Perhaps I’m naive, but I think that in the grand scheme of things most of us want to do right and see the world become a better place.
They say that we should “be the change” we so much want to see. But where do you even start? No matter where you turn, there are children battling terminal illness, animals overwhelming shelters, and state parks that badly need to be maintained. There are thousands of causes — everything from saving the whales to rebuilding entire communities — that would greatly benefit from just a little bit of our time and money.
But when you sit back and think about all of the problems that need to solved, and then come to the guilt-stricken realization that you can’t help everyone, it can be suffocating. You still want to help, but once again the question is where do you begin?
May I make a suggestion: Take a look at your local racing calendar.
Almost every weekend you can find a race within an hour’s drive that benefits a worthy cause. Even as I type, there are races coming up over the next several weeks that have the potential to truly make an impact.
Go Girls Go, a girls empowerment and running initiative, is set to have a race in Chambersburg. The Downtown Mile in Carlisle draws some lighting-fast runners, but more importantly it benefits the Employment Skills Center.
I can rattle off races all day, but the upcoming event I can most personally resonate with is the Hummelstown Hunger Run. There was a brief time in my life decades ago when I was technically “homeless,” but thanks to a tight-knit group of friends and family, I always had a bed or couch to crash on, and always had a warm meal to eat. I’d like to think that the Hummelstown Food Pantry operates in a similar manner, working hard to ensure no one in the community has to go hungry.
Of course, almost any race is going to come with a registration fee, and not every budget can afford to go racing all the time, even if it is in the name of saving the world. But what if I told you there was a way you could make an impact with just your steps? Do a search for charitable running apps and get to work. I use an app called “Charity Miles.” You select a charity and then just start moving. Your effort is tracked and then rewarded with a donation to the charity you chose.
With all of the time we invest into running, it would have been easy for this sport to become just a fitness- or performance-driven obsession. But it has actually become quite the opposite: This year’s Boston Marathon alone is on track to generate more than $40 million for various charities.
Listen, I know life is busy with work, kids, and bills, and that’s usually what stops us from taking that first step. But I’m promising you, once you finally do take that first step, you’ll want to keep moving.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
When you go into a “big city” racing atmosphere like Pittsburgh Marathon Weekend, there’s an understanding that even if you’re a high-caliber runner, the odds of bringing home any hardware are slim to none.
But two runners from the Local.News area — Waynesboro’s Kyle Phillips and Chambersburg’s Bill Dann — find themselves needing to make some room in their trophy cases after turning in brilliant finishes in the Steel City.
Phillips, an assistant track and field coach for Greencastle-Antrim who did his high school running at Waynesboro before a standout career at Bloomsburg, was the area’s top runner and a Top 25 finisher at the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, a race which drew more than 10,000 runners. Phillips, 30, burned through the race at a 5:30/mile pace to win the 30-34 AG with a time of 1:11:50.
Dann, an assistant coach at Chambersburg, showed that he can still run with athletes half his age, as the 55-year-old crushed the half with a time of 1:30:24 to take second in the 55-59 AG. Other top locals from the Pittsburgh Half include Chambersburg’s Ryan St. Clair (1:30:54) and Chris Monheim (1:33:08).
On the other side of the state locals challenged themselves at the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia. The 10-mile race featured strong races from Fayetteville’s Megan Mull (1:29:36) and Tori Ricker (1:29:36), as well as Chambersburg’s Brent Smiley (1:33:40) and Christine Metcalfe (1:40:17).
Closer to home, during Gettysburg Marathon Weekend, a group of Chambersburg runners set the tone at the Blue-Gray Half Marathon. Ron Taylor led the way for locals, winning the 60-64 AG with a time of 1:40:57. Courtney Porter (1:43:59), Ashley Tkacik (1:53:02), and Lydia Eshbaugh (1:54:50) all earned AG hardware. The companion 5K race saw Chambersburg’s Michael Larusso finish seventh in 22:18, and Waynesboro’s Hannah Kulla finish as second female in 23:39.
The Shalom Christian Academy 5K pulled in a large group of locals, including six Chambersburg runners who landed in the Top 10: Cole Lehman (2nd in 18:25), Eyoel Delessa (3rd in 18:28), Elijah Lehman (5th in 20:47), Collin Seitz (8th in 21:32), Barrett Eshbaugh (9th in 21:40), and Brad Myers (10th in 22:06). The aforementioned Kulla from Waynesboro finished as third female in 23:08.
Finally, the Frederick Half Marathon was highlighted by the running of Fayetteville’s Sarah Zucca, who was the top Local.News finisher in 1:51:57. She was chased by Greencastle’s Adam Smith (1:53:21) and Daryn Holdsworth (1:53:35), Fayetteville’s Patrick Gavet (2:02:52), and Waynesboro’s Suzanne Trinh (2:03:29) and Donpedrito Marin (2:08:01).
A number of other locals were active in races across the region, including Waynesboro’s Jeffrey Hein (4:56:28 at Jim Thorpe Marathon), Zachary Grass (3:00:35 at Flying Pig Half Marathon), and Ryan Kelley (1:38:43 at York Half Marathon), Greencastle’s Rachel Scheitrum (4:56:21 at Gettysburg North-South Marathon) and Adam Smith (25:20 at Twilight 5K), Chambersburg’s Tanner Luther (4:34:43 at York Marathon), Liam Coy (23:32 at Pittsburgh 5K), Jesse Laird (52:05 at Bridge to Bridge 10K), Jamie Birgfield (4:55:40 at Pittsburgh Marathon), Carolyn Dann (23:47 at 5K for the Health of It), Angela Grube (1:01:51 at DUI Victims Memorial 10K), and Katie Overcash (59:36 at The Beat Goes On Adventure Race 5K), and Smithsburg’s Rob Hovermale (20:47 at Jeff Scuffins Memorial 5,000).
And now, a look ahead:
Go Girls Go 5K: Saturday, 9 a.m., in Chambersburg. All are welcome to run or walk this race in support of Go Girls Go, an afterschool girls’ empowerment and running program. Look for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Carlisle Downtown Mile: Thursday, May 18, 6:15 p.m., in Carlisle. Zip through downtown Carlisle in this race, which benefits the Employment Skills Center. Sign up for the race on runsignup.com.
Water Wheel 5K: Saturday, May 20, 9:30 a.m., in Newville. Challenge yourself on the Cumberland Valely Rail Trail in this race, then celebrate with a post-race festival. Learn more on timberhilltiming.com.
Also: Camp Hebron 5K Trail Run (Saturday, in Halifax); Dawn to Dusk to Dawn Ultras (Saturday, in Sharon Hill); Friendship Community 5K (Saturday, in Lititz); Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra (Saturday, in Portersville); Gretna Gritty Mud Run (Saturday, in Lebanon); Hummelstown Hunger Run (Saturday, in Hummelstown); Kat’s 5K (Saturday, in Strasburg); Lions Prowl OCR 2 Mile (Saturday, in Lancaster); Medal Madness Movie Half Marathon (Saturday, in York); Mountain Railroad Half Marathon (Saturday, in Everett); Move for Life: Walk Run Plus 5K (Saturday, in Manheim); Randi’s Race 5K (Saturday, in Enola); Running Loopy for Lupus 5K (Saturday, in Richfield); Sheep Shuffle 5K (Saturday, in Liverpool); Ghost Creek Half Marathon (Sunday, in Black Lick); Rotary Mother’s Day 5K (Sunday, in Elizabethtown); Thirsty Thursday 5K (Thursday, May 18, in Reading); Dirty German Endurance Fest (Saturday, May 20, in Philadelphia); Eagles Autism Challenge 5K (Saturday, May 20, in Philadelphia); Got the Nerve Triathlon (Saturday, May 20, in Mt. Gretna); Joggin’ 4 the Noggin 5K (Saturday, May 20, in Newport); Medal Madness Movie 5K/10K (Saturday, May 20, in Akron); Run the Vineyards 5K Waltz (Saturday, May 20, in Manheim); Run to Restoration 5K (Saturday, May 20, in Harrisburg); Womelsdorf Mennonite Youth 5K (Saturday, May 20, in Lebanon); French Creek TriFest (Saturday-Sunday, May 20-21, in Elverson); Tough Mudder Philly (Saturday-Sunday, May 20-21, in Coatesville); Rothrock Challenge 25K (Sunday, May 21, in State College); Swatty 25K (Sunday, May 21, in Pine Grove).
Foot Notes is a self-syndicated column by Central Pa. sportswriter Andy Sandrik that has been “running” since 2016. Andy always follows back on Strava and can be reached by email at [email protected].
