• It must have worked •
[2 MIN READ]
Despite the forecast of rain for the next 40 days and 40 nights, Saturday looked hopeful for the usual SRC run; only light to moderate. That morning, it looked even better; approximately flanking the usual 7:30 a.m. run time as eleven people showed up (ShawmontRunningClub.com and next). We even got running only slightly after founder Zen Yanni’s stated outer limit (“We wait 5 minutes, not 6.”). Usually, we’re much more egregious about that outer limit; weird, given that most of the catching up we do can take place while we actually run. (This version does not work for the “trail” runners relative to the majority of us “drive” runners as they disappear up into the woods.)
The rain was dutifully only light as we took off. Barbara, Linda B, and Sure Sheila went up onto the trails to do their version of catching up as the rest of us headed down the drive.
READ and COLLAPSE for more on “drive” vs. “trail”
Not so many years ago, SRC was always a “drive” run on Forbidden Drive. People referenced it as a “trail” run (including ZY), because it’s not paved. Relatively speaking, that makes it a trail. No one ever did actual trail runs up in the woods.
Barbara, Linda B, and Sure Sheila are among the SRC-ers who continue to make trails a thing. Barbara did make it clear that changing the route description (in the Themz list) to “on the drive” made it sound like Kelly Drive, but given that we always start at the top of Forbidden Drive, not Kelly… Anywho (to really channel ZY)…
Prof. Sandy met us as she often does coming up from her house via Rex Avenue (ShawmontRunningClub.com). I asked if she was planning to do her usual 10-mile run. “Okay!” she said, as if she hadn’t actually planned such an effort. “You know, that wasn’t a command,” I replied, but it might as well have been.
Quietman Tom, Tall Dave, and I headed off for Shawmont from the 5-mile mark below the stone bridge. It was my 3rd 13-plus miler since ramping up after breaking 2 toes and my cardiovascular fitness was improving significantly (iCandybyWangC.com). All 3 of us have been ramping up slowly from less active days. They 2 had always done Shawmont Manor 16-mile runs just a few years ago and I’ve been hoping I could ramp up with them soon in preparation for Philadelphia Marathon training season.
Progressing along the towpath in Manayunk, Dave observed that the rain had cleared. It was everything we could have hoped for relative to dryness and mildness.
Instead of the usual Ridge Avenue return from Roxy’s at the top of Shawmont Avenue, we opted for a Wises Mill to complete 14 miles. I asked them how far away they thought Shawmont Manor efforts might be. Tom replied with his classic drollness: “Oh, about 2 miles.”
We 3 drive guys finished at the top of Forbidden Drive again. A few moments later, the 3 trail gals finished their run. The 3 and 3 of us called it a (no-rain-out) date and headed home.
–CtCloser (Calvinthe) “Negative Split or Positive Splat” #dothedue (iCandybyWangC.com)
FINE PRINT ¶Text by Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (CreativeCommons.org). ¶Cross-published: Facebook Shawmont Running Club (ZY Weekly Newsletter 5/23/26 [Facebook]), Shawmont Running Club website (ShawmontRunningClub.com), Ruminations by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Rumination with added caption, duration, and enumeration.
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