The yearly Super Bowl of politics — Election Day — came and went this week.
I voted, and I hope you did, too.
And while I take a lot of pride in fulfilling my civic duty, the day itself can be draining and unnerving. I mean, for better or worse, our votes are quite literally shaping the course of history in real time. Voting is a responsibility that carries a lot of weight for me.
If you’re also feeling this burden and seeking relief, I wouldn’t recommend picking up your phone and looking for the internet’s take. For me, it usually takes about five minutes in a comments section before I’m red in the face and trapped in the muck and minutiae of online warfare.
No, thank you.
I prefer to just step outside and start running or walking. It’s a chance to shake the anxiety out of your legs and the doubt from your heart. Making that trip outside enables you to take that deep breath of fresh air, and a long look around to take account of the world that is local to you.
On your trek you’ll come across dog walkers, construction workers, gardeners, and mailmen. You’ll see runners and bicyclists, students and veterans. And chances are there are individuals among these folks that think and vote differently than you do. But you know what, we smile and wave all the same as we cross paths in real life, don’t we?
We’ve become obsessed with scoring points on the internet with political hot takes, but if you walk just a few steps out of your own home, you’ll soon realize that you have much more in common with your “political opponents” than you might think.
If you learn just one thing from this outdoor journey, I hope it’s an understanding of just how undeniably lucky we are to live in a free and voting society, and that we even have the luxury of being able to debate politics.
Not everyone will be thrilled about the results of an election, of course, but we collectively accept the will of the people, watch how the term plays out, and vote accordingly in the next election cycle.
That’s the American way. And while it’s not the most stress-free method, it’s the process that I will walk, or run with, every day of the week and twice on Election Tuesdays.
1 STEP BACK, 3 STEPS FORWARD
There’s no doubt it, Franklin County runners enjoy having a little adversity with their running.
Whether it’s competing in an ultramarathon or navigating through a punishing trail race, local runners seem to gravitate toward the hardest of challenges.
That’s been the case for several runners from the Local.News area in recent weeks, with the most extreme of those challenges being embraced by Fayetteville’s Philip Samotus and Chambersburg’s Matthew Smith at last weekend’s Rim to River 100 Miler in Oak Hill, W.Va.
Competing at New River Gorge National Park, Samotus and Smith encountered waterfalls, whitewater, and dramatic views, not to mention ghost towns, centuries-old cemeteries, and an abandoned mine shaft.
After completing the race in 22:04:32, Samotus noted that it was “one of the strongest races I’ve had at an ultra distance” and that he managed his effort well and felt good throughout the race. As for Smith, he shoveled down a pancake, mashed potatoes, ramen, and chicken broth slurry at the final aid station to fuel his way through the final 20 miles en route to a finish in 27:34:25.
In Pembroke, Va., the Eastern Divide 50K was a hard race for its 46 finishers, but Waynesboro’s Robert Webster was up for the challenge, finishing sixth overall in 4:59:51. Another trail race, the Fire on the Mountain 25K in Little Orleans, Md., saw Chambersburg’s Colin Fry finish in 3:48:58, followed by Greencastle’s Eric Bergquist (4:00:04) and Dawn Bergquist (4:00:06).
Pinesburg Quarry in Williamsport, Md. was the backdrop for the Boulder Dash Challenge, an event that featured 5K and five-mile races. The 5K was highlighted by the efforts of Cascade’s Kurt Schroder, who finished eighth in 29:29, and Chambersburg’s Patricia Flood, who posted a 38:28 to win the 50-59 AG. As for the five-mile race, it was Fayetteville’s Patrick Gavet leading the way with a fifth-place finish in 43:58. Greencastle’s Emily Willingham finished as third female in 49:30, while Chambersburg’s Stacey Rice clocked a 50:31 to take second in the 30-39 AG.
Moving from the trails to the roads, the Go Girls Go Fall 5K in Chambersburg drew 230 runners, with Waynesboro’s Chad Vaughn (18:42) and Chambersburg’s Taliya Raber (23:21) finishing as top male and female, respectively. Other top runners from the race include Chambersburg’s Cole Lehman (2nd in 18:52), Jackson Faith (7th in 23:11), Owen Book (8th in 23:14), Sophie Keller (2nd female in 23:30), and Lillian Spohn (3rd female in 24:05), as well as Fayetteville’s Lincoln Vanaman (3rd in 21:14), Noah Jacobs (4th in 21:29), and Kylee Perry (25:02).
A number of others were active in races across the region, including Waynesboro’s Jennifer Miller (26:08 at Adams County Haunted Wine Run 5K), Susie Smedley (27:00 at Key City Foundation Oktoberfest 5K), Jeffrey Januchowski (51:38 at Marine Corps 10K), Tyler Lease (2:00:20 at Ocean City Half Marathon), and Bessie Sanders (5:55:47 at Ocean City Marathon), Greencastle’s Kinsey Frost (33:55 at Battlefield 5K), Fayetteville’s Wing Lam Cheung (23:37 at Hot Cider Hustle 5K), Brian Baughman (25:54 at SU Military Science Department 5K), Jeff Bertram (1:51:53 at Battlefield Half Marathon), and Nathan Ward (4:58:58 at Veterans Marathon), and Chambersburg’s Eric Guyer (24:47 at Gulliver’s Run 5K), Madison Ford (33:49 at Ocean City 5K), Steve Vanscyoc (53:54 at SU Military Science Department 10K), Sara Grove (2:23:41 at Colt State Park Half Marathon), Michael Larusso (3:58:21 at Marine Corps Marathon), Martina McGarvey (5:14:06 at New York City Marathon), and Mike Hepner (5:02:17 at Marine Corps 50K).
Finally, a shoutout to a pair of runners who threw down monster effots at the half-marathon distance last weekend. Smithsburg’s Corey Centofonti posted a 1:23:21 to take third out of 184 runners at the Historic Drawbridge Half Marathon in St. Michael’s, Md., while Greencastle’s Matthew Smith posted a 1:32:34 to take sixth out 175 runners at the Veterans Half Marathon in Blairsville.
And now, a look ahead:
Harrisburg Marathon: Sunday, 7:30 a.m., in Harrisburg. This long-running event features a half and full marathon, as well as a four-person marathon relay. Learn more at ymcaharrisburg.org.
Greencastle Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 23, 8:30 a.m., in Greencastle. Benefit Greencastle runners from the youth level to high school by competing in this race. Learn more at greencastleflyers.org.
Shippensburg Turkey Trot 5K: Thursday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m., in Shippensburg. There is a 1,000-runner limit for this year’s race, so lock down your spot while you still can. Register for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Also: Big Valley 10K (Saturday, in Belleville); Harvest Hare Triathlon (Saturday, in Broomall); Harvest Moon Race 10 Miler (Saturday, in Coraopolis); Hawk Hustle 5K (Saturday, in Hanover); Pie Gobbler 5K/10K/13.1 (Saturday, in York); Resilient Service Members Classic 5K/20M/50K (Saturday, in Hookstown); Rocky Run (Saturday, in Philadelphia); Valley Trail Run 14 Miler (Saturday, in New Holland); Veterans Day 5K Color Run (Saturday, in Big Cove Tannery); St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest (Sunday, in Allentown); Susquenita Blackhawk Foundation Veteran’s Day Run 5K (Sunday, in Duncannon); Wyoming Valley Striders 20K (Sunday, in Shickshinny); Dover 10 Miler (Sunday, in Dover); Run the Glen Glow Run 5K (Friday, Nov. 17, in Lebanon); Give Thanks for Lebanon 5K/10K (Saturday, Nov. 18, in Lebanon); Philadelphia Marathon Weekend (Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 18-19, in Philadelphia); Carlisle Family YMCA Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Carlisle); East Berlin 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 23, in East Berlin); Great Turkey Chase 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Elizabethtown); Millersville Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Millersville); Newport Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Newport); Pie Gobbler 5K/10K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Harrisburg); Run for the Diamonds 9 Miler (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Berwick); SMT Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in New Cumberland); Sticks & Biscuits 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Palmyra); Thanksgiving Day Community 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 23, in New Oxford); Thundering Pickle Turkey Trot 5K (Thursday, Nov. 23, in Dillsburg); York YMCA 5K Turkey Trot (Thursday, Nov. 23, in York).
