Amanda WangOn any given day of the week, Tim Young can be seen weaving past students in HUB Mall, wearing his distinct Vibram glove shoes as he heads towards the Henry Marshall Tory building.
“I’ve never actually fallen,” Young said, breathless as he weaved through afternoon hallway traffic.
“The closest thing I’ve had to actually running into someone is one time I stopped and lightly bumped someone, I don’t think I’ve ever impacted or run into anyone, I’m just careful about it.”
For the past 15 years, Young has made running through HUB and sprinting stairs a daily ritual. On average, he runs 16,000 stairs a day split into 350 stairs per lap, and since 2000, he has exceeded 50 million stairs run in the Henry Marshall Tory building alone.
Throughout his time running on campus, he has seen numerous graduate and PhD students complete their studies. He has also become a familiar face for the students who catch sight of him sprinting through the mall as they walk to class.
“I used to be super shy at the beginning but now everybody knows who I am.”
Young’s distinct shoes attract glances while he runs, but they’re not just for show.
Since he was 16 years old, Young ran in karate shoes because they offered less support than conventional sneakers. But once the Vibrams became available, it was a “dream come true,” he said.
As an Information Technology specialist with the Faculty of Law, every morning Tim runs, bikes, rollerblades, or skis a 200 block commute into his office at the Decore Center within the law building. Once at work, Young uses each break opportunity he has to run stairs.
Young’s fitness journey began when he used to figure skate. While looking for methods to help him jump higher and be agile, he started using a stairmaster machine at the Royal Glenora Club.
“I remember seeing this building thinking what is that place, I had no idea I would end up running this,” he said. “Who knew a great relationship was born.”
This relationship was cemented not long after when Young began working at the university. As a self taught programmer, Young hasn’t received a formal degree in his field, but has been programming for practically his entire life. His field of interest is largely in encryption, artificial intelligence, and outcome prediction to name a few.
Apart from this, Young also follows a strict vegan diet and credits this with helping him through his rigorous training sessions.
Through all the training he does, he is also able to find a way to help others through the Multiple Sclerosis bike tour. He is a three-time winner of the event and is currently looking to fundraise for the MS Society of Canada. In his pursuit of a the perfect workout, Young has been able to indirectly impact the university community but has also strived to directly impact those in need.
“When you have a passion for something, that’s what drives you through,” he said.
