The Fastest Doc In Canada
In the early years of the Twentieth Century the townsfolk of Antigonish, Nova Scotia would often see pre-medical student Ronald J. MacDonald nonchalantly running past horse drawn wagons and carriages on the highways surrounding their town. “What a grand doctor he’ll make”, the old folk said. “He’ll just grab up his bag and set off on the run, and be half way there before a horse could be hitched up. He can beat any horse.” (Antigonish Casket, April 24, 1947)
Ronnie J., as he was known to his friends, was perhaps the fastest physician to grace the roads and tracks of our country…and the United States. Born in 1877 at Frasers Grant, Nova Scotia, near the university town of Antigonish, Ronnie got his early running experience chasing cattle in the fields of the family farm. His father, Lauchlin “the Drover” MacDonald, made his living driving cattle and would often travel on schooners to supervise as cattle were transported around the Maritimes. Tragically, young Ronnie’s father died in 1888, when the schooner “Mary Ellen” was lost with all hands on a return trip from Newfoundland. When he was sixteen, Ronnie’s mother, Elizabeth, decided to move the family to Massachusetts. Older brother Alex became a linesman with New England Telephone and Telegraph. Ronald soon joined his brother in the linesman’s trade, but the two diverted themselves in their off hours by running with Father Scully’s gym club.
Ronnie J. showed early promise as a runner, with especial talent for the newly re-discovered “marathon”. The re-establishment of the Olympic Games by Baron deCoubertin in 1896 sparked a revival of the long distance race, inspired by the feat of a Greek runner who brought news of his nation’s stunning victory over the Persians at the town of Marathon in 490 B.C. In 1897 the Nova Scotian won the 7-mile United States Cross Country Championship. In 1898 he set a new world record for the 11-mile cross country race.
Later in 1898 MacDonald entered the newly established 25-mile Boston Marathon and became the first Canadian, and only the second person to win this event with a time of 2:42:00. The race was a bit of an upset for by the fifteen mile mark Macdonald was two and a half miles behind the 8 leading runners. With a burst of energy Ronnie surged ahead and completed the last ten miles in only 56 minutes, leaving the erstwhile leader, New Yorker Hamilton Gray, in his dust. The Boston Globe described the race as “the fastest ever run by a human being”.
Ronnie enrolled in pre-medical studies at Boston College in 1899, but continued to run, and in 1900 once again entered The Boston Marathon. Betting was legal at that time and thousands of dollars changed hands based on the outcome of the race. MacDonald put in quite a credible performance until he was handed a sponge in the latter part of the race, which turned out to be laced with chloroform. Canadian J. Caffery, from Hamilton, Ontario went on to win the race.
Despite being a Canadian citizen, Ronnie J. was chosen to represent the American Olympic Team in 1900. The 25-mile Olympic Marathon was held in Paris on a blistering hot day. MacDonald was comfortably in the lead near the end of the race, having passed the other contenders in the seventeen-man field. To his surprise he found many of the French contestants at the finish line on his arrival, looking surprisingly fresh. It was alleged that nationalistic Frenchmen had ensured their compatriots would take the top four spots in the race by providing free taxi rides.
In 1901 Ronnie competed in the Boston Marathon once again, running neck and neck with Sam Mellor, the winner, until he was forced to stop due to stomach cramps. Later that year, Ronnie moved back to Antigonish, Nova Scotia to continue his pre-medical studies at St. Francis Xavier University.
In addition to embarrassing the carriage owners of the town over the next two years he broke the Canadian three and five mile records, and went on to set a new world record for the indoor mile. Graduating from St. F.X. University in 1907, MacDonald enrolled in Tuft’s Medical School, and upon graduation completed postgraduate work at Harvard.
Dr. MacDonald went on to set up practice in the town of St. George’s and later in Aguathuna, Newfoundland. He ran his last marathon in St. John’s, Newfoundland, beating John Lorden of Ireland. In 1913 Ronnie J. married Ad Pieroway of St. George’s, subsequently raising a brood of 3 sons and two daughters. After 27 years of rural practice on the island, he chose to relocate his practice to Antigonish to provide his children with expanded educational opportunities. His last appearance at a public race was as a starter for the 1942 Highland Games (which he had won in 1901).
Tragically, Ronnie J. suffered a stroke in 1942, after which he was confined to a bed or wheelchair. He died on September 3, 1947, apparently after a seizure, and is now buried in Heatherton, Nova Scotia.
Photo Credit
Ronald John MacDonald – Public Domain
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Dear MK,
I’m glad you enjoyed and learned from my article. We Canadians tend to ignore our prominent native sons and it’s nice to show the world some of our achievements. Good luck with your running.
George
Dear George,
My name is Mary Kate “MK” McAdams and I graduated from Boston College in 2012. I am Ronnie’s great granddaughter (my mom was his granddaughter). I am using this piece to inspire my BC friends who are running the marathon.
I have read about Ronnie, but didn’t know a lot of what you wrote about here. Thanks so much!
MK
Hugh,
I am delighted you enjoyed the article. I’m sorry for the unsatisfactory reply from the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame might be a better place for those precious artifacts to repose. Here is their link:
http://www.novascotiasporthalloffame.com
You might want to cc my article to them. If you would like me to contact them to assit you I would be happy to. When I get the sequel to my “Amazing Medical Stories” published I am planning on including Ronnie J.’s story.
Hugh, I have contacted the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame who would be delighted to display your Ronnie J. artifacts. He is one of their top members, being the first Nova Scotian (and Canadian) to win the Boston Marathon and the first Nova Scotian to participate in the Olympics. Gil Namur (gil@lifeasahuman.com) has the contact information.
Jeannene,
Thanks for your interest in book. I think you will enjoy it. It’s intended for an adult audience but ended up on the recommended reading list for Nova Scotia’s Middle (Junior High) Schools. My daughter spotted a copy in her classroom and had to convince her classmates that her Dad actually wrote it! Your ancestor was quite an athlete and a very versatile man, just the type of person I enjoy profling.
Excellent article on my grandfather the fastest doc in Canada. I am in possession of the Boston Marathon Plaque, his running shoes, his uniform, his iersey and other keep sakes. My father was RJ,s oldest son and passed it on to me. My daughter took up running marathons and is forever defending his reputation. I got in touch with the Canadian Sports Hall of fame and they informed me ” they would store it in the basement for me”. Better on display at my home than stuck in the basement! So much for Canadian pride!
Dear Mr. Burden,
Thank you for this wonderful article on Ronald J. MacDonald. Ronnie J. is my great grand uncle. My great grandmother was his youngest sister and spoke of him with great pride and affection until she died days shy of her 97th Birthday. The 116th Boston Marathon is being run today and I was doing some research on Ronnie J. to share with my children. We live 20 minutes from the starting line of the marathon. It is not uncommon for stories to change over the years or for family members to embellish stories. I am happy to report that everything I read in your article has been told to me by my late great grandmother and grandmother. I remember hearing the stories of Frasers Grant, the chloroform sponge and the Paris Olympics throughout my childhood. Although the family moved to Boston they were always proud of their Canadian heritage and I did them proud when I graduated from McGill University in 1991. Thank you for sharing a piece of history.
Kind Regards,
Jeannene Austin
Jeannene,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article on your great-grand uncle, Ronnie J. Congratulations on your graduation from McGill! In the course of my research I try to dig up unknown or little known strories with a Canadian medical connection. This is the main thrust of my book “Amazing Medical Stories”.
Thank you so much for your reply. I have already passed the link along to several family members. I just read a review of your book and the topic is fascinating. I am always looking for something new to read and anything that combines humor, exploration and inspiration goes to the top of my list. I’m reading Atlas Shrugged for the third time and it’s quite a different read 20 years later. Your book is next on my list. Good luck researching your next topic!