Ageless milers

 

Congrats to Marist Running Alum Gary Wiesinger (Class of 1981, center) for being part of the Shore AC winning team (60-69 division) at the USATF mile championships out at Indianapolis. Gary ran a sizzling 5:57.09 (presumably not in jeans!) and continues to be a role model to his son Ian and to the rest of the Running Red Foxes. Neat!

Crossover

 

On Friday night, these four Running Red Foxes went to a Zach Bryan concert in Queens -- from left = Gabe, Tony, Neel and Easton. A group of young guys going to the concert in the summer. What's the big deal, right? Yes, that's true. But for loyal, long-time readers of this fancy blog (as well as anyone else), it's important to note that this is a rare (but not as rare as you think?) occasion of a music artist that our current team members like and listen to, that I (as their older guy coach) ALSO like and listen to. In fact, when we are riding around to and from practices in the van, Neel's playlists coincide with a lot of my same music tastes -- sweet crossover. Young athletes (and others) who don't know me just assume, because I'm an old(er) guy, that I listen to old(er) music -- you know, classic rock, stuff like that. But alas, that's rarely the case. I try to keep current, especially in the genres of Americana or folk rock/country, as Zach Bryan sort of falls into. My only complaint with this photo = apparently Neel and Easton didn't get the "flannel" memo, come on! 

Accidental racer

My “running career,” such as it were, is essentially over. Oh sure, I still run, on a somewhat regular basis, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. But they are mostly social outings with the Hyde Park Early Birds (our run group’s unofficial name), and I am grateful for each and every run I can complete. Our schedule is pretty set.
 
Mondays = We meet at the CVS plaza in the middle of town, usually for a flat and easy recovery run, to account for the other guys in the group (not me) who may have run long and hard over the weekend.
Wednesdays = Our hardest (and my favorite) run of the week, meeting at Netherwood Elementary School and doing a 7- or 8-mile course that is hilly, rural and often on dirt roads. It is similar to a “race” effort for me.
Fridays = We meet at Marist for a 6-mile run, often up to College Hill Golf Course. It is not as easy as Monday’s runs, but not as difficult as Wednesday’s runs. A perfect blend and a nice way to end the week.
 
So, there you have it. The rest of the week, I intersperse some walking – much more this time of year, when I have more time + the weather is nicer (although, I do a mind-numbing amount of “Loser Laps” in our indoor track in the winter, as well). And, oh yeah, every August, I do my one and only “race” of the year – an 8-hour ultra in Pittsfield, MA. That’s it!
 
This long and rambling introduction was necessary groundwork to why it was so remarkably noteworthy – stunning, to close friends – that I actually pinned on a bib number and ran a race last night. And not just a “race” – a TRAIL race! Those aforementioned dirt roads? I don’t enjoy them. I’d rather be on smooth pavement. I don't like trails of any kind. I struggle on uphills – I’m just not that strong on them anymore. And, I’m an objectively terrible downhill runner – too tentative, gawky form and … just not good at it.
 
Add it all up and it begs the question: What the HECK was I doing over at Minnewaska State Park Preserve on Wednesday night, for the Summer Solstice Trail Run? Good question! Here’s the answer: Schneider, the official czar of the Wednesday Netherwood runs, was out of town on business. Tony, a true trail lover, was signed up for the Solstice race. That left Dave O and me for the Wednesday run, and we instantly agreed, “screw it, might as well just do the Minnewaska race instead of Netherwood.”
 
And voila! There we were.
 
How infrequently do I race? This is the first race in which I had a Garmin watch on, and a good thing, because there are no mile splits out there on the beautiful carriage trails of Minnewaska. The entire race was either uphill (much more difficult than Netherwood) and bone-jarring downhills (which I found much harder to navigate than the uphills). I got through it, knees sore and my sensitive feet burning and bruised (not to mention my ego), at around 9:15 pace. Was it “fun?” Uh, no. But, it wasn't that bad. The long walk back to the parking lot acted as my cooldown, and I unapologetically stopped for junk food on the way home. On the longest day of the year. Neat! As my friend Krys likes to say: It doesn't have to be fun to be fun.

It's Flag Day

Alert, long-time readers of this blog know I’m a big fan of Flag Day. It’s not particularly something of a patriotic fervor – although I do love our country, warts and all, and with a son in the military there is a bit more straightness to my posture when it’s time to face the flag during the National Anthem. Rather, the appeal of Flag Day for me has always been of fond childhood memories of “field day” at our elementary school – held on or near Flag Day most years – and of deliciously warm (but not too warm!) weather and the impending end of school, a sheer delight for any kid through the generations. The weather on June 14 – then and now – remains generally delightful (although, as I type this, there are thunderstorms rumbling overhead). I think it’s neat that long-graduated Forever Foxes recall my affinity for this “holiday” with early-morning texts to “wish me” a Happy Flag Day. Neat! And thanks.
 
Alert, long-time readers of this blog also know that June and July are lean months in terms of posts. It’s just the nature of the cycle of the months. We don’t have a lot going on in terms of team-related news or activity during this time of year. And so, the blog posts are less frequent. “For everything, there is a season.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
 
Over at my “other” blog – petecolaizzo.substack.com – there is a bit more to write about and I continue to move forward in that area. (Shameless plug = please consider a paid subscription at that blog, to support my freelance writing pursuits, especially in the summer. Thank you for your consideration)
 
Last week Over There, I wrote about the Air Quality Issues we had because of the Canadian wildfires. Fortunately, the atmospheric crisis was short-lived and we are back to “normal” air quality with no impact on running (or living, for that matter). The impact on running (and living, for that matter!) was felt during those few days last week when the AQI (air quality index) soared into the hundreds. Not good! The silver lining? We now have a better idea of what AQI is and we can now add it to our environmental metrics – especially on hot and humid days – to determine the safety of running and working out in those conditions. For now? Enjoy Flag Day and the late spring/early summer weather before the heat and humidity starts to kick in. OK!

Jonny K in Iceland

 Jon Kittredge (aka Jonny K) just got back from a post-graduation trip to Iceland and he asked me to post a few "blog-worthy" photos from his trip -- including, of course, a running one. We already miss Jonny K and the rest of the Class of 2023 ... surreal to think it's already been 2 weeks since commencement!

Forever Foxes!

 

Oh man, do we LOVE pictures like this! From Sunday's amazing wedding of Forever Foxes Kerry Gaye and Michael Kennedy (front and center, behind the banner) in Poughkeepsie. So great to see them and their classmates, teammates, friends, family ... Forever Foxes, one and all. Highly, wonderfully NEAT.