I wrote this for the Dead Runners Society but wanted to share it with a wider audience. Since increasing my running times/distance I have become more interested in trail running. Fortunately there is a solution in my own backyard. Today is bright, beautiful, filled with the special October sunlight. Back in the 1950's the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took by eminent domain about 200+ acres of Haverford Township to build a state mental hospital. The facility lasted until the late 90's. When it closed the township had the opportunity to buy it from the state (why it just wasn't returned to township control I never quite understood). There was plenty of local drama surrounding how this bonanza was to be used. There was talk that Villanova University would buy it and build its law school there. Eventually it was sold to a developer (not without a scandal that saw a Township Commissioner convicted of corruption). The developer was to build on the old hospital grounds and 120 acres would be given to the township for recreational purposes. The result is that a large portion remains undeveloped (part was given over to athletic fields, dog park, a very special playground, and a Community Recreation and Environmental Center (the CREC). Although the choices made didn't please everyone the overall result is really quite satisfactory. I haven't used the CREC much but have used the dog park and the trails through the undeveloped portion. This is not wilderness by any stretch of the imagination. I476 (the Blue Route) cuts through a corner of the property. But what a treasure. The woods remaining haven't been touched for almost a hundred years. There is a problem with invasive species but that is being addressed. There are too many deer but a culling program has been initiated. (Like the culling taking place in Valley Forge I have mix feelings. I intellectually know that the deer population must be reduced for the health of the woods but when I run with the deer which I have on many occasions it breaks my heart that they will be taken by a bow hunter.) I have run to the reserve but today for distance and time sakes I drove. My run took me on some of the newly mark trails and on some that I suspect are merely deer trails barely passable. There are unusual sights: a stone and timber cabin that must be hundreds of years old slowly returning to nature perhaps not historic enough to be preserved (or just neglected); an ancient piece of machinery abandoned but how did it get there; a slab of concrete without any apparent purpose. There is a trail that takes you under the Blue Route and the contrast between the thumping traffic and the quiet wetland just beyond is striking. Today I managed a four mile loop, some of my own making, but lightly always lightly. Today is a brilliant argument for a four season climate. I wish I could bottled it for a cold, dreary February day. The light is just magical and last night a light frost so while many trees remain green others have turned golden yellows and reds. I got back to my car in 50 minutes and was very tempted to set out again but prudence prevailed. All this just a couple miles from my front door. I am very lucky indeed. Good running to all.

There's a moment when traveling down Rt. 30 toward Lancaster a vista opens of green, fertile farmland and you are stunned by the beauty of the landscape. It is not pure nature. The landscape is man made, but it seems as if you have entered a mythic realm like Tolkien’s shire. Tolkien would recognize in the Plain Folk many of the qualities of his beloved hobbits.Family, love and care for the land, food plain and simple but so good.

(See Wikipedia for a good breakdown of the various Plain Folk [Lancaster County alone has 30 variants of the Amish]).

There is a tension between the touristy, commercial Lancaster and the back road farming communities just off the highway. The Amish are no strangers to the blandishments of the modern world. These are not isolated folks. But they have chosen to remain in the world but apart.

My weekend began with the Friday night pasta dinner and 5K. Hot air balloons went up all through dinner. My niece and nephew ran the 5K and it was great fun seeing them coming in with the Amish children who ran.

Saturday, unfortunately, was the last of the warm, muggy days and it wasn’t a pretty day, and because of threaten storms no balloons, but the course – what a delight. At the start, the crowd around me was relaxed and friendly. The course wound through a late summer landscape and Amish farmers watched our passing. How strange we must seem to them. The water stations were great fun especially the children who were a special delight. One of my favorite things on the 13 mile trip through that farmland were the children lined up on a fence and at the water stops calling out water and Gatorade, Gatorade.

We passed a quartet of horses at the edge of a field of corn and having recently ridden a Belgian mare I thought I recognized the breed. Are those Belgians I called out. The farmer didn’t answer but an Amish man standing near by did, “Yes, and very fine ones they are”. I’m guessing the farmer couldn’t boast on his horse but his friend could. A little further on there were two young men with a team of animals. Are they donkeys I asked – no mules. When shortly after another teenager came down the road with a team I shouted out “Mules?” - Yes. Wow, I getting to be an agricultural expert.

Another favorite was when we turned onto a country lane (Red Lane?). It was a narrow, crushed stone and suddenly I saw a very large banner for Rita’s Water Ice. It seemed so alien and out of place, but just past it was a table manned by teenagers giving out water ice. What a treat! But how they got the ice there and kept it cold is a mystery. However, it seemed to capture the magic of this weekend – the marvelous combination of English and Amish sensibilities. I doubt if I ever enjoyed a water ice so much.

After finishing – getting a great medal and some refreshment I thought to leave but the line of cars was so long I walked back and listen to the gospel group playing and sat thru the awards. I was glad I did. The music was excellent and it was nice to see the diverse runners get their prizes.

Saturday afternoon we went to the barbecue hosted by the local fire company (turns out the Amish can be volunteer fireman). Almost everyone there were plain folk. What a wonderful atmosphere there was. I found the mixture of an ordinary barbecue with folks who otherwise have rejected much of the 21sth Century intriguing. I had such of good time I asked to be directed to a member of the fire company because I wanted to make a donation, but was told no they just wanted everyone to have a good time, an enjoyable time. Well I did – a very good time. Of the dozens of half marathons I have done it was my favorite ever. I have mix feelings now. I want to tell everyone I know how great it was and do it and at the same time I want to keep it the small intimate experience I had. Selfish I know but there it is. Those of us lucky enough to have run the 2012 event had a very special experience – thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Shamrock Run at Sacred Heart - Sycamore Road

 

Just when I thought I was out they pull me back in

Run For Victory 5K - Downington, PA

I was attracted to this race because I wanted to do a Memorial Day Run and the prospect of doing a new race starting in a great local brewery and ending with a burger and beer seemed irresistible.

The course was a bit different than any I've done before. I'm guessing that the course was designed to minimized the effect on local traffic. The course looped twice on the same section of road so that at one point there were three lines of runners with the lead runners lapping the slower runners. On one side was a high school field and on the other an industrial park/retention pond. No shade. The last 3/4's mile was thru neighborhood streets.

Pretty good incline but I suppose the course was relatively flat as describe. (When I "challenge" the race director on his "flat" description he said it is compared to where we are - a born politician).

Ran mid pack and felt my pace was fairly consistent with mile two a little too slow.

Just three runners in my age group. I finished second but well (two minutes) behind first. Unfortunately, the age awards were only one deep (a beer mug ).
Major sponsor was Victory Brewery so the after spread and beer were first rate.

Still this race consolidated my gradual return to racing. I have discovered that my current regime will allow me to race occasionally without causing hip pain.
I won't be fast but I will be comfortably mid pack and even if not competitive it feels like racing.


"No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another, and each race telling me more about myself and others." George Sheehan

egret - ocean city nj - cowpen island

 

These guys have the right idea - get a beer and get back in line

 

After The Run

 

Results

 

Great T Shirts

 

Founder of the Feast

 

Finish Line

 

Race Timers

 

Victory 5K

 

On Getting Old

"No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another, and each race telling me more about myself and others." George Sheehan

Next race the aptly named "Run For Victory". Right now it looks like I will be the oldest runner. I will be thinking of Dr. Sheehan.

Chestnutwold 5K

A follow up to yesterday's post:

There is a local race director, Ron Horn of Pretzel Sports, (a wild and crazy guy if there ever was one) who often advertises races as easy medal races. These are usually small local races with a hundred participants. Well Sunday I ran a race like that. The Chestnutwold Elementary School is just around the corner from my house. The course used a route locally called the busway. I used part of this roadway when I created the Reindeer Romp course. Up through the 1960's trolleys ran up Darby Road. Much of the rail bed was used to widen the Road but a two mile stretch was preserved as a closed roadway for exclusive use of buses. This has become a valuable resource for the community and is widely used for walking, jogging and biking. It is also used by emergency vehicles who can avoid the congestion on Eagle Road.

Since there are no buses on Sundays the route is especially attractive as a race route. It is not flat but the ups are gradual and since it out and back you do get the hills back and Sunday's race finished on the downhill. (The Reindeer Romp finishes on the uphill and never fails to catch first timers by surprise who took the downhill without a care.)

Being a small race I thought there would be no age group awards but I had hung around post-race to enjoy a pancake breakfast (very nice amenity) and kibbutz with friends. Greg speculated that given that the race was mostly kids and their parents there might be awards for the old guys. Well to my surprise there were age awards one deep, and to my further surprise I got one. Turns out I was alone in my age group. Being old has some rewards.

Now next Sunday I am doing a 5K in Dowingtown at Victory Brewing (one of my favorite microbreweries - if you get Victory in your area and like hoppy beer get their HopDevil).

A quick survey of the 400 registered runners shows I am pretty much alone in the age group. One other 63 yr old runner ordered an xxl shirt so I thinking maybe he won't be much competition. I know I am dangerously close to hubris but I am feeling good and Sunday's time was almost two minutes faster than my last 5K.

Today I did a 1500 meter swim followed by whirlpool. Really seems to help recovery.

Ho Hum Another Day Another Medal

So here is a tutorial on how to get a medal: run a small local race; make sure there is no one else in your age group and voila you have a medal. Turns out there is an advantage to getting old.

Ran a small 5K (Chesnutwald School 5K)where most of the participants were children (glad to see so many kids running). Since it was so small didn't expect there would be any medals. After race there was a nice pancake breakfast. Best news for me is that I improved my time since my last 5K and I hope to do even better next week.

Runner

A recent (and recurring) thread on the Dead Runners Society forum concerned the definition of a runner. The quote that started the discussion:

"Someone whose day's activities are controlled by his run rather than
whose run is controlled by his day's activities."

This led to a wider discussion of how we understand running and as runners often do whether jogging and running are the same.

Running (the definition) and senioritis (getting old and slow) and fear of getting on the road.

All recent themes on DRS. All themes I identified with.

Runner vs. Jogger. Who cares (although I do like George Sheehan: my version of his quote – the difference between a jogger and a runner: a race number). But note that I titled this essay Runner. Running is strong, powerful, primitive yet modern. Jogging is soft, easy, old fashion and out of date. We run with the antelopes we don’t jog with them.

The other day after being told by my favorite thrift shop that they would be delighter to take old T-shirts I gave away about a hundred race shirts from ten years ago. Many of them had never been worn. Many of the races I couldn’t even remember. Quite a few don’t even exist anymore. But it was fun to look them over (seems to be they use to much more fun and creative than the ones you see now). When I expressed amazement over the quantity my wife observed that I was crazy to run in those days. (I was always going to do something with those shirts – display them, make a quilt, but as they accumulated they ended up in totes and trash cans never to be seen again. Sigh!)

Was I runner then? Am I now?

Do you know that when I drive down the street and see a runner I instantly want to be on the road? Do you know that when I lined up for Broad Street I still had butterflies in my stomach even though I planned to go slow and easy? Do you know that even when I take 29 minutes to run a 5K I still lust after a medal?

I do like going fast. I once drove from Philadelphia to New York in 90 minutes. But of course in the real world it is neither safe nor sensible to drive all out (not to mention expensive if [when] you are stopped for speeding). But when I run I can go as fast as I want to – now sometimes (most times) that won’t be very fast but I am in control.

I written before about my running history but suffice to say there was a very long hiatus that was broken shortly before my fiftieth birthday. A baffling decision to run a marathon and to this day I cannot remember why such a goal entered my head. I do remember being at the Delaware Art Museum one year (this before I had started running) and seeing the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon in progress and being strongly drawn to things I would come to love: bibs, water tables, time clocks, the camaraderie of runners doing something hard. It’s possible that the idea percolated there. But that first 5K I ran really hooked me. A simple challenged by colleague to run (not race just run); then race brochures, then more races, then a seminar on running, a running group, a goal.

A decade of great fun and adventure. A devastating diagnosis. The grief cycle (although in my case something like denial, bargaining, denial, anger, bargaining, denial, anger, depression, acceptance, bargaining). Now I’m running – cautiously knowing there will be consequences, and yet . . . better to wear out then rust out.

So lots of words and no answer or definition. I still remember the neighborhood youngster who asked her mother when she saw me “jogging” home after a “run”: why is that man playing? That’s what we do and that defines a runner for me – someone at play, comfortable with their body (although not always happy with it) connected to the ground and air in a way mere mortals cannot fathom. (Have you ever come home from a race and pitied those poor slubs you encountered – what have they done today???)

Define a runner? Easier to define the big bang or quantum mechanics. It’s someone in motion perfectly in sync with all those dimensions of the universe hidden and seen.

I am walking back to my car - runners still coming

Only one mothballed ship left - use to half dozen

Big crowds even at the end