stuff ’round the mill
“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”
-Dan Gable
During my journey from Pocono Raceway to the Stadium I thanked as many volunteers as possible for being there. At least 3/4′s of them yelled back something like “thank you for supporting the Red Cross!” others replied “we wouldn’t have a race without you runners!” Mutual benefit of this nature is when an event really comes together, when the work becomes enjoyable and everybody goes home feeling rewarded. It gives you a warm and connected feeling when you thank someone and they reply in kind, we really are all in this together, each of us putting our talents, our gifts, into one pot. Thank God, and the Red Cross, that there will be a time next year when we can do this again!
I ran with a man from Connecticut for a few miles who said he isn’t much of a runner but he is very involved with the racing events in the New England area, he works as an announcer for a lot of races. We chatted about Boston and what to expect next year and I commented that my hope is Boston will open their event to at least 100,000 runners for 2014. The guy laughed and said “that’s the number being thrown around;” he continued, “we’ll see if the communities that the marathon goes through will allow it?” I can’t help but think about the spectacular sight of 100,000 marathoners celebrating the Boston Marathon would be! As runners and spectators in 2014 we will rock that city like it’s never been rocked before!
FWIW: We have a very large group of local runners entered in Steamtown this year. Let’s get training! Don Jewell and Bill Carlton are working on a “long run” weekend training program for us geezers! More info as it becomes available. Meanwhile, if some of you younger and fast folks would like to set a program from one of the many good ones available I will be happy to help y’all set it up. Please let me know if I can help.
Who’s running God’s Country??
Is anybody planning to do the PA GRAND CANYON MARATHON?
06/08 – THE MCDADE TRAIL 50K – Milford to Hialeah: Now that we know the date for the Josh Miller 5K I recommend we do this Saturday AM. Bill Gaa reports there is one bridge out on the upper end so we will have to bypass that area by either working our way to the highway or to the river Please send me an email if you have interest in this
THIS WEEKEND:
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: This year is the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation and the 20th anniversary of my 1st marathon. In 1963 after the graduation ceremony many asked me are you going to this or that party. My response was no, I’m going home to get some sleep; I start work tonight as a knitting machine mechanic trainee at American Knitting Mills in Bally PA. It was time for me to start getting my education. In less than a year Bonne and I would be married, starting a family, and I had no time to waste at celebrations, it was time to get to work. Ya see, I was the lucky one, I was to have a beautiful wife and a wonderful family, I had a plan I developed which I was determined to fulfill. I knew what I wanted and I knew I would only reach my goals through long persistent hard work.
Many of my friends, family and loved ones were not as lucky as me. Many of them went to Vietnam…and some never returned. Some returned home changed physically and mentally, never to regain the happiness, the joy, and optimism we once shared in our youth. Right or wrong they went to fulfill what they felt was their duty to God and Country. I was busy working and paid little attention as many in our country became hostile in attitude towards our returning military. I was confused, I was upset but I remained silent! Today I am ashamed of my silence while so many good people with good intentions were treated so damn shamefully!
Saturday and Sunday will surely find the Mill Rats scurrying all over hill and dale spreading their heavenly disease.
Join ‘em if you dare, it is catching! I hope to be there.
Lord willin’ I will be here at the 5K Memorial Day in honor of those who’ve made a sacrifice that we all may live with freedom and hope! Please come and run/walk with us if you can.
05/27 – TORTISE & THE HARE – http://www.tortoiseharerace.org MEMORIAL DAY!
GROUP SOCIAL & TRAINING – RUNNING – CYCLING – SWIMMING:
AMERICAN RIBBON MILL on ANN STREET in Stroudsburg
Mill Rats run/walk/cycle – 7:30 AM daily – Wed evening at 5:15 PM – walkers & runners from very doable walking paces through running paces from 12 mpm to 7 mpm. Distances are from 3 miles to 20 and more at times. There is a fit for you, please join us!
POCONO FAMILY YMCA – http://poconoymca.org/ Group social/training runs – 6 pm Tue & Thur evenings, meet at the front door. Dan Rusk and Scott Ewing sewing1950@yahoo.com – FROM SCOTT – Runners do not have to be members of the YMCA or any other organization to run with us. We encourage beginner runners to come out with us and highly recommend runners should wear reflective vests/jackets/hats/gloves when running, especially with the Y group on Tues/Thurs.
POCONO AREA RUNNING CLUB – www.poconoarearunningclub.com – parc@ptd.net – & FACEBOOK.
TRI POCONO MULTISPORT CLUB – Jeff Silvernale – 570-807-0349 – jsilvernale@vertellus.com and FACEBOOK
READY SET RUN (shoes & running apparel plus all sorts of running/walking paraphernalia) – 431 Main Street, Stroudsburg – Trish D’Imperio – Facebook.
FIRST STRIDES – Women’s Beginner Walking and Running Program www.firststrides.com for more information
This program is for women ages 12 – 112. It is a gradual 12 week program to get you walking, combination of walking/running, or jogging at a pace that is right for you.
Two Locations:
Stroudsburg – Starts Monday, March 25 at 6:15 pm. Meet at Stroudsburg Intermediate Elementary School on Chipperfield Drive.
Brodheadsville – Starts Tuesday, March 26 at 6:15 pm. Meet at the JC Mills School off of Rt 115.
VERTICAL EARTH MOUNTAIN SPORTS – 762 main street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 – 570-872-9088 – http://www.verticalearthinc.com/events – This is a fabulous bike and bike paraphernalia store!!!
LISA PIZZUTO – ESU Women’s swimming coach and ADULT SWIM PROGRAM DIRECTOR – LPizzuto@po-box.esu.edu
UNLIMITED PERSONAL TRAINING – 1240 North 9th St. Stroudsburg, PA Across from Grey Chevrolet on rt 611.
570-242-8910 – Kelly Scot Smith
STROUD CROSS FIT – GAYLEMARIE KOLB – www.StroudCrossFit.com – facebook.com/stroudcrossfit
PRETZEL CITY SPORTS – http://pretzelcitysports.com/adventure.html a great resource for races all over eastern PA
JESSICA DEPETE AT FREE FLOW ACUPUNCTURE
Keeping runners up and running since 2005!
435 Main Street (3 doors down from Ready Set Run!), Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.801.1369 www.freeflowacu.com www.facebook.com/jessicadepetelac
RUNNING THE POCONO’S and BEYOND – http://blogs.thepoconos.com/running-the-poconos/
If you wish to be added or removed from “stuff ’round the mill” send me an email.
