Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golf

(Shot) Putting On The Ritz

2012-02-02T07:54:00.001-05:00

For the second straight year, Ryan Whiting, PSU's adopted shot putter via Arizona State, surpassed the rest of the field in Madison Square Garden to take victory in a special event. He'll have to be made the favorite one of these years!

Also at the event was Mark "The Hammer" Heckel as an official for the event and Paul "Velveteen Playboy" Souza.

Ryan neared the 70 foot barrier and looked more comfortable in the circle than any of the four in the early season competition. Maybe Mark can let me know if there are differences in the indoor and outdoor circles?

Group Grows Even Faster

2012-02-01T07:54:00.000-05:00

A few of the Alumni made it to the Track to be recognized by Coach Sullivan, Coach Groves and Coach Lucas during a break in the action at the Penn State National this past weekend. Joining in on the fun and formally announcing his application to the group was John McGraw with a splendid 5:22 Mile on Friday night. We are hard at work trying to get him an Alumni Singlet and possibly some orange shoes for his next race. John just recently returned to State College as a researcher and we'll be seeing a lot more of him! That's John with the light blue shirt in Artie Gilkes' pic.

Fear and Loathing Gives in to Mirth

2012-01-31T11:16:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm in the need of a little mirth right now. The Fear and Loathing needs to be replaced with some old-fashioned Bill Murray type Mirth!

So I bring you two great videos of Bill Murray playing guitar and opening Eric Clapton's Guitar Festival.

Monday Photo Caption Contest

2012-01-30T07:32:00.001-05:00

Use the comment section to place a caption for Artie Gilkes' photo!

Devotion and Loyalty, Blurred But Unbowed

2012-01-29T12:19:00.002-05:00

My wife took her usual 5:00AM run this morning and went onto campus by Beaver Stadium. At the "Joe Statue" there was a lone figure intently looking at the thousands of items placed there by well-wishers. She took this quite blurry cell phone picture and moved on without saying a word. Only she would have ever known that Jay Paterno was there meditating until I posted this item!

Here's what it looked like the previous afternoon, flowers 2-feet deep:

Coming Soon: Exclusive photos from the Penn State National

Exxxxxx Celent!

2012-01-28T20:50:00.001-05:00

It was an excellent day of Track AND Field today at the Penn State National Meet at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex. There was a good showing of alums and the crowd was as big as I've ever seen. The quality of the events was spectacular and rather than muck up all the details now, I'll wait til tomorrow and muck them up then!

The Mile went under 4:00 for the sixth straight year and the Final Event (The Joe Paterno 4 x 400) actually made my ears hurt. We'll get some spectacular photos from The Hawk and his teeny tiny camera as soon as he will be able to upload the more than 1,000 he took, and I'm not making that up! The photos will include many orange spikes and more than a few Alumni Singlets! The singlets have led to a plethora of comebacks among my 1970 and 1980 compatriots. The largest and most active track alumni group in the world, may just become the fastest too!

It's Penn State National Time!

2012-01-27T10:27:00.002-05:00

The hard-core members of the PSU Track and Field Alumni Golfers will be in attendance at the event starting tonight. Some will even be running in the event! Stop by and introduce yourself to members of the soon-to-be largest and most active Track Alumni groups in the entire world.

"Let's turn the volume up to 11!"

-Nigel Tufnel

Update: As I prepare myself for the drive to Happy Valley, I observe that Mark "The Hawk" Hawkins did indeed soar to a 5:13.41 time in the Nittany Valley Track Club Open Mile to open the event! Congrats!

I Used to Love Indoor Meets at Cornell

2012-01-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

But not nearly as much as this guy!

That time is 4:50 or really 4:50.96, and that guy crossing the line is Nolan Shaheed who happens to be 62 years old! I'm making him an honorary Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfer. Just because I can.

The Hawk Set to Soar (Not Sore!)

2012-01-26T09:03:00.001-05:00

Mark "The Hawk" Hawkins is set to toe the line at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex early Friday evening in his quest to better his "over 50" personal best of 5:25 in the mile. A new pair of orange spikes and his Alumni Singlet will compliment his improved condition and make for a great race. I personally won't arrive in time for his race (Work is a four-letter word ending in "K"!), but I encourage anyone out there to cheer him on. If only John (JB) Barber could be there to call out the splits!

As an intellectual exercise, can anyone identify the type of hawk pictured?

Surreal Timing

2012-01-25T12:50:00.003-05:00

Mark Horton, our preeminent NYC coorespondent, helped organize the recent White Out held at the Marquee Night Club in Manhattan to benefit those affected by child abuse. He is to be commended for seeing a horrible situation and doing something about it. I can't bestow enough praise on him for the things he has done. I was not able to make it there on Saturday, but a good crowd did. Mark will be teeing up the little white ball with us this year, I think.

This happened at the very time that Joe Paterno's family released the news that he was in "serious" condition at Mt. Nittany Hospital in State College. The rumors and "pranks" came to a crescendo when CBS News erroneously reported that he had passed away Saturday. Mark was at the event and described it as surreal to be surrounded by Penn Staters and those who just admired Penn State's commitment to Success with Honor at the same time that its architect was on his deathbed. Mark will be getting back to us when figures are in as to how the event did nationwide. He can rest assured that the rest of us alums share his desire to make victims of abuse whole again.

Blog Fact-Checkers Sacked! Openings for Interviews?

2012-01-25T07:52:00.000-05:00

In my haste to get the post up yesterday I failed to get the facts straight (once again!). Those responsible for checking and double-checking the facts, pictured above, have been sacked in response to the error. It's tough finding good help nowadays! I tried to find something meaningful about every single person on the photo and only missed by 2 or 3; Not bad for a one-time hermit!

I'll let our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer set things straight once again:

Dave – the ‘80 team scored lower than the ’79 team which scored lower than the ’78 team (which placed 4^th in the NC2A meet – as Harry always referred to it). The ’79 and ’80 teams both finished 3^rd. I think that ’80 team was the best (out of PSU teams that didn’t finish first – Horace Ashenfelter and crew didn’t have to run against Rono and Nyambui) because we had such depth – in the ’80 District II meet, we had three guys under 30:00 for 10K (repeated that at the NC2A meet a week later) and Dwight Stephens ran 30:01. The ’79 squad was good, but not as good as the group that came a year later (in my opinion).

Random Thoughts About the 1978 Cross Country Team While Awaiting the Penn State National

2012-01-24T15:30:00.005-05:00

1. Coach Groves has been quoted as saying the 1979 team was his finest, but the 1978 team scored fewer points at the NCAA Championships. (* Obvious errors in this statement have been corrected in This Post.)

2. Manager John Barber had been a runner on the team the two prior years, but became a great manager starting in 1978. I can still hear him calling out the splits in our 400 repeats in his distinctive voice. John has been coaching and mentoring young athletes ever since.

3. Ray Krombel was one of my favorite teammates, even though we did not have many interactions. He was the PA State High School 2-mile Champion the year before my lowly efforts. I still remember a coach telling me not to celebrate "like that guy last year!" I smiled when I showed up for practice on the first day in 1977 and saw he was a teammate of mine.

4. Ted Lyon was also a delightful character. I even think he ended up rooming with Ray one year off campus. It was a thrill when I got to golf with him 2 years ago at the tourney. He is intelligent, funny and as good a golfer as I.

5. Mark Hawkins somehow survived being hospitalized at Centre Community Hospital and having my future mother-in-law as his nurse. That's how I know he's tough enough to challenge the 5:00 barrier after age 50 one of these days!

6. Larry Mangan has been a big help with this web site and is slated to be even more important in the future. I can't tell you how pleased I am to be able to call him a friend all these 30+ years. (And he has very flat feet which dumbfound me how he is so fast.)

7. My former roommate Doug Kent (or Dudley Doo-Right as my mother knew him) was the tallest member of the team. He's a heck of a golfer, smarter than every one on that team, and taught me many things I would not have listened to from anyone else. He also took me to my first Catholic Mass, which I must thank him for someday. (or did I just do that?)

8. Tom Rapp was Larry's roommate that first year. As Larry once put it, when he moved into his dorm room he went from the fastest miler in Pennsylvania to the second fastest miler in his dorm room! You cannot find a more decent man than Tom. I remember a great early morning run on Easter morning where we started at 4:00 am and finished for a Church service at dawn.

9. Kelley O'Brien was someone I always looked up to. He was as hard a worker as I've ever seen. I would have been perpetually injured if I tried to keep up with his mileage! And I'm happy I always wore more clothes than did he!

10. Glenn Chumley had the most unique running gait of anyone on the team. I once saw him waaaay far ahead of me on the Schuylkill River years after graduation. I ran as fast as I could to catch him, and sure enough, there he was. I told him I knew it was him just by his gait. A streaker was photographed in the snow one time by the Daily Collegian from behind on College Avenue. Every single member of our team knew it was him. Coach would have killed him, but only his back-side (and gait) were evident.

11. Rich Prann was a quiet sort, but very intelligent. He's also another one of those who beat me at the marathon distance at Penn Relays.

12. Mike Wyatt was also one of my favorite teammates. I remember him cringing as the team sang Earth, Wind and Fire Songs on a road-trip at William and Mary. A singing choir we were not! He was also the only teammate who ever stopped and came back to me on the numerous times I sprained my ankles. I still have the spikes he gave me his Senior Year. I only ever got one wet during all those Steeplechases.

13. I also had few interactions with Eric Christianson. I remember him as smarter than I and harder working, though. I'd love to find out more about him.

14. Tim Backenstose is responsible for me having this photo to reminisce about. He was someone to look up to, as apparently he has better organizational skills than me at the very least. His victory at the Penn Relays Marathon is a really great memory.

15. Bruce Baden was a very good runner and a good role model .. His running talents were earned through hard work. And, oh so many extra miles.... He was responsible for all 15 milers being 17 miles at the minimum, I think.

16. Captain John Ziegler personified hard work also. He is one of the finest examples of Coach Groves turning a good runner into a great runner. I also remember the time John missed the bus to Pittsburgh. I remember him hitch-hiking all the way to arrive just in time for the 10K. I'll have to ask him what Coach told him.

17. Campbell Lovett, with his beard and large frame, seemed like a friendly bear when I first met him. He was one of a group of guys who I thought of as mature at the time. I'll never forget the day he returned to Rec Hall covered in mud after a 10-miler in the rain. The "Mud Men" are indelibly etched in my memory.

18. Bob Snyder was hurt when I began my career as a Freshman. I kept hearing about him, but figured I was beating him in those first races straight-up. That didn't last long, however. I soon discovered that I wasn't faster than an All-American! His "That's McConnells BURGH, you big dummy." retort whenever someone said McConnellsville is also etched into my DNA.

19. Alan Scharsu was probably the purest runner of all on that team. I swear he was all lungs, heart and legs. A virtual running machine. Note on the photo, though, that at the time I was still smaller than he!

20 Don Ziter has always been one of my best friends. Despite being in a Fraternity (p*ssing Coach off to no end!) Don can rest assured that I will be there whenever and wherever he needs me. The 3:00 am episodes of Rat Patrol at his Frat on (Wednesday?) nights were a highlight of my undergrad years.

21. Jim Close was on the team, but really a half-miler. I remember the time he hitch-hiked to the finish of the Bypass Loop Time Trial and made the mistake of getting out of the car within site of Coach Groves. It was several days before Coach let him back on the team.

22. Brian Boyer IS PSU Cross Country. No one was there for as many teams as Brian. He was actually a better runner in the years following his undergrad years than he ever was while really on the team.

23. Brad Althouse also beat me at the Penn Relays Marathon. It seems those guys should create a club or something!

24. Jim Clelland never said a word the first two years I knew him. Actually he did, but you really had to listen closely, or you missed it all. He also once fell out of the van on the way to Beaver Stadium. The door actually fell off!

25. Al and Jeff Wolfe were twins from the Kane, the coldest region of PA. It's actually true that I was running a morning run on the golf course one day when both of them flew past me. I yelled to them and told them to talk to Coach to see about getting on the team. I'll bet they don't even remember that! I don't know which one it was on a cold winter run one day, but his nose turned ashen gray. He laughed and said that always happened, ever since he got frostbite as a kid. I have always remembered to never visit Kane in the winter.

26. Dave Spears is another great golfer. I know Tim and the other Yanomamos will get him back on the links one of these years. Heaven knows we need his swing!

27. Mark Dunmire joined me on the team as Freshman. We both walked on as top finishers at the PA State meet just several months before. I have stated before that he won the Mile that year, but others say he was second. Only Mark Haywood would know the answer to that one and he somehow wasn't there for this photo!

28. Jeff Sanden is also one of my best friends. A great golfer, and probably p*ssed as Heck that I never have given him The Golden Putter yet!

Bringing Back the Mirth: More Chinese New Year Goodness! Flying Dragons

2012-01-23T07:49:00.000-05:00

This is for my incredible daughter. (They both are, but only 1 is Chinese!) Take a few moments and delight in watching some great scenery with some calming music. I think all Penn Staters need a little of that right now.

Chinese Scenes from BASE-Book - Matt Gerdes on Vimeo.

RIP Coach Paterno

2012-01-22T12:49:00.001-05:00

Joe Paterno was a smart enough man that he realized several months into his stint as Athletic Director in 1981, that he knew to get out as soon as possible. I was one of the few beneficiaries of the deal, as I received two copies of my Athletic Letter in 1981 because of it. I kept this one, as seeing the signatures of Coach Paterno and Coach Groves on the same piece of paper (or is it lamb-skin?) only happened a few times in the History of the Earth. Apparently, JoePa got on Coach Groves' naughty list in Coach Groves' very first year. The story, as told to me by Coach Groves himself, is that Paterno "borrowed" a film projector from the newbie Track Coach and never bothered to return it. So much for that!

My interactions with Coach Paterno over the years have always been good. I've run into him many, many times, with never a bad moment happening. He used to walk to work every day past North Halls and I often saw him during my morning runs. Yes Coach, I swear I ran them, at least the first 3 years! I also ran into him on the golf course and the park next to his home several times when I stayed in State College over the summer before my Senior year to "train like an animal". (Unfortunately, the animal turned out to be a two-toed tree sloth, but that's a story for another day.)

I also saw him at various chariity events over the years. but the very best and most memorable time was at the intersection next to the Old Creamery following a football game in the 90's. After the victory, the crowd pours out from the stadium and trudges toward campus, with many, many people heading straight to the Creamery. On this day, I had just arrived at the intersection when a pick-up truck driven by an obscure offensive lineman coach, pulled up and dropped off its hitchhiker from the truck bed. Out jumps JoePa, who then sauntered toward home to get ready for dinner. Almost no one other than me saw him walk off, just minutes after the game. I couldn't believe it.

RIP

Bring Back the Mile! 5, 280 Feet of Glory

2012-01-22T08:59:00.000-05:00

I'm old enough to remember the time during the reign of Jimmy Carter when the United States mandated the conversion to the Metric System. The due date came, and then.... NOTHING. Except for the regrettable decision to start the 1,600 M and 3,200 M runs in high school competition. The only good side effect of that is that I'm still listed on the PA District 3 record books for the 2-mile run. It was the next to last of them run, I believe. (Although PA HS Track and Field Historians Jeff Sanden and Mark Haywood may correct me on that one!)

Virtually none of the susequent winners of the event even knew that 1,600 M is about 2 seconds short of the mile. The 3,200 M is more than 4 seconds short of the 2-mile. This shows how well America has adjusted to the Metric System following the Peanut Farmer's decision to go All-In with European standards. (I'm actually sitting here eating peanuts from Plains, GA I bought on my way back from Florida recently!)

There is something magical about the Mile Run. We all know that. We have all said that for years. Now is the time to bring back the Mile (and 2-mile!). An effort is underway nationwide to make that happen. Let's jump on the band-wagon and make it happen.

*Thanks to the Chief Obfuscation Officer and Chief Laundry and Morale Officer for the above information.

Bring Back Brian! You Can (and Should) Help

2012-01-21T08:03:00.005-05:00

Mike Pfaff's debut as Brian, the man on a leash, on the sitcom Two Broke Girls garnered rave reviews from critics, and not just his roommmate Artie Gilkes!

It featured one of the best visual gags the (sic) has ever done, where the ever optimistic Caroline decided to meet the neighbours. Armed with cupcakes, she knocks on the door while Max tries desperately to pull her back into the safety of their apartment and is greeted with a man on a leash. The best part about it was the anonymous someone tugging at the leash from within the apartment. It’s a weird, wacked out thing, something that you’d hear in those “my cousin’s sister’s friend’s cousin had a friend who said…” stories about New York’s underbelly, and it worked brilliantly.

Now it's our turn to help bring Brian back, to find out more about him! Take the time to put your word in to the powers-that-be at CBS that the character deserves more screen time. Here's how you can help: Mike writes...

I'm not sure yet when Brian will be back... it's up to the writer's actually. To be honest, you can help. CBS has a feedback link:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

and you can select "2 Broke Girls" from the drop down. If they get enough positive feedback on "the guy on the leash," chances of me coming back are increased. Sitcom is the biggest forum for listening, responding and writing based on live studio audience and on line feedback... if you can get it out there to as many people as you can that would be great!

Coach Groves would probably say (I'm paraphrasing here!) "Close the damn window, visit the web site and bring Brian back!"

Here's more of Mike's recent acting. He played Oliver Wendell Holmes in the Civil War mini-series Fields of Valor. I never knew that one of America's favorite jurists was shot 4 separate times during the Civil War and yet lived to preside over the Supreme Court until the ripe age of 93. (* he retired from the Supreme court at age 90.)

You'll see Mike several times in this preview. When I have viewed the entire thing I'll be able to bring you his choicest scenes. And yours truly will be making his acting debut in Steve Black's "The Gravediggers" web-series. Don't fall off the edge of your seat just yet!

Only 119 Days Until the 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament

2012-01-21T06:39:00.001-05:00

Are You Ready?

This should get us a few more entries! The few, the proud...

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

This is the Year of the Dragon, my Chinese daughter's birth sign. So to celebrate I will, of course, have a splendid plate of Kung Pao Chicken (or Gung Bao Chicken)this weekend! And so can you, with this great, easy recipe of the most wonderful entree on Earth*

*Szechuan peppercorns may be somewhat difficult to find, but readily available at many Asian stores.

Gung Bao Chicken Recipe

Ingredients
| metric conversion

1/3 cup unsalted peanuts
1 pound (or a little more) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable or unroasted peanut oil
1 teaspoon Szechuan peppercorns
2 dried red chilies, roughly chopped or crushed
2 garlic cloves, peeled and very thinly sliced
1-inch knob ginger root, peeled and very thinly sliced
4 scallions, trimmed and roughly chopped
Directions
Want it? Click it.
1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peanuts and gently toast the peanuts, shaking the pan occasionally, until they’re a beautiful golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the peanuts to a plate to cool.
2. Meanwhile, place the chicken, cornstarch, and half the soy sauce in a large bowl and gently toss until all of the chicken is well coated. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes.
3. Heat a wok over medium heat and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, remove the wok from the heat and throw in the Szechuan peppercorns and dried red chilies. Stir continuously 20 to 30 seconds, until the chilies start to turn light brown in color.
4. Place the wok over medium-high heat then add the chicken. Fry 2 to 3 minutes, until it just starts to turn golden. Then add the garlic, ginger, scallions, and peanuts. Stir-fry constantly until the chicken is cooked through and tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the remaining soy sauce over the chicken, toss well, and serve immediately.

Get more deliciousness at Gung Bao Chicken Recipe | Leite's Culinaria

Separated at Birth? Inspired, Original and Oblique Political Commentary (and Silliness)

2012-01-19T10:59:00.001-05:00

Can you name this possible Doppelganger for Dwight Shrute? And does he know anything at all about beet farming? (and does anyone know how to add the umlaut to Doppelganger?)

Banners! For Me?

2012-01-19T08:14:00.005-05:00

Not really, I suppose. But when the banners are unfurled at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex on Saturday, January 28 for all the top 4 finishes at the NCAA Championships since the 20's (that aren't already there!), 3 of them will represent teams I was on. Despite the obvious sin this entails, I'm very, very proud of that.

What's special about those teams is the fact that they were so large. Coach Groves rarely said "no" to anyone who wanted to run with the Lions and was willing to do the work it entailed. All of us are better for it. We got to run with the Big Dogs, and the Big Dogs were exposed to hard-working, talented, intelligent, funny and special people. And Coach got the opportunity to collect so many more stories than he would have otherwise! I hope to interview Coach again next weekend and I'll ask him about that.

So this is a big hat-tip to every single contributor to those glorious '78, '79 and '80 (4th, 3rd and 3rd!) Cross Country teams. Every single one.

Anyone among my vast "tens of readers" with the team photos from those years could help me out and forward them to dfbaskwill@cs.com

Training Tips From a Mediocre Runner!

2012-01-18T08:17:00.001-05:00

Actually, due to physical limitations, I think I got closer to my ultimate potential as a runner than many of the people that were ahead of me in college. I never would have come close without a fateful decision I made when a Junior in High School. As my basketball career fizzled, I decided to concentrate on running, which I had only started to "get in shape" for basketball. I made the decision to run Doubles, which I consider the most important and rewarding decision any young runner can make. I even experimented with Triples, but found it to be counter-productive. I was pretty much self-coached, as my track coach was a great motivator but didn't know much about distance running. I made plenty of mistakes, but the decision of running Doubles overcame all of them.

But now, it may have turned out to be overkill, as geeky scientists are tantalizingly close to cramming a workout into a pill! Oh well, it's what you get when you take training advice from a mediocre runner!

Ten Questions: Hollywood Edition! Mike Pfaff Unleashed!

2012-01-17T08:12:00.003-05:00

Two Broke Girls won the Golden Globe for Best New Comedy on the day before Mike Pfaff's debut on the show! And what a debut it was! Rather than rely on the critique of the Hollywood Press, I will rely on his former roommate Artie Gilkes! (I trust him more.)

"Brilliant! Two Broke Girls needs more Mike Pfaff." - Artie Gilkes.
also, "I've got a pfever, and the only cure is more Pfaff." - Dave Counts.

I put Mike to the ultimate test of his career with our Ten Questions treatment and he emerged even better than before.

1. What song immediately brings back memories of PSU?

I know this is cliche, but the song that sticks out the most simply is the blue and white song. The biggest piece of inspiration during the home cross country meets would be hearing that song in the distance near the finish line in that last half mile as you're coming up the hill on the golf course.

2. Who was the biggest team clown during your track years?

That's a tough one. I think it would be a split between Dan Ford and Ed Carroll. Dan had this thing where he'd pull his shirt over his head like Beavis doing "The Great Cornholio" from Beavis and Butthead (on a side note I'm so glad they're coming back and so are you Hamer) and he'd have the guys rolling. However Ed decided to give himself a mohawk his freshman year (Coach wasn't too happy with it) and was generally one of those guys who would "go there" to get a rise out of the team, and I have to admit, he did.

3. What was your best PSU Track or XC performance?

For me it would have to be anchoring the DMR at the Big Ten Championships indoors at Purdue University my senior year. I had torn my ankle to shreds right after winning the mile during our opening blue and white indoor meet and was out the whole indoor season. The Big Ten Championships was my second race back off that injury and it was one of those races where you had to dig down and run more off guts than conditioning. At the time it was a PR for me and we placed 5th.

4. How has Coach Groves' tutelage helped you in your current acting career?

Without a doubt, Coach Groves, next to my father, has been the most influential person in my life. So much of who I am and what I've accomplished and hope to accomplish are a result of the values, work ethic, toughness and courage instilled by him. Coach is the hardest, toughest, most inspired person I know, but behind that tough exterior is the most caring, selfless, and ethical man you will ever meet. A piece of his spirit lives in all the athletes who had the privilege to run for him, and they are better men for it. My acting career is completely analogous with my athletic career, so I’m simply doing what he taught me.

( Amen Mike, Amen. PSU never knew what it had with Coach. -Ed..)

5. Do you have any experience with the game of golf?

You mean other than running T to Green? My golf game was limited growing up (as it tends to be for a kid from Hackensack, NJ), but my parents recently retired and moved down to North Carolina on a golf course, so I'm enjoying battling it out with my pop on the course when I visit over the holidays.

(That would make you second man on one of our foursomes! -Ed.)

6. What was your least favorite workout?

You would think it would be Greenwood Furnace, T to Green or 16 x 200m (w/ a jog across the field for recovery), but it actually was that 10 miler we'd do straight out to Toftrees and back at the beginning of the outdoor season. I'd key better off workouts that combined strength, speed and endurance rather than one like that which was more of a 10k/marathoner workout ...my roommate Artie would have a field day with it, that pr*ck.

7. What was your favorite classroom at PSU?

I liked the feel of Schwab Auditorium and the Forum Building, but the Boucke building held a special place in my heart simply because it was where all the student athletes had to go for mandatory study hall my freshman year. It was one of the first of many places we'd go as a team.

8. What was your favorite track road trip while at PSU?

I think that would have to be the Big Ten Cross Country Championships at Ohio State my senior year. It was one of those trips where we played a lot of gags with each other and on coach (lets just say Coach had some issues shifting gears in the van). On the trip back I was somehow able to convince the guys to have this competition on whom could keep pretzel sticks up their nose the longest. We all were hackling a bit too much and Coach blew up and yelled at us with one of his famously unique sayings that I still remember to this day. I won't repeat it verbatim, but lets just say it had something to do with laughing school girls, mirrors, and areas where the sun don't shine.

9. What exercising do you currently do?

I still run, but supplement it with biking, lifting and boxing. I work out with a stunt team so I've had to modify workouts to put on a little more muscle. I am definitely a fitness enthusiast for life... it's pretty hard not to coming out of Penn State’s program.

10. Is Shroedinger's Cat dead or alive?

A paradox such as this one is better left to a brainy physicist like Kevin McGouldrick or a lab nerd like Jonathan Pritchard.

(Anyone who could help us get in touch with Kevin or Jonathan would be a hero! -Ed.)

Smarter and Faster (PSU is 800 U)

2012-01-16T09:51:00.001-05:00

The Faster is, of course, Robbie Creese, with the eye-opening 1,000 M debut at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex this past weekend. Here's the whole race for those skeptics out there who insist it wasn't legitimate!

The Smarter may be all of us soon! Maybe I'll finally be able to successfully program my TV remote!

And it is said that Richard Feynman's IQ was tested at 125, which is above average but slightly lower than even your humble Blog Host. Yet it is also true that Richard tested far beyond anyone ever taking a standard mathematics exam. His lack of communication skill kept him from becoming a member of Mensa! This, of course, means IQ tests are meaningless. Check out this video of Feynman's true intellect and see if you can follow it. I know I barely get most of it.

Wow!

2012-01-15T11:07:00.002-05:00

In his first ever college race, Freshman Robbie Creese bided his time in the first half of his 1000 M race and then just turned on the gas. He never let up until the tape and then the fun began. His 2:19.53 was obviously better than Clothing Engineer Ryan Foster's School Record. But then it was also the facility record and the event record. As if that wasn't enough, it bettered Alan Webb's 2006 Junior Record. (Robbie won't turn 19 until August!) After additional checking it turns out his effort is the Indoor 1000 M Collegiate Record! This bettered a former 2008 Olympian's previous record, (Christian Smith). Wow!

There were other signs of a big season upcoming from the Nittany Lions:

Caitlin Lane - School Record 1000 M - 2:44.24.
Casimir Loxsom - School Record 600 M - 1:16.66.
Jane Swenson's second straight home victory in the shot put - 47' 7".
Will Barr's second straight home victory in the 35 lb weight throw - 60' 11.5" (approximately 60 ' further than I could ever throw it!) And this article on Will comes from Blog Laureate Larry Mangan. We are trying to come up with a different title for Larry. which should be finalized following the Penn State National.)
Hanif Johnson- Triple Jump of 51' 4.25" (third in the nation!)
Jon Hendershot - another 7' clearance in the high jump.

I apologize for missing so many other worthy efforts! I can't wait to see the Nits at the Penn State National!

James Carney Ninth at Olympic Trials in 2:12

2012-01-14T13:26:00.004-05:00

James Carney seems happy with his effort at the Trials with a hard-fought steady 2:12:23 effort in Houston. Tyler McCandless ran 2:19 and Luke Watson 2:21. Still looking for Rebecca Donaghue's time! Update: Rebecca 17th place with 2:35!

Watch more videos on Flotrack

A Bonus Just For My Readers

2012-01-14T10:34:00.001-05:00

We will shortly begin our final push for entries for the 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament in conjunction with the First Annual Penn State Track and Field and Cross-Country Program's Alumni Reunion. Our hope in combining forces is to attract more and more alumni to both events, help honor the current and past teams, coaches and alumni. Strength of the current and future program has never been more dependent on support from its past members. Even the strongest of Division I University Teams have never faced the perils that are now all around us. Teams with over 100 years of tradition, and teams with history at the top of the heap for decades are being eliminated every year. There are teams in every State surrounding Pennsylvanis that have been eliminated in recent years. Our efforts to unite all PSU Track Alums, including pre-NCAA Women, families and friends may very well strengthen PSU's future teams. A worthy endevour! Set the weekend aside for the festivities, May 18-20, 2012.

As a bonus for readers of the No. 1 Track and Field/Physics Blog in the World, I have purchased 1 GB Thumb Drives for the first 40 Paid Golfers in this year's tourney. We very much need a big turn-out this year, and this will be a big thank you to those willing to step up first. I won't advertise the offer anywhere else, but feel free to forward the link to this post to anyone not knowing about us. Spreading the word is what we are all about.

I'm debating whether to add anything to the drives before dispensing, possibly my Nittany Lion Shrine Photo etc., but I probably won't. People fear viruses too much already!

PSU White Out Against Child Abuse for NYC

2012-01-12T23:55:00.001-05:00

Mark Horton helped organize this event. Another example of the benefit that we achieve being part of the PSU Track Alumni Family is the chance to show the world the true meaning of Success AND Honor. Strive every day to reach the ideal that that phrase embodies and the world becomes a better and better place. Good luck to Mark with his efforts!

I have teamed up with a group of alumni that collectively decided to take initiative to do something positive following the recent events involving Penn State. After much deliberation, we came to the conclusion to throw a benefit to raise awareness and funds to support all victims of abuse.
Through the efforts of the group, we have contacted every alumni chapter in the nation to pull together on this and make this a multi-city effort. The involved chapters will be throwing a similar benefit for the same cause on the same night in their city/region. So far the following alumni communities are on board with this effort and more are joining each week: Northern and Central NJ, Philadelphia, Boston, D.C., Nashville, Southern Louisiana, Kansas City, Charlotte NC, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Details of each event can be found at www.psupride.com with links to purchase tickets and / or donate to the cause.
As for the NYC benefit, we will be supporting two organizations that we felt were the most effective: RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization that has partnered with other alumni for a "Proud to be a Penn Stater" campaign, and Hedge Funds Care: Preventing and Treating Child Abuse, an organization that provides grants and benefits multiple child advocacy centers in NYC, as well as ten other cities nation-wide.
The Benefit:
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time: 7:30pm - 11:30 pm
Place: Marquee, 289 10th Avenue (between 26th & 27th)
Website: http://www.psupride.com/
What to Expect: Music by DJ Robertoflay, great silent auction items, full open bar thanks to the generosity of our beer, wine and liquors, and much more!

Please visit the website to learn more about the cause and the event nearest to you.

I hope to see you all there!

Mish Mash of Reminders and Useless Facts (My True Talent, BTW)

2012-01-12T11:26:00.002-05:00

1. Mike Pfaff's debut on "Two Broke Girls" on CBS is on Monday, January 16 at 8:30 PM. Mike plays the "friendly" next door neighbor on the episode. He's also the No. 11 Rising Star in Hollywood! Find out what the above picture has to do with Mike by staying in touch with our web site for an upcoming "Ten Questions" featuring him. Yeah, that's Stiffler's Mom boys...

2. Why do I have this thing against cell phones? Having been annoyed perpetually by texters and Loud Talkers and hit from behind by two texting women makes me smile at this little article in the British Press.

3. More on the Women's Running Streak Record Holder. Here and Here. She's starting a new streak soon.

4. Buddy Edelin deserves better!

5. Time Cloaking is a reality! (At least for trillionths of a second anyway.) Thanks to a William and Mary Track Alumni for this one!

Marathon Time! and Time to Help!

2012-01-10T16:02:00.000-05:00

Three Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers) will toe the line at the Olympic Trials this weekend in Houston, Texas. Tyler McCandless and Luke Watson will run on the men's side and Rebecca Donaghue will represent the women. I wish them all the best of luck. All 3 are quality role-models for any of the younger set out there.

Aaron Nodolsky was the athlete of the week after winning two events last weekend at the season's opening meet. Which is remarkable considering what occured last week. A fire destroyed his family's home and all their belongings. I hope everyone among us that is able will lend a hand to a family in need. I have sent in a personal check on behalf of our entire group for a humble amount and truly have his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Please donate directly to:

1^st Summit Bank Walmart Plaza

2600 Plank Road

Altoona, PA 16602

Care of the Nadolsky Family

I'm Back

2012-01-10T10:47:00.004-05:00

Don't you just Hate those stickers on cars advertising that someone has actually run a marathon, or even a half-marathon now? Well, I saw this one at the Disney Running Expo and had to buy it for my wife. That's the Disney Goofy sticker which is becoming more and more popular. (There are 158 people who have run all 7 of them, known as Perfect Goofy's)

My reward for being so nice was to be immediately plowed into from behind by a texting ex-Disney Cast Member on the way back to our room! That makes it twice being hit from behind by someone who found it more important to ask a friend "What U Doing?" than the lives of everyone around her! Don't Text and Drive! A public service announcement from your humble blog. My life apparently may depend on it.

Here's this year's version of the Half-Marathon, Marathon and Goofy Challenge medals,which thousands of runners parade around the Parks with after the event. What a pitiful, shuffling, limping mass of humanity it is!

I'll be back bringing you real posts soon. I need to recover from the 16 hour drive first.

Tropical Diseases

2012-01-08T08:16:00.000-05:00

I've spent the whole time in Florida with a wicked cold, barely able to keep "the streak" alive. Meanwhile, I have received electronic word that Barb is indeed at the 10 mile mark of the Marathon at her usual pace. Three knee braces and compression tights are somehow holding her together! Meanwhile, I'm contemplating 3 leisurely miles around Coranado Springs with my new GPS unit. Wish us both luck.

Goofy is as Goofy Does

2012-01-07T17:40:00.000-05:00

Despite a torn medial meniscus in her "good" knee, my wife Barbara will make a go of it in tomorrow's Disney Marathon after today's Half-Marathon. She continues her streak of 5 consecutive halfs faster than the last, but vows to just "shuffle" the Marathon distance in the morning sunshine. She still gets my nomination for Performance of the Year even if she can't finish her third consecutive Goofy Challenge! I don't know many people who are tougher (or maybe just stubborn!).

Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Or, 12 X 400m With 60 Seconds Rest

2012-01-06T12:50:00.000-05:00

Been asked frequently lately, "Why would anyone Drive to Disney World in this day and age?" The answer is because the options are sometimes worse.

Last time I flew was 2001 at the beginning of the SARS epidemic. Of course, my destination was China, the incubation point of the whole unknown disease. The 24 hours of continual flight wasn't enough to turn me off, but the gastroenteritis I obtained on day 2, kinda made me wonder. By the time we made it to the US Consulate in Canton, we were surrounded by people wearing masks everywhere and handlers who warned us to "not let anyone touch the baby"! The 20 hours of flight to get home were with 3 or 4 adopted children coughing every 4 seconds. Not yet knowing about SARS, (only the Chinese authorities knew about it yet), we figured it was only tuberculosis. So much for flying unless absolutely necessary...

The last time I took the train was actually to Orlando for the same vacation weekend. Everything went swimmingly until the train ride home. That's when the Florida /state Hospital decided to allow 3 of their patients with schizophrenia to accompany my family on the same train car. 18 hours of hearing accusations that "someone stole something from me" (they didnt), "someone stole my seat" (they didn't) or "someone wants to kill me" (many did). They rushed to the exits at every brief stop to have a cigarette or 4! Somuch for the train...

That leaves the car, of course. And the need to actually drive the 16 hours it takes to get there. To cope, I make it into the classic distance runner's workout of 12 X 400m with a 200 jog, or more like 4 X 1 mile with a 60 second rest to "refuel".

I now have the same sore throat I always got after the workouts at the old ice palace. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Indoor Season Begins!

2012-01-02T20:43:00.002-05:00

I'll be in Florida for this one, but my minions will be there. I'm betting there will some surprise great performances again, just like each of the last few years. Indoor track was always enjoyable, and would have been even better with facilities like Penn State currently has.

Track and Field News US Rankings: Lions Are Everywhere!

2012-01-02T10:36:00.002-05:00

The February (!) digital edition of Track and Field News is out, and the Nittany Lions are well represented in the season-ending US rankings.

At the top of the heap is Bridget Franek with her second place showing, the highest ranking ever by a Nittany Lady Lion in the Steeplechase.

Next is Casimir Loxsom's #6 appearance in the 800 M. "PSU is 800U"

Karlee McQuillen makes the list at #10 in the javelin, another Nittany Lion strong point.

Top Honors Go To Caitlin Lane

2012-01-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

That's Caitlin Lane following her All-American performance at the recent NCAA Cross-Country Championships. She follows that up with top honors in the very first-ever PSU Track and Field Alumni Golf Performance of the Year voting.

Caitlin wins for her first place finish at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships, edging out fellow Lady Lion Doreen McCoubrie's (Startare) for her 2:50 Marathon performance at the Philly Marathon right around the same time as Caitlin's XC exploits.

Thanks to all who voted in the largest poll ever among this crowd of moronic juveniles! Remember, performance of the year can mean anything among the human experience, not just athletic exploits, so even old, out-of-shape alums like me can compete for next year's prize. (So get to work being awesome.) Nominations will be continuously taken on the right sidebar for next year's award.

Year End Trip Back in Time

2011-12-31T09:36:00.002-05:00

A Wormhole back to when hair was long, shorts were short, distances were Imperial, bellies were hard and times were analog.

I'm on Vacation!

2011-12-30T10:10:00.004-05:00

This is the first time I've had off for more than a week in more than a decade. And I plan on doing a lot while I'm off.

Nap. You know, the three letter word that always ends with a pee!
Eat. (See photo for documentation.) I'm rather good at this.*
Run. Twice daily when on vacation!
Did I mention nap?
I may even blog if it doesn't interfere with the naps and meals!

My wife will be attempting her third Goofy Challenge in a row. The Goofy is Disney's way of torturing people while they are in the "funnest place on earth". The Goofy is a Half-Marathon on Saturday and the full Marathon on Sunday. Both of these require waking at 3:00AM to make sure you are at the start in time. Two years ago she had a broken rib and managed to finish in freezing temperatures anyway. This year she has a torn meniscus and is trying to finish in the top half of overall marathoners including the men. I don't know how she does it!

*That isn't really me. It's one of the protesters at the Wisconsin Capital during the protests against cessation of collective bargaining of benefits for State Employee's Unions.

The Streak Continues!

2011-12-29T09:53:00.002-05:00

I'm in! The United States Running Streak Association has accepted my application and I'll be appearing in their lists soon. I'll be 191st on the list of current streaks, pending any other applicants I don't know about. I'll also make their supplemental list of people with 70,000 total career miles in a year or two. It's quite amazing how many people have run more than 100,000 miles!

Come Home To The Simpsons from devilfish on Vimeo.

In honor of the event, I've included the facsimile photo of myself running, and a great video of the opening segment of The Simpsons filmed with live actors! Happy New Year everybody. Get ready, because 2012 will be a great year for the blog and PSU Track and Field (and XC!).

Don't Forget to Vote For the Performance of the Year!

2011-12-27T13:04:00.002-05:00

Vote for the performance of the year on the left sidebar! Now! And call, text, email, IM or actually talk to your friends* to vote also. We need to make this the biggest poll ever on the blog/web site.

Don't forget to spread the word about our site. There's also our Facebook Site which needs new members. There's no hazing or fees involved. Join us today!

Here's two performances which didn't make the finals, mostly because I'm an idiot, but you already knew that.

* I'm not actually sure the younger crowd resorts to old-school methods of communication. I'm pretty sure it's still legal, however.

Longest Women's Streak Ended

2011-12-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

It's not just a gratuitous way to include the words "Women" and "Streakers" in the same headline. Not just a way to attract more of us old-timers to the blog for the first time! And to make the effort complete, I wouldn't dare include a picture of a woman streaking to attract those younger than I, would I?

No, I'm talking about the running of at least one continuous mile in every 24 hr. period beginning at midnight for as many days in a row as possible.

Julie Maxwell, of Kasson, Minnesota, has ended her three decade old running streak after being injured in an accident on Sunday. Maxwell, who began her running streak on July 5, 1978, has the longest running streak of any female in the country (and probably the world) as certified to the United States Running Streak Association (USRSA). Her running streak lasted for 12,212 days (7/5/78-12/10/11).

A broken ankle is a certified way to end a streak of 33 years, I suppose. My hats off to her, she'll start her next streak in four weeks or so.

Year End Physics Phun and Miscellany

2011-12-25T15:44:00.001-05:00

Not so smart Physics junkies like me are starting to feel their oats. It seems that not all is explained by the egg-heads in charge.

And what nerdiness can be added to a fascination with the Large Hadron Collider that would actually make it nerdier. How 'bout building a model of it out of Legos!

More photos of the 9,500 block masterpiece that took 80 hours to create. (The Higgs doesn't stand a chance!)

Addendum: The Good News - They are working on an Instruction Manual on how to build it. The Bad News - It costs 2,000 Euros for the bricks, or $2,618 currentl;y!

Don't forget to vote in the Performance of the Year on the left side! (Maybe someone could show Ryan Foster a little love!)

And there are just a few days left to sign up for this year's purchase of the Alumni Singlet.

A Christmas Miracle!

2011-12-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

A Miracle on Ice II!

"Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics"

2011-12-23T11:48:00.004-05:00

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -Author Unknown (Mark Twain popularized the saying.)

Track and Field is second on the list of sports to baseball with great statistics. There are so many categories to keep every nerd like me interested.

Actually, nobody is telling a lie. Our new Blog Laureate Larry Mangan has been skimming the record books and has come up with a few gems at year's end. He is quite relentless in the pursuit of accuracy, something I can't quite profess myself!

Several PSU performers are on the All-Time American Junior Lists:

Karlee McQuillen, ('11) - #4, #6, #7, #10 in the javelin (all in 2008) best 176’2”
Michael Timpson - #5 performer 20.23 200 meter dash
Cas Loxom #6 performer 1:46.57 800 meter run
Tracey Brauksiek # 10 performer 10:16.91 3000 M steeple

Bah Humbug. Merry Christmas From My Zoo to Yours

2011-12-22T11:09:00.000-05:00

This isn't actually one of mine, but the Scrooge-like demeanor should cheer us all up. Here's another one of Spot, this time after being mauled and being hospitalized with neck wounds. He never gave up. Feisty to the very end.

Merry Christmas to all.

Ten More Things I Learned in More Than 50 Years (Which I Learned From My Dog Spot)

2011-12-21T08:56:00.001-05:00

I miss the little fellow. He was a stray that we adopted into our zoo after he had roamed the streets for a number of years. It took me 2 years until I could pick him up. He had more fight in his 5 pounds than most football teams do in the NFL. We have no idea how old he was, but it must have been ancient. With his age came wisdom beyond his years and species.

Running in circles for the sake of running in circles is pleasurable most times.
Having one good meal and a bed of your own is really all you need most times.
Having friends around, even if they steal some of your food, is still worth it.
Barking for the sake of barking is pleasurable most times.
Always listen to "the big dog".
Work is a four-letter word ending with the letter k. Nap is much easier. And it ends with a pee.
All trips to the doctor should end with a treat.
Never give up, never give up.
People are mostly good, but occasionally not. Trust, but verify.
Never eat the tinsel on a Christmas tree.

First Annual Performance of the Year: I Need Your Help

2011-12-19T18:51:00.000-05:00

I have made several nominations for the PSU Track Alumni Golf Performance of the Year and I would love your help making any additional nominations prior to the voting at year's end. First we need to make certain we agree on our definitions.

First, a PSU Track Alumni Golfer may not be what you think it is. Golf has absolutely nothing to do with it. ( It never has. It is highly recommended, however!) And the definition of alumnus is:

A graduate or former student of a school, college, or university.

But for our purposes I will expand it even further! Anyone who cares about PSU Track and Field and Cross Country is eligible for our purposes.

Secondly, a performance can be in any aspect of human existence, including, but not limited to performance on the track, field, cross country course or roads. For example, finding a cure for cancer would qualify as a fine performance! I have discovered how diverse a community we are, so anything is eligible.

Here are several of my nominations, in no particular order:

Ryan Foster's sub-4 minute mile indoors.
Cas Loxsom's School Record 800 M run outdoors.
Jim Clelland's performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: The Musical (This isn't a joke at all. I really believe this is worthy of note and consideration. To know Jim can be heard in the back of an auditorium without electronics is heart-warming)
Doreen McCoubrie's (Startare) marathon at Philly. 2:50:23 at age 50

Give me some more nominations!

All-Time Best NFL/Track Events: PSU Well Represented

2011-12-19T10:47:00.000-05:00

The NFL and Track and Field have a long history together. The recently discussed Renaldo Nehemiah certainly comes to mind. But did you know that two PSU Track Stars are at the top of all-time individual event performances among Trackand Field/NFL athletes?

First on the list is Brian Milne, who is the No. 2 all-time performers in the discus. His toss of 207 feet 5 inches was second only to Christian Okoye's 212 feet 4 inches.

But First on the list of 400 meter hurdlers is my teammate Paul Lankford, who enjoyed a 12 year NFL career in Miami. With a minimal amount of football experience, Paul became one of Miami's best secondary players for many of their stellar seasons. Paul was also the high school national record holder in the 400 hurdles prior to arriving in Happy Valley. His all-time best of 49.55 is the best all-time among NFL stars.

I Really Wish I Could Remember All of This One!

2011-12-19T03:12:00.007-05:00

I only have sporadic memories of this. We've gone over this before, but some new information has come to light. While I remembered Villanova coming to town for a duel meet,but it really was Maryland. I mistook Mark Belger for Renaldo Nehemiah, I suppose! I was injured at the time and I don't even have record of running anything at the meet. It was held at Westerly Parkway Junior High School of all places, as Beaver Stadium had been lifted up and seats were added in front, obliterating PSU's former track.

The unfolding demise of Maryland Track and Field (men only!) is a sad reminder that the bottom line is often the bottom line. When we met on the track for a now extremely rare scored duel meet, Maryland was at the zenith of its Track existence. The team that trudged off the buses in the Junior High parking lot were the champions of the ACC many times straight (24!), and were to go on to a top 10 finish in the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in 1979. They were repeat 6th place finishers indoors.

But a funny thing happened that day. The only part I remember is that PSU beat them on the day's final event. It was the pole vault, which always seems to take forever at these meets. The all-day gray skies and drizzle made for difficult conditions. The difference was that Maryland's two 17 foot pole vaulters could not quite get comfortable and two PSU vaulters managed to make their usual heights (high 15's?? low 16's??) and we won the meet by a few points. Goliath got back on the bus and made their way back to suburban Washington DC (not Philly!). This David went back to his dorm room and promptly forgot nearly all of it!

"God bless us, every one!"

2011-12-18T08:11:00.004-05:00

As Official Herder of Cats, I have been constantly amazed at the range of talents in other Penn State Track Alumni. I have never been part of any other group that has more inherent intelligence, talent and likability than our fellow tracksters. But even still, this one still surprised me to no end!

I've always known that Jim Clelland was smart and funny. I had to get real close some times to really hear some of the things he said. Others just feet away, never heard a thing. Most of us always joked about his quiet nature, and Tim Backenstose just called him "Noisy Jim" in an email and I knew who he meant straight away.

But to get the news that Jim was the lead in a production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical floored even me. Tim reports he was "Spectacular" in yesterdays performance! Today is the last performance I think, so if you are nearby, check it out. I'm really sorry I will miss it. Tim will try to bring us some cell phone video soon.

"God bless us, every one."

Mike Valenti's 80's Photos!

2011-12-17T09:05:00.002-05:00

Had these laying around for quite awhile and thought everyone should enjoy them. Thanks, Mike Valenti, hope to see you thrashing the greenery with us in Happy Valley in May 2012! And make sure Todd Shenk hears about it too! (It's about time the Field Men make a strong showing!)

Name everyone you see in these photos via the comments below!

Anyone with other collections they would like to share, just get in touch with me at dfbaskwill@cs.com

Carl Wolter On ESPN and ESPN2: Smacking Golf Balls Further Than You!

2011-12-16T19:49:00.004-05:00

If you can, watch ESPN December 24th at 1pm. Or ESPN2 at 11am, and watch this Remax World Long Drive Championships.
(Check out Carl's 446 yard drive in the semi-finals!)

PSU Track and Field Alumni can do almost anything!

Apparel Orders Pouring In!

2011-12-16T09:42:00.000-05:00

There is still time to get your order in for this year's order of the Alumni Singlet! Orders will be taken until New Year's Eve, and then the order will be placed. Men, Women and children (and I suppose large dogs) are eligible. We have already received orders for every size from Small to XXX-Large! The singlets will be the same style (I beleive it's the called the Miler style). Women who have ordered will be contacted by sub-4 Miler Ryan Foster as to which version they desire. Orders are already in the "dozens" range, so join the crowd and get your very own sanctioned PSU Track and Field Alumni Singlet, almost just like us old-timers used to wear!

And don't forget to shop in our Group Store for our very own stuff, including the popular PSU is 800 U Value T-Shirt and drinking glass (designed by an Olympian!). Also check out the latest addition to the racks, the Rusty Boots grey t-shirt, boxer shorts and (Root) Beer Stein.

Steve Black Debuts His New Web Series "The Gravediggers"

2011-12-15T08:57:00.005-05:00

Steve Black (PSU is 800 U!) has been acting for several years now and decided to make his own web series called "The Gravediggers". My father called me excitedly one day to say he just saw Steve in a TV show, the one about the Pizza Delivery Guy who had a bomb strapped to his neck. He previously appeared in the John Adams series on PBS. And he just got his screen actors guild card, so he has the Union behind him now!

As an extra special bonus, see if you can find Gary Black in the short film!

"The Gravediggers: Hang Em High"
"The Gravediggers: Business is Slow"

Update on Maryland Track Discontinuation

2011-12-14T10:21:00.001-05:00

I was there in the stands among the throngs from Jamaica smoking the evil weed (not me!! Them!)and pounding on drums to witness Renaldo Nehemiah at his best at the Penn Relays. Maryland had an all-around good team at that time. It's hard to believe what has become of things.

On the bright side, maybe they've already raised significant monies, as I remember they needed nearly $9Million and now it says they only need $4.2Million! That few people at the current heavyweights of US College Track and Field still worry about it happening at their school dismays me. All of us are always just one or two pay-checks away from disaster, even Donald Trump. Vigilance is the key. Getting all the alumni to care about it is key to securing a healthy future for any program. There already is no Division I Track Programs in the state of West Virginia. Let's hope the cancer does not spread.

Rolling Over the Odometer is Not an Easy Task

2011-12-13T08:56:00.001-05:00

I just alerted the web site director for 100K Lifetime Miles about Coach John Lucas's career of over 160,000 lifetime miles. It turns out it's Amby Burfoot, past Boston Marathon victor, Runner's World editor and 2-time Olympic Marathoner in 1956 and 1960. Amby, of course knows Dr. Lucas already, and my alert may trigger a reunion between the two, which pleases me.

My career of a little more than 5 miles daily since 1975 adds up to about 68,000 miles so far, so I have a healthy respect for anyone with over 100,000 miles. Who else among my "tens of readers" has more miles under their belt? I know you're out there!

High Jump Leads Blue-White Meet

2011-12-12T10:29:00.002-05:00

Jon Hendershot impressed the crowd at the season's first meet at the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Complex this past weekend. His jump of 7 feet 1.5 inches is an early season mark that should turn some heads. Jon is from Nazareth PA, a place I am quite familiar with from my childhood. I wonder if Jon ever had a Jimmy's Hot Dog from Easton?

There were many more impressive results, but I wanted to give a shout out to Jon that the Alumni are aware and behind the current athletes as never before. Other results can be scanned Here! There are 4 more indoor meets this season at PSU. I hope to be at the Penn State National at the end of January. Check out the schedule of meets at the convenient Rusty Boots web site.

Linking the Past and the Present Like Never Before

2011-12-11T10:43:00.003-05:00

One reason our group is in existence is to link all past and present PSU Track Alums so that we can promote a successful and dynamic Future for Penn State Track and Field (and XC!). The efforts to find common ground between old-timers like me and the current Nittany Lions is never an easy task. It is made easier when the two groups actually meet and the older set sees a part of themselves in the younger, or the younger set sees an attribute in an old-fart like me that they may wish to emulate or learn from. (Gosh forbid!) Both groups have a lot to offer the other, so getting them together is a major step in the right direction. With this year's PSU Track Alumni Reunion and the Coach Groves Golf Tournament in May 2012, another bond will be added between the past and the present. Final details are not yet ironed out, but activities and get-togethers are in the works, the likes of which have not been seen in Happy Valley's history. One missing ingredient in the mix is YOU. Set aside the dates of May 18-20, 2012 for a celebration of the complete history of PSU Track.

One linkage of the past and present has been the Rusty Boots cheer (whose complete history is still eluding us!). It makes us "has-beens and never-was'es" (I'm using this in jest and in a self-mocking way, so don't take it too hard!) smile when we hear the cheer or see references to it.

In the hopes of promoting that linkage, I have arranged for several items to be added to the PSU Track Alumni Golf Store sporting the Rusty Boots emblem (modified a little by me, I hope it's all right with them!). It took some doing to get it sorta, kinda correct, but I'm a podiatrist, not a graphic artist! I hope some of you will enjoy them and order a few. A buck or two goes back to our group and is 100% destined for the Coach Harry Groves Scholarship. Check out the other items also. If anyone wants something else with the Rusty Boots emblem, just let me know. It can be arranged.

Dri-Fit Workout Tee

with Group Logo on front and Rusty Boots emblem on back

excellent companion to the Alumni Singlet (sold separately)

Rusty Boots Boxer Briefs

no explanation needed

Rusty Boots Root Beer Stein

Root beer boys, root beer!

Just Added!
Light Grey T-Shirt
Like in the olden days!
with Group emblem on front and Rusty Boots emblem on back shoulder!
I can hear the cheer now....

A Couple of Early Christmas Presents

2011-12-10T09:21:00.002-05:00

Today is the Blue-White Meet to usher in the 2012 Indoor Season. I'm not sure who to root for but if past years are any indication there will be some surprisingly good times (and distances and heights!). My plans are to make it to the Penn State National at the end of January, which happens just before the Championship season.

When Finals are out of the way, the Christmas Break will be upon PSU's student-athletes, so I'm bringing them a few early presents to savor.

Our new found friends at Rusty Boots will likely enjoy Taco Bell's newest entree once the competition is over. I cannot imagine how many of these critters my friends and I could have devoured back in the day. Maybe us old-timers could join the current members for a tasty meal at "The Bell" following the grueling competition in January?
General Martin Dempsey, currently the Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon happens to enjoy singing as much as he enjoys defending his country. Here's his rendition of Christmas in Killarney for all to enjoy.

I'm a Procrastinator, But This is Ridiculous

2011-12-09T12:39:00.002-05:00

I'll finally get to the task of creating the proper size emblem to upload to the Group Store, so we can finally get a few PSU Track Alumni/Rusty Boots items in stock. I've been thinking about it for a few days, and my excuse is my day job keeps hogging up too much of my blogging time. So I know I'm a little bit of a procrastinator, but the Lords of Golf make me look good.

Indoor season is just beginning, and I'm really looking forward to the Penn State National at the end of January. There could be some big news coming for the group by then. And we're all preparing to get on the same page so we can get some specific information out about the 2012 PSU Track and Field (and XC!) Alumni Reunion and the 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament in May. Remember everyone, the golf may be optional, but it is highly recommended. There never has been a more critical time to become involved. And as always, I guarantee a good time. (Only one complaint has been filed in our first ten years, which is a much better record than even Disney World!)

Generic Track and Field T-Shirts

2011-12-08T09:59:00.002-05:00

Cafe Press, who hosts our very own Group Store, also has a nice selection of Track and Field themed t-shirts. My favorite is the Latin Triple Jump tee (Hoppius, Skippius, Jumpius). I haven't looked through them all yet, but take a look on your own.

"A Higgs, a Higgs, My Kingdom For a Higgs"

2011-12-07T11:03:00.006-05:00

Has the elusive particle that gives mass to every other particle finally been found? (And Here) When have you ever seen so many nerds this excited since they added 2 minutes of "never-before-seen" footage to the original Star Wars? Or getting that sweet game console they "always wanted".

Somebody is going to be eating a glorious bunch of Swiss Chocolate, it looks like.

Mike Pfaff Films 3 Episodes of "2 Broke Girls"

2011-12-07T09:50:00.000-05:00

Mike Pfaff secured a recurring role on the new sitcom 2 Broke Girls and filmed 3 episodes last week. I'm sure his aerobic training as a PSU Track Alum contributed to his performance in some way. The first of his episodes, "The Upstairs Neighbor", is tentatively scheduled for January 16th. This may mean his other episodes will occur during Sweeps Week, guaranteeing wide viewership. I'll be watching!

Alumni Singlets Singe Sin City!

2011-12-06T11:23:00.001-05:00

Dennis Pollow and Brian Fuller continued their scintillating season sporting their singlets in Sin City this past weekend at the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Half Marathon.

A Ten Minute Mile Doesn't Beat a Rottweiler

2011-12-06T05:51:00.007-05:00

It didn't used to be that 3 daily miles on a treadmill satisfied my running needs. Indeed, I didn't even count miles on a treadmill until my "career" ended in the 1980s. I also used to like to make every run a little different than any other run. Sometimes that meant changing just a little bit of my usual runs, and sometimes it meant making up new runs. Rob Whiteside and I tried to create many new runs my Senior year at PSU, but I doubt any of them lasted past Rob's Senior year.

Even when I left for graduate school in Philadelphia, I often got tired of the same old runs every day to Fairmount Park and back. We tried numerous times to create additional route to Penn, South Philly etc. Sometimes these were successful, and sometimes not, but at least they weren't boring. So when I tried to combine our Penn run with our Fairmount Park run, at least one of my fellow students took me up on it. This was before Map Quest, Google Maps and other convenient mapping software, as it was before most software altogether!

So it seemed an easy and convenient route to run to Penn, around the campus and then directly to the Philadelphia Zoo and Fairmount Park. There it was on the folded auto map, right in front of us! Nearly a straight line, nothing in the way to impede our triumphant new route. Except...

The route happened to go right past the site of the 1978 confrontation between the Philadelphia Police and M.O.V. E., a group not inclined to care much for 2 skinny (I still was, I swear!), white, shirtless runners trying to get from Penn to Fairmount Park. The site of the confrontation was still there in 1982, as it was razed in the confrontation and no one dared build on it again. The empty lot was a sort of shrine, even to those African Americans who didn't buy into the whole MOVE credo. Across the street from the burned out site was a young boy being yanked along by a large Rottweiler dog (pit bulls weren't the "go-to" dog in those days). When the boy couldn't manage to hold the dog any longer he just blurted out "Sic Whitey" and The Game was Afoot. Sherlock and I had no other options than to outrun a crazed Rottweiler or be devoured, with bystanders laughing the whole time. Luckily we had enough of a start and Rottweilers must not be trained in middle distance skills, as we managed to outrun the beast with the fastest mile I ever ran post-college. I would estimate a nice 4:40 effort with a few weaves and bobs along the route. Even a few spectators toward the end, after the dog gave up but we hadn't, were impressed with the effort and urgency of our run. The Philadelphia Zoo still brings a smile to my lips, and it has nothing to do with the exhibits.

Two years later, as we watched an entire neighborhood burn to the ground from the roof of our apartment in the second Philadelphia Police vs. MOVE fiasco, we decided to take West Philadelphia off the running map for good. Luckily, I may add, as a 4:40 mile was out of the question by then! A ten-minute mile won't beat a Rottweiler!

And I have even a second Bear Story I may have to write up one of these days!

Scary Runs Seem to be Multiplying

2011-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

I regaled all of you with my Bear Story years ago, but now two other PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) have one-upped me for sure. Check out Paul Souza's latest "fast" run:

OK, so I get up Tuesday morning and go for a run. I run under the arch and down to the river and I turn right and head on up the river for a couple miles. Suddenly I notice that I am all alone and the buildings are looking more and more burned out and decrepit. I see a bridge up ahead and I decide to run to the bridge and turn around. Suddenly I notice a black car with blacked out windows turning off the street and traveling down a gravel path toward the riiver. I realize they have no business driving down here, except to come after me. Which they did. I ran the fastest half mile of my life, jumped over some bushes and booked it up a small gravel hill to the train tracks and ran on the tracks back to the arch which was a block from my hotel. The car followed me until it couldn't go any further. At one point as I was running away it crossed my mind that I was going to get shot in the back and die there along the river and no one would find me for days. On a posiitve note, it was my fastest run of the year!

Be sure to contact Paul Souza and let him know there is no excuse for not golfing with us this year! Maybe he'll even sing for us!

Then there's Ryan Foster's attempted long run, which got a little abbreviated with an excuse better than my running into a bear!

I am sitting on the couch still in my running gear, still panting, after one of the scariest, most horrifying moments of my life…
On my long run today, about 35 minutes in, I was running through a secluded wooded area just outside campus when I came upon a bright blue Suzuki. I was immediately curious as to what a small 4-door sedan was doing down this off-the-beaten-path trail. As I got closer, my stomach began to tie up and I felt every sense in my body heighten. Fear gripped me as I noticed the back-drivers-side door open, as well as the trunk, and on the ground next to the car, a shovel. Knowing something wasn’t right, my flight response kicked in and I began sprinting. As I passed by the car, my gaze was drawn to the back seat. There, seated upright, was the shape of a human torso wrapped in garbage bags, and next to it in the middle seat, a human arm.
I ran.
For the next 5 minutes I pounded towards the nearest building, a conference hotel on the outskirts of campus. Terrified, I kept expecting to hear a car engine behind me as I ran for safety.
As I pulled in to the parking lot I managed to borrow a phone from a man and call 911. They told me to wait in the hotel lobby. Minutes seemed like hours, and after waiting an eternity, I convinced myself that I must have been mistaken. Somebody would have come by now if it was important. So I decided to run home. The only way back went right by where I had seen the car. In the dark I could still see the outline, and off in the woods, faint torchlight. Panic renewed, I bolted for home.
When I walked through the door I quickly checked my phone and found a voice mail from the local police department asking me to call them as they can’t locate the car. Still fearing the worst, I call back…
The sergeant on the other end calms me down from my panic and tells me that they’ve located the car, and then proceeds to shock me even more when he starts to laugh.
“Ryan, this is actually a pretty funny one. It turns out that what you saw was exactly what you thought. There were body parts in that car. The Penn State Forensic Science Department was out there burying fake body parts for a class tomorrow.”
For the sake of the ten years off my life, they better learn something tomorrow.

Be careful out there...

Tougher Than the Zombie Run?

2011-12-05T09:48:00.000-05:00

Here's another example of a run we should get a team together for (pardon the mangled English!). If there ever was a run worth getting your new Alumni Singlet dirty for, this may be it!

Tough Mudder

A Bunch of Unrelated Stuff in Physics Before Indoor Track Gets Started

2011-12-04T12:24:00.000-05:00

Neutrinos may or may not travel faster than the speed of light. And either way, Albert Einstein probably wouldn't lose any sleep even if they do, despite invalidating much of his Theory of Relativity. I'm pretty sure he'd relish the challenge of explaining it further.
The Higg's Boson, aka "the god particle" may or may not exist. We'll likely find out this year as the CERN Super-collider ramps up further.
Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Warming may or may not exist, but scientists "promoting" it have been acting very, very badly. (Including PSU's own Michael Mann!) Sharing data and keeping it archived is one of the first things I learned at PSU. I still have the data I meticulously acquired studying the behavior of parasitic wasps on their caterpillar hosts. This was done for hours at a time staring into a microscope at the fruit-fly sized wasps. As with most of science, the data came to nothing, as we were looking for behavioral mutations when the wasps were exposed to diesel exhaust and never identified any that I know of. I suppose I could have faked it and asked for trillions of dollars like the "Warmists", but I never did.
Even YOU should be able to understand Quantum Physics!
And if you can't, it still is cool to watch this levitation video!

Another "Way Back Machine" Entry

2011-12-03T12:20:00.000-05:00

I warned Coach Gary Schwartz and Beth (Stever) Shisler this was coming! I keep hoping to get Coach Schwartz to come to our golf outing in May! And this time you don't need to guess who's who, but it is in the time "before color was invented"!

The "Way Back Machine"

2011-12-02T18:45:00.000-05:00

Not far enough back that my kids would say "That was before they invented color!" but far enough back to make for a great "Can you name everyone?"

Submit comments to identify everyone you know.

Those vintage Keyrolan sweats were made in clothing mills in Bangor and PenArgyl, PA back in the late 70's and early 80's. They sure were sweet!

That's Entertainment!

2011-12-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

PSU Track Alum Mike Pfaff recently got a big repeating co-starring role on the sitcom Two Broke Girls, which is a really good show, now made better!

The shows before and after are great too, and a great way for the whole family to spend some time together in this hectic, crazy world. Good luck Mike. Drop us a line if you get the chance and golf with us some day!

The Truth About Penn State

2011-12-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

If you really want to know the truth about what Penn State stands for, and what great people you can meet at one of our Track Alumni Reunions, read the Collegian article about Maggie Redden and Teri Jordan! Help us get the word out that we have accepted the mantle of "Success With Honor" and mean to improve upon it. Inspiration for everyone from a group for everyman.

Cross Country Recap: Performances of the Year

2011-12-01T08:55:00.002-05:00

In no particular order!

Coach Alford-Sullivan being selected to receive the 2011 Joseph Robichaux Award, which acknowledges a coach, administrator, or volunteer who has made a significant impact in women's track and field in the United States. Congrats!
Owen Dawson's performance at the NCAA Regionals at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. As I always kid Steve Shisler, "Not bad for a half-miler!" (It's only in jest and I condemn myself after each utterance.) I see some great middle distance efforts ahead!
Caitlin Lane's All-American performance at the NCAA Championships. Enough said!
Doreen McCoubrie's (Startare) marathon at Philly last month. 2:50:23 at age 50. (Sorry about that Doreen, but I suppose everyone knows now!) This is very near Joan Benoit Samuelson's World Record for the age group and placed first in the age-adjusted scores now used widely for comparisons. (And Doreen, you need an Alumni Singlet!)

Someone Convince Carl Wolter to Golf With Us Next Year!

2011-11-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

I think Carl Wolter still has the record for the longest drive in the Championships of Distance Driving. Now getting him to come back to State College for the Annual Harry Groves Golf Tourney is the task at hand. I'd love to see his handicraft in action, as would many others. But my money may still be on Beth Shisler to win the "Longest Drive" competition.*

* She uses the ladies tees and the ball must make the fairway.

Shislers Cross the Line!

2011-11-30T09:16:00.000-05:00

The Finish Line, of course!

Beth Shisler ran her first marathon recently in Philadelphia, which gives me another chance to acknowledge both her and Steve for all the help they have given the group for the past 10-plus years. Steve finally got his name on the Harry Groves Memorial Cup last year and Beth has won the longest drive competition several times. (Carl Wolter, take note!) They have also hosted our rag tag bunch for the awards ceremony until there local zoning laws wouldn't allow us back. (Just kidding)

Steve Shisler ran 13 of the miles with her, which is way more than I could do for my wife at her upcoming Disney Goofy Challenge. And that ain't half bad for a half-miler, Steve! (hee hee hee) This also gives me the opportunity to tell Steve I still have his 1985 Penn Relay Photos. I will bring them to an indoor meet soon.

Congrats, Beth. You look happy in the photo, which is way more than I can say for my first marathon, which was the Harrisburg Marathon in 1977, the day after the High School Cross Country Championships. I was dumb that way... a twenty mile run and a 6 mile torture.

The FASTEST Track Alumni Group in the World!

2011-11-29T07:58:00.001-05:00

When Ryan Foster volunteered to spearhead the orders for a new round of the Alumni Singlet, I was so delighted that I made him an Officer of the Group. I am especially happy to see that the enthusiasm of recent grads is rivaling that of some of us old-timers.

By making him an Officer, I then realized that we now have 3 sub-4 milers participating significantly with us. My 4:18 mile best doesn't add much to the equation, but I will add that I only ran the mile once while at PSU, which is the PR I'm talking about. So I figure our 4-man relay team would be competitive even with me slogging the second leg! (I think Clark Haley's PR would be a great 4th man, possibly 4:02??) But then again, I may have to add Steve Balkey to the group as Beverage Procurement Specialist and Practice Facilitator. Any other suggestions?

Either way, Ryan is taking orders for the singlets, which we continue until 12/31/11, and then the order will be placed. There are already several orders in, so be patient everyone, and they will materialize in the new year. I have one and it is really cool.

Are We Ready? When The Bell Tolls For Thee

2011-11-27T14:19:00.003-05:00

Andrew Valmon, second from left, who partly owes his Olympic Gold Medal to Coach Groves, got a conditional reprieve the other day. His Maryland Terrapins Men's Team can avoid the cutting of their program by simply coming up with 8 years of revenue to continue the entire indoor and outdoor, as well as the cross country teams. That's where the problems start. Absolutely no one expects them to raise that amount of cash in just a few months.

Despite the far-fetched notion that this could happen at PSU, are we ready for the same thing? Without football revenue, PSU would face many of the problems nagging our neighbor to the south. There are even serious voices among the deciders calling for "the death penalty" for PSU football. In any unlikely scenario of a substantial loss of revenue at any university, combined with Title IX, the men's track and cross country teams are always among the first teams to be placed on the block. It's all money and number of athletes. It has nothing to do with academics!

Would we be ready?

The goal of our group isn't primarily money. It's probably way down on the list, but it needs to be there. We desire companionship more than anything, followed by honoring Coach Groves and the past history of PSU Track. Next would be the current team and the future team, both of which require revenue. If the normal source of revenue were interrupted, would we be able to keep it going? If Maryland requires $9,000,000.00 for 8 years, that would be $6,000 per living PSU Track Alum! What would Penn State require? My guess would be much more. We need to be ready for any eventuality, no matter how remote.

Let's start the ball rolling by making this year's Reunion and Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament the biggest one yet. Although only a small step along the course to fiscal independence, it would represent the biggest show of force to the new athletic administration we could make.

New Official Apparel Supplier Volunteers! Alumni Singlet Orders Being Taken

2011-11-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

When Dennis Pollow became one of the 53% of us who has to send scads of money to the United States Treasury he had to move away from State College, and we lost our connection to the Alumni Singlet manufacturer. (Remember, the politics here are oblique, and we will not have an argument over whether Dennis is in the 1% or the 99%, just the 53% and the 47%) With much whining and "hint-giving"from me, I have finally found a replacement in Ryan Foster, who is excited to volunteer to assist those desiring a singlet to spread the word of the pride we all have in being Penn State Track and Field (and XC) Alumni (Golfers). Ryan will be our youngest Officer of the Group and will have the moniker of Official Apparel Facilitator. I thank him profusely and look forward to getting together at an indoor meet this year.

Order your very own alumni singlet to help spread the word of the largest and most active track alumni group in the world by filling out this form today. Wearing one of these beauties is the easiest way to appear in a picture on the world's number one track alumni/Physics blog!

Ashenfelter 8K Turkey Trot

2011-11-25T14:46:00.000-05:00

Turkey Day is also the yearly day to remember Olympic Gold. The Ashenfelter 8K Classic is annually held in Glen Ridge NJ, this year totaling 2,500 runners! Anyone know any PSU Alumni at the event other than Horace Ashenfelter III?

Bird is the Word (and Alumni Singlets)

2011-11-25T08:27:00.004-05:00

There were 3,600 in downtown York for the Turkey Trot this year. That's quite incredible, as that many people weren't in downtown York during the entire span of time from 1970 to 2000. I used to run a Turkey Trot 10-Miler in Millersville that attracted a couple of hundred runners, but the organizers of the York event realized that a 5K would bring the crowds.

They also had a Turkey Trot in New Cumberland which attracted quite a few PSU Track Alumni Golfers. Remember guys, the golf is optional but highly recommended. Here's Ryan Foster and Brian Fuller sporting their alumni singlets in style as they tie for the win! There were a couple more Fuller Bros,. right behind, with Jeff and Mary Sanden placing first and second in their age groups. Kara Millhouse watched the whole affair with amusement I am told.

Each time the alumni singlets are presented to the world, I am besieged by requests for orders. We need to get a volunteer in State College who will spearhead the effort for another order. Help from afar will be available, but we need an" insider" to actually make the arrangements. Don't make me come up there!

1. Ryan Foster 15:01.87
2. Brian Fuller 15:02.67
3. Mark Fuller 15:59.56
4. Kevin Fuller 16:36.78

A Cherpumple and a Wrist Band

2011-11-24T08:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm particularly thankful for the possibility of a good 12:30 game this year, and of course, another wrist band submission from our very own traveling physicist, Brian Boyer. Here he channels my hero, Richard Feynman at a Rio Beach. That's Richard juggling at the Copacabana Beach in the 50's.

Sorry Brian, I will attempt to rotate the picture back to normal, I'm not sure why it won't display as originally oriented. Just turn your head everyone and quit complaining!

And here's this year's version of the turducken, this time for dessert. I present the Cherpumple, a cherry pie, an apple pie and a pumpkin pie all baked into individual cakes and then put together into one huge 21-pound decadent lump. Hell, skip the turkey, this might require a little room.

Old School "Ballmer" Goodness

2011-11-23T13:04:00.003-05:00

An anonymous response to the previous post on streaking yielded this little token of yesteryear. It brings back many memories for a few of us. This must be the finishers jacket from the 1979 Maryland Marathon showing the greatest silhouette emblem of Bill Rodgers, Ron Hill and possibly Tom Fleming (?) at the 1977 race. I never got the jacket, so I assume its from the '79 race. I ran the '77 and '78 races, I believe, and dragged 3 or 4 other PSU athletes along in '78. I think Ralph Hoffmann (PSU '79 Forestry major) ran a 2:31 or so on the most difficult Marathon course I have ever run. It was an out-and-back course from Memorial Stadium to Loch Raven Reservoir north of the city. A large hill named Satyr loomed at about the 20 mile mark and took many a victim, including me both years.

The jacket looks nice, but I especially remember the greatest backpack bag that we got in '77 or '78. A single drawstring bag made of plain canvas with plain lettering lasted nearly 30 years of hard use by me, my wife and two kids. I'll have to go look for it again. The t-shirts with the same emblem were great too. Here's Don Ziter sporting his while breaking Coach Groves' rule against competing in outside races in 1980!

The short, shorts always bring a smile to my lips. Do you remember those great New Zealand Splits?

Addendum: Our Benevolent IT Czar Jeff Sanden dug into his attic to come up with another gem, the actual bag from the 1977 Maryland Marathon, the single best gift I have ever received.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T10:08:00.004-05:00

I could not find video of a turkey on a treadmill, so a Rhode Island Red will have to do. Just squint your eyes a little bit and you can pretend its a turkey.

Chicken on a Treadmill

But I did find video of a turkey visiting the 19th Hole at Disney World!

Turkey at the 19th Hole

I'm Back Into the Top Echelon of American Runners!

2011-11-22T09:05:00.000-05:00

Not really. But kinda, sorta. When I realized I could no longer run fast and my knees wouldn't allow me to run far, I had to come up with something to keep me going. Streaking became my "thing". I would follow the example of Ron Hill, veteran marathoner and streaker-extraordinaire. Ron even ran just before midnight following knee surgery that very same day. I think his streak is still going and has been through many more significant things than just knee surgery. Traffic accidents with leg fractures, illness, family deaths and even more has not ended his quest for "just one more day". Then I found that like-minded, crazy men had already started a group in 2000 that catered to fools like me. I started my streak 6 days after the last of my 3 knee surgeries and haven't looked back.

I turned my lowly streak into the United States Running Streak Association this week. If the application is accepted and certified, I will be #191 on the Active List. I haven't been in the top 200 runners in any category since my 24-Hour Relay (17-year-old )world record of 4:53/mile for 27 miles in 1977, (which was eclipsed 6 days later by future Nittany Lion roommate Alan Scharsu!). And that was the hardest single running event I ever participated in. I recommend it to no one.

So onward I slog (10 or 11 minutes/mile!), step by step, inch by inch, not having any clue where it will take me....

A Fine Race Indeed

2011-11-21T15:19:00.003-05:00

The Penn State Women's Team performed well above their recent ranking and grabbed 13th place at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, with Caitlin Lane leading the way in 16th overall position! Way to go, all involved.

Now that I have single-handedly deemed that the old football motto of "Success with Honor" will now be in the sole possession of Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers everywhere, (I think we have more of a claim to it than the football squad anyway!), let's just say that this performance is the opening volley in the rehab for "Dear Ole State". Thanks to the entire squad!

13.   368  Penn State                                   
==========================================================

  1     10   481 Caitlin Lane         SR  9:53   20:04

  2     39   482 Kara Millhouse       SR 10:04   20:43

  3     85   478 Natalie Bower        JR 10:17   21:09

  4     93   483 Brooklyne Ridder     JR 10:19   21:13

  5    141   479 Emily Giannotti      SO 10:30   21:39

  6   (167)  477 Abbie Benson         FR 10:39   21:55

  7   (173)  480 Lindsey Graybill     JR 10:41   21:58

Very Fast Baby Steps: NCAA XC Championships

2011-11-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

Each and every one of us gets to participate in the rehabilitation of the Penn State Tradition, otherwise known as Success With Honor. Each little step we take puts us just a bit closer to the redemption of what all of us have tried to live up to since our day of matriculation. Just because some individuals did or did not live up to our ideals, doesn't negate the fact that the quest for that ideal is noble.

My steps happen to be pitifully slow, but consistent (1618 days in a row! I will enter The Streak at runeveryday.com this week, which will probably jinx me right away.) The Women's Cross Country Team along wth Kyle Dawson and Vince McNally will also take some of those steps for us, and a lot faster than I possibly can! Good luck everyone.

Updates in a Tumultuous Time

2011-11-19T10:10:00.000-05:00

I'm not talking about the PSU travails, God knows enough people are talking about that. The more I hear, the more I realize that a mob mentality has taken over. Don't trust anyone who projects a morally superior demeanor. It is more than likely that they are no more morally sound than any of us, especially the sports talking heads that have multiplied exponentially in recent years.. Just realize that making yourself incrementally better every day is the surest way to "cure" the current situation our Alma Mater finds itself in. Living by example is the best way of doing that.

I have failed in this myself, in that I have always felt PSU was superior to Ohio State because Ohio State holds on every offensive play in football. They still hold on every offensive play, but now I realize that it doesn't make anyone better than anyone else. Live and learn! (But check it out by watching only the offensive line of OSU in today's game; I'll bet you'll find that I'm right!)

The updates affecting Track and Field are disturbing enough. Reactions are hot in the University of Maryland cessation of Men's Track, both indoor and outdoor, and cross country. I've tried to check, and I have not come across any examples of any program "discussing" dropping of a track program and then changing their minds. Sad days indeed.

Maybe even more disturbing to me, is that someone I have run several races against is sleeping on a dirt floor in a South African prison. Former US citizen Sydney Maree still has some friends from Villanova and let's hope something can be done.

A Wee Bit of Mirth: Better Than a Snow Day!

2011-11-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Just a brief link to bring a smile to all of us who would love a day off of work. Remember how great it was when the weather forecast likely meant a day off from school on the day the Science Project was due? This is waaaayyy better.

Better Than a Snow Day!

Optimism and Pride

2011-11-16T08:52:00.000-05:00

I'll dispense with the Pride part first. My daughter's Cross Country team had their banquet last night and she received an award as the girl's team Most Improved Runner, which entails much more than just improving in times during the year. In her first year of running cross country, she went from a shy, quiet girl in the second pack to a happy, out-going girl running with the Big Dogs. I couldn't be more proud, which is to say I have tempted someone upstairs with one of the seven deadly sins. I've also had gluttony covered for quite some time too! I promise I will be good from here on out.

Optimism is what Coach Groves is extolling in the wake of the worst scandal in the history of sports in America, and I'm really happy to hear of it. Director of Youth Development Artie Gilkes brings us this quote from Coach Groves:

"The thing that I love about Penn State and what kept me there all those years was something I saw right away in 1968...That is that at Penn state more than anywhere else, even in spite of some people hijacking it, the good always overcomes the bad...It may not be right away but it does and Penn State will heal."

Artie will be spearheading some new initiatives at the behest of Founder Clark Haley and Keeper of the Cup Harry Smith for the coming Reunion in May 2012. You won't want to miss it.

Crazy Like a Fox

2011-11-15T09:01:00.002-05:00

A year ago at an indoor meet I had a conversation with 2 1980 Olympians about several topics, including the future of college track and field. When I stated that we must do all we can ourselves to fortify ourselves against the discontinuation of major programs across the country, one of the Olympians said I was "crazy" and that "it would never happen". Luckily, one of the Olympians was Greg Fredericks, and he can verify the substance of the talk. Two of the programs I highlighted were Villanova and Maryland. After dismissing me as a credible source of knowledge, the Olympian moved on to other topics. And, oh yeah, I really made him mad when I told him that in our only race together, I beat him. New contest: who was he and which race was it?

Well, I was right (and here!), although I won't deny that I am crazy for other reasons. And I am sorry that I made him mad by telling him about the race. I really am.

We must do all we can to avoid the same things happening.

Double the Mirth and More Streaking!

2011-11-14T07:51:00.000-05:00

I'm getting back on track after a rough week. (and I mean mine not PSU's)! With my commitment to the future of Penn State Track questioned, criticized and impugned by some I know and anonymous miscreants besides, I had a lot of time to think. I had no computer at home and at work due to the "storm of the century" at Halloween. I may never recover some of my stuff, but what the heck, starting over has its benefits. (That's a reference to my situation and PSU's for those not keeping up!) Now that I have digital access again, I have decided to double my efforts, as I know they are meaningful and more important than ever. Those who have left the fold over issues none of us had anything to do with are welcome back at any time. Now is the time to start contributing to our mission, with words or funds or any way you can.

My streak continues, against many odds. This weekend I felt like the lonely deer in Valley Forge Park. Last year I had 1,500 friends and now only 150 to 250. But I still managed to shuffle a 3 1/2 mile loop under 11:00 minutes/mile past the deerless monuments, asbestos dump and future casino. I'm debating whether to turn in my streak to the American Running Streak Association or not. Vote in the poll to help me make my decision. It would make me a novice, and no where near the accomplishment of this guy!

Limited Posting

2011-11-11T11:41:00.001-05:00

Work has me attending boring lectures and such, and I have no computer (here or at home) right now. My options are limited on things people submitted and comments about PSU's travails. I will get back to them when I can.

Good luck to both XC squads at the Regionals at Maryland's Eastern Shore. Luckily, they get to escapr the maelstrom that is State College, at least for a short while.

The Lightest of Touches

2011-11-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

My editorial powers at the blog are with the lightest of touches. Comments, of course, are always encouraged, but the past has demonstrated that a modicum of restraint is sometimes needed.

First off, advertising and spam are not permitted. Those who have never done this would be amazed how much spam from nefarious places floods into even a humble blog like this. I wish I had saved some of it to demonstrate. Needless to say, I have apparently 178 Ethiopian relatives who wish to give me money, and I have won lotteries in 34 different nations.

Second, offensive material and links to offensive material (as deemed by your benevolent dictator) are not permitted. This also apparently disqualifies 1/3 of the internet, but so be it.

And last, profanity is not permitted. I have included many comments in the past excluding the profanity with the author's (if known) permission.

The light touch I use has been noted by some I trust, to be a confirmation of my spirit of freedom of speech. This means I have included many off-topic comments and plenty of gibberish also. Either way, I'm proud of what we have accomplished with our blog. Comment away!

PSU is 800U: The Comeback*

2011-11-09T09:26:00.002-05:00

* I changed the title. I don't want to offend anyone, and this gets the point across better anyway. Thanks for the feedback, whoever you are...

When I assumed the role of Herder of Cats for our 11-man Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers group in 2008, I had no idea what I was in for. More than 800 posts later, I'm still surprised at what our little band of brothers have achieved with our experiment in motivation . Nothing pleases me more than bringing a Lion back into the fold.

It was a delight to see Penn Relays Watch Winner and former Pennsylvania State High School Mile Champion Mike Cook at last year's reunion. It was his first visit to State College since graduation! He's planning on coming again this year, and will even hack and thrash at the greenery on one of Happy Valley's glorious golf courses with us this year! (I don't think we have decided which one yet.)

But when Mike told me that he even recently ran a 10K, I had to refresh my computer monitor (the one at work, since I still don't have a replacement for the exploded one at home) and check again. I don't think Mike ever ran a 10K when we were really running 10Ks back in the day. He had decided after high school that the mile was a bit too far and switched to the 800M instead. But now, with a slight nudge from our humble little cadre of has-beens and never-was's, Mike is truly a distance runner!

A Somewhat Inept Attempt at Cheering Everyone Up

2011-11-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

Scandal and unease has taken over State College and will only be getting worse. Such is the way things work in a world where information can be disseminated instantaneously to everyone who wants it, and even to those who don't. My heart goes out to everyone involved, especially families of the victims.

But, I take heart knowing what I would have done in such a situation. Doing the right thing in this case would have meant extreme personal sacrifice, but I would have done it anyway. Loss of job, friends, and more would have certainly followed, but I would have done what was right.

I know this primarily because of what my parents taught me, but also partly due to what I was taught by Coach Groves while at PSU. I have witnessed what Coach Sullivan is teaching athletes at PSU today, and it gives me much encouragement that all is well with PSU Track and Field (and Cross Country!) Honor, integrity and "doing what's right" doesn't guarantee success as an athlete, but it is one heck of a good accompaniment! We can all hold our heads up high as Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golfers, remember, the golf is optional, but highly recommended!) I know I'm not the only one who learned quite a bit about how to deal with people and situations from Coach Groves. The athletes today have the same from the current Coaching Staff. So let's all redouble our efforts to support the Program and each other as we suffer the slings and arrows from afar. Keep fighting the good fight and we'll become stronger than ever.

PSU Track Alumni at PIAA Championships

2011-11-06T15:53:00.009-05:00

Several PSU Track Alumni Golfers were in the crowd in Hershey at the Pennsylvania Cross Country Championships. It was a nice day after last week's fiasco of a weekend and times were fast.

My daughter's team, York Suburban, placed 16th in the AA Girl's Competition. My neighbor, Sami Gehly was the team's second finisher.

Larry Mangan's son Michael helped his Lower Moreland squad to a 10th place finish in the Boy's AA meet. His daughter's former team, St. Basil Academy, powered to the win in the AA Girl's division.

Also in the AA Girl's group was John Zeigler's daughter Heather, who was second for her Meadville squad. Meadville is near the home of Harmonsburg's very own Rob Whiteside and also close to the cheerleading home of Hollywood's Sharon Stone. I'm not sure which High Schools John, Rob and Sharon attended, but it sure must have been a hotbed of some sort back in the 70's!

Rebecca Donaghue coached her Little Lady Lions from State College to a 9th place finish in the Girl's AAA race.

Anyone aware of any others, I missed? I'm sure there are plenty.

Addendum from a little birdy: Also in attendance were perennial spectators and Harrisburg area residents Mark Haywood and Jeff Sanden (who is still waiting for the Golden Putter!) Coach John Gondak was also there scouting for more talent (PSU is 800U!). Even our very own Founder Clark Haley may have been spotted!

20 Things I Learned in More Than 50 Years (Yea, I'm Slow!)

2011-11-03T10:28:00.001-04:00

In my opinion, morning runs are the most important element in a good runner's training regimen. They are unfortunately the least fun also. I maintain that any modicum of success I achieved in the sport is directly tied to the decision to start two-a-days in high school. My favorite morning runs in college were the ones where I ran by Rec Hall and tapped on Coach Groves' window to be exempt from his Fitness and Games Gym Class, Twice!
Women will invariably answer "It depends." to the question "What is your shoe size?" Men will answer quite specifically "9 1/2 C" or something similar.
Post-operative swelling always lasts much longer than the patient wants (which is measured in hours!).
Dogs can eat the same thing every day and remain much happier than most people. And yet my obsession with Kung Pao Chicken once weekly is viewed as "insane" by some.
Women will take at least 3 bags to work; a purse, a bag of a prepared lunch and another bag for anything else, which usually includes a change of shoes. Men will often forget to take even their wallet and will have no bags unless it contains work tools.
Both men and women under 40 will always have their cell phone in their hand. Those over 60 have one at home but won't know how to use it.
People who give waitresses and waiters a hard time should be avoided at all cost. Anyone who ever tips less than 10% at a meal should be sent to San Quentin.
Most people don't know that 400 meters is shorter than 440 yards.
Fleas are much more aggressive and proliferate when camped on a cat.
The size of the TV is proportional to how quickly it fails after the warranty expires.
Computers were put on this earth by God to test human endurance. At least Microsoft PCs anyway. Maybe Apples are different. I had an Apple II many years ago but I don't think that counts. And Steve Jobs never consulted God anyway.
The Steeplechase is another of God's tests. I'm not sure I passed that one. I look forward to St. Peter's review of my record on that one.
Hammer throwers are a fun group to hang out with. Without their hammers, that is.
Fast Food will be the death of all of us, but it sure is tasty sometimes.
Physics is incomprehensible. If it isn't, you just haven't studied it enough.
In only two months time, Cross Country goes from being too hot to do to being too cold to continue.
I can vacation anywhere and a perfect vacation for me would be a Cruise where the ship never is untied from the dock.
The Chinese have 5 times as much Capitalism than do the Americans.
Hill repeats are another test God gave coaches to torment and test athletes. I'm hoping it's not uphill to Heaven.
Practically no one reads my blog, but many people tell me they do.

Billy Mills, Billy Mills, BILLY MILLS

2011-11-02T16:00:00.000-04:00

Billy Mills gave a talk yesterday prior to the Marine Corps Marathon that was really inspiring. When America wants to promote its heroes for the rest of the world to see, Billy would be a great choice. Check out the story in the Washington Post for a little pick-me-up in the Motivation Department. (And he golfs too!)

The last person Billy passed at the 1964 Olympic 10,000 M Final was Mohammed Gammoudi. I've had the pleasure of hearing from both men via Facebook after they were featured on our humble little blog. I'll send this post along to them also. Both are cordially invited to golf with us anytime! Our very own Olympic Order Historian, Coach John Lucas called this race the best Olympic moment he witnessed in his over 50 year Olympic obsession. That's some powerful stuff. As is Mr. Mills. (Mohammed got his Olympic Gold 4 years later!)

Gone To Texas

2011-11-02T09:11:00.001-04:00

The renamed novel on which the movie screenplay for The Outlaw Josey Wales was based was called Gone to Texas. Originally, the novel was called The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales. Either way, can you imagine anyone else playing the part other than Clint Eastwood?

Group friend and future Track Alumni Golfer (we will entice you to come, I guarantee!) Howard Triebold sends us another great Wrist Band Photo from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Thanks for thinking of us, and get those sticks out for some practice!

And here's a little bit of Josey to keep your day lively. When I was Student Council President in High School (yea, my one and only foray into politics, trust me!) I got to introduce the guy that did all of the close up gun play in his movies at an assembly. He's also in a lot of Clint's movies, often killed by the same guns he is shown using. I'll try to look up his name when I get the chance.

"Oh, the Humanity", Blog Central Goes Down

2011-11-01T09:21:00.003-04:00

Electricity is back! Unfortunately, the photo represents how my computer took the whole ordeal.* I have (hopefully) only temporarily lost a lot of material, including submissions from my vast tens of readers for new blog content. Unlike the Hindenburg disaster, the catastrophe at my desk only took the lives of two African Dwarf Frogs, Manny and Moe. Jack survives in his own cubicle upstairs, which must have maintained a slightly higher temperature during the 60 hour power outage. Manny and Moe survived to the ripe old age of nearly 5, which isn't too bad for a animal the size of a penny, give or take a gangly leg or two. RIP boys**, you will be missed.

* Blog post courtesy of a balky work computer, also staggered by the "storm of the century".

** Determining the actual sex of African Dwarf Frogs is extremely difficult.