William John Paul
- Type: Athlete
- Sport(s): Track and Field
- Year: 2019
Some sports have a solitary and singular nature to them. Long distance running is one of them.
It’s summed up in the title of a great 1962 English movie called, “The loneliness of a long distance Runner”.
Over here in Canada that year, a 50 year old First Nations man, William John Paul was quite literally wrapping up his career as a long distance runner.
Mr. Paul, a member of the Mi’kmaq First Nation, was born in Halfway River, Cumberland County in Nova Scotia. However, love drew him to Prince Edward Island when he married his sweetheart, Mary Tuplin. It was at this point, William John Paul or John Paul as he was better known, became an Island runner. And, what a runner he was.
John Paul was 19 years old when he began running following encouragement from his father and his brother, Noel, who was also and excellent distance runner.
He trained mostly alone. John Paul was his own trainer, his own coach. He did it all.
John Paul ran along dirt paths and shore-lines. He drove himself with an iron will and a discipline for which he later became renowned.
He competed for over three decades and competed in over 500 long distance races ranging from “five milers” to grueling 26 mile marathons. When, at fifty, John Paul undid his laces for the last time, he was asked what kept him going for so long, Mr. Paul replied, “ the wind and the will power.” He had an inner strength that refused to allow him to be beaten. Mr. Paul once said, “ The mark of a champion is finding the will power to force yourself to win.”
In the 1930’s John Paul beat them all. He was the accepted champion is in this region. There are few details of the races that he ran other than reports that John Paul won.
Some have been well documented. He won the Saint John 10 mile Road Race seven strait times. The Halifax Herald 10 mile Trek twice. The Capitol Theatre Cup in Saint John three times and the Sydney Marathon in 1935.
He didn’t just win these races. Most times, the race was over in the first two miles. Mr. Paul set countless records over all distances.
Those who saw him run say he had an unforgettable style that was described as a “ fluid gate; his long smooth strides, which ate up the miles at an unbelievable pace. Those features coupled with an erect carriage set this picturesque figure apart from all other contenders. He was poetry in motion.”
John Paul competed in the 1936 Boston Marathon, and although he didn’t win, he had a glorious finish. That Marathon was won by another First Nations Runner, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island. Mr. Paul finished 13th with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes and 30 seconds. At times he ran with the leaders and other times would trail.
When the second world war broke out, John Paul enlisted with the Canadian Army. PEI Sports Hall of famer Jim Hogan remembered John Paul as a fearless, courageous and dedicated soldier at all times. John Paul was a hero.
After the war, he resumed running and became a familiar figure running the 15 miles from his home in Scotchfort to Rogers Hardware in Charlottetown where he worked. In 1946, he took another crack at the Boston Marathon and at 34, finished in the top 5 per cent.
Finally at 50 years of age, he called it quits, admitting he could no longer keep up with the younger runners.
John Paul’s achievements are even more remarkable considering that he lived during a time when everything was staked against, Mi’kmaq … not only in sport but in every other part of life. Life was hard, often cruel with little valued work and what there was paid little or nothing. In his later years, like so many Mi’kmaq, John Paul suffered. Living was tough. He died at 68 … with dignity and respect. Proud of his heritage.
When you read what reports are available about John Paul, you begin to realize what an amazing man he was.
The Patriot newspaper wrote in 1939 that, “ John is a boy who always keeps in condition. He trains hard and generally succeeds in making the rest of the field chase him. An athlete of his type is a credit to any community.”
Imagine what he might have accomplished with modern training methods and coaching.
For years, he was never considered for numerous Halls of Fame because no one ever nominated him or dug up his records. That was rectified in 2008 when the PEI Hall of Fame welcomed John Paul.
Today, he is a welcome addition to the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame as a Legendary Inductee.