Meet Noodle Man: Saskatoon’s COVID-19 celebrity

Saskatoon’s latest celebrity isn’t known for his widespread fame or fortune, but he is known for his widespread noodles.

Meet Noodle Man, the neon-clothed jogger with long, curly hair spilling out the back of his ball cap who has taken to Saskatoon streets with his own self-made social distance contraption.

The device is made of a combination of three hula hoops around his waist secured by six bright pool noodles pointing in each direction and plenty of tape attached to backpack straps.

It helps keep people two metres away at all times, but it doesn’t prevent the wide-eyed stares, cheers of support, or shouts of disapproval.

“There’s a lot of drive-by comments,” said Brett Williams, the man behind the contraption. “A lot of honking, peace signs — things like that. Some folks, I’ll see them drive by, stop abruptly, turn around and come back then film me as they go by.”

Williams, a youth counsellor by trade, decided to put his creativity to use when he first heard public health directions to remain two metres apart from people more than two months ago.

What started as the odd smile or glare eventually turned Williams into a local sensation with his runs around Spadina Crescent, Broadway Bridge or your local park.

Then came the online following as people slowly began marking their Noodle Man sighting by posting photos of the speedy jogger to social media.

“Most people I seem to encounter, it appears that they get it,” Williams said. “They understand what it is and they see the humour in it.

“Some people are weirded out and confused and maybe uncomfortable … Some people have responded with anger. It’s always a mixed bag, and that’s OK.”

With less than six feet at some trails and bridges you can probably hear Williams before you see him as his noodles brush up against railings, scaffolding and trees. He’s always on the lookout for dogs now, too.

“Geese respond strongly when I go by. As do dogs. I’ve realized that (the device) really freaks out dogs,” Williams said of his daily adventures.

Williams is glad to stop along the way and chat with kids about his goofy outfit, all while explaining the purpose behind the bizarre creation.

“Kids seem to love it. They always go, ‘What the heck is that?’ So it gives me a chance to stop and explain it in developmentally appropriate terms,” Williams said.

Williams isn’t looking to poke fun at guidelines or make a mockery of the pandemic. He just wants to see some smiles.

“I still think there’s room to have laughter amongst that, too,” he said. “I’m hoping that I’m striking the right balance in terms of that.

“Largely, responses have been positive. From what I’ve heard about commentary online, it’s mixed of course, but the positive ones are expressing appreciation for humour in these dark times.”

Williams first heard he was being called Noodle Man from family and friends since he doesn’t have any social media accounts himself. He since has become accustomed to cameras following him in busy areas of town, and he’s always glad to pose for a photo or two.

Don’t be worried about coming into contact or interfering with Williams. He said he has yet to touch or brush up against a single person since he created the contraption.

One benefit of being Noodle Man is the mental relief it has provided Williams on top of his healthy doses of exercise.

“It helps me to get out. I live alone and I’ve been feeling isolated, so it gives me more motivation to get out there and it permits some casual social interactions, which has helped my own mental health. It has been a win-win, I like to think,” he said.

To date, Williams has logged more than 155 miles around Saskatoon as Noodle Man. He has got bigger goals in mind, but not ahead of beating COVID-19 with six feet of separation.

“I want to do as much as I can, but I don’t want the pandemic to last as long as possible to make that happen,” he said. “So for now I’ll say my goal is 200 in hopes of the pandemic ending early.”