Summer Running Down The Shore

It was my wife's 22nd finish in a row at the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol 10-Mile Island Run.  Quite a streak.  I only made about half of that, and now just sit around while everyone else suffers through the most miserable run in the world. (I did run my usual 3 miles on a treadmill earlier!)  10 Miles, mostly on the beach, with three soft-sand crossovers to a macadam promenade for about 2 miles out of the ten.  Some years there are leaps over the jetties that vary from steps to cliffs depending on the beach erosion.  They try to time the event so that tides are good to have enough sand for running, especially the last 2 mile stretch to the finish.  This year the tide came in and people were dodging the sunbathers, their kid's deep holes dug into the beach AND knee deep waves.  And they added an extra obstacle this year as the the runners had to scale a sand berm 3 times, created by the sand reclamation dredging project.

Needless to say, i enjoyed sipping my Black Cherry Wishniak as I greeted Fellow Nittany Lions and waited for my wife to finish while sitting on a deck overlooking the festivities.

Penn State has a deep history at the event, with 3 victories in recent years by Tyler McCandless and Kyle Dawson.  I'm pretty sure there have been other notable finishes by Lion runners, but I'm too lazy to look them up right now.  Fill me in if anyone knows more!

Kyle Dawson returned after a one-year lay off from the event to place 2nd overall.  Owen Dawson was there to watch also.  (You know those Middle Distance runners think 10 miles is way too far.  In this case, I agree with him!)  I even got to deliver the reimbursement voted on by the entire Idiot Officer quorum at the last Reunion.  Owen hand-delivered the Golden Putter to the event in time for its presentation to this year's recipient.  He had to rent a car for the trip and didn't even get to stop by for a meal.  It's good to know both Dawsons plan on attending next year's festivities.

Kyle Dawson, 2nd overall

Kyle Dawson, Owen Dawson warming up.  Coincidentally, friend Bill Kehner appeared in the pic upon review in the blue shirt.  This is his 39th or so in-a-row.

Barb Black at the start.  She doesn't yet know about the sand berms...

Kyle Dawson at the half-way mark.