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RUMINATIONS
It Sucks to Grow Old – by CtCloser
Already at least 10 years ago, a long-time friend and I were among a few others comparing notes about the things that were going wrong as we were aging. In closing, Friend uttered the immortal quote: “It sucks to grow old.”
When running with SRC folk, I’ve taken to asking, “How are your parts holding up?” It’s a realistic question across the lifespan because stuff happens. I am pointed about asking the question in that value-neutral way, rather than focusing on what’s falling apart. It doesn’t change the reality that the answer is often the same thing that was struggling to hold together at the last conversation. In reality, bodies don’t recover as completely and quickly as they age.
Asking the question in the value-neutral fashion removes a degree of negativity, though. There’s no doubt that we’re all growing older, no matter what age we are. (It does bring to mind the morose retort: “It’s better than the alternative.”) The frame of mind we have about the process is key. Although I laughed when Friend offered the utterance about aging, the immediate next thought I had was that, unless I developed a more equanimous attitude, I was doomed to be negative for the rest of my life. (Bear in mind, too, that negativity itself can also accelerate aging.) That meant that I needed to be more positive or I at least needed to figure out how to be more even keeled about the process.
So while it’s true “I don’t run as fast as I used to” and “I wish I ran faster, like in my earlier life,” I’m actually working toward focusing on the value-neutral fact: For me, the pace right now is going to be 9:30 to 10:30 per mile. Here’s the other reality: As long as we’re running, we’re still doing the kind of activity that would improve life for a huge percentage of the rest of the American populace. At Shawmont Running Club, we have an inspiring number of runners (including us, to a lot of other outside people) who continue to be engaged in that activity.
We can focus on negativity or we can celebrate persistence. I’ve made my decision on the matter.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe) “Negative Split or Positive Splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Text by Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-published: Facebook Shawmont Running Club (ZY Weekly Newsletter 9/7/24), Shawmont Running Club website, Ruminations by CtCloser.
WHOZ DOIN WHAT IN 2024
Through Next Month…
- 9/8: MAIN LINE 5K (Wayne PA)
- Prof. Sandy
- 9/15: USATF MASTERS 12K CHAMPIONSHIPS (Highland NJ)
- Prof. Sandy
- Too Hot Tom
- 10/6: WINEGLASS HALF MARATHON (Corning NY)
- James Craig
- 10/26: HOWLOWEEN 5K (North Wales) [Edited 2024’10’03’R]
- Prof. Sandy
- Marea (granddaughter of Prof. Sandy)
- 10/27: MARINE CORPS MARATHON (Arlington VA)
- Eric F
And Just Gene…
- 9/15: SYDNEY MARATHON (Australia)
- 9/21-27: EAST COAST TRAIL SUPPORTED ADVENTURE RUN (Newfoundland)
- 10/6: WINEGLASS MARATHON (Corning NY)
- 10/20: ** DELAWARE DISTANCE CLASSIC 15K (Wilmington DE)
** Middle Atlantic USATF Road Grand Prix Series
CONGRATS-A-MUNDO TO ALL!
- 9/1: CHARTWAY VIRGINIA BEACH 10 MILER
- Quietman Tom, 1:22:16. AG 3rd
SEND YOUR RACE RESULTS TO: TEDMILLER01@GMAIL.COM
RUNNIN’ OFF AT THE MOUTH
“If you feel bad at 10 miles, you’re in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you’re normal. If you feel don’t feel bad at 26 miles, you’re abnormal.” –Rob de Castella, winner 1983 World Marathon Championships
“I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known.” –Emil Zatopek
“A road race is the closest thing to a party I can think of.” –Bill Rodgers
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB – by Teddio
Slow Running Is on the Rise… But What’s the Appeal?
…Jasmine Collett, a journalist at Athletics Weekly, has noticed an increase in slow running content on her feeds…: “All I’m seeing at the moment on Tiktok, and Instagram, and whatnot is so many people picking up running which is really, really amazing to see.”…
…Fiona McPartlan…was inspired by the slow running content that she was seeing on social media…: “I saw more content from runners on TikTok that were talking about slow running and it just made it seem so much more accessible and less intimidating to start from a slow pace.” …Allowing herself to run at a slower pace made running “feel more meditative than punishing.”
(https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/sport/23052024-slow-running-is-on-the-rise-but-whats-the-appeal)
THEMZ WHO WUZ THERE (except those forgotten or missed 😊)
Stats – We track attendance and Shawmont. Loggin’ the miles is just for fun.
Records: Attendance – 39 on 6/23/18. Shawmonts – 26 on 2/10/18.
- Trail Name: Distance (Route)
- Alan Bravo: 10
- All That Jaz [Trail name in training. FKA: Jaz, JC]: 11
- BB Betsy: 14 (SHAWMONT)
- ChrisKir: 5. Welcome to our world!!
- CtCloser: 14 (SHAWMONT)
- Dr. Ned: 10
- Gregle [Trail name in training]: 10
- Jamie: 10
- Jimmy Dee: 14 (SHAWMONT)
- JR: 14+2 (SHAWMONT)
- PMS (AKA Peter S): 14 (SHAWMONT)
- Quietman Tom: 14 (SHAWMONT)
- Teddio: 11
- Weezinator: 2 with puppy Missy
Email Newsletter Editor: Teddio
Facebook and Website Newsletter Editor: CtCloser
2024’10’03’R: Edited (Howloween 5K name, previously Holloween)
Shawmont Running Club 