Local Olympian returns for Highland Games

World caliber runner and Antigonish native Eric Gillis donned the kilt and participated in the Antigonish Highland Games five-mile road race on July 13th. The 32-year-old, who will represent Canada in the marathon at next month’s Olympics in London, England, joined 306 runners in the annual event.
 
“I decided about six weeks ago that I would like to come home and run in the Highland Games or at least be a part of the weekend,” Gillis said.
 
“I knew I wouldn’t go into the event to race it, but it gave me an opportunity to step back from the pressure of training and the expectations I have for myself heading into the Olympics.”
 
Gillis said he did a 90-minute workout Thursday, covering over 40k, so Friday was a recovery day. “I just wanted to enjoy the crowd and just go out and run,” the accomplished athlete said. “I’m here (Antigonish) to get a good vibe from this and take this feeling to London with me.”
 
Gillis said people probably expected him to win the race, but right now the Olympics are more important than the AHG race, so following his training schedule was of upmost importance. Prior to race time Gillis said he would cover the distance in 35 minutes, which is exactly what he did.
 
Gillis began his running career in the area, participating in Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation track and cross country events from Grade 7 through Grade 12. Championships were not uncommon for the Bernie Chisholm-coached athlete and Gillis subsequently moved on to compete at the university level where in 2003 he won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport cross country championship as a member of the X-Men.
 
“I really enjoyed the social aspect of being on a team. Antigonish was a place I was able to train well and run well. Both high school and StFX were places I felt comfortable in and both places allowed me to progress. Bernie coached me on both teams and I enjoyed that.”
 
Gillis said Antigonish provided a solid base in schooling, socially and athletically during his teenage years and it has kept him grounded in pursuing his goals. While offered opportunities to attend school outside Canada, Gillis said the choice to stay in the country and run at StFX was the right one.
 
“I liked being a big fish in a small pond,” Gillis said. “I liked the extra support I got at StFX – the program they have for students with learning disabilities is very good and I benefitted from that. Putting my degree first was my priority and then athletics after that. It worked out very well for me in all aspects of my university life.”
 
Gillis competed in the 10,000m race in the 2008 Olympics in China and made the decision shortly after to tackle marathon running.
 
“My coach (Dave Scott-Thomas) and I thought in 2009 we needed a re-start and the marathon is a challenging event,” Gillis said. “It’s very different from the track. I felt that was the time to take a break from having to run extremely fast on the track and it was almost like learning a new event. I had a lot of fun training for my first marathon.”
 
Gillis said he always knew he would eventually become a marathon runner, but it was a long-term goal, not something he focused on day-to-day. He ran his first marathon in Houston, Texas in 2010 confirming that he wanted to concentrate on the sport in the ensuing years. He has run three marathons leading up to the Olympics.
 
“I’ve had success with the Toronto race last year and I feel I can take confidence from that,” he said. “Going into London, if I can add a bit more on, I’ll be very happy to go to the Olympics with that kind of fitness.”
 
Gillis has been running out of the Speed River Club in Guelph, Ont., under the direction of Scott-Thomas, since graduatiing from university.
 
The runner noted there were many times where running wasn’t his first priority, unlike now, but added in recent years the commitment has always been there.
 
He wonders how different things could have been, if he had travelled a different path. “A lot of fortunate things have happened that have allowed me to keep progressing,” he said.
 
“Once I got older I realized that my success isn’t necessarily just about the work I put into it, but I’ve also had some breaks and a lot of help along the way.”
 
Gillis said it was important to keep a positive mind frame in attaining his goals, noting there is not just one route to achieving them. He focused on finding a way, despite setbacks.
 
In 2009, the year following the Beijing Olympics, Gillis said he wasn’t having a great year but made the commitment to earn a spot in the London Games. “I had to step back and think of what the long-term goal was,” he said. “My goal was to run fast in the marathon but my focus had to be how I was going to do that as opposed to that’s what I want to do. Don’t focus just on what you want in life, but rather how to achieve it. I’ve had thousands of goals in my running career that add up and got me to the Olympics.”
 
Gillis first represented Canada at the World University cross country championships in 2003 and has returned to the world stage on numerous occasions since. “I was pumped to be on that team but then the first time around you think there will be many more opportunities,” he commented.
 
“When I went to Beijing, which was probably the fifth time I represented Canada, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I felt I had to run a certain time and it was too much pressure. It wasn’t fun.”
 
Gillis said the pressure heading into London is not as intense and he is enjoying representing Canada and has a great deal of respect for wearing the Canadian uniform. “I like where I’m at right now and I’m treating this as another stepping stone that will be higher than I’ve been before.”
 
Gillis, who is married to former StFX runner Emily Hurst, said it’s been a huge learning curve to adjust to family responsibilities. The X grads are parents to two-year-old Heidi.
 
Gillis said the days of focusing just on his running career are over and credits Emily for her tremendous support. “Having a family supporting you puts something into your running,” Gillis said.

“Heidi puts things into perspective. When I come home after a workout, especially if it’s not where I want it to be, she brightens up the day. I also focus on putting a lot of effort into running during the time of the day I devote to running but then I like to turn it off when I’m at home when I’m with Emily and Heidi. In 2008, before we got married, I think I was always in that running mode and that wasn’t beneficial for me or the people around me.”

“Even after I left Antigonish, the community and the people have consistently supported me both financially and otherwise,” he said.
 
“They continue to follow me even though I’m not living in Antigonish.” His last race in Antigonish was in 2003 as a member of the StFX cross country team.
 
“It’s been a while, so it’s definitely nice to be back,” he commented. “I’m 32 years old and I feel like my best times are still out there,” He said. " I’m still hungry and fighting for them."
 
Gillis returned to Guelph Sunday and will join forces with running mate Reid Coolsaet who will also represent Canada in the Olympic marathon event. A third member of the marathon team, Dylan Wykes , will join the pair for 10 days of preparation for the competition.
 
“Reid and I will get in a week and a half of good workouts and then we begin bringing our taper down,” Gillis said. “We’ll leave for London July 29 and will be there for two days before heading to Germany for a week,” Gillis said.
 
“We return to London three days before the race, which is Aug. 12, the last day of the Olympics. We’ll run at 7 a.m. Atlantic time.”