My trip to the doctor’s office went about as well as I could have asked for.
My heart is ticking as strong as ever, and my eyes, ears and lungs are all functioning as they should. My blood pressure even showed some improvement. For being 40 years old and a little bit overweight, this clean bill of health was welcome news.
When we reached the end of the checkup my doctor listened to my questions and had some bad news for me: Being a slower runner than my 8-year-old daughter is not actually a legitimate “medical concern.” I’m just slow as a snail.
But my kids are starting to get cocky. Vivienne wants to challenge me in the sprints, and her older brother Paxton wants to wear me down in the long-distance game until I surrender. I’d chase them down to give them a piece of my mind, but I can’t quite catch them. It’s quite irritating.
They’ve got the upper hand – or rather upper foot – on me, but I’m not going down without a fight. I gave myself a “jump start” last week by going on a mini running streak of five consecutive one-mile days.
I’d love to say that the challenge was a piece of cake, but it was anything but.
My first day was a slow jog around the block and it was a struggle. Running on heavy legs under the heat of the sun, I was regretting my decision to run less than a quarter-mile in, but I powered through. I ran with Pax the next day and while the workout was still a challenge, time seemed to pass much faster while running with a partner. Of course, when we got home he had to let the family know that he crushed me and that my running ability is “selling.”
The next three runs, all of which were prefaced by hard landscaping days, were the most difficult of the bunch. It’s tough to find the “want to” in your legs to go for a run when you’ve been on your feet all day, but when you get to the end of the workout there comes a feeling of not only relief, but accomplishment. It feels good to complete hard tasks.
At the end of the five days, I’m a little beat up. My legs are tired and my feet are sore, but the rebuilding process is already underway. I know that every step I take puts me a step closer to catching up with my kids. I also know that every step they take puts them TWO steps ahead of me.
It’s going to come down to who wants it more. May the best Sandrik win.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Shippensburg has been a hot spot for runners in recent weeks, with the town hosting two big events: The Great Appalachian Valley Race Festival and the Chuck Lesher 5K.
The Great Appalachian Valley Half Marathon featured two races that drew a combined 127 runners. The early race saw Chambersburg’s Steve VanScyoc finish seventh overall in 2:14:32, while the later race featured top finishes from Hagerstown’s Landon Call (2nd in 1:29:37) and Abigail Call (1:51:49), and Saint Thomas’ Katelyn Clever (8th in 1:40:39). Toni Pagliaro, of Waynesboro, finished in 1:57:48.
Waynesboro’s Will Campbell conquered the field of 71 runners in the Great Appalachian Valley 10K with a time of 40:39 and was chased by Hagerstown’s Michael Sanders, who finished sixth in 43:38. Chambersburg’s Craig Leisher posted a 58:48 to win the 60-69 AG. The 5K was won by Hagerstown’s Tony Clement in 17:09, with Chambersburg’s Cliff Ocker (7th in 24:40) and Ryan Davidson (8th in 25:04) also landed Top 10 finishes.
As for the Chuck Lesher 5K, four Chambersburg runners landed top finishes: Andreas Dunkel (2nd in 17:29), Boston Vincenti (3rd in 18:05), Kieran Dunkel (5th in 18:26), and Natalie Quinn (3rd female in 20:18).
In Rocky Ridge, Md., Hagerstown’s Allie Isaacs and Travis Isaacs were two of the top runners at the Run for the Pie 10K. Allie clocked a 46:37 to take second in the 30-39 AG, while Travis crossed the finish line in 53:15.
Two Chambersburg runners, Kinsey Cutchall and Jacob Orndorff, posted identical times of 3:01:19 at the Presque Isle Half Marathon in Erie. Another challenging race, the Conquer the Canyon 10K in Wellsboro, saw Hagerstown’s Tobias Schlueter record a time of 1:00:24 to win the 1-19 AG.
A number of others were involved in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Kalisa Miller (27:44 at Summerfest 5K) and Benjamin Royer (4:46:06 at Run for the Elk Marathon), Fairfield’s Josh Karlheim (22:29 at All Saints Parish 5K), and Hagerstown’s Mary Plank (31:03 at Ocean City Night in Venice 5K), Ken Honeycutt (1:22:33 at Martinsburg Sprint Triathlon), and Erin Gedicke (2:15:46 at Quadzilla 15K Trail Run).
And finally, a shoutout to Hagerstown’s Sara Myers, who ventured to Virginia for the Culpeper Olympic Triathlon. Myers finished the race in 3:29:59 to take second in the 45-49 AG.
And now, a look ahead:
Fred Kaley Road Race 5K: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., in Greencastle. This race, in its 41st running, benefits the Greencastle Flyers Youth Track and Cross Country Club. Learn more on greencastleflyers.org.
Krumpe’s Donut Alley Rally 5K: Friday, Aug. 8, 7:30 p.m., in Hagerstown, Md. This race starts and ends at Krumpe’s Do-Nut Shop and benefits the Wounded Warrior Project. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Ausherman 5 Miler: Saturday, Aug. 9, 8 a.m., in Chambersburg. Aim for a PR on this pancake-flat course and honor the memory of Tom Ausherman, one of the founding fathers of the Chambersburg Road Runners. Look for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Also: Boiling Springs Triathlon (Saturday, in Boiling Springs); Farm Fresh 5K (Saturday, in York); Glow Run 5K (Saturday, in Manheim); Ninja 1M/5K/10K/15K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in Biglerville); Pennsylvania Brewing Series 5K (Saturday, in Clarion); Presque Isle Triathlon (Saturday, in Erie); Run for Reading 5K (Saturday, in Mechanicsburg); RunPA Trail Jamboree 3H/6H/12H (Saturday, in Newmanstown); Savage Race Pennsylvania 3M/5M (Saturday, in Albrightsville); Tommy Laudani Delone Dash 3K/5K (Saturday, in Hanover); YMCA Canoe Creek Sprint Triathlon (Saturday, in Hollidaysburg); Harrisburg Family Fun Run 5K (Saturday, in Harrisburg); Ninja 1M/5K/10K (Saturday, in New Cumberland); Frederick Women’s Distance Festival (Saturday, in Frederick, Md.); Ninja 1M/5K/10K/15K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in Bel Air, Md.); Fort Ritchie Triathlon (Sunday, in Cascade, Md.); RunPA Trail Jamboree Kids Run (Sunday, in Newmanstown); Steelman Triathlon (Sunday, in Lake Nockamixon State Park); National First Night Out 5K (Tuesday, Aug. 5, in Punxsutawney); West Chester Mile (Thursday, Aug. 7, in West Chester); Eastern States 100M (Saturday, Aug. 9, in Waterville); James Biever Memorial Run 1M/5K/10K (Saturday, Aug. 9, in Lebanon); Ninja 5K/10K (Saturday, Aug. 9, in York); Paws for Wellness 5K (Saturday, Aug. 9, in York); Philly Mayor’s Cup (Saturday, Aug. 9, in Philadelphia); Warrior Trail Half and Quarter Marathon (Saturday, Aug. 9, in Shickshinny); Kinzua Bridge Challenge 1M/5K/10K (Sunday, Aug. 10, in Mount Jewett); Lititz recCenter Triathlon (Sunday, Aug. 10, in Lititz); Peach Festival Jack Roberts Scholarship 5K (Sunday, Aug. 10, in Hagerstown, Md.).
