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"I ain't old, but I've been around a long time."

From the song, "Been Around a Long Time," by Delbert McClinton.

Most days, when one opens their mail, it is filled with advertisements, political jokes or comments from friends, bills, and occasionally, something useful or informative.

On Saturday morning, as I perused my email, sipping my coffee on a cold March day, I received a message from Ken Young, president of the Association of Road Racing Statisticians. http://www.arrs.net/

The ARRS focuses on elite distance running at distances from 3000-meter and longer. Many of the statistics been generated from the ARRS database which has more than 900,000 performances from more than 160,000 races by more than 35,000 elite distance runners world-wide.

Mr. Young informed me that I earned 24th place on an all-time list of runners who have broken the 3-hour marathon mark for 5 different decades. http://www.arrs.net/TR_5Decades.htm

Indeed, I ran my very first 26.2-mile race at the Harrisburg Marathon in Pennsylvania, in November 1976, where I turned in a time of 2:49:06. In November 2010, I ran a time of 2:59:01 at the Philadelphia Marathon.

Following are my best times for each decade.

21 Nov 2010   2:59:01     Philadelphia PA/USA       Philadelphia
17 Apr 2006   2:55:33ax   Boston MA/USA             Boston
20 Apr 1992   2:33:52a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
18 Apr 1983   2:22:54a    Boston MA/USA             Boston
17 Apr 1978   2:29:21a    Boston MA/USA             Boston

Yes, I've been around a long time. But it's been a pretty good run.

TOM AUSHERMAN 5-MILER

http://www.ausherman5miles.com/

Not many races have been around for 29 years, but this one has.

More random prizes, deep age-division awards, in plenty of age groups, cash prizes, food, beverages, and a lot of fun. Chambersburg, a quaint little town, near Gettysburg, is south-central Pennsylvania, is the place to race on Saturday.

 

 

A WARNING FROM RUBY

Hi, my name is Ruby.

I'm a 7-year old Redbone Coonhound, and I live with my human mom and dad, Crissy and Joe, and with my big dog sister, Dixie, a 9-year old Labrador Retriever, in a place called Pottsville, which is in the eastern Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania.

Joe really likes to run, and he often takes me with him. I like to run, but when he takes me along in the mountain behind our house, I spend more time sniffing and chasing rabbits than I do running with him.

I hear Joe talking to his friends about fierce creatures he sometimes encounters when he runs on trails. He sees black snakes and copperhead snakes, and dogs that are not always friendly as I am. He's even seen a couple of black bears.

Well, I have a real warning for you runners. I like to chase squirrels, chipmunks and the aforementioned rabbits around my backyard, and a few weeks back I had an encounter with a groundhog that didn't fare too well for me, but was even worse for Mr. Groundhog.

But the fiercest of all creatures ambushed me last night.

If you ever encounter him when you are running, you better run in the other direction.

As I approached the strange beast in what I thought was a stealth-like manner, he got me.

The creature, which had a hide resembling a tuxedo-clad lounge singer from the Poconos, unleashed an acrid, foul smelling spray that burned my eyes and allowed him to escape.

Frustrated and feeling like a tear-gassed rioter, I approached the safety of my deck. Soon after my mom opened the door to let me in, she panicked. "It smells like something's on fire," she said.

Indeed, the smell was something like burnt rubber.

Whenever mom or dad seems upset, I scurry under the dining room table. Sure enough, dad knew something was amiss. He took one whiff of me and exclaimed, "Ruby was sprayed by a skunk."

Now I don't know a skunk from caviar, but I'll tell you this, My last 24 hours have been a nightmare.

First, I've been quarantined. No more going in mom and dad's room for a while.

Next, I have been subjected to numerous tomato juice baths. (although it doesn't taste too bad), and I've been lathered up with mixtures of baking soda and peroxide. And, what's worse, mom and dad seem to be avoiding me like the plague. And, I'm told that our house smells like that skunk character.

So, if you're out there for a nice run through the woods and you see a skunk, run like you've seen a striped, black and white ghost. A skunk is a nasty creature.

I'll take a groundhog any day.

VIRTUAL FLEXIBILITY

Runners are afforded more options than ever these days.

Adverse weather conditions can be averted by logging miles on the treadmill.

On any given weekend, runners have the ability to attend a race somewhere close to home.

Now, your options have increased, thanks to a virtual race series, conducted at: http://www.beactivevirtualrunning.com/

Following is description of the event.

Welcome to the Summer 5k, 10k, Half Marathon Virtual Run. This race can be completed anywhere in the USA, International participants are also welcome. The charities supported by this race are the Arthritis Foundation, Feeding America San Diego and Hope for Haiti. Donations are not required but they are encouraged! All registered runners will receive a medal, emailed bib and goodie bag, shipping charges are included in your registration.Time submissions are not required to receive medals, bibs, and goodie bags.

Where: Everywhere. Your own course, you choose, any city, worldwide.

When: July 1st- 20th 2015. Sign-ups are allowed until July 20th 11pm est. Times must be submitted by July 25th 11pm est Who: All ages, competitive runners and walkers are welcome. All registered athletes will recieve a medal, emailed bib and goodie bag. Top race finishers will be awarded (3 deep) ***Times must be submitted for finisher award. Submit your time on our webpage. Race results will be emailed after competition. Tag your photos on our Instagram @beactive_events 
Event details and schedule.

You can sign up at:  http://www.active.com/san-diego-ca/running/distance-running-virtual-events/summer-5k-10k-half-marathon-virtual-run-2015

You can choose your distance, AND you can choose where and when you want to run. Finally, you can do it all for a good cause.

Sounds like a great running deal to me.

DASWISE CHOICE FOR RUNNERS...AND MORE

I'll admit that I'm an old-school minimalist.

When I run, I prefer to keep it light, carrying little, or nothing, if possible.

Today, however, it is nearly impossible to run without carrying something with you.

Our phones have become essential elements in our lives, and God forbid we lose our credit or bank cards. Keys are pretty important, and I;m just not comfortable placing them in those little pockets sewn into our running shorts.

The solution to these issues seemed to me to be some type of running belt, but when I searched for such a product, most of the belts I found looked like something I would wear if I were building a house of climbing a telephone pole.

After much searching, I discovered the Daswise Waterproof Exercise Running Belt. This belt, which is available in five colors, is extremely lightweight and waterproof. It features an elastic belt that is fitted with an adjustable buckle, which will fit any waist size 22" through 40". The belt is ideal for running, walking, cycling, and I plan to use it for kayaking.

The belt fits snugly and is guaranteed not to bounce or ride up your waist. It is made with polyester, and features a power stretch mesh gusseted, waterproof and sweat proof pocket.

This belt fits my needs because it IS minimalistic. It is only 1.6" wide, and the pocket is fully expandable. You can easily carry any Smartphone, keys, credit cards, or energy bars and supplements on a long workout or in a marathon.

The Daswise Waterproof Exercise Running Belt is backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

And here's the best news about the belt. Unlike many overpriced products, the Daswise Waterproof Exercise Running Belt costs just $9.99.

Check it out at Amazon: www.amazon,com,, where you can read the positive reviews from many satisfied customers, and buy the product. With Father's Day coming up, it is a perfect, economical gift for an active dad.

I think the Daswise Waterproof Exercise Running Belt is great, and give it my highest endorsement.

THE DUEL

A good day to watch a marathon is a bad day to run a marathon.

Non-runners look at a weather forecast for a marathon, see 75 degrees and exclaim, "Wow, it looks like you're going to have great weather for your race."

Not so.

A cloudy, calm, 50-degree day is perfection for running a marathon.

All indicators point to such a day for the 119th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday.

That wasn't the case in 1982, however, and it led to one of the greatest finishes in Boston Marathon history. A race that has been called, "The duel in the sun."

Back in the last century, Boston Marathon race organizers remained stubborn traditionalists, insisting that the race begin at noon, as it always had.

It was a beautiful day...for the beach and for an early spring tan.

The sky was cloudless, the sun was hot, and a slight tailwind sucked moisture from the body like a blow-dryer. Temperatures topped out in the 80s. I completed the race in a respectable time of 2:28:43, and my most significant post-race pain did not stem from sore muscles and joints; rather from pink sunburn lines which outlined the shape of my race singlet on my shoulders, and upon my ankles above the sock line. My nose, a significant perch for birds, glowed like Rudolph's.

Alberto Salazar was the world's best marathon runner at the time. While others, including the iconic Bill Rodgers, wilted from the intense heat, gritty Minnesotan, Dick Beardsley stubbornly hung with Salazar.

Through the Newton Hills, Beardsley refused to be broken.

Crowds went wild on Commonwealth Avenue as the moving duel ensued.

With less than a mile to go, Beardsley's hamstring tightened up and Salazar took the lead.

Beardsley's cramped leg found some unlikely relief from an unlikely ally: a Boston pothole!

Like most potholes we encounter in our cars, he didn't miss it, but miraculously, it loosened his cramped leg, and he drew even with his rival.

Crowds exploded as the gladiators sprinted to the finish, with Salazar prevailing by a mere two seconds.

 Salazar crossed the line in 2:08:52; while Beardsley clocked a 2:08:54. It was the first time two men had broken 2:09 in the same race.

Alberto Salazar, however, paid a steep price for his victory. The searing, dry heat robbed him of fluids, causing his body temperature to drop to a near-fatal 88 degrees and it took several liters of intravenous fluids to stabilize him. By Salazar's own admission he was never the same after the race.

We all hope there are no more "duels in the sun." Let's keep those temperatures in the 50s for Marathon Monday.

Save the beach weather for Tuesday.


More Boston Marathon history the chapter entitled 'Boston,' in my book, Running Shorts. www.muldowneyrunning.com

RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY THROUGH RUNNING-HIP CHIX

Runners are, for the most part, a kind, giving group. Today, more than ever, we can do what we love to do, and turn our performances into fundraising events.

My daughter, Kelly, ran her first marathon with the help of, and by raising money for, Team in Training, a funding arm of the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Since then, she and her husband, Mike, have raised thousands of dollars for this worthy cause.

If you are one of the many runners who have decided to pay it forward by raising funds for a charity, you realize that, in order to do so, takes quite a bit of effort.

Bake sales and garage sales, are sometimes just not enough.

Recently I heard about an excellent fundraising site that makes it easy and profitable for you to raise funds for your next event.

Hip Chix, http://www.hipchixfundraisers.com , is "The Uncommonly Cool Fundraiser."

And it really is!

It's an easy online jewelry fundraiser that's simple to get started. Hip Chix creates a unique link for you to their fundraising site. Using that link you will be able to reach donors near and far. There are no up front costs, no collecting orders, money or delivering product. Hip Chix does it all for you.

Now, here's the good news.

For all fundraisers that have total sales of $2,000 or less, you will receive a minimum of 40%. If you raise more than $2,000 your women's charity receives a minimum of 50% from each order.

I deferred to the real expert, my wife, who went to the site and declared, "I would definitely buy this jewelry."

Check out Hip Chix at: http://www.hipchixfundraisers.com.

They will make your fundraising effort an easy, fun, and profitable experience