• The sky or the stein •
[1½ MIN READ]
Over my time living in the Delaware Valley, I’ve learned one thing about weather forecasting. It’s particularly tricky around these here parts. It seems there is something about the tension between what comes down from the Canada and what comes up from the Atlantic that makes it hard to really know exactly what the weather’s going to be even a few hours beforehand. Or maybe even minutes. Take last Wednesday for example.
The forecast was for pouring rain at the time of the Growlers Group Run. I was not enthused. Still I showed up at the running store like the dutiful run-club anchor that I am. By then I already knew two people were definite no shows. I was prepared to convince anyone who did actually show up to bag the run and just go out with me for a drink. What I did not expect is for Kevin to be that anyone-who-did-actually-show-up just as the rain started letting up.
(L-R: CtCloser, Kevin)
We ran together and talked about the preparation for his inaugural Broad Street Run. The only moisture we experienced was from the ground and our own sweat. We patted each other on the sweaty back and slammed the other runners who had begged off. And then we went out and slammed back (not rly, otherwise we sound desperate) a drink (rly, still desirous).
(L-R: CtCloser, Kevin. Photo credit: Kevin Brogan)
An actual run when conditions are rainy can be as hit or miss as the actual rainfall. The crew have both begun (begged on) and begged off when rain has fallen. (We both admitted we would have gone home if no one else had been around.) The lesson is the same either way. Show up! Whether it pours when we run (and we pour in soggy consolation) or it pours and we don’t run (and we pour as dry consolation), expect it to be worth your while. It was worth it for Kevin and me.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe), “Negative split or positive splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Likeness used with permission. ¶Text and photos (unless otherwise stated): Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-posted: (1) Facebook JRC Growlers Group Run (2025’03’12’W Run Message), (2) GGR email list, (3) Cerebruns by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Cerebrun with added caption.
iCandybyWangC 
Agree! Showing up is often half (or perhaps more) of the battle. Whether it be for a gym workout, run, or work….maybe especially work…..I have been amazed at how many business owners I spoken with that are just looking for reliable people to show up at the job. They will teach and train and not looking for Herculean efforts.
Seems simple, but that’s the kind of advice I gave my son when he started as a surveyor. Just show up and do what the boss says to do….he has and has done very well for himself (sheepishly admitting he makes more than I did early career with an engineering degree within 6 months of being out of high school).
Maybe that should be Nike’s new slogan: just show up vice just do it.
Carry on running man.