I was just finishing my latest post this morning (blog), trying to get started again on regular contributions to the running and endurance athlete community.
Then my staff asked me if I heard the news. "Danny Kassap is dead". I didn't believe it at first, he was just @ our
MyNextRace booth yesterday morning after the Sporting Life 10km, something he always does whether racing or not. As per the Danny I have known for many years, he was smiling and showing off another girlfriend to me. "Hey Peter, check out my friend, she's Italian like you""! Always that smile, care-free and innocent, with a twist of mischevious laughter. Danny should have been in a Crest toothpaste commercial. Or, if they remake the Prefontaine movie with an African twist, Danny Kassap would have the leading role all sewn up.
But now the smile is gone, so how best do we remember a fellow running friend?
I remember many years ago when he was introduced to the local running scene, the kid from the Con
go with an incredible story, and even more incredible lungs. Escaping persecution and poverty, the scar on his body to show a life far different that any of us could imagine. Those skinny, powerful, fast legs. We would hear about his race workouts, or small track meet results he posted with no taper, and high mileage stories. Wispering as if we couldn't believe what we heard. My friend and first known Danny Kassap agent, Jamie Black, was a member of the University of Toronto Track Club who always found time to help an elite athlete with his or her marketing needs. I was pretty fast myself in those days and found myself a few times running with Danny, like I really belonged in his company.
Once on a long run one Sunday morning, in the winter, we were plodding along on yet another 20-mile long run, and Danny was loping about with us to get the miles in. Dammit if he never looked tired...bored in fact, and always smiling, encouraging us to "keep moving" or "run faster", laughing while he said this but not laughing at us, with us, like only Danny could get away with.
Jamie was always recruiting me to help Danny find some races to win much-needed prize money. In those early days (2002 - 2005) his citenzenship did not allow for him to leave Canada, so we would pitch in to drive him to a race, no matter how small. He worked at a fish and chip store for some time, cleaning floors, a hard worker and eager to please. He would even call me sometimes, and though my company was small and fledgling, I would tell him to come over and stuff race kits, and pay him whatever I could, including in "swag" (energy bars, samples, Juice Plus+). He was always grateful, that was his style, but if he sold anything I gave him it didn't matter.
Danny would smoke the local competition and pick up pocket money, or if he won a reasonable prize like a watch or running shoes some of us would buy them from him! (not much of a discount either, his negotiation skills were impressive). A friend of mine who wished to remain anonymous even arranged for me to drive Danny in August, 2005 to Quebec City late one summer, so he could enter the big 1/2 marathon, his gas, hotel and expenses were covered. Upon arriving, his entourage of girls became apparent to me, of course he had "fans" in every city, especially after racking up all his victories.
"Ah, Danny, let's focus on the race this weekend, afterall, we are here to win, remember?"
"Don't worry Peter, don't worry (laughing, smiling), I willl win, you'll see".... as he wanders off, chest out, enjoying the Rock Star status that befits Canada's top endurance athlete. We shared a room that first nite (Friday), I never saw him come back to the room naturally. Of course he won Sunday, a blistering 1:05 on a rolling course, ho hum another day at the office. Racing came naturally to him, as he seemed to relish the opportunity to compete against the few peers that were available, usually some other Kenyans who hung around the north-eastern road racing circuit.
We even contacted many Race Directors who were always looking for an angle or way to get their race in the news, so a few agreed to pay Danny (or, put up prize money once knowing he would win), assuming as well that their course record was about to be demolished. "After he runs, you'll be able to show runners that you had running royalty at your race! Mississauga Half-Marathon, 2004 (1:04:14), Muskoka Rocks 10km 2006 (31:30), Angus Glen Half-Marathon, 2006 (1:06:41), Alfie Shrubb 8km 2008 (24:39).....and on and on. Go and look up these races yourself, the course records are outstanding, mind-boggling in some instances. Go Danny Go.
His legendary racing reached mass awareness at the 2004 ScotiaBank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where Danny's career took off. It's a memory I will always cherish. We all knew that Danny was special, and if he would just listen to his coaches his training would pay off with some wins. "Scotia" was gaining in popularity with the big international races, and the field of Elite men contained some bona fide road racing stars from around the world. I was hanging around the finish line area on race morning, when Jamie excitedly told me that Danny was hanging with the lead pack after the 1/2 way point.
"Let's go out there and give him some support" was Jamie's breathless advice, like we were going to have an impact on his outcome by cheering on the sidelines.
"I have my bike here, why don't I race out there to see how he is doing"?
"Brilliant".
So off I go, like a madman, who cares about my tent and booth, Danny's in the lead pack!
I get out to the beaches, where the race turns around and heads back into the city. The lead pack has whittled to 3 runners, with no one in sight for 4th place. It's a duel in the sun as the temperature rises with each passing kilometre, game faces are on each of three runners, Joseph Kahugu, defending champ Joseph Nderitu and Danny, whose smile is no where to be seen at this point. This is serious business, running for glory and $24,000 in first place prize money, a king's ransom for a fish and chips floor cleaner. The course between 30-37 km's allows for a cyclist to zoom along the sidewalks, but I remember to put my Media / VIP pass around my neck, so the police officers let me ride among the official vehicles and motorcyclists.
"Danny, you're in third place, hang in there!" ...I scream, my legs pumping fast just to keep up with these runners, chasing down first place overall. It seems surreal at the moment, and I call in to the finish line with the on-course updates, which Jamie passes along to Kevin the finish line announcer. It's clearly a home-town advantage, Danny can surely hear the crowds at the finish line all cheering him on. "C'mon Danny, this is it, you can WIN this, don't look back, keep turning those legs."
The pack returns along Lakeshore, and at Coxwell Avenue past the 37km mark Danny makes his move. It's amazing, he just punishes the next mile and puts a 10-second gap on 2nd and third place. I almost fell off my bike, trying to keep up and text the finish line. "Holy cow, he's in the lead!" I can just imagine Jamie reacting by running around the finish line area, telling everyone in sight the news.
Now we reach the 4km mark to go, 38km, and I need to keep Danny's spirit up as he is appearing to now pay the price for his surge. "Peter, how far to go, how long for the finish?" ..asks Danny, the sweat pouring off his brow, victory is in sight but the chase pack has not gotten away. "Just 3km's left - a small white lie - pretend you are @ the U of T track, and it's a 3000 metre race, almost there...less than 9 minutes of running.
2 kilometres later...."Peter, where's the finish line...(:
We had a laugh about this many months and many times later, the gap had actually widened, and Danny would win by over 3 minutes, his surge at 37 kilometres actually did the job. At 40km the race was over. But I didn't want Danny to know, he was on an Olympic qualifying pace, who knows if he would get his papers sorted out in time....
The next year was special, Danny was able to take advantage of new sponsors, quit his job and focus on running. I even attended his wedding at Scarborough City Hall, first time for me in this type of venue. The party after was interesting, Danny kept smiling, saying to me, "I beat you". To the altar that is, yes Danny, even at a wedding it's all about winning.
PD
peter@mynextrace.com
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ed note - The U of T Track team has started a fund for Danny's funeral costs, please donate here:
http://dannykassapmemorial.com/
