TIME TO RENEW!

 

Thank you to all who have renewed their memberships.  For those of you who have not, your application should be included in this newsletter.  If it is not, please print one out from the PRC website:  www.parkwayrunning.org (click on “How to Join”).  Please make sure to fill out the form completely, sign it, include a check, and send to the Y (Parkway Running Club, c/o West Roxbury YMCA, 15 Bellevue Street

West Roxbury, MA  02132).  Your promptness is appreciated as it helps keep the list current.  If you don’t renew by the next newsletter, we’ll have to take you off the list and we don’t want to do that!

 

January & February Birthdays

 

January                                   

Erin Dunne                 

Mike Jasko                  

Fred Meyer                

Dan Kennedy             

Julie Connors             

Beth Delahunty          

Eavan Mages

Ursula Kelly

Tom Wall

Andy Meirose

 

February

Stephen Peckiconis

Keith Shields

Stuart Rose

Brendan O’Connell

Scott Sharek

Joe McGonegal

 

Big birthdays in 2005!

 

Look who is turning 50:

Gerard Jansen: 10/12/55

Jill Hallisey: 9/5/55

Paul Sutliff: 12/12/55

 

Look who is turning 40:

Stuart: Rose: 2/27/65

Linda Moraski:  6/14/65

Eavan Mages:  1/18/65

Danah Tench:  8/30/65

 

Training Runs

As of January 4th, training runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings will begin 10 minutes earlier at 6:30pm.

 

Weekend training runs will start at the  same time: Saturday - 8:30am and Sunday - 9:00am.

 

What Not To Do for Your Birthday!?! By Stuart Rose

 

Recently it seems to have become a tradition in PRC to undertake something special when members reach the grand old age of 40. Walter did an Ironman Triathlon while Linda Moraski climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Thus with my 40th birthday fast approaching, I decided to do something that combines elements of these two feats (climbing and running).  I entered a race to run up the stairwell of the Empire State Building. Each year a lucky few (about 200 runners) are invited to compete in this unique event and fortunately I was accepted for this year’s event. Once the excitement of being accepted had worn off, I started thinking … how do you train for such an event? Do I run up and down the stairs in my house 40 times! In the end, I thought the only sensible idea was to train down at the Y on the old Stairmaster. 

 

During January, despite a twisted ankle from running in the snow, my training continued to progress.  I could climb 86 floors on the Stairmaster in a little over 10 minutes. Although, much to my dismay, I was to discover that this exercise was about as realistic as cycling 26 miles and thinking you can run a marathon. 

 

Just before the race, I did some research on the Empire State Building Run-up or ESBRU for short. This is the 28th running of the oldest and most prestigious of these types of events (there are similar events at the John Hancock Tower in Chicago and other skyscrapers around the world). The record time is an incredible 9 minutes and 3 seconds.  I found out later that the oldest competitor in this year’s events was a 93-year man from Italy, who completed the race in less than 50 minutes.

 

As race day approached I got more and more nervous, not really knowing what to expect. However based on my training times from the Stairmaster and times from previous races, I set myself a target of finishing in under 15 minutes.

 

Finally it was Tuesday,  February 1st --  RACE DAY.  I arrived at the Empire State Building around 8:30am. The place was already buzzing with athletes and a surprising large number of television cameras, including CNN. I talked to a few runners who had competed the race before, but received very little insight into what lay ahead. The only advice I got was to start out slowly.  I soon discovered there are actually two races. The first is a preliminary race for rookie like myself, followed by the main race an hour later. Just before nine o’clock we were told to proceed to the ground floor lobby where the race was to begin.

 

The start line was only 20 feet away from the single door leading into the stairwell, and the finish line just 86 floors and 1576 steps away!  Bang, the gun goes off and I sprint towards the doorway, I had already forgotten the advice about going out slowly. I managed to get to the bottom of the stairs about halfway down the field of 40 runners and ran smack into the back of the runner in front of me. Instantly the runner behind me runs into the back of me, and I wait for the congestion to clear for what seems like an eternity but is probably only a second or two. Finally, I am moving again and I speed up to make up for the lost time but overtaking runners is difficult in a stairwell only four feet wide. However before I know it, I have already reached the 20th floor and the first water station. I decide not to stop, but look down at my watch and see I have only been running for just over 3 minutes. I should easily be able to finish in my target time.

 

I continue making good progress until suddenly, WHAM, I feel as though I have been hit by a truck. My pulse rate is racing, and my heart feels as though it is about to explode. I can no longer run up the stairs and slow to a walk, but continue to take the stairs two at a time. I still feel as though I am making good progress, but runners I had passed just a few floors back are now overtaking me. Finally, I reach the 43rd floor and the halfway mark. I again glimpse at my watch and see nearly 8 minutes have passed. I am a behind schedule, and already feel tired. The stairwells are rarely used and very dusty and I am finding it harder and harder to breathe. However I continue climbing, my progress now slowed to one step at a time. I reach the next water station, on the 65th floor. My original plan was to not stop, but my body is telling me to rest and take on liquid. I quickly drink a cup of water and I am back on my way.

 

Eventually I reach the 76th floor, now I start counting downwards. 10, 9, 8 more floors to go. I am beginning to speed up and see a fellow runner just ahead. Hopefully I can catch him. 3, 2, 1… nearly there…. finally the 86th floor, hurrah. However the finish line is nowhere to be seen. “Keep going! The finish line is just around the corner!” the marshals shout. I try sprinting, but my legs are not listening.  I slowly jog through the line, totally exhausted. I glance up at the clock and see my official finish time of 18 minutes and 29 seconds. I am disappointed to have missed my target time, but pleased to have finished. I continue to walk around the observation deck admiring the stunning view while trying to recover. My heart is still pounding away, at what feels like a thousand beats a minute. After what seems like an eternity, breathing becomes easier and I start the descent -- thankfully this time we can use the elevator!

 

As I reflect on the event, I have to admit it was A LOT harder than I anticipated. My training on the Stairmaster had not prepared me for what to expect. But I had achieved my goal of running (and I use the word loosely) up the Empire State Building. Nearly 90% of the rookies come back the next year and race again. I am not sure I am that stupid, but I’ve learned -- never say never. My thoughts now turn to my next challenge….Running with the Bulls in Pamplano for my 50th?

 

RACE RESULTS

 

The Great Stew Chase 15K, Lynn, MA

February 6, 2005

Brian Savage                            1:07:59

Joe Green                                1:11:33
Kara Holmquist                       1:13:49

Linda Moraski                          1:23:09

 

Boston Prep 16-miler, Derry, NH

February  6, 2005

Ricardo Hernandez Pinzon     1:53:23 

Keith Shields                            1:57:39 

John Donnelly                         2:14:14 

Gerard Jansen                         2:22:05 

Karen May                               2:26:59 

 

Boston Marathon Numbers

The following names were drawn:

Dan Kennedy, Chris Sargent, Dorothy Giarla,

Judi Sargent, and Gerard Jansen

 

In case any of the above runners, no longer wish to run or are unable to compete, the following are alternates:Rob Kerwin, Matt Lawlor, Ruben Carrizosa, Jay Crawford

and Jim Sweeney

 

My Thoughts, Exactly

Random Running, Meandering Mind  by Chris Sargent

 

I have issues with chocolate. Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownies are the bane of my existence, although I most undoubtedly would not consider giving them up. In addition, I’m in the throes of a struggle with Double Chocolate doughnuts from Dunkin’ Donuts. Have you seen these? They’re vulgar: a chocolate doughnut, glazed first with liquid sugar, then smothered in gobs of chocolate frosting. Help me.

 

A waste is a terrible thing to mind.

 

It gives me great pleasure to read that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has seen fit to grant a total of zero academy award nominations to Michael Moore’s fictional documentary (is that an oxymoron?) Fahrenheit 9/11. Thank you. Exit Stage Left.

 

Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. The Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures -  a pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer. --- Anonymous

 

The universe is rather large. Consider this: the sun is our warm little star. Now, there are billions of stars just like ours in the Milky Way galaxy, of which our little sun is one. Astronomers recently have concluded that there are approximately 140 billion galaxies in the visible universe. Repeat: there are approximately 140 billion galaxies in the visible universe. Friends, we are not alone.

 

I think Paul McCartney will be the last Beatle left on earth. It might have something to do with the fact that he was the only one in the crosswalk at Abbey Road wearing no shoes. We shall see.

 

It seems that no matter how hard one might try, there are some songs that simply cannot be played too loudly. The louder the volume, the better they sound: Funeral For A Friend by Elton John, the English Beat’s Twist And Crawl, all of Quadrophenia (The Who, 1973), to name but a few.

 

I find it somewhat rude and inconsiderate to assume that an ethnic group or persons in some vaguely defined demographic will vote for you. Once again, we have learned that this is indeed a foolhardy way to conduct a quest for a higher office.

 

I don’t watch The Apprentice, but I have heard that it is a contest this time between the “booksmarts” (MBA’s, et al) and “streetsmarts” (high school graduates). I predict victory for the streetsmarts, as the booksmarts fall all over themselves trying to look good shaping up the task at hand, while the streetsmarts will make themselves busy doing it.

 

More and more these days, I’m exceedingly grateful for the experience of having been steeped in an enormously liberal upbringing.

 

I cannot imagine a life without coffee.

 

Men and women are equally human. They are, however, not equal. They never were, nor will they ever be. Women are superior in so many ways; and so are men, so in that regard, they are equal. But, they are not equal.

 

Just remember: no matter where you go, you are liable to find an individual who speaks English. That makes me feel both reassured and a bit uncomfortable at the same time.

 

When I was 34 and out running on the roads, I would marginalize and stare down drivers coming toward me as if to say “It’s my road, too, asswipe, so get the hell out of the way and let me run through”. Now that I’m 44, I stare at them again, but this time I run on the assumption that these people are driving drunk, or rushing to buy cigarettes, or both. That way, I am fully prepared to bow out and ditch it to survive. Time changes us.

 

Scarlett Johansson.                                                                             

                                                                                                                                   

There is no pretense in children. This, I think, is what makes them the wonderful people they are. The power of a child will humble you. They are the truth in flesh and blood.

 

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

 

If you’re unhappy and you know it, Dr. Martin Seligman in 1991 published a fascinating book, which I urge you to read. It’s called Learned Optimism, and it reveals and proves  simply, that just like we consciously condition ourselves on whether to run, or bathe, or eat Haagen Dazs in large quantities, we also condition ourselves to think, and on the thinking, we sometimes don’t even realize we’re doing it. It is a truly fascinating book.

 

I’ll bet a lot of PhD’s work at Burger King.

 

If I ever get the chance to come back as someone else, I hope they’ll let me come back as Zippy the Pinhead.

 

Somewhere in downtown Duluth, a plumber is overcooking a pork chop.

 

If I wake up in the morning and I’m still breathing, then that, to me, is rewarding. I have this theory which holds that we are all born with a very finite number of breaths; let us use them wisely.

 

Breathe in. Breath out.

 

Maybe the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about.

 

 

 

The following is taken from the Boston Globe; it is not printed in its entirety)

Globe Santa brings in $1.28m in '04 drive, 5th-highest total

By Christopher Tangney, Globe Santa Correspondent | January 9, 2005

 

Globe Santa has concluded another successful fund drive as the 2004 campaign has raised $1,280,262.43. For the 18th consecutive year, more than $1 million was raised, and the figure represents Globe Santa's fifth-highest total raised since the campaigns began in 1956.  The amount topped last year's total by $116,320. The largest amount contributed in one year was $1,460,008 in 2000.  The final figures for the 2004 campaign also show that 54,942 children in 28,003 families found toys under their tree thanks to the generosity of 9,965 Globe Santa friends….

 

..."Every year, there are donations from schools, social clubs, businesses, bars, restaurants, previous recipients, and children themselves. Many donors organize fund-raisers, holiday parties, sports events, or other creative endeavors to raise money for the cause, often because someone involved has been affected in one way or another by Globe Santa.

One example was a donation again this year from the Parkway Running Club in West Roxbury, made in memory of Walter Burgess. When he was a child, Burgess began collecting quarters for Globe Santa from employees at his father's office. And five years ago, the Quincy native and Parkway Club secretary helped organize a charity road race.

The Parkway Running Club has renamed the annual 5K race Walter's Run, after Burgess died unexpectedly last year at age 40, and Walter's Run raised $1,000 for Globe Santa on Dec. 19."...

 

2005 SKI TRIP


Ursula Kelly and Giovanni Taylor are organizing this event..  Please reply to confirm so they can make reservations, as this B&B gets booked.  The location is the same place as before: Cranmore Mountain Lodge, North Conway, New Hampshire.  This web site contains details, driving directions, etc.:  www.cranmoremtlodge.com or http://www.bbonline.com/nh/cranmore/index.html#top

We have 2 choices for dates.  The weekends of:  1) March 4 until March 6 or 2) March 11 until March 13.  The cost is $125 (or less) per person for the weekend (includes both nights).  We also have $25 Saturday night full dinner including tax and tip.  Please contact Giovanni at cleartool@gmail.com.