When it comes to wasting time, there are only a select few activities that can chew up a Saturday morning and spit it out quite like waiting for your car to get work done at the garage.
Sure, you can catch up on old emails and text messages, and maybe even give that Candy Crush game another go, but after you’re done doing all of that, you’re still back where you started: Listlessly staring at the clock.
The seconds can take minutes and the minutes take hours.
These thoughts were front and center in my mind last weekend as I dropped off my car in Harrisburg to get the air conditioning overhauled. But this time, I had a plan: I took myself out for a tour of the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile looping trail that passes along the Susquehanna River through Riverfront Park, and through wooded areas, urban offices, residential areas, and scenic parks.
Going for a 2:1 run to walk ratio to extend my adventure for as long as possible, I took to the streets wading through construction until I could connect to the Greenbelt. My plan was to keep moving forward until my car was done, and then turn around once I got the phone call.
The start of my run was near the “wobbly bridge” section of the Greenbelt, and it didn’t take me long to find others who were also enjoying the trail. I was greeted by the cooing of a baby in a stroller, and later by a runner who used some colorful language to describe the hill we were approaching.
The morning seemed to just fly by as the Greenbelt took me into the underpass by the Farm Show Complex, through HACC, and into the scenic trails of Wildwood Park. By this time I was the one cursing at the hills in between deep, grateful gulps from the outdoor water fountains.
Every time I checked my watch, it seemed like there was another mile tacked on to my run. Before I knew it, I was approaching the 10-mile mark and still had no updates on my car. My body was feeling good, so I thought I was in a good position to take this the 20-mile distance.
But during my 12th mile, just as I was approaching the most memorable section of the Greenbelt along the Susquehanna, I realized that I had taken myself way too far into deep water, figuratively speaking of course. The poor air quality stemming from the Canadian wildfires didn’t help much, either. Much like Forrest Gump, I stopped in the middle of the run and said, “I’m pretty tired now, I think I’ll go home.”
I was fortunate enough to get a ride back to the garage from a nearby friend, Martin, who had a Powerade and water ready for me when I got in the car. After he dropped me off, I finally got a call from the mechanic thanking me for my patience and assuring me he’s almost finished. With my clothes drenched in sweat, all I could do was just laugh and tell him to take his time until I was “good” to drive again.
Finally, after a day that began with a 6 a.m. alarm, I was headed home in the afternoon. Enjoying the ice-cold air blasting my sun-kissed skin, I felt a sense of accomplishment instead of the usual “ugh” feeling. It was nice to spend this “wasted” time in a productive way, especially since I don’t have as much time for dedicated long runs as I used to.
I think I’ve established a blueprint for future car appointments, which is good, because I think we’re once again due for an oil change.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
We all keep getting older, but Kyle Phillips, he just stays the same.
It’s been decades since we’ve seen Phillips in a Waynesboro or Bloomsburg University uniform, but the 30-year-old distance ace keeps flying around the race course like he’s one of the kids.
Phillips, racing in his hometown Firecracker 5K on the Fourth of July, put on a clinic for the field of 390 runners, blasting to victory in 16:41, more than a minute ahead of the field. He was joined in the Top 10 by fellow Waynesboro runners Joey Jacobs (2nd in 17:53), Will Campbell (5th in 18:25), Noah Hoxie (7th in 18:49), and James Smith (9th in 19:00). Other top times were posted by Waynesboro’s Bella Ruefle (21:42), Ella Stewart (23:26), and Maddie Ruefle (23:26), as well as Fayetteville’s Philip Samotus (19:20), Mont Alto’s Shaun Kipe (20:27), and Chambersburg’s Leila Reese (22:17).
A competing Fourth of July race — the Greg Shank Memorial 5K in Williamsport, Md. — drew 121 runners and was also dominated by runners from the Local.News area. Jonah Smith, of Smithsburg, Md., ran away for victory in 16:30, while other top times were posted by Greencastle’s Kyle Baker (17:24), Logan Bohrer (19:52), and Claire Paci (20:20), as well as Smithsburg’s Corey Centofonti (17:54) and Michael Wynkoop (19:15), and Waynesboro’s Brett Mower (22:17).
Perhaps the biggest win of the holiday came from Greencastle’s Taryn Parks, who traveled all the way to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to conquer the women’s field at the Independence Day 5K, a race which pulled in more than 700 runners. Parks, who runs collegiately for North Carolina, blasted her way to victory in 18:03, nearly two minutes faster than the next female. Parks’ younger brother, Hayden, was even faster, going 17:22 to take sixth overall.
In Shippensburg, runners celebrated the summer soltice by taking on a weeknight event: The Solstice Festival 5K/10K.
The Solstice 5K was highlighted by the efforts of Chambersburg’s Amanda Balzer, who finished as the top female in 19:44. She was joined in the Top 10 by Chambersburg runners Boston Vincenti (2nd in 19:28), Peter Vincenti (6th in 20:03), and Tyler Seibert (10th in 21:59), as well as Waynesboro’s Dalton McKean (5th in 20:00) and Ryan Kelley (9th in 21:33). Ella Stewart, of Waynesboro, was the second female in 22:38.
In the Solstice 10K, it was a local sweep for victory, with Chambersburg’s Eric Brennan topping the field of 38 in 40:30, and Mont Alto’s Angie Fuss finishing as top female in 51:23. Greencastle’s Matthew Smith (2nd in 41:49), Fayetteville’s Danny Portier (3rd in 44:27), and Chambersburg’s Andrew Maggi (52:00) and Steve Vanscyoc (54:14) all broke the one-hour barrier.
A trio of Franklin County runners — Fayetteville’s Rene Quintanilla and Chambersburg’s Marc Furfaro and Eli Tlanda — crossed the finish line at the same time in 2:31:00, at the New River Gorge Half Marathon in Fayetteville, W.Va., while Matthew Smith of Chambersburg took on the rigors of Rocky Ridge County Park in York, completing the On the Rocks 50K in 7:27:04.
A handful of others were involved in races across the region, including Waynesboro’s Jennifer Simmons (38:38 at Baltimore Women’s 5K), Greencastle’s Lori Swan (43:02 at Galeton 5K), and Chambersburg’s Joel Delessa (19:10 at Freedom 5K) and Marget Shelly (23:49 at University Park Firecracker 4K).
And now, a look ahead:
Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Mile: Saturday, 8 a.m., in Chambersburg. Remember the lives of Tim and Susan Cook in this race, an event known to produce fast mile times. Learn more at chambersburg.org/events.
Great Appalachian Valley Half Marathon: Saturday, July 15, 8 a.m., in Shippensburg. Start at Shippensburg Township Park and follow the rail trail in this flat and fast race. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Harrisburg Mile: Wednesday, July 19, 5:15 p.m., in Harrisburg. Expect hundreds of runners and explosive times in this race. Learn more on runsignup.com.
Also: Medal Madness Squirrel 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in York); Ironstone 100K (Saturday, in Hollidaysburg); Women’s Philadelphia Triathlon (Sunday, in Philadelphia); Brave the 12 Hour Ultra Relay Race (Saturday, July 15, in Atglen); Medal Madness 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, July 15, in Boiling Springs); Middle Creek 5 Mile Trail Challenge (Saturday, July 15, in Stevens); Pennsylvania Summer Biathlon (Saturday, July 15, in Nescopeck); Summerfest 5K (Saturday, July 15, in East Berlin); Blobfest Half Marathon (Sunday, July 16, in Phoenixville); Presque Isle Half Marathon (Sunday, July 16, in Presque Isle); Spartan Race Palmerton (Sunday, July 16, in Palmerton); Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival 5K/10 Miler (Sunday, July 16, in State College); Thirsty Thursday 5K (Thursday, July 20, in Reading).
