• Fourth year and counting •
[1½ MIN READ]
In fall 2019, the Original Running Company (of which Jenkintown Running Company is but one store) opened its 3rd store in Ridley Park Township, Delaware County, PA. A look at a map of the Greater Philadelphia area made it clear that the distance from the Jenkintown store to the then Fairmount store was not so far off from the distance from Fairmount to Ridley Park. In total, the combined distance was about 22 miles. Divided into quarters, that distance made for a potential relay run connecting each store through North Philly and University City. So that’s what a few of us did in spring of 2020 the Saturday after the entire US shut down for the COVID pandemic. And again in 2021. And again in 2022. On 12’02’S we’ll do the 2023 fall incarnation.
Some Growlers have done the first leg to North Philly. Others have done 2 legs all the way to Eastern State Penitentiary, where the Fairmount store used to be. One did 3 legs. Three have done the entire distance. One Growler has run the whole 22-ish miles every time. What can I say, it’s always coincided with spring marathon training season.
Granted, a 22-mile run is suitable for very few people, but I can say that for the 3 Growlers that did the whole thing last spring 2022, it was the best training run ever. When you can talk about running and anything else that comes to mind for 4 hours, it sure does make a long run really easy. Talk while running? Yes! If you can’t talk while you’re running, you’re working too hard.
So on Saturday, 12/2/2023, the ORC Relay will take place again. We’ll see who more than me will try to do the whole route this time. No matter what, a chase car will be there to shuttle runners at each of the pre-determined nodes. And we’ll eat and drink to celebrate the conclusion. Nine o’clock in the morning then departure on the hour for each subsequent leg and we’ll be in Ridley Park at 1 in the afternoon. Holler if you’re interested! And if you’re not, we’ll eat and drink extra for you.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT
Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2023’11’29‘W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun only with added caption.
Updated: 2023’12’13’W (Editing)
iCandybyWangC 