Many years ago when I thought I didn’t have time for running, I simply made time by setting my alarm clock for earlier in the morning.
It worked like a charm. I was banging out five-milers before work on an almost daily basis, and enjoying my coffee at a time when most folks are still hitting the snooze button.
The good news is I still practice this “life hack” to this day. But the bad news is, well, I don’t really use it for running.
The questions race through my head as I consider how to use my next morning head start: Should I finish up that Little League story I started writing? What about putting together a video highlight package for my daughter’s soccer team? Do I hit the fields early and try to beat the heat for today’s landscaping job? Should I start shopping now for wife’s 40th birthday?
I love the rush and the feeling of getting ahead, but I can still get overwhelmed this time of year. This week will be the toughest of all as I prepare to direct a gaming tournament this weekend. There’s at least a few thousand charity dollars at stake and I’m mostly certainly feeling the pressure to make this event a winner.
My plate is beyond full, but the one thing that’s keeping me sane during this pressure-cooker of a week is the light at the end of the tunnel: A chance to go running.
I’ve been active on the treadmill, but even the majority of that time has been spent multi-tasking. I’m craving a proper run, one where I can hear the birds singing and see the small wildlife darting across the trail. I can almost feel the warm sunlight on my skin and the wind at my back as I scale the hills.
Or maybe I could go for an evening run downtown. It doesn’t have to be in the morning. I love jogging under the street lights and observing the bustling night scene. More often than not I return from these excursions with a story to tell.
However I take my run, I know it’s going to feel good, no matter how bad it hurts. But before I get there, I plan to grind through this “tunnel” with a smile on my face and running dreams dancing through my mind.
I can’t wait to see you on the other side!
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
There were 290 runners in attendance for the York Half Marathon, but very few could keep up with the pace set by Ryan Kelley.
The Waynesboro runner had a strong race at the York Half, running to an eighth-place finish in 1:36:09. Keith Byers, of Waynesboro, also crossed the finish line in 2:03:34.
Greencastle’s Matthew Smith is known in the running world for his prowess on the trails and in long-distance races, but he recently went in a different direction and was rewarded with a win. Smith competed in the Pirates vs. Princesses 5K in Hagerstown, Md., and conquered the 105-runner field in 19:57. He was chased by Smithsburg’s Rob Hovermale (2nd in 20:26) and John Follett (28:32) as well as Chambersburg’s Larry Smith (26:45).
The Shalom Christian Academy 5K in Chambersburg was chock-full of area runners, including several who landed in the Top 10: Greencastle’s Jarrett Gelsinger (2nd in 17:34), Joel Amstutz (4th in 18:41), and William Davis (6th in 20:00), and Chambersburg’s Cole Lehman (3rd in 18:39), Josh Blankenship (5th in 19:43), Drew Martin (9th in 20:44), and Derek Book (10th in 20:47). Staying in Franklin County, the Johnston 5 Mile Run in Mercersburg saw Chambersburg’s Christine Metcalfe finish as top female in 44:28.
The Gettysburg Festival of Races is known for its hilly races, but it wasn’t anything that Local.News runners couldn’t handle. The Blue-Gray Half Marathon featured sub-2 finishes from Chambersburg’s Chase Wenger (1:47:27) and Justin Tkacic (1:48:06), and Mont Alto’s Jim Recard (1:57:05), while the Gettysburg 5K saw top times posted by Fayetteville’s Todd Barton (23:14) and Danielle Portier (26:03), each of whom claimed wins in the 40-49 AG.
There was no shortage of fast times at the Frederick Half Marathon in Maryland. The Local.News area got strong efforts from Chambersburg’s Chelsea Fogtman (1:32:04) and Avery Barley (1:46:01), as well as Greencastle’s Grant Murray (1:36:28) and Maggie Turner (1:45:55).
And finally, local distance runners were given a choice last weekend: Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?
There was no wrong answer to that question as Franklin County was well-represented at both the Broad Street Run 10 Miler and the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. In Philly, top finishes were posted by Chambersburg’s Bill Dann (1:23:10) and Christine Metcalfe (1:42:32), while the Pittsburgh Half was highlighted by finishes from Chambersburg’s Amanda Balzer (1:33:19) and Brian Brandman (1:48:50).
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Waynesboro’s True Benshoff (23:56 at Gift of Life Donor Dash 5K) and Ben Stephey (4:48:28 at North-South Marathon), Greencastle’s Adam Smith (25:57 at Twilight 5K), Rebecca House (1:53:50 at Savage Race Maryland Open), Vandana Sajankilla (2:52:29 at Potomac River Run Half Marathon) and Rachel Scheitrum (5:06:37 at Jim Thorpe Marathon), Chambersburg’s Payton Bowling (30:06 at Not One More 5K), Kiana Smith (41:34 at Taco N’ Ritas Run 5K), Joe Imwald (2:27:18 at Savage Race Maryland Blitz), Cherieanne Martin (2:19:19 at Flying Pig Half Marathon), and Zach Johle (5:10:17 at Pittsburgh Marathon), and Smithsburg’s Hannah Lund (57:13 at The Office 5K).
And now, a look ahead:
Go Girls Go 5K: Saturday, 11 a.m., in Chambersburg. Run this race and support Go Girls Go, an after-school running and girls’ empowerment program. Register for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Hummelstown Hunger Run 5K/5M: Saturday, 10 a.m., in Hummelstown. This race, in its ninth running, benefits the Hummelstown Food Pantry. Register for the race on active.com.
Carlisle Downtown Mile: Thursday, May 16, 6:15 p.m., in Carlisle. Stretch out your legs for this one-mile race, a fundraiser for the Employment Skills Center. Find the race on runsignup.com.
Also: Camp Hebron 5K Trail Run (Saturday, in Halifax); Dirty German Endurance Fest 25K/50K/50M (Saturday, in Philadelphia); Friendship Community Run, Walk, & Wheel for Capabilities 5K/10K (Saturday, in Lititz); Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra 30K/50K/50M (Saturday, in Portersville); Kat’s 5K (Saturday, in Strasburg); Mountain Railroad Half Marathon (Saturday, in Everett); Move for Life: Walk Run Plus 5K (Saturday, in Manheim); Ninja 5K/10K/15K/Half Marathon (Saturday, in York); Randi’s Race 5K (Saturday, in Enola); The 5K Waltz (Saturday, in Manheim); Sheep Shuffle 5K (Saturday, in Liverpool); St. Joseph’s 5K (Saturday, in Hanover); Mother’s Day Run for the 5K/10K/Half Marathon (Sunday, in Coplay); Rothrock Challenge 25K (Sunday, in State College); Rotary Mother’s Day 5K (Sunday, in Elizabethtown); Thirsty Thursday 5K (Thursday, May 16, in Reading); ABB Around the World 5K (Saturday, May 18, in Mechaniscburg); Beat Goes On Adventure Race 2K/5K (Saturday, May 18, in Lewisberry); Conestoga Crusher 10K (Saturday, May 18, in Holtwood); Eagles Autism Challenge 5K (Saturday, May 18, in Philadelphia); Freedom Trailfest 5K/10K/Half/Marathon (Saturday, May 18, in Carbondale); French Creek TriFest (Saturday, May 18, in Elverson); Got the Nerve Triathlon (Saturday, May 18, in Mount Gretna); Joggin’ 4 the Noggin 5K (Saturday, May 18, in Newport); Mighty Moraine Man Triathlon (Saturday, May 18, in Portersville); NorthPenn IRONKnights Triathlon (Saturday, May 18, in Lansdale; Tough Mudder Philly (Saturday, May 18, in Coatesville); Viking 5K/10K (Saturday, May 18, in Akron); Water Wheel 5K (Saturday, May 18, in Newville); Womelsdorf Mennonite Youth 5K (Saturday, May 18, in Lebanon; Independence Triathlon (Saturday, May 18, in Quakertown); Upper Dublin Triathlon (Saturday, May 18, in Fort Washington).
