Before I start, let me first say congratulations to the State High student athletes who competed at the PTFCA Indoor State Championship. The boys team came away winning the state title while the girls team finished 17th out of 66 teams from around the state.
I know how difficult it is for these athletes to train, let alone compete in their limited meet schedule. Many of the runners, for example, do their sprint workouts in hallways of the new State High. Kudos to the student-athletes for spending countless hours training and cross-training (I see you in the Fitness Center). A special kudos to coaches and parents who spend numerous weekends throughout the winter while trying to drive in less than ideal weather conditions all to give the student athletes a chance to compete in something they are passionate about.
Now back to your regularly scheduled running column.
Everyone has their own reason for running and being active. Some do it as a way to improve or keep up their healthy lifestyle. Some do it as a way to challenge themselves by improving their personal bests. A select few run to try to meet qualifying times for the Boston, New York, or Chicago marathons. We all have our reasons.
In Centre County, there are about 30 runners who run to help others. They are a group of runners known as Marathoners for Medicine. They run to raise money for Centre Volunteers in Medicine. Marathoners for Medicine is now in it’s 17th year of existence, and it all began with one runner, John Domico. Here is what he had to say about the history of it:
“The first year was 2003 with one runner, me. It has continued every year since then. Of course our runners experience the challenge (and misery) of training, and the elation of crossing the finish line on Boylston. In 2007 we experienced a nor’easter that nearly caused the cancellation of the race (an abomination of a thought). That same year, our hearts were broken when one of our MFM teammates received a good luck phone call from her brother prior to the start, just to learn at the finish the same brother was lost to the Virginia Tech mass-shooting while she was running the race. In 2013 we shared the pain of a city as we learned of, even heard, bombs exploding on the finishing stretch.
“To this day Marathoners for Medicine continues to be a venue for the running community to support CVIM. The total funds raised for CVIM by Marathoners for Medicine is over half a million and growing. Our commitment to CVIM is as relentless as CVIM’s commitment to serving our friends and neighbors in need.”
If you don’t know about Centre Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), they are a treasure of Centre County. Started in 2001 by the late Rev. Joe Faulkner and others, CVIM provides medical care, dental care, case management and medication assistance to residents and workers of Centre County without health insurance and whose household income is at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Numerous physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, social workers and other licensed clinicians who are already plenty busy with their own jobs and families graciously volunteer their time at CVIM.
Now don’t let the name fool you — not everyone who is part of Marathoners for Medicine is planning on running a marathon, let alone the Boston Marathon. The runners in the crew will be running either a 10 mile race, half marathon, marathon or 50 km race. John Pringle is putting all of us to shame by running the C&O Canal 100-mile race. That’s not a typo. Yes, he will run 100 miles by himself. No, I don’t know what he is thinking.
For me, I am running the New Jersey Marathon on April 28 in support of CVIM. While I know it will be difficult to meet my goals for the race, along with battling possible wind gusts coming off of the ocean, it pales in comparison to those struggling with medical conditions without the benefit of insurance.
If you are able to, please consider making a donation to either my donation page or one of the other Marathoners for Medicine pages. Even the smallest donation will make an impact for those who utilize CVIM’s services.
Race Calendar
Only two local races on the calendar for this month. But keep the first weekend of April open for a slew of race opportunities of varying distances.
March 2, 10 a.m. – Tussey Teaser #1 – The 16th Annual Laurel Run Switchbacker 10k
Starting just outside of the Tussey Mountain Area on Bear Mountain Road, this race features Leg 1 of the Tussey Mountainback 50-mile course. The course is challenging as you’ll have over 700 feet of elevation change over the first half of the race. But luckily, what goes up must come down, as the second half of the race goes back down to the start line. So take the brakes off and let Sir Isaac Newton take over. The 10k is a FREE event that offers awards and door prizes. If you complete all five of the teasers, which will continue on April 7, May 11, June 9, and June 16, you will be eligible for a grand door prize! Fill out the waiver and contact info@tusseymountainback.com if you have any questions.
March 23, 8 a.m. – The Race of Champions – 5k run, 2-mile run, 2-mile walk
Just down the road, err highway, in Altoona is the first of the Blair County YMCA’s seven races in its race series. Starting and ending at Blair Candy, these races feature various distances for everyone as you run or walk around the closed off streets of Altoona.
