As a kid growing up in the vast and rural expanses of Perry County, the idea of maintaining a workout routine seemed almost laughable.
After all, the presiding brain trust — at least in my home — questioned the need for a gym membership when there was plenty of “working out” to do in our own backyards. If you could survive a full Saturday morning of backbreaking manual labor with your dad, there was no doubt you could make it to the finish line of a 30-minute youth soccer game.
Of course as the decades have passed and sports science has evolved, it’s obvious that there are much more efficient ways to maximize our abilities as athletes. But still, I find myself unable to deny the old thought process that was hammered into me at a very young age.
At 41 years old, I’m once again thinking about this argument as I march into another season of part-time landscaping work this spring. Traditional workouts make me “feel the burn,” for sure, but there are few things that can exhaust me the same way as a full day of outside work.
Just this past week I was pulling down vines, weeding gardens, digging out brush, sawing logs, chopping wood, and shredding and transporting leaves. Even with the “modern” benefit of gardening gloves, something I didn’t have as a kid, my soft typing hands are still absorbing cuts and blisters.
From head to toe, I take my fair share of bumps and bruises. There’s often some lingering soreness that strikes either my back or neck, and I’m usually ready for bed time before my kids even get home from school.
I may have framed physical labor as a bad thing, but it feels kind of good, honestly. At least it does once I’m home and showered, and with a warm meal in my stomach. It’s at this point when my tired, but grateful, body shifts into recovery mode and allows me to reflect on the day and plan for the next project.
It sure beats the work days where I’m typing on my computer all morning, afternoon, and evening, often with a headache and a stir-crazy bout of anxiety to show for it. Thankfully I have a pair of running shoes, a set of free weights, and a treadmill to help navigate the countless hours of churning out newspaper copy.
As I compose these closing sentences, I am nearly finished with my weekly writing responsibilities. Waiting for me at the close of the laptop are all of the aforementioned workout tools.
And I will get to them, soon, I promise, just after I finish rebuilding these garden beds and trimming the bushes.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
With no invitationals on the schedule over Easter weekend, North Hagerstown distance stars and twin sisters Mackenzie and Caroline Philp needed something to help scratch the competitive itch.
They found it in the form of the Race for the Inlet 5K, held in Murrells Inlet, S.C. Competing in a field of 309 runners, Mackenzie was top female in 18:36, while Caroline finished seventh overall in 18:40. Alexander Philp completed the race in 19:42.
The father-daughter combo of Bill and Carolyn Dann represented Chambersburg well at the Capital 10 Miler in Harrisburg. Bill finished in 1:14:32 to win the 55-59 AG, while Carolyn clocked a 1:20:27 to claim second in the 30-34 AG. Christine Metcalfe, also of Chambersburg, finished in 1:42:10.
In Shippensburg, the Bunny Hop 5K drew 79 runners, including race winner Owen Brubaker, of Chambersburg, who cruised to victory in 20:25. Brubaker was joined in the Top 10 by Chambersburg’s Lincoln Simmons (2nd in 21:47) and Adalynn Simmons (5th in 22:17), and Saint Thomas’ Jaxson Martin (6th in 22:38). Other top runners from the race include Chambersburg’s Parker Vermillion (26:29) and Renee McCracken (29:32), Orrstown’s Kristen Eichenlaub (29:34), and Waynesboro’s Jocelyn Topper (29:36).
The half marathon scene has been heating up in recent weeks. Hagerstown’s Gillian Dell posted a 1:53:09 at the Only Fools Run Half Marathon in Greensboro, N.C., while Chambersburg’s Leah Myers finished in 1:54:14 at the Xenia Half Marathon in Ohio. The CraftHalf Half Marathon, held in Wintson Salem, N.C., was highlighted by a finish in 2:05:08 from Waynesboro’s Weber Long.
The fastest 13.1-mile times, however, came at the Hub City Half Marathon in Hagerstown, Md. Smithsburg’s Jonah Smith conquered the field of 252 runners in 1:14:35, while Chambersburg’s Rachel Stone finished as top female in 1:29:55. Other top times were posted by Greencastle’s Joshua Reddoch (2nd in 1:23:21), Smithsburg’s Jonathan Kisas (3rd in 1:23:32) and Sean Allen (1:34:24), Hagerstown’s Bryan Durboraw (4th in 1:24:00) and Allie Isaacs (2nd female in 1:31:37), and Chambersburg’s Jeffrey Stone (1:29:58).
Hagerstown’s Tunde Adelakun was among the top finishers at the Wild Trail 10K in Thurmont, Md. Adelakun ran to a 10th-place finish in 1:01:40, while Smithsburg’s Anne Shubert completed the race in 1:34:01.
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Greencastle’s Connor Rennekamp (25:04 at PHenomenal Hope 10K), Chambersburg’s Lorilyn Davis (30:26 at Kings Mountain Gateway Trail 5K), Eden Eliff (1:01:38 at Capital 10K), and Stephen Monarque (3:16:01 at Pirate Half Marathon), and Hagerstown’s Lily Hajel (27:49 at Bunny Palooza 5K), Michael McGill (32:43 at Donate Life Family Fun Run 5K), and Steven McCarty (1:53:14 at Charlottesville Ten Miler).
And now, a look ahead:
Bruce Hollabaugh 5K Memorial Run: Sunday, 9 a.m., in Biglerville. Enjoy the blooming orchards at Hollabaugh Bros., Inc. in this race, set for its second running. Check out the event on runsignup.com.
Buck Ridge Burn 5K/10K/13.1M: Sunday, 9 a.m., in Gardners. Take a grueling run through Michaux State Forest in this event, which offers race options at three distances. Look for the race on runsignup.com.
The Adoption Mile: Sunday, April 19, 2 p.m., in Chambersburg. Lace up those sneakers and compete in this race to benefit a local family in the adoption process. Look for the race on runsignup.com.
Also: Dewey Decimal 5K (Saturday, in New Bloomfield); St. Joseph’s 5K (Saturday, in Frederick, Md.); Dirty Kiln Trail 5M/13.1M (Saturday, in Hollidaysburg); Garden Spot Village Half Marathon (Saturday, in New Holland); Greensburg YMCA Indoor Triathlon (Saturday, in Greensburg); Hope in Every Breath 5K (Saturday, in Hummelstown); Penns Valley YMCA Hairy-Half Hike or Hustle 4.3M/7.3M/14.3M (Saturday, in Millmont); Philadelphia Trail 13.1M/26.2M (Saturday, in Philadelphia); Pirate 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, in York); Run to Rise SAAPM 5K (Saturday, in Carlisle); Fifth Street Rock Monster 5K/10K/13.1M/26.2M (Sunday, in Mertztown); Scranton Half Marathon (Sunday, in Scranton); Thirsty Thursday 5K (Thursday, April 16, in Reading); Boston Trail Half Marathon (Saturday, April 18, in Elizabeth Township); Hauser Hill Wine Run 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Biglerville); Hyner View Trail Challenge 25K/50K (Saturday, April 18, in Hyner); Indiana County Donut Dash 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Indiana); Lavi a Bon 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Shippensburg); Move Along 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Annville); Pirate 5K/10K (Saturday, April 18, in Akron); Rock the Nook 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, April 18, in Quakertown); Steps to Stability 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Newport); Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K (Saturday, April 18, in Pottsville); Halfity Half Marathon (Saturday, April 18, in Harrisburg); UltraTrax Bear Creek Mountain 7M/14M/21M/28M (Sunday, April 19, in Macungie); Valley Forge Revolutionary Run 5K (Sunday, April 19, in King of Prussia).
