15 Disparate Musings About The 2023 Track And Field Alumni Reunion

1. Apologies go out to my fabulous foursome this year. Three of the finest friends and long-term attendees whom I both admire and respect. I did nothing but bitch and moan the whole golf round, while contributing nothing but missed putts and bad vibes. I am truly sorry.
2. Talked Mike Shine into golfing for the first time. I believe he enjoyed himself and had 4 shots that counted.
3. The dinner was excellent again this year. Ribs, BBQ chicken breast, fusili Mac and cheese, garlic green beans and Paul Mundy Memorial triple chocolate cake.
4. Got to speak with Ryan Foster and his father. Two delightful people. I think I convinced Ryan to get a third cat. The interactions and interesting behavioral changes that occur with the addition of each new cat are worthwhile. I forgot to inform him that the equation for the proper number of litter boxes is (# of cats + 1).
5. The Hyatt Hotel is an excellent venue. The expense is worth it.
6. Clark and Harry are great at what they have done to keep this independent movement going. Check how many other schools are doing as much. It isn't many. And if they attempt to add me to those who deserve praise, only believe 10% of it.
7. Finally got to meet Joe Head, the first Nittany Lion to run in the Olympic Trials Marathon. He was a full-fledged member of our group before it was founded.
8. The Coach's Remembrance was just right. I especially liked Ken Cooper's, Ryan Foster's and Artie Gilkes' presentations.
9. I live streamed the ceremony on our Facebook (Meta) page. Eight people watched live, but it has already been viewed more than 100  200  300 times since.  I actually hurt my back and tired my arms holding the phone up for 2.5 hours. Too stupid to think of a stand...
10. Coach Schwartz was my assistant coach for XC in 1977.I immediately knew he was the ying to Coach Groves yang at our first meeting. Total and complete respect.
11. This weekend reinforced my opinion that members of our group are the most interesting, the most accomplished and the most intelligent people I have ever known.
12. Coach Gondak is an excellent inheritor of the position once held by Coach Groves. I first met him at one of our early Friday receptions where I brought the potato chips and Clark Haley was truly the Keeper of the Beer in the small meeting room at the Hampton Inn.
13. Ken Worthen is apparently the finest golfer in our tournament history. I heard many people telling me his play was outstanding from hole 1 to hole 18. I did not get to speak with him, but I want to thank him for dragging Don Ziter to his third tournament championship! Harry Smith also.
14. The monies we collect for the weekend may seem steep to some, but that is never the case. In low turnout years we break even with Officers often adding significant funds behind the scene. In high attendance years we do have a surplus, which is given in its entirety to the Penn State Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country teams. (Not the Coach Groves Scholarship Fund). In these surplus years, the funds are often given to an individual employed by a company that matches charitable contributions. This is not done to earn Nittany Lion points for someone to get better parking or tickets for football games etc. The only funds ever mismanaged by our group was the $4.24 lunch at Wendy's I was once allowed by a donation from Paul Mundy made to our blog. BTW the Mountain View Golf Club has changed the hole where Paul hit the tractor trailer on 322. I miss those days.
15. Got to speak with Brie Berkowitz for an hour on Friday. I have known Brie since she was a young lady. Her mom was our kids' school nurse and a running partner of my wife. Her dad was a XC coach in our county. They have already endeared themselves in the PSTAFXC community, and Brie is an outstanding PV coach for the Lions. Truly a small world!
16. More to come... 

Throw Back Thursday

Friend of the Group (and Coach Groves) Larry Fall sent us this morsel of goodness on the day that Penn Relays finally returns!   No, it isn't from the Relays, but it is pretty tasty anyway.

In the olden days before widespread awareness of the evils of alcohol were apparent (or was it just ignored?) there was a race in State College a little over a mile long which involved up to 7 stops at bars to down a cup of beer.  It was actually a charity event from our Greek friends.  Crowds were enormous and even the police were on the side of the revelers, providing security and safety to the throngs.

There were notable entries from our group involved.  I will never know how Don Ziter pulled off a top level finish while still on the team?  He will be at the Reunion to explain.

But no one was better at the event than Pete Bortolotti.  Greg Frederick's Athletic Attic Store was his sponsor.  He recorded a 5:13 on the 1.1 mile course without spilling a drop. For charity!

Looking at the brochure poster, I think that Bill Clinton made an appearance in the event.  No times could be found.

Some Curmudgeon Notes On The Pitt Game

1. It's not a good day if you are barfing at 10:00am outside your RV site more than10 miles away from the Stadium for a 3:30PM game. Thankfully, I didn't know the guy.
2. 109,000 people are way too many.
3. I went to 2 tailgates and didn't get to eat anything but a smidgen of bbq, Doritos and some chocolate-covered pretzels.
4. People drink way too much in celebration of 19 yo kids playing a game that is probably giving them brain damage.
5. The whole campus is delightful once the game has started.  Had to make my way from a tailgate to Pattee Library so we could use a computer for hospital orders.  Technology will be the death of us all, just as the Unabomber told us...
6. Downtown State College is delightful once the game has started.  I have purchased running shoes the past 2 weeks from Terry Losch at Rapid Transit and had a bike fixed at Freeze Thaw Bikes during the games.
7. No one awakened at the remote RV site as of 8:00am but me.  Bizarre for an RV site.

Tailgate 1: This trailer actually has a bathroom, shower, kitchen, ac, 2 TVs and more.

The Great Unwashed at the Stadium.

Tailgate 2: 2-Time Coach Harry Groves Tourney winner Don Ziter with some idiot.

Pattee wasn't empty, but nearly so...

A Couple Of Mirthful Running-Related Items

Blog Central is on the move again!  This time I will come within a couple of hundred meters of the stadium for the Pitt game, as I visit with Don and Lynn Ziter at their tailgate. Hope to see some other Track alums in a mirthful mood.

But first, here's a bizarre item I will not be duplicating...

Decathlon While Wearing 100 T-shirts 

And we all remember Rob Whiteside's conquering of the Appalachian Trail last year.  Now the overall unofficial record has been set by someone totally unsupported!  "Stringbean" is a former cross-country runner from Boston College who already has the record at the Pacific Crest Trail.

Appalachian Trail Crushed! 

Let's All Finish Coach Groves' Scholarship

We are close enough to get it finished before Coach Groves' next birthday in April and certainly before the next Track Alumni Reunion and Coach Groves Golf Tournament!

Co-Administrator Larry Mangan has spearheaded the effort to find donors willing to match every donation made by the rest of us and complete the funding of a full tuition scholarship for an athlete in the Program.

So that means each of us must step up to make it happen.  Every single donation you make will be matched by 13 special members of our group up to a level of $2500.  We must not let this opportunity slip by.  Please consider adding to the effort, share this post and spread the word to everyone you know in our Universe.  It will make our next get-together a real hootenanny and bring a smile to Coach Groves' face!

Our Premier Benefactors: 

• Joe DeStefano  (1971)
• Carol and Steve Gentry  (1969)
• Hugh and Yunhee Hamill  (1976)
• Chris Herr  (1985)
• Doug Kent  (1980)
• Todd Leggett  (1984)
• Larry Mangan  (1981)
• Todd Shenk  (1984)
• Rod Stahl  (1991)
• Bob Radzwich  (1992)
• Tom Shiffer  (1987) 
• Doug Walter  (1990)
• Don and Lynn Ziter  (1981)

September 5, 2017

Dear Fellow Track & Field/Cross Country Alumni:

We hope you had an enjoyable summer and are getting ready for the upcoming 2017-2018 Penn State Cross Country and Track & Field seasons. The women’s and men’s programs are perennial B1G favorites, fueled by spectacular individual accomplishments and a great coaching staff. Based on the turn out for the 2017 Big Ten Championships in May, the alumni are really energized and engaged.

The alumni listed below, from a variety of decades in Penn State history and a mix of walk-ons and scholarship athletes, are hoping to capture that energy by taking the lead and asking you to join them to meet a challenge! Coach Harry Groves’ scholarship fund needs approximately $55,000 in donations to exceed the $300,000 necessary to partially endow the position scholarship, which would provide $15,000 in annual tuition support to a student athlete.

The challenge is this – we have pledged to support Coach Groves’ scholarship in the amount of $30,500 to match alumni contributions of that amount (hopefully more)! We ask you to donate what you can in support of our goal to get Coach’s scholarship over the $300,000 hurdle! We are in the homestretch, can you help to get us over the finish line?

Coach will turn 88 in April 2018 and we would love to present him with an early birthday present, and add to his great legacy, before the end of this year. We know from Greg Fredericks that Coach is excited about this effort. Please join us in meeting this very important goal. Thank you and We are…..Penn State!

Please send donations made payable to: Penn State University, noting the Harry Groves Track/XC Scholarship (GIXGH) in the memo portion of your check, at 147 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA 16802. If you have any questions, please call Kirk Diehl of the Varsity S Club at 814-867-2202.

If you would like to give online, you may do so at: https://secure.ddar.psu.edu/s/1218/nlclub/nlclub.aspx?sid=1218&gid=1&pgid=826&cid=3234&dids=633&bledit=1 and then type in GIXGH in the fund area below the amount you select.
Thank you.

Joe DeStefano (’71) Carol & Steve Gentry (’69) Hugh & Yunhee Hamill (‘76) Chris Herr (’85)
Doug Kent (’80) Todd Leggett (’84) Larry Mangan (’81) Todd Shenk (’84)
Rod Stahl (’91) Bob Radzwich (’92) Tom Shiffer (’87) Doug Walter (’90)
Don & Lynn Ziter (’81)

Reggie Dunlop Might Have Been Our Coach This Day

 Early in the 1979 Cross Country Season an intrepid cast of characters set out in a van for the home of the Charlestown Chiefs.  Instead of meeting the Hanson Brothers on the ice, we met a bunch of other runners for the Johnstown 10K.

But we did use the Cambria County War Arena as our dressing room.  That's the scene of much of the filming for what Paul Newman called his favorite movie, Slap Shot.  We actually dressed in the stands right where goalie Denis Lemieux met player/coach Reggie Dunlop after asking Manager Joe McGrath "Who Own the Chiefs?"    Owwwwwns...




Several of us set PRs for the 10K, and everyone knows Johnstown has hills!

Penn State Runners:

  5.  Gary Black                 29:58
  7.  David Baskwill           30:37
  8.  Brad Althouse            30:40
11.  Mark Hawkins            31:01
12.  Marc Dunmire            31:14
14.  Don Ziter                     31:33
15.  Doug Kent                   31:54
18.  Rich Prann                  32:17
19.  Ray Krombel               32:20
23.  Mark Fordney             32:50
26.  Mike Cook                   33:07
42.  Roger "Gunny" Roll   34:53

I further pissed everyone off after the race by winning a pair of running shoes randomly from a local running store, delaying the return to State College!  They ended up giving me an injury...

"We go to Florida and I get the money." 

-Denis Lemieaux.

    

While I Was Away

Some of you may note by the relative lack of posting lately that I have been away for my annual vacation to West Virginia, the land of no internet.  Well, bad internet anyway.  I barely tried this year.  Here is some pics of my 2 dogs who went on the trip and got to hike the Appalachian Trail and the C&O Canal Trail.

Pooky checks out the cool Shenandoah River after a hike.

Harpers Ferry From Virginia.

Pooky and Spott after hiking 10 miles.

But others were even more active:

• Fawn Dorr placed 2nd in the Canadian Track Championships in the 400M Hurdles in 56.52
• Penn State was well represented in the Brentwood Firecracker 5K (Pittsburgh) (Thanks to our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer)

1. Mark Fuller  was 9th in 16:31
2. Scott Munro was 10th in 16:40
3. Natalie Bower was 37th in 18:12
4. Mark Hawkins was 65th in 19:22 (2nd in age group)
5. Don Ziter was there too, but I can't find his results.

What Governement Agency Will Regulate the Beer Mile?

At the recent Track Alumni Reunion Alumni "Run", I showed up early to bring the donuts and the Dunkin Donuts coffee for everyone.  I noticed in the trash can at the finish line of the track a healthy smattering of discarded, empty beer cans.  It seems Happy Valley is home to a growing cadre of participants in "The Beer Mile" phenomenon.

Back in my day, the beer mile was a loosely judged, lightly regulated Fraternity fundraiser known as the "Phi Psi 500".  It was sorta kinda of a mile, with beers thrown in at 7 or so downtown bars.  The event drew bigger and bigger crowds, and eventually became too rowdy even for State College's permissive big-wigs.  First they started substituting soda for beer (which is probably more difficult to do!), but the crowds dropped off radically and it was inevitably abandoned.  Several PSU greats were among winners, and I remember Don Ziter almost claiming victory our Senior year (5:03 or so!) , only to be disqualified for drops on his shirt!  (Any other stories would be appreciated!)

Now that we've entered an era of political corrective dissonance, people have come up with rigid rules for the running of the event.  My thoughts are this ruins what would have otherwise been a very fine past-time indeed.   Which Government Agencies will try to get their hands on the regulations?  Will the Federal EPA or the FDA seek to monopolize this?  Will the State Weights and Measures Agency try to jump in?  Will local School Boards allocate funds to policing the practice?  Where will it end?

So I tip my "PSU is 800 U" golf cap to the Roger Bannister of Beer Milers, James "The Beast" Nielson whether he followed the rules or not!  Does anyone know the Happy Valley record?

Masters Exploits Astound

Well, they astound me anyway.  My 3 miles daily on the treadmill at about 10:00/mile* is about all I'm up for anymore.  That's OK, though.  Before my third knee surgery I told the doc to get me to the point where I could run 3 daily.  I'm sort of afraid to go for more, and when I do I usually break it into 2 parts.  Pitiful, I know, but at least I still have that.

Word from the Blog Muse came my way that Don Ziter ran a very nice 19:17 for a 5K over the weekend in his native Pittsburgh.  (At least there is one victory of sorts in that town!)  Ahead of him was our very own le Faucon d'Orange Mark Hawkins in 18 and change.  I salute my teammates on the splendid effort and for "bringing it" with PSU Track Alumni Singlets on display.  I'm trying to get more specifics and possible photos.

Before their heads expand too much I must point out the exploits of Zola Budd.  Yeah, that Zola Budd.  She lives in North Carolina and wears shoes now, much to the chagrin of the crazy bare-footers and their entrepreneurial cousins, the "minimalists".

She ran a rather spirited 5K in 17:47 at a college meet.   Beat the number 2 runner, 25 years her junior, by 50 seconds.  Zola is 47 years old and quite obviously still Bringing It.

*And even that is a bit of a lie.

He Picked One of Coach Groves' Least Interesting Pieces of Advice

"Don't attack a hill from the very bottom; it's bigger than you are!" --HARRY GROVES

Running author Mark Will-Weber included Coach Groves in a recent Runner's World article Five Pillars of Wisdom.  Coach's advice on how to run hills is probably quite good, but I'm still giggling thinking about the hundreds of pieces of advice from Coach that Mark would never be able to include in such an article.

I remember a very practical solution* Coach had a long time ago when he was taking several of us to the early morning 10K at the Coach's Conference Championships in 1980 in Piscataway NJ. (Don Ziter, Jim Clelland and Brian Boyer were there too.  I wonder if any of them remember?) 

We were behind a long line of cars turning left at a very busy intersection.  After several cycles of lights where 2 or 3 cars got through, Coach opined that all the other drivers were "idiots" (or something like that!).  He lectured that if everyone pulled ahead at a reasonable rate when the light turned green, double the number of cars would get through, instead of the reality of each car waiting until the car ahead pulls away before starting forward.  He was right, of course, but we will only see that happening when all the cars are computer-controlled and "driverless". (But at least that would free us to check all the important things on Twitter and Facebook!)

Keep it somewhat clean (on the level of Two and a Half Men's censors), but put some other pieces of Coach's advice that are better than "how to run a hill" in the comments.

*100% certified true memory.  I was riding shotgun for some reason and Coach was in top form.  I remember it as if it was yesterday.  But I can't remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.

Love Them/Hate Them But Don't Doubt Their Influence

Nike has made an impact on our sport like no other single company.  I personally have run more than 99% of my miles in Nikes and prefer them far beyond any other shoes I have dabbled with.  And PSU has had a big influence on Nike, from its current leadership (Mark Parker) to JoePa's influence on Phil Knight.  There are plenty of detractors too, which is their right.

The AlSal I ran "with" in 1975.

But one thing I did not know, was that at the beginning of Alberto Salazar's Nike Project, a lunch with Tom Clarke PhD (PSU Biomechanics) and some scribbled notes on a napkin led to AlSal's Coaching tenure.

I always thank Tom for being one of two people who realized I had run my best time at PSU in the 10K despite being lapped by Greg Fredericks twice.  The other was Don Ziter.  Thanks again to both of you!

Second Place, Again,,,

Nobody has been runner-up more times than I have been in the Coach Groves Golf Tournament.  That's me again, this time with a group where everybody but Artie Gilkes is scratched onto the surface of The Coach Groves Memorial Cup.  Brian Boyer was in our "foursome" also, but showed up late and left early, much like all the Yankee fans I know!  All 5 of us helped out, as at least one shot from all of us were "best ball".  It was good to have our Official Physicist there, even if it was part-time!

Don Ziter's game has improved over the year's while mine has slid precariously on the edge of a huge cliff.  It's great to see Don still pumping out 19:00 5K's and 270 yard drives.  Golfing with him after all these years was a big thrill, making the memories of hanging out at his Fraternity (Sigma Pi!) seem like eons ago.

Gary Black was our keystone, which is kind of pitiful considering his 2 repaired shoulders and 2 artificial hips.  On his first shot of the day, Gary won the Longest Drive Contest on the 3rd hole.

We didn't have the stamina, as we were 3-under par after our first three holes and ended up at 3-under par.  Much like all of my marathons, we just couldn't finish.  Next year we'll carbo-load.

Artie Gilkes golfed for the very first time, and I think we'll have him hooked into returning every year now.  He has a naturally nice swing, probably honed from his hockey experience.  He spent a lot of his time coaching Rebecca from afar, helping her "put on the foil" before her big race somewhere other than Happy Valley.

More Singlet Poses! And Other Reminders

1. You go Jeff Sanden, Mark Hawkins and Don Ziter!  Those without their very own singlet will be able to snag one again later this year.  After all those in charge of it recover. Check the rest of the pics from the 2012 Gasparilla Runs on the slideshow on left sidebar.
2. Don't forget to get your basketball picks in to Ken Cooper before Thursdays tip-off.
3. Also, add your literary genius to the comments on our very own short story, based on the twisted world of Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golf.
4. And of course, get your RSVP in for the May 18,19 PSU Track Alumni Reunion and 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament.

New Singlets Thrill the Crowds at Florida's Gulf Coast

Reactions are uniformly and overwhelmingly positive whenever the Penn State Alumni Singlets are unveiled.  You doubters were wrong!

Those awaiting their 2012 Penn State Track and Field Alumni Singlets will be receiving their very own shortly.  We will make them available again some time soon!

From Jeff Sanden:

  The fun was plentiful.  February 23, 2013 is hereby proclaimed to be
> the 2nd Annual PSTFAG Official Winter Race Outing.  Get your singlet
> orders in today if you haven't already.

Le Faucon D'Orange Wins Division at Gasparilla Distance Classic!

* Addendum:  The initial "Official" Results I depended on from Gasparilla were in error.  The Orange Hawk's accomplishment is only slightly diminished, however.  Check the comments for updated results.  I'll let the rest of the post stand.

In a stunning development, Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfer and recent Singlet Facilitator  Mark Hawkins has won his age division at the 2012 Gasparilla Distance Classic.  His time in the 15 K event was a remarkable 55:51.87!  Also making his comeback official, Jeff Sanden ran a spirited 1:08:16.81.  Don Ziter was also spotted in his brand new Alumni Singlet but results are down at the moment. They have promised photos of the festivities and I'll hold them to it.

My admiration and congratulations eclipse my overall jealousy at their feat.  Those younger than us will realize the remarkable nature of their performances soon enough.  In other news, Florida is trying to recover from the influx of early PSU old-timer Spring Breakers.  they still know how to party, I hear.

In further news from halfway across the globe, Ryan Foster was seventh in the 1500 M at the Melbourne Track Classic in  3:45.89. He soon heads to the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Istanbul.  Good luck Ryan.

Old School "Ballmer" Goodness

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.

Just Like Old Times

My aversion to actually attending a PSU Football game led me to miss a great mini-reunion of some of my best friends and PSU Track Alumni Golfers.  Rarely seen Don Ziter even traveled from either Boston of Florida to attend the festivities.  Mark Hawkins, Larry Mangan. Steve Balkey, Jeff King, (current PSU trackster) Olivia Mangan and Nick K. all braved the gorgeous weather for a few runs and a tailgate before the Iowa football game. They apparently even made a foray up Four Hills at the end of a run, which must have been a thrill for everyone.  I'm pretty sure it's also illegal now, but maybe I'm mistaken.

Some of them even braved the ancient cavern known as Rec Hall for a shower prior to the tailgate.  The same showers that were the scene of a certain brave future Best Man's hour-long shower while seated in a folding chair after a particularly difficult work-out.  The best water pressure in the world was counterbalanced by the need for immediate action if anyone flushed the toilets nearby.  Most everyone ever using the facility knows what I'm talking about. I'm still healing some of the burns.

Here's some poor quality video of the showers at Rec Hall, demonstrating the amazing water pressure that was so welcome after work-outs and mountain runs.

It's Reunion and Golf Go Time!

Indoor Track Season has begun, so it's time to turn one's thoughts to this year's Reunion and 9th Annual
Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament. It promises to be the largest event ever, cementing our group in PSU's Sports universe. Entries have already begun to trickle in. The Early Bird Discount is now in effect. Remember, you can save $25 by getting your entry in by 3/31/10. That will pay your way to the Awards Dinner and Reception following the tourney and leave you with a nifty $10 you can use for the Donation Raffle to help support our group for next year!

This year's Reunion will help celebrate Coach Groves' 80th Birthday as well as other events. There will be cake! It will be held on an off week for the team and we will have current coaches and team members participating for the first time. The union of us old -timers and the young bucks (and women!) will be a tremendous way to help make Penn State Track Alumni (the Golf is optional!) the world's most active and largest Track Alumni Group. Most questions can be handled by perusing the web site, but any additional questions will be easily answered by contacting me by email, dfbaskwill(at)cs(dot)com.

Be alert for the coming email blast and be tolerant of duplicated efforts. I'm no more organized now than I was as a Freshman in 1977. In fact, I'm not quite sure I'm not less organized.

Pictured at the 2009 Reunion are: IT Czar Jeff Sanden '83, some fat guy, legal counsel Doug Kent '80, Don Ziter '81 and Mark Haywood '81. Some of the best friends anyone could ever have. We ran a lot of miles together. Don't miss out on seeing your friends and making many more that share your love for PSU Track.

PSU Track Alum Goes to Broadway!

Well, almost anyway! 1979 Penn Relays Marathon champion Tim Backenstose will be starring in Calvary Fellowship Church's Christmas Extravaganza in Downingtown PA. Who knew what talents were hidden from the rest of us while at PSU? I dug up the photo of the finish of the race previously discussed on this blog, and also the order of finish, which is quite favorable to "good ole State".

1. Tim Backenstose PSU 2:22:14
2. Mark Stevenson U. S. Navy 2:24:32
3. Dave Patterson Shore A.C. 2:25:05
4. Remo Stirrat Iona College 2:26:26
5. Ed Tueras unaffiliated 2:28:46
6. Brad Althouse PSU 2:30:47
7. Pete Christ Plaisted Hall Harriers 2:31:21
8. Steve Schoenewald Williamstown NJ 2:32:21
9. Chris Winters Wash. DC 2:33:46
10. Dave Spears PSU 2:33:59 ("A"golfer, too!)
11. Don Uphouse PSU 2:34:06
12. Seth Bergman Plaisted Hall Harriers 2:34:38
13. Doug Kent PSU 2:35:49 (my roommate!)
14. Frank Goldcamp Athletic Attic 2:36:19
15. Dave Godin Bentley College 2:36:23
16. Keith Kemper Ursinus 2:36:45
17. David Baskwill PSU 2:37:14 (Doug Kent's roommate)
18. Don Ziter PSU 2:37:14 (sorry Don, they did list me first!)
19. Al Wolfe PSU 2:37:48 (anyone know where the Wolfe twins are?)
25. Rich Prann PSU 2:41:40 (or Rich?)

Anyone filming Tim's performance for the blog recieves reunion entries for life!

I Hope I Like Grouper!

Don Ziter doubled down early during Game 5 (3 days ago!), so I've won 4 Grouper sandwiches from sunny Florida. I hopeI like Grouper sandwiches! The Phillies have done me proud. I guess this is payback for the fact that I must now continue working until I'm 80 years-old.* With the Red Wings, PSU football and the Phillies all atop their respective universes, I guess I'll have to accept it.

* Continued political references are now downright annoying.