On Their Own

 

 

photos by Mark Hawkins.

(On their own, except for the hordes of PSU Track Alumni Golfers everywhere...)

Kyle and Owen Dawson sported their Alumni Singlets in style over the weekend.  Owen was in the mix in a highly competitive Mile and finished ahead of current Nittany Lion Sam Masters and not far behind Brannon Kidder.  His 4:02.55 bodes well for his so-far self-coached career.

Kyle was in the 3000 M and helped push the pace, finishing in a very good 8:18.39.  He is also self-coached.  At least for now...

Coach Groves Can Still Kick Their A$$es

As I rummage through the photos from the Penn State National via Mark Hawkins, I came across this one from the vast Internetty Thingie.  It is too good not to steal, so here it is...

And in addition, I came across this one from that same "Cloud".  I have a guess as to who it is, but I fear exposing my stupidity for all to see.  Who is this with Frank Shorter?

Alumni Singlets in Action

Mark Hawkins again lined up for the Nittany Valley Track Club Mile at the Friday night session of the Penn State National.  He hasn't had much speed work training this year, but his 5:20 result isn't bad at all.  In a humorous side-note, the video is from Greg Fredericks (Thanks Greg!) and he tells me that Coach Groves was barking at him for letting the guy pass him at the end!  That's exactly 36 years after Coach first barked at him for the same thing.  Hee hee hee.  Welcome home, Mark.



In other news, that's Nick K. who was leading Mark the whole way but had to pull out with 2 or 3 laps left due to a calf strain.  He will live to beat the 5:00 barrier next time.  Also that's Megan Hutchinson in the pink top.  The former Nittany Lion came in with a 5:08 and sorely needs an Alumni Singlet if she's going to put up times like that!  Someone alert her to the blog, as the order form will be up soon right here on the blog with it all!

Wascally Wabbits Impress Me

I'll get around to posting about the wins and records and barrier-breakers and Alumni Singlets at the Penn State National soon enough.  I'll even have exclusive photos from Alums of note.  But really I must comment on the most impressive thing I saw at the Event.

Again, the Fuller Brothers stole the show for me.  To see the 3 siblings hanging out together and  enjoying each other's company like they always do brings a big smile to my lips.  I could have numerous photos of them in the stands, beside the track and even competing.  That is, if I could actually work a camera.

Mark ran a 4:16 mile on Saturday to start things off.  The real fireworks came soon after when Kevin became the rabbit in the 800 M Invitational race.  As always, he ran his 400 M* in perfect fashion, with a smile and seemingly no adverse effects.  Brian jumped in the 1 Mile Invitational with a nearly perfect opening 800M* in 1:58 or so.  Dependable Rabbits such as Kevin and Brian make big money in Europe on "The Circuit".  Maybe they didn't make big money yesterday, but I give them a big tip of the cap and accolades for modeling the Alumni Singlets in superb fashion.  I promise some great photos to come!

This heralds in our next push for sales of the Alumni Singlets, which are rapidly becoming a National Force in Track and Field.  Stay tuned for your next opportunity to get one for yourself.

PSU is 800 U: (4 x 200 M = 800 M)

The team of  Emunuel Mpanduki, Matt Gilmore, Brandon Bennett-Green and Aaron Nodolsky set the School and Collegiate Record (1:24.70) in the 4 x 200 M Relay in the opening salvo of the record assault known as the Penn State National.  Will Barr also set the school record in the Weight Throw (67' 3.50").

 

I'm hopping on the treadmill for a miserable 1 or 2 miles then heading up to a snowy State College for this afternoon's races.  Be sure to look for me and say hello!

Friday Funny (or not) / Separated at Birth?

One ruled television for nearly a decade.  The other will rule the world for 8 starting in 2016, and yet I'm having trouble telling them apart.

That is all.  Don't forget to stop by the Penn State National if you can.  Here's the live results page if you can't.

Two Things You Can Do If You Can't Run Anymore

First off, you could become an artist and create "crop circles" in the snow. How many calories do you think he burned creating this interesting "snow quilt" that took about 9 hours?   Simon Beck is garnering plenty of notice in the Art World with his creations.

Or, if you are more autistic than artistic like me, you could head to State College to cheer for the Nittany Lions at the ever-exciting Penn State National Indoor Meet.  I am taking my dad again this year.  Last year he witnessed his first ever sub-4 mile.  I predict even better things this year. Saturday afternoon is the time for the "Big Races", but Friday starting at 4:45PM you can see some Alumni Singlets circling the track trying to accomplish some equally great things.  If you are there on Saturday, be sure to say hello!

The Ultimate Alumni Singlet from 1984

Or possibly The Grandfather of the Alumni Singlet!

photo by Richard Lee Slotkin. 1984 Olympic Trials 10000 M. (thanks to that LA Duck once again for the photo!)

This was well after I began my "Hermit" phase.  So I didn't even know that Greg Fredericks was in the 1984 Olympic Trials.  He relates that this was his last competitive race, so he brought out his PSU uniform for one last time.  The first Alumni Singlet!  No wonder he doesn't need a new one.

How many of you could make the Olympic Trials 12 years after graduation?  How many of you could fit into your uniform 12 years after graduation?  How many of you find it hard to even get out of bed 12 years after graduation?  Greg is still my Idol. 

A Little Music to Motivate The Alumni Runners

I found out that several Masters (and above!) PSU Track alums will take their Alumni Singlets* and possibly their orange spikes to the Horace Ashenfelter Track this weekend for a shot at improving their second career PRs.  Our very own Le faucon d'orange Mark Hawkins and State College native Nick K. will be there Friday.  Anyone getting photos or videos of their efforts will be rewarded greatly!

Here's some old fashioned classical music performed by 2 cellos.  Actually it's AC/DC's Highway to Hell performed by 2Cellos!



*We will attempt another Alumni Singlet sale soon

The Meaning of Life (and Running)

I don't have the answer to The Meaning of Life.  But I think I'm closer to it than I was while I was a student at PSU.  Think of family and friends and you'll be on the right track.

I also came across this formula from Physicists which attempts to explain all of the Physical World, which might as well be the Meaning of Life.  Maybe some people smarter than I can explain some of it to me.

One of my heroes and the highest scoring mathematician of all time, Richard Feynman once gave a Universal formula.  He explained that all formulas can be summarized by the simple equation of  (U)=0 for some definition of (U).  But he also pointed out that it may be quite meaningless also.  Sort of like politics, I guess.


Running may be one way to get closer to the elusive answer though.  It turns out that my pet mice have brains about 13% larger than most. The secret is their wheel.

 See, even you treadmill haters out there may have to relent!  Word has it that some Alumni Singlets will be in action this weekend at the Penn State National.  And a little birdie told me that one of them just ran a 5:11 mile 2 weeks ago!  Not bad for one of us old-timers.

"It's a Small World"

Those were the words used by Larry Mangan in an email I received when I was at Disney World last week.  Swear to God, I was practically in front of the actual ride when I read it.  Thank Goodness my kids didn't drag me onto it, even though it was the only ride without a line. (It's Or-Line-Do remember.)

The reason he used those words was because he ran into an old competitor when at the last Penn State indoor meet.  Turns out that current Nittany Lion Conrad Lippert's father ran at Rutgers back in our day.  He even dug up this great photo.

That's Rich Lippert in front of our Chief Laundry and Morale Officer. I hope to meet Rich at the Penn State National.  Small World Indeed!  Rutgers is now a member of the B1G too.  It's a small and increasingly weird world...

Who Am I?

Here's a few more photos from Dan Martinez's vault he has graciously sent our way.  I think I know some of the names but there is no need to point out what an Idiot I am by getting any of them wrong.  Help us out by naming names and supplying any accompanying stories in the comments. 

 1985 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by bill Killian.

 1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1995 Penn Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1985 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

1984 USA Championships.  Photo by Richard Lee Slotkin.

 

1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.