Considering how much territory Quentin Dombro covers on his runs—a lot—, chances are pretty good you’ve seen him around the Island. He’s hard to miss. It’s not often you see a jogger juggling. He’s my personal first.
So, what’s his story? I stopped Dombro today on his run on Miller Road near Fletcher Bay to find out. I apologized for interrupting him, but he said he was happy to take a breather and talk.
Dombro has the lean, chiseled look of a long-time runner and the easy smile of someone enjoying an endless endorphin buzz. He said he runs every other day, alternating his “short” 12-mile journeys with his long 17-mile stints. He has run four marathons but doesn’t like to go that far anymore. One of his favorite routes is through Gazzam Lake Preserve, down Baker Hill, and along Crystal Springs. (I like that route too, but with assistance from my bicycle.)
Why the juggling? He said he used to tell people all kinds of fitness reasons, but now he realizes it’s really about having fun and keeping the child in him alive. I liked that answer.
Dombro moved to Bainbridge from Vermont two and a half years ago. He said he likes it here, especially on sunny days like today. He told me he appreciates how friendly and courteous drivers are here, generally going out of their way to give him wide clearance as they pass and waving and smiling.
When I asked to take a photo of him, he happily obliged but said he doesn’t juggle well under pressure. Not a ball was dropped during the photo shoot.
Thanks for talking, Quentin!
Photos by Julie Hall.
Meet Bainbridge Island's Friendly Juggling Jogger,
You are a pleasure to see out there, Mr. Dombro! This past weekend we saw you joggling (that's we call it when we see you) along one of the island's more dangerous stretches – by Ray's Garage and around the sharp curve into Wyatt. Good for you, sir! The more pedestrians out there the better. We would all be fortunate to find something we love to do that is good for us, and do it.
Thanks so much for the article! I have always wonder about that cute juggling, jogging man
He's an impediment on the narrow roads. Yes, you jog on the narrowest and sharpest curves and make yourself an obstacle to on-coming and following traffic. With headphones on and eyes on your balls you move in and out of traffic oblivious to all that is going on around you and failing to abide by both traffic laws and common sense. Of course on Bainbridge this is considered praise-worthy behavior.
Jack,
Just in case you were not just kidding with those remarks:
Occasionally pedestrians and bicyclists add a small amount of delay and inconvenience to the day, where motor vehicles never cause delays.
We also know that drivers of cars and trucks always obey traffic laws and behave sensibly.
You're right, Jack: Mr. Dombro and I ought to instead of walking or running places, get in our cars and drive to somewhere we can safely and legally walk – like, say, a park or something. I apologize if I have ever impeded you as I walk to the store. You are the operator of a motor vehicle and I had no right to displease you.
Jack, would that your sweeping assertion regarding Bainbridge was correct. I've found that it is not possible to accurately make a broad generalization about a community or group of people. There are all kinds of people here, just as there are everywhere, and it seems to me that there are many among us who are of like mind with you, Jack – at least that's how it appears as I cringe and cower in the shoulder with my baby stroller as cars, basking in utter convenience, cut over the worn-away fog lines and head toward us.
So Jack, if you're for real and you're reading, I'm sorry. Please write back and tell me the kind of vehicle you drive and I will start moving off the roadway whenever I see it coming. Thanks.
Thanks for this story! I've been curious about the jogging juggler that runs past my house…I always enjoy stopping to watch.
We call him the Joggler, and he always puts a smile on my face.