04/26/2026
Longboat Descendent Marathon
Guest: Kristian Jamieson
CBC Annoiucer CH: Following in someone’s footsteps is one thing. Running in them is a whole other challenge. But that’s what Kristian Jamieson is trying to do. Mr. Jamieson is the great-great-grandson of Tom Longboat — a residential school survivor and soldier who — in 1907 — became the first Indigenous winner of the Boston Marathon, with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 24 seconds. Mr. Jamieson grew up on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, and he's trying to carry on that legacy. He wants to match Mr. Longboat’s time. And yesterday, he came closer than ever before, with a personal best at the Boston Marathon. We reached the 24-year old runner in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
CBC Interviewer NY: Kristian, how are you feeling today?
KRISTIAN JAMIESON: I'm feeling, I'm feeling really good. I'm still kind of riding the excitement from, from yesterday.
NY: Yeah, I bet.
KJ: Of course, you know, my legs are are very, very sore. And yesterday was just such a great day.
NY: How did it feel to cross the finish line?
KJ: So, honestly, crossing that finish line, I was, it was a mix of emotions. Every day, every run you're on, you're, you're visualising, you know, the race, how it's going to feel, how it's going to go. And so, it was just very special, and it was just a full-circle moment.
NY: Um-hmm, I bet. How much were you thinking of Tom while you were running?
KJ: Yeah, there were definitely parts of the race where, you know, Tom was, was used to, you know, fuel me, keep me going. You know, as I was going up those hills, I just imagined, you know, Tom in front of me running, and me trying to do whatever it takes to hang on. And, and it just gave me extra confidence running in Boston. It really did give me confidence knowing that, that a part of that lineage is, is living out in modern day through me.
NY: How much did you hear about Tom Longboat growing up?
KJ: I don't recall a whole lot being spoken about, about Tom. You know, it tends to be with kids, you know, you hear one thing in one ear and it goes out the other. [NY chuckles] And so, it could possibly be that, you know, I was, you know, told many great things about them. And as I got older, I kind of, you know, began to dive down this rabbit hole of who he was as a runner, but also as a person, and also as just, you know, a Canadian. Ever since then, you know, he's inspired me to just continue to run and to pursue something great.
NY: Are there any things in particular about him and his legacy that, that stick with you?
KJ: Well, one of the, one of the things that really does stick with me is just his character. And what I mean by that is his ability to, to stay true to himself and to do what he felt like was, was the right thing to do. And as I was doing research, I read that he was often criticized for how he would train for races. And what that was is hard running sessions, followed by very easy running, or very easy, you know, just walking recovery, or sometimes even taking days off. And that was often contradicted in the sense that it was expected that you would be running hard every day. And so, you know, just the character that it takes to be able to ignore that when all the pressure is on you to perform really well. And that's kind of ultimately how, you know, I try to go about, you know, my life in my day, as, you know, doing what I feel is true to, to myself.
NY: When and why did you decide to start marathon running in the first place?
KJ: When I started to run, it was during the COVID pandemic, and so during that time I was, you know, stuck indoors. I needed something to get me going. And I was just like, okay, let's just start running. I went out, it's hard. You're out of breath. It's uncomfortable. But I just saw it as a way to improve.
NY: I mean, Kristian, some people would try to run a marathon in fewer than four hours, but as I understand it, you're trying to match Tom's time; you're about 9.5 minutes off this time. Why is it important to you to match Tom's time?
KJ: When I first started to run, and I first looked up to Tom, and just knowing that he ran a 2:24:24 in Boston, you know, that's, like, one of the, that's the most famous race that he did. That's what he's, you know, known for. So, that kind of became like the, the pinnacle for me. It was like, okay, like what's the biggest challenge for, for myself? You question, can I really do this? And you get closer and closer, you know, reality begins to set in, and your confidence builds, and you realize like, hey, you know what? Maybe I really can do this. It's really giving me the ability to wake up every morning knowing that there's a goal in place, and just putting in the work to, to get there. And just being able to feel what it's like to run a marathon at the speed that Tom did. That's honestly what it's about is, is I just want to have that feeling and know what it's like to carry my legs and my body over that distance at that speed. And so, that's ultimately why I chose to run, why I'm set out to run a 2:24.
NY: You know, I was looking at a photo of Tom running. And his shoes, they almost look like leather bowling shoes or almost like socks. Certainly not the kind of shoes of, you know, high-performance athletes of today. Does it ever blow your mind to think about what your great-great-grandfather was able to accomplish?
KJ: You know, I think of that a lot when I, when I'm in training. And yeah, no, it does, it does cross my mind. And it just goes to show, you know, what a resilient, strong, tough athlete he was. You know, although I may run a 2:24 one day, it doesn't mean, you know, I'm any better of a runner than him. You know, when you're on the course, you're taking in fluids. You know, every few kilometres, you're, you're taking in your nutrition, your gels, and, you know, these things weren't available to, to Tom or to these other runners. And they had to completely do it based on, on, on feel, how their body fell, and just based on grit and determination. So, it's just so much respect goes out to, to him for just being able to, to take on a challenge like that.
NY: And just finally, what do you think Tom would make of what you're doing?
KJ: Well, I would certainly like to hope that he would be very proud of, of just, you know, my ambitions and my goals. And in terms of running, you know, ultimately what the goal is for me is to, you know, be able to inspire the youth, the younger generation, other kids who may be living on Six Nations Reserve or another reserve, you know, across Canada, just for them to find something that they love to do, something they're passionate about, and just to, to chase that dream. Because that's what running is for me. It's what makes me the most passionate in life and just brings out the best version of myself. And so, I'd really like to hope that, you know, Tom would, would just be proud of that and would be, you know, in full endorsement of that.
NY: Kristian, thanks so much, and congratulations.
KJ: Awesome. Thank you so much for, for the time. It's much appreciated. Thank you.
CH: Kristian Jamieson is a marathon runner, and the great-great-grandson of Tom Longboat. He’s in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
