• An off-beat event report •
[1½ MIN READ]
The 5th running of the annual ORC Relay took place the past 03’16’S and it was another winner. This tiny event connects the 3 locations of The Original Running Company: Jenkintown RC, legacy Fairmount RC, and Ridley RC. It’s been a runner favorite over the years and this one was even above average. The idea was to celebrate the store that’s been 1 of my 2 running homes (including our own SRC) for all of my running career (10 odd years…very odd?). See “Off-beat Running Events” for another treatment of this event (#144).
It’s designed as a total 22-mile run in 4 5½-mile segments that runners can do individually or combine variously for training purposes. Over the years, participants have done ¼, ½, ¾, and whole distances. Participants have always been friends of the store, even if not regular Wednesday-night Growlers Group Run club regulars. This year SRC’s My-Oh Maya and I-ya did it with 3 club runners (I did say “tiny” event.). In fact, those 3 JRC GGR members have actually run with SRC a couple of times each over the last few years (Aaron, Adelaide, and Caitlin).
Here’s some of what was to love. Scenic views of the Philadelphia skyline. Sociological opportunities to experience the neighborhoods of Philadelphia and environs (Note: In every one of them, people appreciate warm hellos.). A chance to witness how Drexel University does its neightborhood celebration of St. Patrick’s Day (loudly!). The usual good company and conversation for 4 hours with rest stops.
The icing on the cake was that, for the first time ever, the good company and conversation came continuously from the same runners: All of the relay’s participants ran all 4 legs. Jersey City (04’14’U), Boston (04’15’M), and Big Sur and Gettysburg (04’28’U) Marathons; here we come.
-CtCloser (Calvinthe) “Negative Split or Positive Splat” #dothedue
FINE PRINT ¶Text by Calvin Wang (Wäng), CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. ¶Cross-published: Facebook Shawmont Running Club (ZY Weekly Newsletter), Shawmont Running Club website, Ruminations by CtCloser. ¶This website posting: Rumination with added caption.
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