Half Marathons Are Everywhere Now

Back in the day, the horrible, horrible Reading Pagoda Half-Marathon was the only one I ever heard about.  It was a dreadful run, all uphill the first half and all downhill the second half.  I never really ran well there, but "Noisy" Jim Clelland did win the event one year in a very good 1:07 time.

Naples, FL was the scene of a half this past weekend that attracted a couple of Nittany Lion greats.

Tyler McCandless won the Mens race  and Stephanie Pezullo placed second for the Women.

The Way, Way Back Machine Is Rusty

Sorry for the dearth of posting lately.  Work is a four-letter word that ends in K.

But it was 41 years ago that we first heard of the plane crash that decimated Lynyrd Skynyrd.  I remember exactly where I was when we got the word over the radio.  We were nearing the hotel in Williamsburg, VA on a Friday evening in the cross country van driven by Coach Groves.  I was seated in the next to last row between Ray Krombel and Kevin Kelly O'Brien.

Also in the van were Captain Bruce Baden (in the shotgun seat) and Captain John Ziegler.  Others included Jim Clelland, Frit Cooper, Mike Wyatt, Larry Mangan and his Freshman roommate Tom Rapp.  (Did I miss anyone?)  Of course I did!  Campbell Lovett, Dave Felice and Brian Boyer were there too!  Bob Snyder was injured.  (no wonder the van was uncomfortable. 14 of us was too many!)

We were on our way to a meet with Willam and Mary and Georgetown on the grounds of the insane asylum next to the campus.  Coach Groves told us a few stories of escapes from the place. Nice to know when you were alone in the woods during the race.

Our warm-up that day was to run the entire 10K course.  Then the race.  And then the warm-down turned out to be the entire 10K course!  I actually fainted during the warm-down and, as always, the only person who noticed was Mike Wyatt, my guardian angel those first 2 years. I think we won the meet, but I hope others chime in with more.

Incidentally, I became a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd that day when I learned they named the group after their mean gym teacher, Leonard Skinner at Robert E. Lee High School.  hee hee hee

Throwback Thursday With An Update

From an anonymous source I have results from the always welcome Dogwood Relays back in 1980.  Dogwood was always the beginning of Outdoor Track and a great respite from the cold weather track workouts in University Park (or Westerly Parkway Junior High in 78 and 79!).

Of note are great performances from 2 of my great friends that day...

Jim "Noisy" Clelland with a splendid early season 14:10 5K to win the Open race (with Charlie McGuire not far back!)  and Mike Wyatt with a second in the Invitational 1500M in 3:44.05!  PSU was also second in the 6000M Relay to Georgetown (with John Gregorek and Kevin Byrne) in 15:14.86.  (Not sure who was on that squad, but Larry Mangan, Tom Rapp, Bob Snyder and Alan Scharsu were among those available at the time.  Does anyone have the info on that?)

1980 Dogwood Relays

And another old school activity back in the day was running races in costume.  Nobody did that better than Philadelphia's Gary Fanelli, who ran some great times dressed as a NY Met and a Blues Brother!

Elwood Blues (the one with the harmonica) in Paradise.

 Well, original Penn State Track Alumni Golfer Bill Malchano replicated the feat recently in a half-marathon.  He relates he wasn't in good enough shape for a real race so he wanted to have a little fun.  By the looks of things, he did!

Bill Malchano.  (I remembered the "a" again Bill!)

Now let's ask him about the chafing!

This Gem Brings Me Both Joy And Shame

Our superb William and Mary Connection and current coach of Gettysburg High School, Brian Mount somehow dug up a gem of an article from the Centre Daily Times from the days before color was invented, 1978.

This article includes me and gives me both joy and shame at the same time.  As most of you know, I am not afraid to point out my poor performances whenever I can, but this one probably can't even be called one of them!  This was during my "great groin pull" (now known in medical circles as a high ankle sprain, I believe?) of 1978 from a stupid choice of fencing as a Phys ed class.  (I did end up taking second place in the class tournament with a superb 3-phase parry and thrust to win my Semi-Final and earn an "A" in the class. Can't remember the world renowned fencing coach who ran the class, but he said it was a great showing that last day.  So I got that going for me anyway.)

Joys:

• The mentions of great friends Ted Lyon, Jim Clelland, Kevin Kelly O'Brien, Pete Bortolotti, Brian Boyer, Gary Black and Tim Backenstose. Both Glenn Chumley and Mark Stephenson were friends, but I did not know them as well as the others.
• Only the second race that I can confirm beating Gary Black.
• The mention of my daughter's namesake and great friend Martha White (Collins) and Nittany Lion great Kathy Mills (Parker).

Shame:

• Again losing out to Kelly, Jim, and even Ted.  I swear I beat them some of the time, but no one ever produces evidence of those times!   hee hee hee
• Placing right behind Glenn Chumley, An HALF-MILER!!!  Glenn was famous for running a 1:53 half on Wednesday at practice and then 1:55 for the meet on Saturday. (hee hee hee)  That, AND making the front page of the Collegian by streaking during a snow storm.  Coach could never prove it was him because the photo was from behind, but we all knew just by his running style.  One time years later, I saw him ahead of me jogging in Fairmount Park.  I caught up with him and it was certainly him.  I recognized him by his distinctive running style even after a few years.  Someone out there will comment on just what this was.  I can't seem to place it in words right now.  Anyway, Glenn, I tip my hat to you for beating me in an XC race.

The Older We Get, The Faster We Used To Be

Our William and Mary connection, Brian Mount, sent along this news clipping from the days of yore.  This was probably results from the 1985 or 1986 White Rose 5-Miler.  I ran the flat and fast version of this in the 70's, but was already retired by the time this version came around. This is a deep field that would hold up well in any major race today!

There are a few PSU athletes listed, including brother-in-law Gary Black.  I never knew he ran in York! Some of my high school running partners ran too, including the incredible York College Grad Gary Townsend in 7th place (24:34).  He was a big part of the 1977 winning team at the Runner's World 24-Hour Relay at Fort Meade.  Mike McAndrews (25:18) was also a high school competitor.  Notice Shippensburg Coach Steve Spence (23:47) and  Inside Track running store owner Mark Amway(23:52) too!  Winner Kevin McGarry (23:35) is the brother of Nittany Lion Rick McGarry.

Penn State Track Alumni Golfers among the leaders were "Noisy" Jim Clelland (25:01), Robert "Snid" Snyder (25:13), and Gary Black (26:26).  And I've heard rumors that Zeb Stewart was there too!

There Were More Than Sophomores At The 1977 AAU XC Meet at Belmont Plateau: Along With Another World Exclusive!

Although I wasn't there (and I"m not sure why????), a bunch of Sophomores were joined by Junior Tim Backenstose to win the overall race on the hills and dales of the Belmont Plateau course.  I'm wondering if they blew me off, or if I blew them off, as I was in very good shape at that time and even ran a 51:11 10-Miler in Millersville then.

But needless to say, they didn't need me!

Kelly O'Brien, Tim Backenstose and Jim Clelland.

"Noisy" Jim Clelland, "Official Physicist" Brian Boyer and Tim "Marathon Man" Backenstose

Brian Boyer, Doug Kent, Ray Krombel, Kelly O'Brien, Tim Backenstose, Jim Clelland, Erik Christiansen and Syd White.

And I am in debt to Tim Backenstose for these vintage photos, AND the only picture (that I know of) of me running in a Penn State uniform!!!!   This is from the 1979 Penn Relays Marathon won by Tim.  That's me leading the other PSU runners.  They all ended up beating me! 

If anyone knows who the guy is on the right of the AAU XC team photo  (Now identified as Syd White by Brian Boyer himself!) AND how to improve on this photo, let me know!

Rich Prann, Doug Kent, skwilli and Al Wolfe.

This was the only race I ever ran in these shoes! Took half of my right foot off.  

Painful Memories!

Greg Fredericks sent me this listing from the days of yore.  I have talked about it several times before but didn't have the entire listing before.  Remember, this was an "extra" race/training run including many milers.  Nothing like this ever happens today. There are numerous things to note:

• I "coached" the 5th, 6th and 7th runners to their first ever run over 15 miles.  I coached them so well that they all beat me when I hit the wall at 20 miles. I made them start slowly and pick it up at each 5 mile mark.  We were in third place behind Alan Sharsu when I dropped like a rock.  Larry Mangan, Mike Wyatt and Tom Rapp all had incredible range from 800M to marathon.
• I managed to stagger home ahead of Liz Berry, hearing the cheers behind me as she set the team record.
• This is the only race where I ever defeated Gary Black.
• Seeing Marc Dunmire defeat Coach Groves with curses in the air was great! (RIP Marc.)
• Psychology Prof Hersh Leibowitz ran 3:25:01 at age 53! (RIP Hersh.)
• The weather is listed as 50 degrees with no wind.  That is a lie.  There was snow on the roads and we all had windburn!
• Greg Fredericks did not run! Just for the record...
• The high number of non-finishers may be due to the 800M guys running only 15 miles???
• The combo of Jim Clelland and Kelly O'Brien gave Alan Scharsu a run for his money!
• Bruce Baden was an animal!

My Readers Are The Best: And I'll Never Doubt Our New Blog Laureate Again

The 1974 AAU XC Championship listing from Mike Fanelli's vast archives was a big hit.  The only way to top it would be photographs from that meet.  And Dan Martinez, our best Oregon Duck connection, has come through for us again!  Both Mike and Dan have always been invited to our Reunion and Golf Outing.  It would be a pleasure to have a Duck and a native Philadelphian amongst our ranks.  Please chime in with who is who among the runners pictured. (Hint: There seems to be 2 Nittany Lions lurking in the photos somewhere?)

And it turns out that Larry Mangan was 100% correct and both the previous Blog Laureate and I were 100% wrong.  Larry will now be tasked with his newest Group title as Blog Laureate, a position that has been unfilled for far too long.

The Coach Groves Spiked Shoe Meet was known as the Coaches Conference Meet in its early manifestation.  I'm not sure who did the legwork on this but I am impressed.  The telltale article was found in the Reading Eagle of all places.

1979 Coaches Conference XC Meet

1. Larry Mangan   24:40   5.2 mile  (Course Record)
2. Alan Scharsu     24:56
3. John Zeigler
4. Tom Rapp
5. Jeff Adkins
6. Ricky Garcia
7. Jim Clelland

I cannot thank my readers enough for making this site almost factually accurate! hee hee hee All errors in fact are usually my responsibility.  But most times, my readers rescue me.

I Hate The Pagoda

Our Keeper of the Cup Harry Smith will not be joining us this year at the Golf Outing due to his coaching duties. Volleyball coaching duties!  He reports that The Harry Groves Memorial Cup will be updated with the new engraving and dropped off in time for our tourney, however.

And he dug into his dusty archives to come up with a way of tormenting me.  Turns out we ran in the same race back in 1978, with 3 other teammates.  I'd rather forget the Pagoda 1/2 Marathon Classic in Reading PA.

The Pagoda sits on top of the mountain above Reading, so probably all of you have seen it without the shivers I get every time.  The race started in downtown Reading and the Pagoda was the turn-around spot.  In other words, the first half is all uphill and the second half is all downhill.  I was a pretty good uphill runner, but not very good at running downhill.  That meant a splendid turn-around place every year and then watch as people passed me the whole second half.

Turns out that 5 PSU runners were there, including the winner, "Noisy" Jim Clelland!

1. (1)    Jim Clelland     1:07:17
2. (14)  Dave Baskwill  1:12:30
3. (20)  Harry Smith      1:13:26
4. (30)  Doug Kent        1:14:48
5. (35)  Rich Prann        1:15:10

I'll just add that this race was a very difficult one, so quit criticizing the times!

Some say that's me on the right of the pic next to the bushy-haired Mark Amway!

"Noisy" Jim Clelland breaks the tape.

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.

Merry Christmas! I've Been Slacking

"God bless us, everyone."  -Ebeneezer Scrooge.

I did not get a chance to see former team captain Jim Clelland as Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Musical "A Christmas Carol" this past weekend.  I truly wished I could have.  Tim Backenstose made the trip to South Baltimore and brings us some great photos of the elaborate presentation.  He reports that Jim was spectacular as the lead character.  Jim has said that might be the last time he does it, but I'm hoping not.

Knowing Jim for the 3 years together at PSU, and sporadic sightings/outings since, I would have to say that I never in a million years would have predicted that Jim would one day appear in a production such as this.  It's a Christmas Miracle, absolutely.

Noisy Jim Performs Again

Another Holiday Season is upon us, and there is much to be thankful for.  Each year I'm amazed at the talents other PSU Track Alumni possess.  But never more than with my former Captain and all-around good guy Jim Clelland.  Others with me at the time will attest to having barely, if ever, heard Jim utter more than a word or two.  He ran fast, studied hard, and kept quiet.

So when I found out he was performing as a lead in Musicals (Jim will be Ebeneezer Scrooge) over the past several years, my jaw hit the floor.  When I heard that he is actually very good at it, I was flabbergasted.  I had thought that Jim didn't have vocal cords from a childhood bike accident or something, but I was, as nearly always, wrong.

I hope to get a chance to see him Live, but if I don't I hope someone else does and gives us a hearty review of the whole spectacle.

"God bless us, every one!"

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."

Blog Photo Caption Finalists Are Named! Chicago Style Voting Commences

The Five Finalists have finally been selected for the Blog Photo contest!  Voting will commence on the left sidebar.  Chicago-style voting has been approved for use in the contest.  That doesn't mean deep-dish voting, but it does allow multiple votes per registrant, including those who are deceased. A separate computer is needed for each vote.  The winner will receive a gift card to the Creamery with sufficient funds to obtain either two cones or a 1/2 gallon of deliciousness.  Peachy Paterno and Death by Chocolate are overwhelmingly recommended by group members.

Remember, here's the photo in question:

 

And here's the winning entries:  (photo shows a skyward glancing "Ambassador" Jim Clelland and "0013" Gary Black lounging in the shot-gun seat of Tim Backenstose's boat on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

1.  Jim: "I can't believe I agreed to this."
Gary: "Yeah, Tim told ME we could go tubing..."

2.  "I can't believe I skipped my 15 miler to ride around in a boat with these guys"

3.  Jim-"Sorry, Gary, wearing your cap backwards and calling yourself "GeeBlack" doesn't make you a gangsta."

4.  "just try to look calm and no one will notice that you just peed in the cooler"

5.  Jim-"We've been on this boat trying to find a dock for 12 hours. Do you really think Tim should have another drink?"
Gary - "Who's Tim?"

First Ever Blog Photo Caption Contest: Update! Ice Cream Prize!

Following our little excursion to the northern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, this gem of a photo surfaced from the bowels of Larry Mangan's camera.  It shows a relaxed Gary Black (0013) and a contemplative Jim Clelland ("The Ambassador").  Please supply a suitable caption to the photo in the Comment area below.  The top five, as decided by me, will be eligible for a vote off to be held on the left sidebar in the near future.  The prize is a half-gallon of Creamery Ice Cream.  (For Real, I have a gift card and everything!)

Before getting things started here's a great quote from Larry this past weekend, who came up with this whole contest idea.  Hat-tip and kudos for it. The quote reflects how good PSU Track really is.

"In high school, I was the fastest miler in the state.  My Freshman year in college, I was the second fastest miler in my dorm room."

A Day on the Bay with Captain Tim

Our international contingent of PSU Track Alumni Golfers spent the day in the capable hands of Captain Tim of the famed Yanomamo Tribe.  Cruising the northern reaches of the vast Chesapeake Bay in the renamed "Liberator" was remarkably enjoyable for even this landlubber.We lunched in Chesapeake City, noted for their intricate attention to the safety and well-being of all of their patrons!  "Slip into a slip, slip into the Tiki Bar, sip a few too many, slip onto the floor and get slipped back into your boat" seems to be the motto among the nautical set.  Not really much different from college, but the tuition must be far steeper!

Along for the ride with Tim Backenstose were "Ambassador" Jim Clelland, Cruise Comedian Larry Mangan, and  2 International Espionage Agents  (Gary "0013" Black and  Johannes "The Austrian").

We cruised back to home base at speeds exceeding 30 knots (or whatever Tim said!), so we could make it back to the Yanomamo Villiage Long House to view the PSU/Alabama Game.  We should have stayed at the Tiki Bar even though we were noted to be "older men" by the women still vertical at 3:00 PM. 

Here's two videos of our cruise:

Coach Groves' Car Destroyed and Financial Ruin!

* Photo for illustration only!

Brian Boyer brings us more news of the time he and Jim Clelland managed to get lost in the mountains of Bear Meadows during a Sunday run for the second week in a row in 1979.  Coach Groves was forced to drive the rest of us back to Rec Hall in The Van and return to look for them in his own car.  The mountain roads did their worst to his car, and it was totaled in finding the intrepid wanderers.  Brian figures they did him a favor, as Coach was forced to buy a new car the next day.

As Brian puts it:

"Yes - Yes he did (wreck his car)...but it was an AMC Hornet.  (Dave) Felice,  (Jim) Clelland and I did him a favor.  He got that Datsun sports car male menopause machine.

We pimped his ride.

He owes us."

And in other news, Philadelphia has instituted a fee for bloggers to get a business license, threatening financial ruin for this little hobby of mine.  Philly is precariously close to the Blog Headquarters in Central PA!  I would hate to have to move to Montana to avoid the $300 fee because one philanthropic donator demanded that I take $4.25 out of his donation to have lunch at Wendy's!

Old School

Official IT Czar (and all-around good guy) Jeff Sanden gives us this great photo from the Way Back Machine to ponder. No less than 19 PSU Track Alumni Golfers are present in this photo! Name them all and win a prize. There are also several others pondering joining us this year. And who knew Jim Clelland was Captain? I'm not sure he ever spoke. (Just kidding).

Consider this a call for more photos showing the youth and vigor of our former selves. Back when hair was big, bellies were small and we could eat whatever we wanted.

Weightmen Hurl State to Victory!

5/25/80, Rutgers University

So said the headline in the only article from the Daily Collegian I seem to have saved from the days of yore. I stumbled upon it upon gazing upon my running log for the first time in years. What a treat it became, as time and again, Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers were mentioned. (It's also funny to think of Weightmen "hurling"!) The truth is it's the only time I was mentioned in a track and field article.

First up in mentions is Mark Heckel, winning the hammer throw with a toss of 148' 9 1/2". Two members of our group helped PSU win the 1600 M Relay. Tom Walchuck and Mike McCahill helped in the 3:14.02 victory. Tom Walchuck also ran a 50.03 400 M individually for sixth place.

The distance runs saw many Alumni Golfers garnering points in the Coaches Championships (a "conference meet" before we were ever in a conference). The Coaches Conference later became the Atlantic Ten in the days when Joe Paterno was trying to unite colleges in the East. Tom Rapp and Alan Scharsu vied for the win in the 1500 M, with Alan stealing the win at the finish in 3:44.00. Gary Black came in 5th in 3:53.00.

The steeplechase was another 1-2 finish for PSU, with Larry Mangan running 8:51.2 and Rick Garcia 8:57.0. Jeff Adkins finished second in the 5000 M in 14:50.19 with Mark Haywood and Rob Whiteside placing 4th and 5th. In the 10000 M, yours truly finished 3rd in 31:18 and Jim Clelland placed fifth in 31:24. (Remember now, the temps. were 96 degrees and the NCAA had given the OK for the use of a hose to cool the runners in the 10K. You had to run in the 2nd lane to gets spritzed as I remember.)

The jumps saw several of us join in the scoring. Paul Souza won the high jump with a leap of 6' 8". Ed Roskiewicz placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 47' 3 1/4" (or is that three leaps?) Don Skerpon pole vaulted 14' 6" for second place.

The photo shows Asheville NC's Biltmore Estate and a blue wrist band courtesy of the Malchano's.

"Lost" : A Where Are They Now Update

Brian Boyer relates much news in the "Where Are They Now" universe.

1. Brian is indeed at the Los Alamos Nuclear Facility. He also indeed attended college for 16 years. This beats the previous record of Senator Blutarsky. He did not work at the CERN
facility in Europe.

2. Ron Moore ('90?) did work at the CERN facility, and is currently at the Fermi Particle Accelerator in Chicago. This is America's largest accelerator.

3. Jim Clelland did fall out of the van in 1980, on the way to practice at Beaver Stadium. (The locker room at Beaver Stadium was the most horrible facility ever encountered.)

4. Mark Dunmire is in Sugarland, TX and got together with Brian recently. (Get in touch with us Mark!)

5. Brian, Jim and Dave Felice were lost after missing a turn during a Colyer Lake "15" miler in the spring. Both Brian and Jim had also been lost, the week before. Coach ruined his car on the rough roads trying to find them! I remember they got back to campus when it was nearly dark, following a 9:00AM run. I remember John Ziegler placing the sticks in the road to make an arrow showing the way. How did they miss the sign two weeks in a row? Great times, great times!