I can still remember the giddiness I felt when I looked over the weather report for race day on a frigid Sunday.
Freezing temps. Forceful winds. All just days after a big snow event.
This was my chance. If the right people stay at home on this day, I can compete for an AG medal and who knows, maybe the first and only overall win of my career. I was at the tail end of my 20s, hovering at the peak of my running career, and running out of chances to make a splash. This was my chance.
And then I got the email announcing the race had been postponed. Snow drifts were a real concern, according to race organizers.
I wasn’t surprised, but still disappointed after having spent days training in the elements and preparing my body for the worst.
There is a happy ending — as on the new race date I was able to run a PR that remains untouched to this day more than a decade later — but that’s not the point of this story.
The point is that the race directors made the absolutely right call. Had they not, there undoubtedly would have been at least a handful of knuckleheads like me lining up to forge their running legacy in the extreme weather conditions.
It’s hard to pull the plug if you’re an RD. I get it. It must feel horrible throwing away months of planning, permits, t-shirts, and medals, and then making a cancellation announcement to a field of runners that can’t be refunded. You’re not going to be popular amongst your customers, even if you manage to nail down a new race date.
But what can happen when you throw all caution to the wind and just stick it out, much like the organizers did amidst flash flooding two weeks ago at the Racefaster Half Marathon in Paramus, N.J.?
You get a disaster. Unrelenting downpours produced more than four inches of rain and forced nearby Saddle Creek to overflow.
Over 250 participants found themselves wading through water that reached chest level at times.
While some of the more outrageous runners in the field had a blast splashing their way to the finish line for a risky moment of clout, there were others who were left stranded.
A 71-year-old woman needed to be rescued from the course by two of her fellow runners. After a 10-15 minute hiatus to carry their elder to safety, our heroes returned to the race field and made it to the finish line. When they were interviewed by the local media, they said they were really happy with their race times, all things considered.
Stuff like that makes me laugh, but when runners tell you that they are insane, they’re only half joking and you should believe them. And so should race directors, who function as a “designated driver” of sorts for these fierce, albeit reckless, athletes who are ready to compete at all costs.
In the end, the event was investigated by Bergen County officials and resulted in Racefaster being placed on probation and banned from hosting events in state county parks for a year. It was an action that needed to be taken. And I say this knowing full well that I would have been one of the dudes gleefully wading through the disaster area.
Runners will dash through hell and high water to reach their goals, and this is as good of a reason as any for there to always be an adult in the room. Our lives — which we so frequently thrust into harm’s way — depend on it.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
The rugged Mountain Creek Mayhem races, held in Michaux State Forest, are designed to chew up and spit out the average trail runner.
But for Franklin County runners, challenging hills are just a daily part of life.
Area competitors made quick of the trail races, which came at distances of 20 miles, half marathon and 50K. Sarah Boward finished as top female in the half marathon, clocking a 2:10:37 to lead a group of locals that included fellow Chambersburg runners Phillip Van Cleaf (2:33:45), Jorge Menchu (2:54:10) and Matthew Stepler (3:00:23).
Joe Trace, of Greencastle, placed seventh overall in the 20-miler in 3:57:30, while the 50K included Top 10 finishes from two area runners: Fayetteville’s David Larson (5th in 6:01:36) and Greencastle’s Shayne Conway (9th in 6:43:21).
Another trail event, the Lock 2 Lock 10K/Half/Marathon in Williamsport, Md., was chock full of area talent. Hagerstown’s Lucas Young blasted through the 10K at a 5:52/mile pace to blow out the field by more than three minutes. He was followed to the finish by Waynesboro’s Brenton McCrea (8th in 47:19) and Talan McCrea (56:27), and Hagerstown’s Jason McCollum (51:46).
As dominant as Young was, Hagerstown’s Rebecca Tellez may have been even more daunting in the half marathon. She surged to the finish line as top female in 1:20:11, more than 10 minutes faster than the rest of the women’s field. Other sparkling 13.1-mile times were posted by Hagerstown’s Harold Samir Baca Ponce (5th in 1:21:38), Bryan Durboraw (6th in 1:24:21), Kevin Smith (1:31:50), Anthony Chaney (1:38:29), and Allie Isaacs (1:39:11), Smithsburg’s Jonathan Kisas (7th in 1:27:33), and Chambersburg’s Aaron Frankey (1:44:50).
The Lock 2 Lock Marathon was highlighted by the running of Greencastle’s Joshua Reddoch, who cruised to a sixth-place finish in 3:03:21. Smithsburg’s David Lehr (3:40:52) and Matt Rinehart (4:18:33) and Hagerstown’s Sharon Allen (4:19:53) also had good days at the office.
Staying on the trails for just a moment longer, the Boulder Beast 25-Miler in Lock Haven drew out a superb performance from Hagerstown’s Jana Fridrichova, who blasted to the finish line in 5:20:26 to finish as second female. Ryan Kaczmark, of Chambersburg, clocked a 5:40:57 to finish third in the 40-49 AG. The Boulder Beast 25K included finishes from Chambersburg’s Catherine Jones (3:45:39) and Joan Myers (7:04:59).
In Smithsburg, Daniel Warner defended his home turf by winning The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run 5K in 20:40. He conquered a 76-runner field that included Smithsburg’s James Summers (2nd in 20:45), Chambersburg’s Corey Miller (7th in 23:41), Hagerstown’s Bryce Gates (10th in 24:33), and Greencastle’s Deanna Nalley (3rd female in 27:48).
Two Shippensburg races — the Uprise Festival 5K and High Adventure Hustle 5K — combined to bring in nearly 90 runners, and each race included solid performances from area runners. The Uprise Festival 5K included top finishes from Chambersburg’s Boaz Helman (2nd in 19:17), Anthony Rosenberry (25:28), Kayla Mayes (3rd female in 26:16), and Kaira Rosenberry (26:30). As for the High Adventure Hustle, strong efforts were posted by Fort Loudon’s Dennis Reamer II (2nd in 22:16) and Thomas Neil (10th in 27:56), Hagerstown’s Martin Molinari (3rd in 22:32), Chambersburg’s Kevin Woy (4th in 23:18), Lemasters’ Trenton Morgan (5th in 25:21), and Orrstown’s Kristen Eichenlaub (3rd female in 29:23).
Local runners were all over three popular regional races: the Bird-In-Hand Half Marathon, DC Half, and Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon. Waynesboro’s Grant Lesher (1:42:37) and Kira Beeler (1:54:02) ran sharp races at Bird-In-Hand, while the DC Half included red-hot finishes from Hagerstown’s Anthony Corsi (1:29:37), Garrett Ammons (1:32:37), Anna Chamberlin (1:51:40), and Ella Hajel (1:53:44). In Philadelphia, top performances were recorded by Chambersburg’s Bailey Charters (1:47:47) and Waynesboro’s Jason Umpierrez (2:10:26).
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Grant Lesher (22:03 at Bird-In-Hand 5K), Blake Emge (1:43:48 at Hokie Half Marathon), Victoria Neal (2:02:01 at Annapolis Run for the Light House Half Marathon), and Jeffrey Hein (2:19:02 at Susquehanna River Running Festival Half Marathon), Fayetteville’s Wing Lam Cheung (23:27 at Flyby 5K), Chambersburg’s Ridgelee Flohr (30:22 at Raritan 9/11 Heroes Run 5K), Eric Guyer (31:38 at Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 5K), and David Hutchins (51:58 at Harrisburg 10K), Fairfield’s Larry Bishop (2:49:20 at Harrisburg Half Marathon), and Hagerstown’s Tony Clement (4:26 at Market Street Mile), Collin Gee (25:09 at Annapolis 9/11 Heroes Run 5K), Sofie Corsi (28:34 at DC Race This District 5K), Chakinta Sumpter (53:02 at St. Charles 5K), and Bradley Reed (55:13 at Police Pace 5K).
And finally, a shoutout to Waynesboro’s Wynn Fertig, who visited Virginia for the Reston Triathlon and clocked a 3:03:31 to take second in the 65-69 AG.
And now, a look ahead:
Cumberland Valley TrailFest 5K/13.1M: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9:30 a.m., in Shippensburg. The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail will serve as the backdrop for this race, which is run in conjunction with the 20th Annual Trailfest. Find the event on timberhilltiming.com.
Dash for Down Syndrome 5K: Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m., in Fayetteville. Challenge yourself at Norlo Park with this race, which benefits Downright Perfect. Find the event on raceplace.com.
EdK Run 5K: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m., in Chambersburg. Compete in this race and honor the life of Dr. Ed Sponseller, with proceeds benefitting the Livestrong program at the Chambersburg YMCA. Look up the event on runsignup.com.
Also: Bridge to Bridge Run 53M (Saturday, in Washington Crossing); Medal Madness 5K/10K (Saturday, in Manheim); Goose Day 5K (Saturday, in Lewistown); Gritty 5K (Saturday, in Philadelphia); Laurel Highlands Ultra 50K (Saturday, in Somerset); Medal Madness 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, in Hughesville); UltraTrax Philadelphia 7M/14M/21M/28M (Saturday, in Philadelphia); Water Gap 25K/50K (Saturday, in Milford); Color Splash 5K/1K (Saturday, in Hagerstown, Md.); Run on the Rocks 10M/13.1M/20M (Saturday, in Point of Rocks, Md.); Conestoga Trail Run 10M (Sunday, in Holtwood); SECA 5K (Sunday, in Harrisburg); The Dam Half (Sunday, in Mifflinburg); Charm City Run 20 Miler (Sunday, in Freeland, Md.); Columbia Classic 5K/10K (Sunday, in Columbia, Md.); Parks Half Marathon (Sunday, in Rockville, Md.); Cornwall Elementary 5K (Friday, Oct. 2, in Lebanon); Red Barn Challenge 6H/12H/24H (Friday, Oct. 2, in Lykens); Haunted 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Biglerville); Chernisky Ghost Town Trail-a-Thon 5K/15M/26.2M (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Ebensburg); Coop’s Loop Endurance Run (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Beaver Falls); Funnel Cake 5K (Saturday, Oct. 3, in New Holland); Hartz PT Fall Blast 5K (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Lititz); Haunted 1M/5K/10K (Saturday, Oct. 3, in New Cumberland); Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Mechanicsburg); Snack Town RunFest (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Hanover); YMCA Hop Dash 5K (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Hershey); YMCA October Half Marathon (Saturday, Oct. 3, in Hollidaysburg); Black Forest Ultra 100K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Hyner); Blues Cruise 50K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Reading); E-Racing Prostate Cancer 5K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Harrisburg); FAAP Fall Classic 5K/10K/20K (Sunday, Oct. 4, Pittsburgh); Kettle Cooker Trail Race 5M/25K/50K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Nottingham); Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Pittsburgh); Zoey’s Fun Run 5K (Sunday, Oct. 4, in York); GPS Half Marathon (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Sparks, Md.); HUA Sports Marathon (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Point of Rocks, Md.); Metric Marathon (Sunday, Oct. 4, in Harwood, Md.).
