By Dianne Cornish, REVIEW STAFF

Running is a big part of Patrick Campbell’s life, and it has been for the past 15 years. The 51-year-old financial planner from Waterdown participated in 16 long-distance races this past season, including nine Ontario Ultra Series races that are usually 50K (kilometres) or longer, often with routes than run over rough terrain, such as trails and hills.

Campbell finished second in his age category (over 50) in the Ultra Series and third overall in the male division in the provincial series. His best Ultra race was last June in Niagara Falls, where he ran 50 kilometres in four hours and four minutes to finish fourth overall and first in his age category. He also did well in the Las Vegas Marathon in December, finishing sixth in the over-50 category in the 26.2-mile race and 124th overall.

“At heart, I’m a speed demon,” Campbell said of his passion for running. He used to compete in triathlons, which include cycling, swimming and running, but eventually narrowed it down to the discipline he enjoys most.

Long-distance running isn’t for the faint-hearted. Many of the Ultra Series races are challenging. The 56K Seaton race in Pickering last April was particularly grueling because it was a hilly and very muddy course that required competitors to cross a river six times during the run. Campbell suffered a groin injury while running, but still managed to place fourth overall.

During the 120K Sulphur Springs race in Ancaster last May, he experienced some stomach problems, but managed to finish 44th.

While running in a 160K race in Haliburton in September, he wrenched his knee after stepping into a pothole. Again, he persevered to finish 13th overall and first in his age division. “I should have been in the top five (overall),” he said, lamenting his injury.

To give his body “a bit of a break” after running a total of 1,066 miles over the past season, Campbell has decided to take a year off from the Ontario Ultra Series races. He plans to participate in some half-marathons this year, but he’ll be doing less mileage overall and concentrating on building up his speed.

He’ll resume running in the Ultra Series races during the 2013-14 season and he also plans to enter the Boston Marathon for the fourth time in April 2013.

“It’s the cream when it comes to marathons,” he said, adding that he has finished the Boston course in three hours, 14 minutes and is looking forward to new standards that come into effect in 2013 that will help streamline the race while also making it more competitive.

Campbell’s passion for running also includes volunteering his time as president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Track and Field Association and as long-distance coach for a group of young athletes from the K-W area who took part in the International Children’s Games in Lanarkshire, Scotland last August. He accompanied the young competitors, aged 12 to 15, to the Games and served as a chaperone, enjoying every minute of the trip and the chance it gave him to promote the sport of running and the camaraderie that it creates.

A past president of the Optimist Club of Kitchener-Waterloo, Campbell has lived in Waterdown for the past six years and trains regularly on the residential streets behind the Waterdown Legion. He said he’s had some ‘near misses’ because of unobservant drivers and wishes the government would adopt some sharing the road motto, like ‘look both ways’ to emphasize the fact that roads aren’t solely for vehicular traffic.

The financial consultant with Investors Group in Cambridge is currently keeping a close eye on his nutrition and general health. He ran in the Robbie Burns race in Burlington last Sunday and is considering running in the Toronto Marathon in May.

“I really love to run,” Campbell said. “It’s a great stress reliever, it gives me time to think and I love to be competitive.”