He’s principal of one of the largest schools in eastern Newfoundland, and father to three children ranging in age from 17 months to 13.
Yep, Sheldon Marsh is a busy man these days, and he can’t wait to hit the bricks and run the 42-plus kilometers in Sunday’s New York Marathon, his first time running what’s been branded the world’s largest marathon.
“For me,” Marsh said this week, “running is a way to keep balance in my life, and to remain energized enough to parent and work well.
“Running is a great outlet. It helps physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Life can often mess around with the last two. It’s an outlet and a release from the stresses of life and work.
“I encourage everyone to always remain active in any way they can. Running works for me.”
Marsh’s grand plan is to complete the world’s major marathons – Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo, in addition to New York.
Marsh played hockey and soccer growing up, but admittedly was a mediocre athlete at both.
Teaching at Holy Heart of Mary in his early days, it was at that St. John’s high school he was introduced to running by his friend and former teaching colleague, Bob Thompson, a well-known personal trainer in the city.
“Bob asked me one day, in October 2008, to do a ‘short run’ with him down and around the (Quidi Vidi) lake and up Rennies River,” recalled Marsh, who today serves as principal of Mount Pearl’s O’Donel high school.
“I accepted, and if you know ‘Bobber’, that was probably not a smart move. He complained how bad my running fitness was, and offered me a cab on more than one occasion. A few days later, he asked me to go again and me being me, I said yes.
“We ran for a couple of years together, and he trained me without a formal plan and I jumped into some local races. Bob always said hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Knowing that I only had an average level of talent, I knew early on that I would need to be hard working.”
In 2015, Marsh joined the Athletics Northeast Club, and has emerged as one of the most consistent performers on the local road race circuit.
“Bob Thompson always said hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Knowing that I only had an average level of talent, I knew early on that I would need to be hard working.”
Sheldon Marsh
Among his results this season are an eighth-overall finish in the Huffin’ Puffin’ provincial half-marathon, seventh in the Uniformed Services 10K race, 14th in the Harbourfront 10K, 18th in the Mews 8K and 24th overall in the Tely 10.
“I can almost predict my time in a race to the second based on knowing my body, my fitness, and race conditions,” he said. “This year, my training has been really crazy. I started training with Art Meaney's MUN group, and then started training under a plan provided to me by Colin Fewer.
“He helped me with this year's sub-60 (in the Tely 10, with a 59:18 chip time), for sure. Then I resumed some runs with ANE, and many, many, many solo runs and workouts.”
Marsh’s aim Sunday is a 2:59:59 showing, and he’ll pace for that through much of the race that begins on Staten Island and winds up in midtown Manhattan.
Last year, 52,000-plus runners completed the race.
Among some of the other Newfoundland runners slated to compete Sunday are Jonathan Adey, Alberta resident Mark Pinsent and his son, Andrew, Joanna Harris, Mary Ann Griffin and Joanne Taylor.
“The marathon is long, and anything can go wrong over the 42.2 kilometres,” Marsh said. “There will be many ups and downs, and keeping the mental part in check will be paramount, for sure.
“Push away the negative thoughts and focus on the positives.”
