The stories that emerge from the vast expanses of the running world never cease to amaze me. They capture my imagination and give me the motivation to push forward on my own running journey.
Twice in the span of less than a week, I’ve learned about two runners — State College’s George Etzweiler and New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe — whose stories could not be any more different, yet both have me amped up enough to run through a brick wall.
Etzweiler made the news with his passing just days after his 105th birthday. A former professor at Penn State, Etzweiler didn’t discover running until the second half of his life, and never stopped competing, even as he hit his 90s and 100s.
He became known at the national level for his 13 finishes at the renowned Mount Washington Road Race, a punishing 7.6-mile uphill climb featuring more the 4,600 feet of vertical gain. He logged his final finish in 2018 at the age of 98.
Just last year at 104, Etzweiler was throwing down at the Tusseyback 50-Mile Relay with a team named “Old Men of the Mountains.”
What a life and what a blessing it was for the running community to get to soak in Etzweiler’s greatness for far longer than any doctor or sportswriter could have predicted.
While Etzweiler personified the lesson of “it’s never too late,” perhaps Ruthe showed us that ‘it’s never too early” as the 15-year-old did the unthinkable, becoming the youngest runner to complete a sub-4 mile.
Competing at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, Ruthe burst across the finish line in 3:58.35. I get goosebumps just from typing about the talent of this prodigy, who is only a few years older than my own son.
Of course Etzweiler and Ruthe are unicorns in a running universe where the vast majority of us are fighting tooth and nail just to be above average. But it’s runners like these that uplift the rest of us, and make us strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
Thanks for the inspiration, boys, I needed every bit of it to power through my workouts this week.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
Area runners didn’t need any “luck of the Irish” to take on St. Patrick’s Day Run Fest in Hagerstown, just a will to compete.
Locals shined at the Run Fest, which featured race distances of one mile, 5K, and 8K. The 8K saw Kyle Phillips, of Waynesboro, blast off to the finish line in 25:36 to take third in the field of 120 runners. Phillips was chased by Hagerstown’s Andrew Bowers (6th in 30:50), Will Marquiss (33:07), Josue Lazo (33:29), Anthony Chaney (33:36), and Wisz (2nd female in 34:02), and Allie Isaacs (34:29).
Jonah Smith, of Smithsburg, was one of two local Top 10 finishers in the Run Fest’s 5K race. He clocked a 16:32 to finish second in the field of 303 runners. Hagerstown’s Kevin Magno took sixth in 18:28 and was followed by Smithsburg’s Jonathan Kisas (19:44) and Aaron Schwarzenegger (23:06), Hagerstown’s Anthony Lehman (21:01), Chambersburg’s Mickey Bard (21:21) and Kim Bard (26:06), and Greencastle’s Clint Rice (25:16).
The 47th Chambersburg Half Marathon drew 112 runners, including Waynesboro’s Will Campbell, who was the area’s top finisher with a sixth-place showing in 1:22:20. Campbell was followed by Fayetteville’s Christopher Staub (1:40:15) and Matthew Buhrman (2:08:49), Chambersburg’s Mark Willson (1:40:15), Zack Hunsberger (1:42:20), Stan Vaughn (1:43:43), Chase Wenger (1:45:22), and Braden Smith (1:51:59).
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend in Virginia Beach, Va., caught the interest of several area runners, including five Chambersburg runners who broke two hours in the half marathon: Meghan Durniak (1:54:59), Madison Durniak (1:54:59), Jennifer Jarjour (1:55:00), Lauren Barreto (1:55:00), and Mark Ward (1:59:23). Waynesboro’s Lexi Windsor (2:07:06) and Michael Ritenour (2:07:07) also completed the race, while the Shamrock 8K featured strong finishes from Chambersburg’s Chris Bond (59:13) and Emmett Brooks (1:00:35).
A handful of Chambersburg runners ventured out to North Carolina for Run North Myrtle Beach Half Marathon Weekend. Dirk Baumgardner finished the half marathon in 2:07:45, Audry Baumgardner completed the 10K in 1:12:05, and Wayne Wilkinson (45:21) and Suzy Wilkinson (46:50) were both finishers in the 5K.
Sticking with the beach theme, the Ocean City Shamrock 5K in Maryland saw four runners from the Local.News1 coverage area break 30 minutes: Fairfield’s Max Holz (22:28) and Chris VanSant (25:35), Chambersburg’s Brad Evans (25:50), and Hagerstown’s Kristi Rule (29:16).
A number of others were involved in races across the region and beyond, including Fayetteville’s Amanda Kaiser-Jones (2:12:56 at Annapolis Half Marathon), Greencastle’s Daniel Zhong (27:58 at Wharton 5K), Logan Dougherty (57:20 at Annapolis 10K), and Matthew Smith (1:32:27 at Lake Minneola Half Marathon), Chambersburg’s Kenan Korkutovic (37:01 at Lucky Charm 4 Miler), Jason Carregal (1:36:17 at Blazing Saddles 8 Miler), and Justin Fegley (1:26:26 at Charlottesville Ten Miler), Fairfield’s Beverly Black (50:17 at MCRRC Piece of Cake 10K) and Heather Fritz (2:44:42 at Virginia Half Marathon), and Hagerstown’s Erin Gedicke (28:53 at Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5K), Josh Gesell (3:27:45 at Terrapin Mountain Half Marathon), and Wendy Frank (6:58:25 at Virginia Marathon).
And finally, a shoutout to Hagerstown’s Ellen Bentz, who completed 32 miles in 6:22:31 at the March Madness 10 Hour Endurance Race in Elverson. She earned a second-place finish in the 50-59 AG for her efforts.
And now, a look ahead:
Capital 10-Miler/10K: Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m., in Harrisburg. This event, in its 15th running, now includes a 10K option. Learn more on capital10-miler.com.
Lavi a Bon 5K: Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m., in Shippensburg. The Cumberland Valley Rail-Trail will serve as the backdrop for this race, which benefits Project Gros Mangles. Register for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Buck Ridge Burn 5K/10K/13.1M: Sunday, April 6, 9 a.m., in Gardners. Bolt through the woods of Michaux State Forest in this rugged trail event. Check out the race on buckridgeburn.com.
Also: Defeat MSA 5K (Saturday, March 29, in Hanover); Just A Short Run 5K/8.1M/13.1M/30K (Saturday, March 29, in Allison Park); Kutztown Fools Run 5K/10K (Saturday, March 29, in Kutztown); Raccoongaine 3H/6H (Saturday, March 29, in Pittsburgh); Roger Snyder Memorial Race 5K/10K/13.1M (Saturday, March 29, in Richfield); ruOK 5K (Saturday, March 29, in Reading); Two Rivers Marathon Festival (Saturday-Sunday, March 29-30, in Lackawaxen); The Long Run Spring Forward 5M/3H/6H (Sunday, March 30, in Wind Gap); Emmaus 4 Mile Classic (Sunday, March 30, in Emmaus); Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon (Sunday, March 30, in Philadelphia); Eagleton Trail Challenge (Saturday, April 5, in Lock Haven); Greensburg YMCA Indoor Triathlon (Saturday, April 5, in Greensburg); Hot Chocolate Run 5K/10K/15K (Saturday, April 5, in Philadelphia); March of Dimes Run for Babies 5K (Saturday, April 5, Philadelphia); Pirate 1M/5K/10K (Saturday, April 5, in New Cumberland); Pirate 1M/5K/10K/15K/13.1M (Saturday, April 5, in Biglerville); Run for the Haven 5K (Saturday, April 5, in Lancaster); Scranton Half Marathon (Saturday, April 5, in Scranton); Cancer Crushin’ 5K (Sunday, April 6, Jacobus).
