Copyright saanichnews
When Joeseph Camilleri crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1, his watch read 3:58:32. For most, that number would be the headline. But for the 75-year-old Victoria runner who once gave up the sport for four decades, it was the story behind the time that mattered. Born in Malta, he first moved to England, then came to Canada in 1972 at 22 years old, joining his brother in Winnipeg, before moving to Toronto, and then landing in Victoria in 2010. That final move would end up changing his life. “Our son had moved here, so we came to visit him,” Camilleri told Victoria News. “We were walking by Mile 0, and I saw the Terry Fox statue. Right then, I was inspired to start running again.” Camilleri hadn’t laced up in more than 40 years, but something about seeing Fox’s legacy reignited a spark. “Running is like being free,” he said. “No constraints, no rules. You just put your running shoes on and go wherever you want.” Soon, morning jogs turned to races, and races to marathons. He is now nearing double digits in completed marathons, including Boston, London, and Chicago, with Tokyo booked for March. He is chasing the Abbott World Marathon Majors’ six-star medal, one of the highest goals in long-distance running. “I’ve done four of the six,” he said. “After Tokyo, I’m waiting to hear if I get into Berlin. That would complete the original six.” Before he even reached the start line in New York, Camilleri had already made his mark. He was selected to carry Canada’s flag in the Parade of Nations, a symbolic event held before the marathon that celebrates runners from around the world. “I was on such a high,” he said. “Holding the Canadian flag in front of the whole world was such an honour. I’ve made Canada my home, so to represent it like that in New York City was amazing.” View this post on Instagram The race itself was a culmination of months of uncertainty. “I was supposed to do it last year, but I got injured,” he said. “I went through surgery, five injections, everything. I only had two and a half months of training this time, so to finish under four hours, I’m more than happy.” Camilleri placed fourth among 102 runners in his 75 to 79 age group, a result that speaks less to speed than to persistence. “Normally I would target about 3:23,” he said. “That’s my personal best from Vancouver last year. But with all the injuries, I aimed for 4:15 or faster. So 3:58 felt great.” Around the running community Camilleri is known by another name, ‘Crazy Legs’. The nickname came before his first big charity run in 2011. “My wife (Dorothy) asked a friend to donate, and she said, ‘I’ll support your crazy legs,’” he said, smiling. “The name stuck. Most of my friends don’t even call me Joe anymore.” He has also been vegan since 2015, a decision that began as an experiment to support his training and turned into a full lifestyle shift. “I feel healthy, I feel energized,” he said. “There’s no reason to go back.” Camilleri trains about six days a week, mixing long runs with speed sessions, and rarely misses the Saturday park run, where he joins dozens of local runners at 9 a.m. “The running community is fantastic,” he said. “You get inspired by others, and you make great friends. Running opens up the whole world.” Those who run with him often call him an inspiration, though he still finds that label hard to accept. “It’s funny to hear that,” he said. “I do it because I love it, but if I can inspire somebody else to stay fit or start getting fit, that’s a bonus.” For anyone thinking about trying, he doesn’t hesitate to share what he has learned. “It’s never too late to start something,” he said. “Never too late to dream, imagine, and achieve your goals, no matter what age you are. I started running again at 60 after quitting for 40 years. It’s never too late.”
