When I wore a younger man’s running shoes, I was hungry, full of fire, and possessed a profoundly delusional belief that I could win any race that I entered.
It took just a few miles of getting crushed by the high school and college kids to realize I needed to recalibrate my goals. So I set my sights on competing for age-group awards and was experiencing a fair amount of success.
Until he came along.
I was in the best shape of my life and new to the 30-39 AG. He had a small pot belly, a receding hairline and was on his way out of the division. If this was a movie, he’d be the one playing the role of the underdog, but in real life I was the one getting hammered again and again. No matter which local race I chose, he always seemed to be there to swipe away my AG hardware.
As childish as this might sound, I just wanted to stomp my feet and scream at the top of my lungs. Losing was a gut-punch to my pride, and it soon fueled an obsession to overcome my obstacle. With visions of this dude running away from me, I was regularly leaping out of bed at 5:30 a.m. and pounding the pavement, constantly pushing the pace. In my mind, there was no way this guy was working harder than I was.
But things didn’t go as planned when we had our rematch on the race paths. He buried me once again. I was kind of angry, but mostly sad. I didn’t quite understand the lesson at the time, but in running, there will always be someone faster (and slower).
My rival soon aged out of the division and eventually disappeared completely from the competitive circuit. Looking back, I cringe over how upset this one-sided rivalry made me feel. If anything, I should have been giving this guy high fives at the finish line and jumping for joy. He was pushing my fitness to new heights and in turn, I was pumping out PRs like it was my job.
I wish I would have taken more time to have a positive attitude and appreciate the growth that I was experiencing.
Today, it’s a lesson I’m trying to teach my 9-year-old daughter who has been one of the best runners — but not the best — in her weekly youth cross country races. The girl that Vivienne is chasing is tall with swift, effortless strides. She looks like she was plucked directly from a middle or high school team.
Even though Vivi has been pouring her heart and soul into these one-mile races, she’s been beaten by 10 seconds, 13 seconds, and then 39 seconds in her most recent race. Her frustration and disappointment is real, but I won’t give in to a pity party. Instead I point to the times she posted — the three best times of her life — and then show her the results from other races around the state.
As we scroll through page after page, her smile grows bigger and bigger as she points out how high her time would place in her other races. And then it hit her, nearly 20 years earlier than it had hit me.
“I AM a good runner. She’s just a REALLY good runner.”
She gets it. Vivi will never be happy with losing, but she’s gaining a deeper respect not only for the hard work that goes into running, but also the girls that are driving her beyond her limits.
Vivi’s final race of the season is on Sunday, and her goal isn’t to win. It’s to stay as close as she can to the top girl and (hopefully) ride her sharp pacing to a PR. I commend her for thinking rationally, mapping out a race strategy, and most importantly, seeing the big picture.
No matter what happens this weekend, Vivi’s already gained something much more valuable than a first-place trophy. She has a rival to thank for that.
1 step back, 3 steps forward
Fayetteville’s Norlo Park served as the backdrop for the Dash for Down Syndrome 5K, a race that was highlighted by the running of two young Chambersburg runners.
Liam Coy, a sophomore cross country runner for the Trojans, zipped through the race in 18:57 to conquer the field of 45 runners. Adalynn Simmons, 13, finished as top female in 21:08.
Chambersburg’s Benjamin Lin (2nd in 18:57), Brad Myers (3rd in 21:08), Mark Janson (4th in 21:35), Darcy Aurand (6th in 22:05), Max Gipe (7th in 22:06), Hudson Book (8th in 23:16), Austin Ferguson (9th in 23:53), and Trey Shank (10th in 24:28) all landed in the Top 10, while Marion’s Ava Beltz finished as third female in 25:08.
There was no shortage of fast times from locals at the Cumberland Valley TrailFest 5K and Half Marathon in Shippensburg. Matthew Smith, of Greencastle, surged to fourth place in the half with a time of 1:33:12, while Fayetteville’s Allison List was just behind in 1:36:44 for ninth overall. Smith and List were chased by Fayetteville’s Christopher Parks (1:53:58) and Chambersburg’s Cliff Ocker (1:54:45), Steve Vanscyoc (1:55:37), and David Helman (1:57:47).
The TrailFest 5K was highlighted by the running of Chambersburg’s Christian Madrigal (2nd in 20:27), Mikey Williams (3rd in 20:34), and Joshua Haney (5th in 21:35), as well as Fort Loudon’s Dennis Reamer II (4th in 21:21).
Three local runners — Hagerstown’s Lucas Young and Rebecca Tellez, and Chambersburg’s Brent Rockwell — have tasted victory in recent weeks. Young ran at the Runnin’ with the Dogs 5K in Martinsburg, W.Va., and broke the tape in 17:40. Tellez was even faster at the Mountain State Festival 5K in Elkins, W.Va., as she exploded for a 17:17 to finish as top female. As for Rockwell, he posted a 1:05:03 to win the Haunted 10K in Biglerville.
In Rock Hall, Md., the Waterman’s Triathlon featured finishes from area athletes in three races. Fairfield’s Reganne Engstler doubled up for finishes in both the Olympic (3:13:38) and Sprint (1:41:09) triathlons, while the Long Course race saw Hagerstown’s Josie Smith (5:46:31) and Smithsburg’s David Bowers (7:02:17) cross the finish line.
Two Hagerstown runners — Michael Sanders (6th in 32:13) and Steve Brooks (9th in 36:13) — finished in the Top 10 in the Trails 4 Miles race in Stephens City, Va.
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s Samantha Dulany (30:17 at Run Wild for Autism 5K) and Steve Wenrich (1:03:49 at Oatlands 5K), Greencastle’s Jaclyn Ruzbacki (1:51:01 at Adam Zook 9.88 Miler), Chambersburg’s Derek Plummer (29:17 at Snack Town 5K), Mackenzie Wilhide (33:50 at Troegs Hop Dash 5K), Alyssa Gascho (36:39 at Haunted 5K), Thomas Howell (53:17 at Oktoberfest 5K), Dru Miller (1:04:51 at Snack Town 10K), and Brystol Rajtik (2:26:30 at Maine Half Marathon), Fairfield’s Maddi Holmberg (37:21 at Nissley Vineyards 5K), William Bruder (53:03 at Gritty 5K), and Karina Miller (45:22 at Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6K), Smithsburg’s Brady Stauffer (3:16:33 Conestoga Trail Run 10 Tough Miles), and Hagerstown’s Jocelyn Shannon (25:54 at Pumpkinfest 5K), Khamal Coombs (27:35 at Every Step Counts Autism 5K), Bradley Reed (46:45 at Columbia Classic 10K), Erin Gedicke (2:07:53 at Snack Town Half Marathon), and Nesprolie Elveus (4:16:22 at Parks Half Marathon).
And finally, a shoutout to Hagerstown’s Tracy Teunis, who pulled off a three-day race trifecta at Run Dollywood Weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Teunis posted finishes in the 5K (54:26), 10K (1:35:01), and half marathon (3:18:02) races.
And now, a look ahead:
Tie Dye Run 5K/10K: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., in Hagerstown, Md. Go for a run and support Micah’s Backpack, which helps ensure children facing food insecurity have the nourishment they need when school meals aren’t available. Register for the race on runsignup.com.
Boulder Dash at Pinesburg Quarry: Saturday, Oct. 17, 9:30 a.m., in Williamsport, Md. Race options of one mile, 5K, and five miles are available for this event, which is held in a working quarry. Check out the race on runsignup.com.
Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon: Sunday, Oct. 18, 7:30 a.m. in Hancock, Md. Hit the race paths on the Western Maryland Rail Trail and remember the life of Buzz Sawyer, creator of the JFK 50 Mile. Look up the race on runsignup.com.
Also: Lititz recCenter Youth Triathlon (Friday, in Lititz); Across the Dam SuperKwik Challenge Half Marathon (Saturday, in Warren); Dash and Dine 5K (Saturday, in Marietta); Haunted 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, in York); Juniata Valley Trail Run 5K (Saturday, in Mifflin); Muleskinner 26.2M/50K/50M (Saturday, in Upper Black Eddy; Oil Creek 25K/50K/100K/100M (Saturday, in Titusville); Pocono Mountains Marathon Festival (Saturday, Oct. 10, in Greentown); Punxsutawney Mahoning Shadow Shuffle (Saturday, in Punxsutawney); Chestertown Challenge Half Marathon (Sunday, in Chestertown, Md.); Rick O’Donnell Memorial 5M/4H/8H (Sunday, in Mount Airy, Md.); Rocky Gap 25K/50K (Sunday, in Flintstone, Md.); Run for MWS 5K (Sunday, in Frederick, Md.); Run The Boards Like Rob 5K (Sunday, in Ocean City, Md.); Green Monster Trail Challenge (Sunday, in Wellsboro); Peace Promise Run for Freedom 5K (Sunday, in Harrisburg); Steamtown Marathon (Sunday, in Scranton); Brush Rush 5K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Newport); Buffalo Creek Half Marathon (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Cabot); Baltimore Running Festival 5K/10K/13.1M/26.2M (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Baltimore, Md.); Dirt Monster Trail Fest 5M/25K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Allison Park); Freedom 5K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Gap); Haunted 5K/10K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Akron); Polar Bear 5K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Dillsburg); Sinnemahone Ultra Trail Run 12K/25K/50K); Vineyard at Hershey Haunted Wine Run 5K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Middletown); Steps Towards Healing for Mental Health Awareness 5K (Saturday, Oct. 17, in Hagerstown, Md.); Bethlehem Running Festival (Sunday, Oct. 18, in Bethlehem); Fleet Feet Half Marathon (Sunday, Oct. 18, in York); Reading Hospital Road Run 5K/13.1M (Sunday, Oct. 18, in Reading); The Buoniconti Fund Half Marathon (Sunday, Oct. 18, in Carmichaels).
