August is, without a doubt, my busiest month of the year.
The month just seems to fly by as I attempt, by the seat of my pants, to close the door on summer and forge a path into the fall season.
At this point in the year, I’m buried with writing high school football previews and am literally knee-deep in landscaping side projects. School is back in session for my kids and so, too, is soccer season.
It’s a lot to keep track of, and therefore it’s crucial for me to hit the ground running. Yet it’s often this time of year when I hit a deflating mental snag.
That’s because, even after nearly 20 years, the loss of my best friend John still stings. When I think about the day I got that phone call, my heart sinks, and I slip into a sad place, sometimes for moments and sometimes for hours.
It’s no exception this year. And while I still feel that dark cloud hanging over me on this perfectly-sunny day, I want to try to do something to stave off this sadness and remember my friend.
There’s not a lot of want-to in my legs right now, but nevertheless, the best thing I can think of is to go outside for a run.
I shuffle my legs forward and think back to the beginning, when I transferred to a new school in third grade. I was an ogre of a child who outsized most of the teachers, and I only got bigger the following school year.
A lot of kids poked fun at me, messed with my lunch and kept me off the invite list for their birthday parties. But none of that really bothered me, because I had John. He was a warm-hearted kid who could also be hilariously inappropriate. John loved to play video games and while he couldn’t defeat me — not many people can — he excelled in so many other things like playing guitar and writing songs for his band: Half Past Yesterday.
As my mind wanders, my run becomes more lively. Every time I recall an old memory with John, like the time he illustrated an oversized birthday card that was as tall as I am, I can feel my feet picking up momentum. I’m settling into a groove now and can feel a positive aura in the air.
As I power forward I start to wonder how John would react to me having a wife and kids. After all, back then there was nothing more terrifying for us than trying to talk to a girl!
I wonder how much John would appreciate this era of video games, which have evolved so much since the PlayStation 2, and I wonder if he would’ve enjoyed running as much as I do. That last thought makes me laugh out loud. I’ve only seen John run twice: Once on the football field for mandatory conditioning and another time while smoking a cigarette just to prove it could be done.
All this “wondering” has taken my mind off the run, which has suddenly increased in pace yet again. My heart is beating fast, and my breaths are getting deeper with every block I cover. Of course John’s gotten me through plenty of tough spots — like the time when he rescued me from drowning in the Juniata River — and I have no doubt he’ll carry me through here.
As the final steps of my run take me to my front doorstep, I can feel the usual hop in my step return. I’m eager to re-spool the line on my weed whacker, and I can’t wait to type up my next sports story. I can once again feel the urgency to enjoy life to the fullest, soaking in every moment along the way.
It took me a few miles, but I feel like I’m back on track. I have my best friend to thank for that.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
There are plenty of races that offer beer and food to their participants after competition, but how many events can say they offer these refreshments DURING the race?
The Tiki Trot 5K, Beer Mile, and Tiki-tizer Mile did just that in Williamsport, Md., last weekend. The traditional 5K race drew 114 runners and saw Michael Schumacher cruise to the win in 17:27 over fellow Hagerstown runners Timothy Sowell (8th in 21:44), Julie Quelet (10th in 23:27), Brandon Gasaway (23:47), and Erin Helman (23:48), as well as Waynesboro’s Jeffrey Hein (26:08) and Chambersburg’s Alexis Espinosa (27:07).
Erik Vreeland, of Hagerstown, was the top area finisher in the Beer Mile. He downed four beers and completed the mile in 9:18 for eighth place, finishing ahead of Waynesboro’s Mike Rouzer (9:59) and Jeffrey Hein (10:25), as well as Chambersburg’s Dallon Espinosa (10:17).
The aforementioned Helman, of Hagerstown, took sixth in the Tiki-tizer Mile with a time of 14:49.
Another race in Williamsport, the Gary Brown Memorial 5 Miler, saw Smithsburg’s Jonah Smith top the field of 108 runners in 26:47, with Waynesboro’s Will Campbell (7th in 29:00) and Hagerstown’s Schumacher (8th in 29:40) and Bryan Durboraw (9th in 29:43) also landing in the Top 10. Other top finishes were recorded by Waynesboro’s Noah Bockstie (31:09), Hagerstown’s Johnathan Fox (33:46), and Smithsburg’s Rob Hovermale (34:36).
Max Holz, of Fairfield, was the top local finisher at the Gettysburg Brewfest Trail 5K. He placed 10th in the field of 191 runners with a time of 23:58 to lead a group of area runners that includes Chambersburg’s Jon Rodriguez (24:44) and Fairfield’s Mark Parry (28:26) and Anthony Novotny (29:00).
Obstacle course racers from the area got their fix competing at Savage Race Pennsylvania in Albrightsville. A trio of Chambersburg competitors set the pace: Eric Guyer (1:11:12 in Pro division), Jason Imwald (1:24:00 in Race division), and Brian Stull (1:09:25 in Blitz division).
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Christopher Dickerson (22:51 at Cranford Cupcake Run 5K), Greencastle’s Sarah Gonyea (1:50:46 at Annapolis 10 Mile Run), Chambersburg’s Jordan Plesz (24:27 at Run Wild for Wildwood 5K), Jacqui Barone (45:52 at Everyday Hero 5K), Jeffrey Stone (1:19:45 at North East Sprint Triathlon), and Jeff Cottone (3:07:11 at Luray Olympic Triathlon), and Hagerstown’s Michael Saunders (2:21:48 at Luray Olympic Duathlon).
And finally, a shoutout to Fairfield’s Beverly Black and Ronald Black, who both nailed down AG awards at the Eastern County 8K in Silver Spring, Md. Beverly won the 60-69 AG in 42:11, while Ronald took third in the mens 60-69 AG in 44:12.
And now, a look ahead:
Hauser Hill Vineyards 5K: Sunday, 11:30 a.m., in Biglerville. This race is already sold out, but come cheer on the runners, as Hauser Hill Vineyards will be open to the public.
Labor Day Free 5K: Monday, Sept. 2, 8 a.m., in Gettysburg. The entry fee for this race is exactly zero dollars, making it accessible for even the thriftiest of runners. Sign up on runsignup.com.
Bird-In-Hand Half Marathon: Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:30 a.m., in Bird-In-Hand. Run through Amish country in this picturesque destination race. Learn more at bihhalfmarathon.com.
Also: Five Loaves 5K (Saturday, in Lebanon); Bull Dam Trail Run 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Sunday, in North East); Labor Pain 12 Hour (Sunday, in Reading); Steelers 5K (Monday, in Pittsburgh); Bird-In-Hand 5K (Friday, Sept. 6, in Bird-In-Hand).
