December 26, 2020

 Merry Christmas to everyone!  Hopefully by this time you have had a great Christmas morning!  I got my annual supply of coal, so what can I say?😒  The year is winding down, and by next weekend we will be into 2021.  Glad to see this year gone!  

Last weekend, we met up at Ultimate Fit, for the annual Ozanam Toy Drive, and thank you all for your generosity to this great charity.  

This weekend, we will meet up with Run Walk 812 at Wesselmans Park at 7 am, where Shari will have her usual routes for everyone to run.  I posted the last used routes from there, so check with Shari in the morning to see if routes are different.  The Loop Group will meet up for their loops starting from Mesker Park parking lot on Wimberg and Mesker at 7 am.

Not knowing when the live races will get going again, but hopefully soon, I will share the links of the local race directors to give you a chance to find the latest racing information.

Tri State Fitness

To The Finish Timing

Rise Up And Run

Enjoy your run, and As always, be courteous and thoughtful to the drivers while running the streets!

Goal for 2020

Not to be Better Than Anyone Else,

But to be Better Than YOU Used to Be!

Remember to shop local, and support our favorite running and fitness store. Curt, Cindi, and the Ultimate Fit team will help you get to and through your training and racing needs! They will have all of the winter layering and cold weather gear you might need. With the earlier darkness, get your illumination gear, so everyone can see you coming while running the streets!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST WEEK

THIS WEEKEND ROUTES

BOR

6:15 Y

Court to
R on MLK
L on Vine to Main
R on Virginia/ Oakhill
R on Vogel
R on Boeke
L into park
Return trip
Head out of Park
Cross Boeke
L on Alvord
R on Franklin
L on 41 Greenway 
R on Walnut
R on 6th 
to Y

7.25 mi. round trip

R W 812

Official routes

6-7-8 Miles
Leaving Park
Cross Boeke
L on Boeke
R on Sycamore
L on Alvord Blvd
Follow to Washington
Turn around
Go back on Alvord
R on Bellemeade -water
*L On Dexter – 6 miles
*L on ST Mary’s Dr-7 mi
*R on Hebron-8 mi
L on Lincoln
R on Alvord
R on Sycamore
L on Boeke
Back to Park

Official route

4 mile

Leaving Park
Cross Boeke
L on Boeke
R on Sycamore
L on Alvord Blvd
Follow to Washington
Turn around
Follow Alvord
R on Sycamore
L on Boeke
Back to Park

Alternate routes

7am 

Wesselmans

10 mile route
One Big Loop
Leaving Park
Cross Boeke
L on Boeke
R on Sycamore
L on Alvord Blvd
Follow to Washington
Turn around
Follow Alvord
Water
R on Bellemeade
Cross Green River
L on Cullen
L on Lincoln
R into State Hosp
One loop around lake
R on Lincoln
R on Alvord
R on Sycamore
L on Boeke
Back to Park
Small loop to finish

6 Mile
Leaving Park
Cross Boeke
L on Boeke
R on Sycamore
L on Alvord Blvd
Follow to Washington
Turn around
Follow Alvord
Water- Mike
R on Bellemeade
*L on ST Mary’s Dr.
L on Lincoln
R on Alvord
R on Sycamore
L on Boeke
Back to Park
*For 7 turn at Hebron
Instead of St Mary’s

The Loop Group

Mesker Park 7 am

Loop 1
S on Mesker Park
R on St. Joe
R on Franklin
Veer R onto Mt. Vernon
R on Harmony Way
R on Maryland
L on St. Joe
L on Mesker Park to car 4.01this loop

Loop 2
W on Wimberg,
L on Harmony Way,
L on Mt Vernon Ave,
L on 12th,
L on Maryland,
R on St Joe,
L on Mesker Park, 3.67 this loop

Loop 3
S on Mesker Park
L on Bement
L on St. Joe
Quick R on Mt. Auburn
R on Mt. Auburn down hill
R on Maryland
R on St. Joe
R on Bismark
L on Mt. Auburn/Optimist
L on St. Joe
Quick R on Bement
R on Mesker Park to car 3.28 this loop

Christmas Eve, 2020

 Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all along the route

Just a few elves were a stirring, getting the water stops out,

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

I mean the dryer for Dri-Fit, you just do not dare,

Some were still nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Starbucks & Shopping Carts danced in their heads,

With my two pairs of gloves and my trusty white visor,

I headed out for my run in the cold, none the wiser,

When out on the route there arose such a clatter,

I stopped in my tracks to see what was the matter,

Away to the sidewalk I flew like a flash,

A driver on their cell phone???, I braced for a crash,

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave a luster of mid-day from Mt. Auburn to below,

When, what to my wandering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

Could that be Hal Higdon, no it must be St. Nick,

 More rapid than Kenyans his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet, On, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With a sleigh full of Spi-belts, foam rollers & GU.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof,

As I headed for home, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas went with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his Asics were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of running gear he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

Whoa..no smoking here Santa, put the pipe back in it's sheath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he ran, like a bowl full of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the compression socks, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he dodged an oncoming car,

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a new PR!"