Blog | Running With Al Tardy

A Little Sentimental- Boldly Patriotic-And Proud To Be That Way

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Even though I have already run a race this year, I consider the St. Patricks Day 10k in Holyoke, Ma. to be the beginning of a new race year. This year's race was on March 20th. Although there are other entries about the race after this one, I love starting the year with the BIG red, white and blue and I thought I would share it with you.

I'll Share Me Day With You But Not Me Pot O' Gold

One thing about the Holyoke St. Patty's Day Race is that it has a large number of volunteers that endure many variates of weather, because, it is in the middle of March in New England. As I have written about in the past, without the volunteers you and I would not have races to run. This year I met (l-r) Jason, Christie, Paul and Beverly as soon as I got there. On cold race days the building you see them in is like a refrigerator. This year with record high temps--not quite so bad. But they always have a smile and make race day as nice of a day for the runners as possible.

Then there was a visit from one of the wee people. I caught this picture of a leprechaun early and kept checking to see if there happened to be a pot of gold around. But I had to settle for a couple buckets of carbs instead, which was ok, too.

It's the smiles and the people that go the extra mile(sorry about the pun) that make these days memorable and we should all thank them for their efforts. THANK YOU

Here He Is Again

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

This is "The Good Samaritan Culprit" and his wife. If you went back to the early entries in the blogs you would know who this is, even though he's trying to hide behind the sunglasses.

After my run across the country I spent 30 plus years just running on my own and not participating in any of these crazy race things. It was Bill Sullivan, through the enticement of drinking beers with friends on St.Patty's Day, that opened my eyes to the new age of road races. And because of meeting all you crazy runners my dream of running Alaska to Florida was reignited. So I tell people that you can blame all the money I will be raising for charities through my running on Bill "The Good Samaritan Culprit" Sullivan.

Although the sunglasses make Bill and his lovely wife Leslie look like famous people willing to hang out with me that day, let me share my thoughts on the glasses. It was a beautiful day for the race. 70 degrees plus, with no clouds and a very bright sun. Note how close we are standing and also note my hair line. Again take note of the cloudless, sunny sky.

Where Does the Water Come From

Behind the scenes at the St. Patty's day race in Holyoke, Ma.. Green was everywhere including all over the booth one of the venders was setting up.

Joe Weisse owns a water distribution business i the city and donates all the water for the race. Not many people think about where the water they are guzzling down after the race might come from because he's quite humble about his giving. His sister Mary donates her time as do others to take care of the runners and provide a vital necessity especially on an record setting (temperate-wise) March day.

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO

Yellow Shirts And Happy People

I like to do entries that talk about the volunteers that help greatly in putting a road race on. When I saw the large group of people in yellow shirts (and there were many more not pictured) I thought I was getting a photo of a brunch of volunteers. What was I thinking!!! This is the St. Patty's Road Race in a very Irish city. These yellow clad folks, 40 plus over all, were wearing the same yellow shirts because they were representing one of the local Irish Taverns. I guess I'll just have to keep running this race, observing, and carbo loading until I get it right.

A great part of running in a local race is getting to spend time with friends. Number 1430 is Dave Sullivan. Dave was one of the first people I was introduced to 6 years ago when I ran this race for the first time. He is a happy, friendly and out going guy that makes you feel like you've known each other forever and is always a pleasure to see again at the race each year.

Norm is a great friend. He also is a Benjamin Moore Paint sales representative. I have a painting business and see Norm on a professional level, too. On both a personal and a business level I know Norm to be an honest, sincere guy who puts himself out to help others first. He is also one of those humble runners who kicks your butt in a road race and still tries to make you feel great about your running times. He felt a bit down because he had hoped to do slightly better in the race. But because his time was 15 or so minutes faster than mine I'm afraid I wasn't showing him much pity. Great guy--Great friend.

Then there was Lee and company. Lee (top row left) and Craig (top row right) are 2 guys that I met many times last year at races. They didn't run the St. Patty's Race that day. Thank God--or there would have been 2 more people finishing in front of me. In stead they were there to enjoy the kids events with his wife, Karla, daughter, Kaitlyn (bottom left) and her friends, Lee and Karla. At 70 plus degrees in the middle of March, in New England, I think everyone had fun running or not. I'm sure I will see Lee and Craig at races to come soon.

It was a great day with great weather and every one's spirits were happy and alive.

Don't Let The Empty Hands Fool You

More photos from the St. Patty's Race in Holyoke, Ma. show a mix of runners and non-runners. How can you tell the difference? All the ones without beer in their hands did NOT run. Surprised?? The ones with beer had recently finished the race and were replenishing their carbs and ramping back up. The ones without beer had gotten to the beer much earlier and were ramping down hoping to make it to their finish line, otherwise known as the end of the day---still standing.

An interesting story with Nate (black shirt with red lettering) is that we are at a restaurant in a town 5 miles from the race. As I walked into the restaurant, still in my running atire, he asked if I had run the race and running, once again, proved to be common ground that helped start a new friendship. As I am writing this entry I am drawing a blank on the other 2 runners first names. I will look back in my own blog soon because we met at the Turkey Trot 6 miler in Holyoke around Thanksgiving. And/or if you are new to my site you, could go back a few months in this blog and you could not only find their names, but, see what else you haven't seen or read yet.

Three And Me

Saturday, March 13, 2010

When trying to train for and organize a large running event, such as running 5000 miles, you need help, support and understanding from people around you. Sometimes you may need advise, sometimes instruction, and sometimes just some one's ear so you can vent or think out loud to get a handle on your own thoughts. Many times the people you turn to either don't realize how important their belief in you might be or how important a roll they play in believing in yourself. The three people I'm pictured with have helped me in all these areas.

Josh, Amber, and Andy (green shirt) are trainers at the Northampton Athletic Club (NAC). Many times I tell people that NAC is my first home and my legal residence is actually my second home, because I'm in the gym more hours than I am in my house. This also means these three have had to put up with me on almost a daily basis. They listen to my blah, blah, blah even if they've heard it a million times before without telling me to shut up, although it probably crosses their mind often.

Andy and I have tipped a few cans/glasses/buckets of carbs together. Many of these were consumed at UConn football games. The fact that I'm 30 years older doesn't seem to matter to him. This may be because we are friends or because I can kick his butt at beer pong (ok maybe not). But he's been there when I needed him and that's why I consider him such a good friend.

Josh is a bit newer to the gym than Andy, but he learned how to deal with me quickly. He's always quick to lend an ear, give advise or exchange conversation to help me figure things out.

Amber is a special lady. She always has a smile to brighten up the day. She is very knowledgeable in the training field. And, she is always asking about the progress of the Charity runs. She also puts out a news letter and has become a local public relations person, working on letting people know about the events that I have planned and are being planned.

These are three of the people that are in the back round keeping me going. Without these people the journey I'm on may not be moving along as well as it has.

The Day The People And The People Mover

March 6 was a great day for my 1st 2010 road race. It turned out to be a clear sunny 50 degree day. For you that are reading this somewhere that has warm temps all year round, or, 50 degrees plus most of the year, to us this was almost more than us New Englanders could have wished for.
The Garden House at Look Park in Florence, Ma. served as the registration/refreshment center for the event. In past years it might also have served as a warm shelter for the early season runners. However this year most everybody hung outside both before and after the race. The theme for the race was-- Health--and there were many booths set up offering ways of keeping healthy and ensuring ways to keep running and returning to this great event.

My most enjoyed part of these races is not the running, even though it is by far one of the things in life I enjoy tremendously. THE PEOPLE are what is most exciting to me. I love meeting and re-meeting people at a place and doing something we all enjoy.

I am pictured with Lee. Him and I met at a race in Western Mass. a year ago and continue to meet up through out the area. It was exciting to see him again and talk about his new running goals for the season. I also met Mistelle, Andrea, and, little Adelaine. Mistelle and Andrea were two of the organizers for the race. No- we weren't trying to teach Adelaine count. The mile markers seemed to be a good prop for the photo.

Then there is Elizabeth. She and I met there for the 1st time, but, it was a planned meeting because she is going to help me with the nutrition part of the crazy running that is becoming such a big part of my life. She is in the last few months of completing her degree in the nutrition field at Umass. I need to learn how to give my body what it needs to do 30-50 miles a day.

Meeting her at the race turned out to be the story of the day for me. We initially met before the race and discussed talking more in depth after the race and scheduling talks during the up coming week. She also told me she was "jogging" in the race. The course was 2 loops around the park. We all started and everyone was off enjoying the ability to run on a scenic course, on such a beautiful day. For me the first lap went well, I felt I was in a groove and motoring myself around the course, not at a blazing pace, but, comfortable. Then it happened. From behind me I heard "how you doing Al" and next thing I knew Elizabeth came up along side me, exchange a few words, and then went ahead of me so smoothly and effortlessly it was like she was on one of the people movers at the airport. Obviously she hadn't read the entries in my blog about my Italian, male, accomplished runner ego. But, you know what, if you've been reading my entries, you would know that ego has been beaten into enjoying the talents and capabilities of those around me. As I watched her pull away in my head I was thinking how fortunate I am to be able to learn from such wonderful, knowledgeable and talented people.

The day was great. The people were wonderful to be around. And my expectations for the up coming year were raised with such a great start.

A Race, 50 Degrees In March, And Great Friends.... What More Could I Ask For

Thursday, March 11, 2010

These are a few of the pictures I took at a race on March 6. The race was not only my first of the year, but, was in my local area. The run was held at Look Park in Florence, Ma. It was a delightful 50 degrees and brought a large number of runners out. Being a local race it brought out many of my friends which made the first race of the new season that much more enjoyable.

Martha Grinnell (top left) is not only a friend but an accomplished competitor. She also is a well respected trainer. You can check her out at http://www.dymanic-training.net/. Cindy, a wonderful woman and friend, showed up with her daughter, Maddy. I was able to catch them as they were about to partake of some of the great food that was provided. Bill (middle left) and I met at a race for the Make A Wish Foundation 2 years ago. Gene is a great friend and we ran side by side for almost half the race talking about an array of topics. Pat and her son Greg were at the race. Not only have I known her for many years, but, she is pictured with me in previous blog entries as we bump into each other at local races.

The day was picture perfect and sharing the first race of my outdoor race season with friends made it that much more special.