With sweat pouring down my face and desperation coursing through my body, I kept making passes through the crowd until I found the sign I was looking for, the one on the side of the road that said there was a half mile remaining.
That’s when I went even faster.
I didn’t wear my best running shoes on this day and to make matters worse, my shorts began to droop and constantly needed to be pulled up.
Conditions were not ideal, but with the roaring crowd getting louder with every step, I told myself I could do this. I HAD to do this.
So with left arm pumping and right arm holding up my shorts, I rumbled forward with the finish line in sight. Even as runners passed me by the dozens on the home stretch, I never gave up.
Finally I reached my destination and found what I had been looking for this entire run: A good spot to take a picture. I wiped the sweat from my face and took my phone from my pocket, mentally preparing myself for the moment. That moment happened just over 60 seconds later when my daughter Vivienne crossed the finish line with a shiny new PR.
The first person she looked for was me, and after sharing a big hug, she told me, “I did it, Dad!”
It was one of those proud Dad moments that I’ll always cherish. And it couldn’t have happened if I didn’t hustle.
See, I wasn’t a participant in this race, but rather a spectator who sorely misjudged how long it takes to walk a mile from the start to the finish. When I heard the gun go off in the distance, just as I was strolling past the quarter-mile mark, I knew I had to get going, and fast.
As silly as it may sound — from a guy who was rumbling through the sidewalk wearing slip-on shoes, sagging shorts, and a heavy sweat shirt — I gave it my all and was proud of the final result.
Of course this is another reminder that while my kids keep getting bigger and faster, I’m not getting any younger.
Keeping up with them is only going to get more difficult, but like anything else, it’s attainable through hard work.
I’m beyond happy to have this beautiful memory, even if it includes Vivienne asking why I’m more sweaty than she is, and promise I’ll be ready for the next moment.
It’s going to take some training, I’m sure, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure I’m there to witness every time my kids cross the finish line… even if it means using a little more logistical common sense and leaving the starting line a few minutes earlier than usual.
I’ll be ready either way.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Not even a constant blanket of rain could stop area runners from enjoying a day out at the Bubbletown What the Duck Ultra 12 Hour in Boiling Springs last weekend.
Locals piled up dozens and dozens of miles at the endurance running event, with Chambersburg’s Shelby White and Fort Loudon’s Dennis “Neal” Reamer II each breaking the 40-mile barrier. White placed sixth in the field of 221 runners after covering 44 miles in 8:43:09, while Reamer recorded 41.16 miles in 8:43:03. White and Reamer were followed by several other area runners who surpassed the 30-mile threshold, a list that includes Chambersburg’s Joshua Haney (35.48 miles), Richard Myers (35.48), and Abraham Alonso (32.64), Saint Thomas’ Calvin Cline (34.06), and Fayetteville’s Danielle Portier (32.64).
In Chambersburg, the Go Girls Go Spring 5K had a big turnout with 473 runners in competition. Liam Coy conquered the field in 18:19, while fellow Chambersburg runner Sarah Boward finished as top female in 20:52. Other top finishes were recorded by Chambersburg’s Jackson Faith (3rd in 20:27), Lincoln Simmons (5th in 21:44), Adalyn Simmons (6th in 21:48), Mallory Neus (8th in 23:21), and Grayson Mull (23:32), and Waynesboro’s Dwayne Robinson II (23:45).
Riley Decker, of Fayetteville, led local finishers at the Memorial Day Free 5K in Gettysburg with a time of 21:37, and was chased to the finish line by Fort Loudon’s Morgan Houser (24:55), and Greencastle’s Jason Keller (27:40).
The Water Wheel 5K in Newville saw three locals land Top 10 finishes, including Hagerstown’s Steve Brooks, who finished as first male in 23:46. Brooks was followed by Chambersburg’s Jameson Van Cleaf (6th in 25:15), Phillip Van Cleaf (7th in 25:22), Isaac Carrillo (26:11) and Jenna Stepler (27:01).
Two Hagerstown runners — Kevin Smith (1:51:25) and Carlos Huaman (1:59:32) — posted sub-2 finishes at the Harpers Ferry Half Marathon in West Virginia. Hagerstown’s Bradley Reed (2:03:30), Smitshburg’s Braden Grosh (2:16:39), and Chambersburg’s Sarah Wetzel (2:24:28) also crossed the finish line.
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Maclovia Estrada (31:02 at Harpers Ferry 5K), Heather Nowell (1:00:41 at Rails to River XC Mountain Bike Race), and Jeffrey Januchowski (4:42:34), Fayetteville’s Wing Lam Cheung (6:37 at Carlisle Downtown Mile), Chambersburg’s Lucy Shank (47:15 at Clinic for Special Children 5K), Hagerstown’s Bradley Reed (23:03 at Amani Brewing 5K; 22:33 at Panda 5K) and Andrew Soraci (18:29 at Amani Brewing Beer Mile), and Smithsburg’s Brooklyn Gibson (47:11 at Keep Punching 5K)
And now, a look ahead:
Race Against Poverty 5K: Saturday, June 6, 5 p.m., in Chambersburg. This race, now on a new day, is an opportunity to take steps as a community against the poverty that grips many of our own. Check out the event on raceagainstpoverty.org.
Gary Brown Memorial Five Mile Run: Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m., in Williamsport, Md. This race, in its 45th running, will be held on the C & O Canal Towpath. Find the race on runsignup.com.
Steve Fealtman Memorial Awesum Possum Lake Trail Adventure: Saturday, June 6, 8 a.m., in Carlisle. This event features race options for a six-mile obstacle course, four-mile run, and four-mile walk. Look up the race on runsignup.com.
Also: Rabid Raccoon 100 (Friday, in Beaver Falls); A Little Love Farm 5K (Saturday, in New Holland); Lewisburg Sprint Triathlon (Saturday, in Lewisburg); Medal Madness 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, in York); PA Summer Biathlon (Saturday, in Carbondale); Penn Fusion Charity 5K (Saturday, in West Chester); Pennsylvania Brewery Running Series 5K (Saturday, in Pittsburgh); Run4Life 5K (Saturday, in Scranton); Worlds End Ultramarathon 50K/100K (Saturday, in Forksville); Girls on the Run 5K (Saturday, in Hagerstown/Frederick, Md.); Little Bennett XC 10K (Saturday, in Clarksburg, Md.); Rock Hall Triathlon (Saturday, in Rock Hall, Md.); South Ridge Trail Challenge (Sunday, in Allison Park); The 21.5K (Sunday, in Philadelphia); Big Run 5K (Wednesday, June 3, in Reading); Bashore Bash 6H/12H (Saturday, June 6, in Jonestown); Crusader Classic 5K (Saturday, June 6, in Scranton); Cutters 5K (Saturday, June 6, in Williamsport); Medal Madness 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Saturday, June 6, in Biglerville); Moovin’ 4 Milk 5K (Saturday, June 6, in State College); Red Rose Run 5 Miler (Saturday, June 6, in Lancaster); Slate Run 25K (Saturday, June 6, in Slate Run); God’s Country Marathon (Saturday, June 6, in Coudersport); Half Sauer Half Kraut Marathon (Saturday, June 6, in Philadelphia); Medal Madness 5K/10K (Saturday, June 6, in New Cumberland); Baltimore 10 Miler (Saturday, June 6, in Baltimore, Md.); The Maryland Half Marathon (Saturday, June 6, in Fulton, Md.); Run to Breathe Half Marathon (Sunday, June 7, in Portersville).
