Trailtagging (#150: ZY Weekly Newsletter 1/13/24)

• Nicknames in process • [1½ MIN READ] A point of anxiety after ZY passed into the great running beyond was that trail tags—nicknames—would stop being a thing. After all, Zen Yanni was the big cheese who did all the bestowing of them. Folks on Facebook and at his memorial celebration consistently commented about getting … More Trailtagging (#150: ZY Weekly Newsletter 1/13/24)

Hashtagging (#149: ZY Weekly Newsletter 1/6/24)

• A grammar for the practice • [1½ MIN READ] I’m not a terribly canny social media person, even as an information specialist. I understand the role of hashtags, but I don’t use them well. For my purposes, the only ones I’ve bothered to use are the ones I’ve created: #negativesplitorpositivesplat and #dothedue. They’re in … More Hashtagging (#149: ZY Weekly Newsletter 1/6/24)

The Passage of a Little Time (#148: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/30/23)

• Years seem like minutes • [1 MIN READ] A recent run became the opportunity for some roasting of your Ruminations contributor. It wasn’t the subject matter or the writing style that drew derision but rather a much more petty element of the writing: reading times. The practice began as a courtesy to the audience, … More The Passage of a Little Time (#148: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/30/23)

Your Wish is My Command (#147: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/23/23)

• This time? • [½ MIN READ] My-Oh Maya and I[ya] were running together when she commented about wanting for the club to bring people back. For a lot of businesses and industry sectors, the pandemic made people rethink their work who never returned. Shawmont Running Club had its version of that when members started … More Your Wish is My Command (#147: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/23/23)

Running Half-lit During the Year-end Holidays (#146: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/16/23)

• Alcohol-free • [¼ MIN READ] (From a December neighborhood run.) C: Time to turn on my headlamp.B: Okay, you’re red. Now you’re green. You fit right into the season.C: Looking like a traffic light. Great for cars.B: Now you’re blue.C: Cool. Like the kind of guy I am.B: Now you’re off.C: Not cool. Like … More Running Half-lit During the Year-end Holidays (#146: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/16/23)

Doing Difficult Things at GGR (#236: 2023’12’20’W)

• Hills are easier • [1½ MIN READ] I’ve been wanting to do more miles as marathon training season approaches (January for Jersey City, 04’14’U). Jason Variant and Jim Variant (both o’Variations o’J&J) decided to join me for another circuit on the Jenkintown S5K route.   L-R: Jim Variant and Jason Variant [both o’Variations o’J&J], … More Doing Difficult Things at GGR (#236: 2023’12’20’W)

So Very, Very, Very Fond (#145: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/9/23)

• Because there’s so much to be fond of • [1½ MIN READ] What with family visits and other interference, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve run with SRC (11’04’S, to be exact). Last week was only slightly different. Three of us from Jenkintown Running Company’s Growlers Group Run (Wednesdays) have picked our spring … More So Very, Very, Very Fond (#145: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/9/23)

Off-beat Running Events (#144: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/2/23)

• All local, even • [2 MIN READ] The weird 22 miler I did last Saturday (in lieu of joining SRC) turned my mind to other atypical running events. We all know them, ones that are destination races, have catchy names, or have quirky themes. As far as destination races, we know the majors, like … More Off-beat Running Events (#144: ZY Weekly Newsletter 12/2/23)

I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends* (#143: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/25/23)

• Something we can all use occasionally • [1½ MIN READ] I wrote at the beginning of November about SRC-branded products to ill affect. It seems Facebook trolls abound these days and will take advantage of any prompt to try to phish for information to steal in connection with false-product sales. Who knew? A couple … More I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends* (#143: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/25/23)

Thankful for Shawmont 14-Mile Runs (#142: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/18/23)

• Does that make me strange? • [1 MIN READ] The default distance for Shawmont Running Club is the 14-mile loop going down Forbidden Drive, then west on Main Street and the Canal Path, and finally up Shawmont Avenue to return back to the start by any number of ways. Anyone can (and many do) … More Thankful for Shawmont 14-Mile Runs (#142: ZY Weekly Newsletter 11/18/23)