The older I get the more acutely aware I become of time. And for some reason, that precious time just seems to be moving faster by the day.
This is vastly different from my childhood experience growing up in the literal woods of Perry County, where the nearest kids my age were at least a 30-minute drive away. Back then, summers seemed to last for years, and I had nothing but time.
One way I found to keep time humming along was TV and video games. Yes, I was binging screen time long before today’s kids made it cool!
Before my parents “upgraded” to the cartoonishly-large satellite dish, we were able to get two or three channels on our TV antenna, and that was enough to give me my fill of football, basketball, and auto racing. And when there were no sports to be found, the Super Nintendo was my weapon of choice.
What a time to be alive, it was.
The years have gone by, for sure, and instead of tracking all of the teams in the NCAA Top 25 I’m hitting the record button for my daughter’s soccer games. Instead of staying up until sunrise to play the XBOX I’m trying to stay awake long enough to have maybe a good hour or two to myself, pending the completion of dishes and laundry, of course. There are doctor’s appointments, sports practices, and birthday parties littered all through the calendar. Life has not only gotten more complex, it’s taking more time.
I still enjoy my hobbies to this day, but they sometimes come with a sense of guilt, with a prevailing thought of “Isn’t there a better way to spend my time?” even if I’ve taken care of every last one of my responsibilities for the day.
There’s no reason to feel guilty, of course. This feeling is just a byproduct of the diminishing time that we have. I still think we all deserve to be well-equipped for the “water cooler” chat, whether it’s talking about the big game or the stunning elimination from the reality show.
It’s all about balance. And thanks to a certain machine in my Florida Room, I believe I’ve found just that.
The machine I’m referring to is my treadmill. While staying in perpetual motion, I’ve watched entire football games and soaked up carpentry and gardening DIY videos on YouTube. My son Paxton and I watched every episode of the Dragon Ball anime, from its inception in the 80s all the way to present day. I plowed through the entire Rocky series the other month. With the obscene number of miles I’ve put on the treadmill, it’s no wonder that I’ve gone through two machines in two years.
But the important thing to take from this is that I’m combining into one activity a need and a want: A need to stay physically active and fit, and a want to stay up to date on my TV schedule. It’s been a beautiful match for me, and I’m just thankful that I have the coordination to watch a screen and run at the same time.
Sometimes I even like to sneak out to the treadmill during my writing hours. The movement can jog my brain when I’m hitting a block, and if the pace is slow enough, I’ve evolved to the point where I can compose entire stories on my phone. And in turn that gives me more time to enjoy some of my hobbies, while actually sitting down once in a while.
This work strategy paid off once again this week, as I now have time to visit the bar poker game on the evening of this writing. It’s because I wrote this column and completed a 5K all at the same time. No guilt included.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
For years the End of the Road Half Marathon was a hidden gem race, residing within an hour driving distance of Franklin County.
But the event — which requires runners to wear a headlamp to navigate the pitch-black tunnels of the abandoned Pa. Turnpike — was destined to grow. What started as a hidden gem has now become a destination event, and that was apparent last weekend as nearly 700 runners gathered in Waterfall to compete in three different races.
On Saturday, a first iteration of the End of the Road Half saw Chambersburg’s Michael Day post a time of 1:33:09 to take seventh in a field of 305 runners. Greencastle’s Connor Rohm posted a 1:47:26 to win the 1-19 AG, while Chambersburg’s Katie Ziegler and Amanda Strock both crossed the finish line in 2:17:16.
One day later, 170 others gathered at the starting line for another run of the End of the Road Half. This time it was Chambersburg’s Cade McDowell leading the way for locals, posting a 1:48:13 to win the 20-24 AG. McDowell was chased by fellow Chambersburg runner Shelby White (1:49:07), as well as Greencastle’s Nicholas Searfoss (1:59:02) and Eric Baines (1:59:37).
The One Tunnel 4 Miler, a companion event for the End of the Road race series, was chock full of local finishers, including Chambersburg’s Elliot Coy, who finished 10th in the field of 215 runners with a time of 33:40. There were sub-40 efforts all across the board, including fast finishes from Greencastle’s Mary Hykes (36:40) and Chambersburg’s Karen Johnston (37:41), Tie Mulewich (38:46), Dan Mulewich (38:46), and Quin Shaffer (39:58).
In Smithsburg, the Cinnamon Bun 5K required no headlamps, just an appetite to handle a post-race treat from Hadley Farms. Rob Hovermale finished as the runner-up in 21:16, while fellow Smithsburg runners Jonathan Kisas (3rd in 23:20) and Alex Wilmot (10th in 25:38) also landed in the Top 10. Kathy Revesz finished as second female in 24:43, while fellow Waynesboro runner Ethan Lobley finished ninth in 25:27.
Greencastle’s Nate Snyder was the top local runner at the Five Forks Church Autumn Harvest 5K, finishing as the runner-up in 20:30. Other Top 10 finishers include Chambersburg’s James Kinton (3rd in 20:46) and Dustin Timmons (8th in 24:49), as well as Waynesboro’s Simon Egolf (6th in 22:20).
The Chambersburg husband-wife team of Jason and Amy Huber took on the West Penn Triathlon in Saltsburg. Jason clocked a 2:33:28 to finish ninth in the field of 119, while Amy crossed the finish line in 3:33:38.
The Bethlehem Running Festival Half Marathon saw Greencastle’s Joshua Hohl (1:52:15) and Waynesboro’s Jeffrey Hein (1:59:04) each post sub-2 times.
A number of others were active in races across the region, including Waynesboro’s Keith Byers (5:33:14 at Baltimore Marathon), Greencastle’s Rio Ferrario (27:03 at River Valley Run 5K) and Kristy LaGoe (32:34 at Spook Hill Cider & Wine 4 Miler), Fayetteville’s Darren Tolbert (47:31 at Johnston 5 Mile Run), Chambersburg’s Zach Johle (39:24 at Pittsburgh Penguins 6.6K) and Mark Ward (1:18:08 at Bethlehem Running Festival 10K), and Smithsburg’s Jennifer Gates (1:28:11 at River Valley Run 10K).
Finally, a shoutout to a couple of area runners who completed the Rocky Gap 25K in Flintstone, Md. Chambersburg’s John Staats posted a time of 3:18:56, while Smithsburg’s Anne Shubert finished in 3:50:45.
And now, a look ahead:
SU Military Science 5K/10K: Saturday, 9 a.m., in Shippensburg. This race, in its 44th running, benefits the SU Military Science Department. Find the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Adams County Haunted Wine Run 5K: Sunday, 10 a.m., in Orrtanna. Enjoy the scenery at Adams County Winery, not to mention a pour of wine, in this race. Look for the race on runsignup.com.
Go Girls Go 5K: Saturday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m., in Chambersburg. Men, women, and children are all welcome to compete in this race, an event that supports Go Girls Go, a local after-school running program and girls’ empowerment initiative. Sign up for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Also: Haunted 5K/10K (Saturday, in Manheim); A Race to Remember 5K (Saturday, in Lititz); Bucks County Marathon (Saturday, in Washington Crossing); Delaware Canal Half Marathon (Saturday, in Washington Crossing); Ginger Goudie Memorial 5K (Saturday, in Mount Joy); Harrisburg Halloween Run 10K (Saturday, in Harrisburg); Dirty Austrian 20K/40K/60K (Sunday, in Philadelphia); Kegs and Eggs 5K (Sunday, in Manheim); Trick or Trot 5K (Sunday, in Elizabethville); 5K Run to Remember (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Mechanicsburg); Lions’ Chase 5K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Millersburg); Mushroom Cap Half Marathon (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Kennett Square); Pain in Green Lane 25K/50K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Green Lane); Penn Relays 5K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Philadelphia); Pie Gobbler 5K/10K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in New Cumberland); Tree 4 Hope 5K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Harrisburg); Trick or Trot 5K (Saturday, Nov. 4, in Camp Hill); Pittsburgh 10 Miler (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Pittsburgh); Gulliver’s Run 5K (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Lewisberry); Hot Cider Hustle 5K/10K (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Harrisburg); Pennsylvania Purple Polka Dot Race 5K (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Hummelstown); Swatara Township Police 5K Hero Run (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Harrisburg); The View 25K (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Hyner); Veterans Marathon (Sunday, Nov. 5, in Blairsville).
Foot Notes is a self-syndicated column by Central Pa. sportswriter Andy Sandrik that has been “running” since 2016. Andy always follows back on Strava and can be reached by email at big_andy76@yahoo.com.
