For a variety of reasons, more people than ever are running and racing these days.
At distances around the country from 5 kilometers to the 26.2-mile marathon and beyond, people of all ages have decided to lace up their running shoes, try out their new running gear and participate in races big and small.
Running can be the easiest of sports. It can also be the most difficult.
Running simply requires the participant to place one foot in front of the other and go as fast as you can for as long as you wish.
The difficult part is motivating one’s self to do so, as sometimes getting out the door is the hardest step.
There is no minimum or maximum age for running. There is no minimum or maximum weight requirement. It is non-sexist, and running a race is pure democracy. Everyone, rich or poor, from the Olympian to the last-place finisher, is equal at the starting line.
A couple of weeks ago in Philadelphia, my family and I turned running into a pre-holiday celebration as many families gather around the hearth as the holiday season approaches.
For the Muldowneys, though, a holiday family get-together took the form of a Philly foot festival. And no holiday gathering could have been more satisfying. Like many holiday celebrations, immediate family was joined by extended family members.
At the pre-race expo Saturday, we met running friends Felix Shipp, Eric Koehler, Mary Landrigan-Ossar and Chuck Ziegenfus face-to-face for the first time. Felix came up from Mississippi, while Mary traveled down from Massachusetts.
For the past couple of years, we have become like family on a Facebook running community called “Running for the Health of It.” The page was started by personal trainer, now owner of his own fitness center, Troy Leatherbury.
The aforementioned Shipp’s story of his running journey is featured in my latest book, “Personal Best.”
Our meeting was like a gathering of old friends. Felix exclaimed that “the world is like a golf ball,” and he’s right. The shrunken cyber world brought us all together. Each of these fine individuals had a terrific race at Philadelphia.
The weather on race day was perfect, and my pre-Thanksgiving family outing was magnificent.
My wife, Crissy, who had never run a race longer than 5 miles, ran in honor of her mother, whom she lost to cancer in August. Her time of 2:16:39 for the half-marathon, was terrific.
My son-in-law, Mike Silverstrini, ran his personal-best marathon time of 4:15:56, and my daughter Kelly also reached a personal-best marathon time of 5:23:06.
Words cannot describe how proud I am of their efforts.
For me, my orthopedic surgeon looked at the MRI of two torn hamstring tendons from May 8, 2013, and proclaimed, “You might be able to run 5K races again.”
So, to cross the line at 1:53:13 for a half-marathon was a post-injury personal best as well.
I love the city of Philadelphia, and I have raced more there in 38 years than in any other city. Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter not only delivered a pre-race pep talk, but remained at the finish line, “high-fiving” runners as they completed their races.
Pennsylvania’s Governor-elect, Tom Wolf, was there as well. His daughter ran the marathon.
The thousands of enthusiastic spectators, string bands and college students, the legion of volunteers and the support of city leaders make the Philadelphia Marathon one of America’s premiere marathon events.
I enjoyed spending the weekend there with my extended running family and friends.
My family, as well as my extended running family, wishes you and yours a happy, healthy and joyous holiday season.
(Muldowney is an avid runner
and published author)