• Racing not required • [2 MIN READ] Here’s a reason to show up for a Saturday SRC run: Oh, the conversation that you’d otherwise miss. When I arrived at the run on Saturday, 12/13, immediately after the publication of the Zen Yanni Newsletter 12/6, Quietman Tom had words for me (ShawmontRunningClub.com): How long did … More The Sneaky Pee II (#206)
• The opposite of ease is dis-ease • [3 MIN READ] The word “autopsy” means what ‘the self’ (Greek: autos) ‘has seen’ (optos). Who can understand it in any other way than in the context of a pathologist conducting a postmortem (Latin: after death)? But it seems perfectly appropriate in the context of an individual … More Being a Philadelphia Marathon Race Pathologist (#204: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/22/25)
• Live and virtually • [2 MIN READ] There’s nothing like a crowd to make a competitive race seem easier and more enjoyable. I first cut my teeth on small marathons, where a runner can go a mile and see only other runners (I still rather prefer races like that.); so I was blown away … More Being a Philadelphia Marathon Race Supporter (#203: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/15/25)
• Now that I know, first 2 of ? times • [2 MIN READ] The conviction from those in the know is that club principal Zen Yanni is the nutter runner who conceived the 4 Sisters route. As I’ve asked around from those in the knew, several club members are among the nutter runners who’ve … More RevisitED the 4 Sisters of Manayunk (#202: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/8/25)
• I’m just learning about this route now? • [2½ MIN READ] A club as long-lived as SRC (circa 1985) is bound to have bits of history that newer runners like me (circa 2012) will never know or will learn only incidentally. One historical fact of the latter type is the existence of the Four … More Revisiting the 4 Sisters of Manayunk (#201: ZY Weekly Newsletter 10/25/25)
• And being a good sport in the process • Lynette moved to the Philly area at the beginning of 2025 and started running with JRC’s Growlers Group Run on Wednesday nights. She decided to run her first marathon not so long after and picked Philadelphia. She’ll be moving back to Florida in December for … More Making Memories in Memorable Ways (#200: ZY Weekly Newsletter 10/4/25)
• Accommodating • [2 MIN READ] All the phone gazing I do that SRC-ers tell me to stop caught up to me. What with the starting and pausing of MapMyRun or the logging of a thought or detail, club runners are worried about me injuring myself. “Ah, I’ll be fine,” I say dismissively. Until I’m … More Lessons from a Sprained Ankle (#196: ZY Weekly Newsletter 8/30/25)
• Avoiding • [2 MIN READ] Minimizing distraction would be a good way to avoid spraining an ankle. I could read a book and walk home from elementary school as a kid, but using a smartphone and running is not the same thing. Spraining an ankle off the roadbed where there was no curb was … More Lessons from a Sprained Ankle II (#197: ZY Weekly Newsletter 9/6/25)
• Certainty amid uncertainty • [<2 MIN READ] Every marathon training cycle I’ve gone through lately has seemed to bring something unprecedented. With Philadelphia coming up 11’23’U (Sunday), this one has me needing to work especially hard on pace and bringing weekly mileage in line. Since the last marathon, Delaware Running Festival Marathon (04’06’U), I’ve … More Working Toward Philadelphia Marathon: 2025’11’23’U (#194: ZY Weekly Newsletter 8/23/25)
• Negotiating Alaska • [1½ MIN READ] A recent run from the native village of Kluti-Kaah north and west to the local “big town” of Glennallen, Alaska had me traversing a construction zone unlike any around these here parts. Around a lot of the state, there are no alternative routes. That was the case over … More Bridge Construction (#193: ZY Weekly Newsletter 7/26/25)
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