “At the end of that 30K, I was dead, but it really opened my eyes to the potential everyone has if they set their mind to something.”
While Jamieson heard stories about Longboat growing up, it wasn’t until he started running that he delved into his ancestry. “That’s kind of what kept me going and motivated,” he said. “It was cool to have someone in my family tree to look up to and try to emulate.”
Running is the “main pillar” that keeps Jamieson tied to his culture. “I’m glad that I’m a native descendant and I get to represent not only my lineage, but also the people of Canada, and specifically my home reserve,” he said. “It’s a real honour to inspire other kids on Six Nations and everybody from all cultures.”
Just a month ago, on April 20, Jamieson ran his second Boston Marathon with a finish time of 2:33:48. “I was super stoked with that,” he said. “There’s something extra special knowing that Tom Longboat won this marathon. That gives me so much confidence, knowing there’s a fuel I have that no other runner has.”
Jamieson’s respect for his great-great-grandfather grows tenfold when he runs. “You really realize how incredible an athlete he was, and all those runners back then, without modern shoes or technology,” he said.
