 After a year of postgraduate work at Harvard University, he accepted a position as a general practice physician in the Port au Port Peninsula of Newfoundland and he would become a successful doctor practicing there and in Nova Scotia.On August 18, 1909, Ronald MacDonald raced and won his last marathon in St. John’s, Newfoundland against his former teammate John Lorden on a six-lap-to-the-mile track at St. Bonaventure's College before 3,000 spectators.MacDonald was four laps behind at the twenty mile mark when Lorden "hit the wall."