….Or You Can't Go Home Again…
For 30 years or so the Ellwood City Ledger sponsors a 10k race in conjunction with the local Arts and Crafts Festival. This race is totally necessary to kick off the festival, because I think the majority of people who attend the festival eat about a month's worth of calories per visit.
The race course is special because it takes you all through the metropolis of Ellwood City. I actually LOVED this route, because you get all the high points (literally too!) of the city!
Despite being excited about running a race in my hometown, the race started off as kind of a disaster. I don't know what I was thinking when I packed....ok...I do know....I was thinking about yummy festival food (read pepperoni puffs), but as a result I forgot a lot of things I think I need to run.
Luckily I remembered the big stuff....running shoes, socks and super-posh running outfit. What I didn't remember was running iPod and GPS. So, I was going to have to run this race 'old school' sans music and just chasing the person in front of me. Luckily, I discovered that I had a running playlist on the Nano that I use in the car and a spare set of ear buds. I stuffed it in my sports bra and headed toward the registration desk.
A Race Backwards.....
...Or How Old Am I Again?!
The race started in Ewing Park in front of Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool. I ducked in there to use the restroom and it was so weird, it was liking walking through the doorway took me back in time. The ladies locker room was EXACTLY the same, except it seemed like the sinks were too low!
I picked my race packet up with Angela Valvano, my BFF, and her super-stud son Angelo...he of course was running with his buddies...and we headed to the start line, in the opposite direction than what I anticipated.
I guess someone said go, because everyone starting running. We took off West toward downtown...nostalgia kicked in immediately. As I rounded the corner by Helling Stadium and crossed over Foch Street, I couldn't help to think about one of my High School BFF...Jessica Rankin (we share a birthday!!). We've completely lost touch..if you are reading this Jess get in contact!!
As we headed toward downtown, I was feeling pretty rickety. I was in El Salvador in the weeks leading up to the race and only managed about four 3-mile treadmill runs. I was no way prepared to 'race' this 10k. I started to feel a rhythm as I headed toward the Ewing Park Bridge and my first twinge of nostalgia as I looked down the on the lane parallels the river, where I received my first, ever kiss. I chuckled a bit, realizing my 'bad boy complex' has been with me for quite some time, as this young man was quite a nefarious character!
We crossed the bridge and headed toward Loccaisano's grocery where they make the best Italian sausage outside of Italy. I smiled a bit as we rounded the back side of Pittsburgh Circle past the former office of Doctor Painter (RIP), our family doctor, who once had his very own Nurse Ratchet hold me down to give me a booster shot. She would be proud to know that I'm now annually inoculated with no drama.
We continued West toward Veteran's Memorial Park, I was so surprised to see Angela standing near her house cheering for me! She said "Your the 11th girl and they all look young!" I never thought THOSE words would be comforting!
Continuing through Pittsburgh Circle I ran past my Aunt Dot and Uncle Ed's house (RIP). I was so very sad to see a 'For Sale' sign in the yard, instead of the two them standing on the porch looking for them. I blinked back a few tears and managed to smile knowing that Aunt Dot (age 88) would have been squinting into the crowd looking for me, but seeing right through me....because she couldn't see that far!! I knew I would call out and she wouldn't hear me, because she was also hard of hearing, but that Uncle Eddy would spot me right off and be waving with his fantastic smile and saying "Over there Dorothy!"
I could see this scene so clearly in my mind's eye, yet, was looking at an empty brick house, with a REMAX sign planted in the front yard, instead of the familiar wooden Scotty Dog with 390 painted on it. That memory occupied me over the 2nd Street overpass, and a few city blocks until I reached my former high school.
I ran up the hill past the Statue of Liberty replica (one of only 6 in existence) and past the former Ellwood City Library. I can't believe how much time I spent in that building as a kid and am so impressed at how much they accomplished in such a small building! If you haven't seen the new library you should check it out! It's amazing!
I thought I was racing quite well as I rounded the corner near the Ellwood City Ledger (Rag!) and was thankful to see water station, but I started to feel extremely tired as ran down Lawrence Avenue (Main Street!). I was also extremely disappointed to see that Ellwood had NOT put up the Lion Water Fountain this summer. I was just starting to feel sorry for myself when someone (Angela Valvano!) shouted my name from atop the 5th Street train trestle! Yay! Rejuvenated from seeing someone I knew, I tried to liven the pace and continued on my way.
I crossed safely over 5th and Spring thanks to Scott Williams, traffic marshal extraordinaire, who gave me a big smile and a wave!
Feeling quite good after all the encouragement I was surprised to see Tony V and Jake-y marshaling at 5th and Fountain!
I was totally pumped after seeing so many friends (read family) that I started across the 5th Street Bridge feeling like a million bucks. Nostalgia struck again, as I couldn't believe how many times in my life I've walked across the bridge. There are loads and loads of memories. I can remember toddling across it as a little girl, terrified of the height and how easily I could slip through the bars if not careful. I can remember riding my pink swchinn across it, when I wasn't supposed to leave the North Side. I can remember feeling the cool, concrete of the end bannister on my legs as I loitered (on briefly in fear of getting caught by my Gram) on the corner near Red Hot Hot Dog Shoppe (yeah, it used to be there). I can remember walking across that sucker in the middle of a Western PA winter on my way home from school, thinking that the bridge was defiantly stretching so the ice-cold wind could wreak it's havoc. I can remember walking home after a few to many beers at the Shelby and watching a childhood friend bid the world adieu with an "Adios! Mother F*ckers" only to see him occupying the same barstool in the same bar months later when I visited again.
Needless to say, with all of that to think about, the 5th Street bridge seemed to FLY by!
Lucky for me my Aunt Diane and Uncle Larry were at the foot of the bridge, taking photos and waving! It was so awesome to see them and Diane was SO excited!
I was now entering into North Side, home territory! I hoofed it up the steady incline of Todd Avenue and as I peaked over Buccelli's hill I wished I could just run home, but instead headed left up toward Line Avenue.
Here, I passed Mr. Galvin, who cheered for all the runners but didn't recognize me. I continued running through North Side and all of my childhood haunts. I even ran past Mr. Grieco, my former track coach, who also didn't recognize me, but did hand me a cup of water. Along Orchard Avenue I ran past Tony Valvano Sr, and Isabella who waved and smiled vigorously!
This run was really starting to drag. I was deep into North Side and knew the run wouldn't carry me directly back to the park, but force the runners to double back into North Side, before heading toward the finish. My spirits were lifted when I passed Liesie Williams who mustered a 'Oh Hi! Mellissa!' when I ran past her intersection. This carried me toward the North Street where I knew I could start heading down hill! Yay!
As I headed down toward 7-11 a woman with a long, brown ponytail breezed past me. When I told her good job, she said "I'll be 60 next month!" WTF!! I hope I'm running that well when I'm on the eve of 60! Still flummoxed by that news, I was surprised to see Diane and Larry standing near the Princepessa Apartments cheering me on for a second time! I was doubly happy to know I was a little over a mile from the finish!
I headed back into the park feeling relatively strong, until I hit Jefferson Ave and the iPod gave out. I was totally perplexed, but didn't mess with it. I had NO idea what-so-ever how fast I was running and was really hoping to be on a 45-minute pace, so I just really concentrated on pushing it out. This race didn't start until 9ish and it was starting to get hot. I couldn't wait to stop running and get more water down my neck!
I pushed it through the finish line at 49:18.
I think this is a PR for me, because I can't ever remember running a 10k before. In fact, this may be my first ever! But I think it's pretty respectable given I didn't train, heck I barely ran, and I wasn't even wearing a watch! Besides, this race was purely for the fun. I finally got to race in my hometown. There were friends and family every where! I felt massively loved! And I got a SECOND place trophy for my age bracket!
Yay for Hardware!!
All in all it was good race, and I had a good time. I felt so strong running through the streets of my childhood. In fact, it made me feel almost childlike. Every road had it's own unique memory and it made the whole thing so awesome! Thanks so much for everyone who came out to watch me run!! An EXTRA SPECIAL thanks to Angela Valvano and family who cheered like lunatics when I got my trophy and made me feel like million bucks.
Lastly! Thanks to Lou Lodivico who is from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania and holds the WORLD RECORD for 80 year-olds racing the 10k! Thanks Lou for inspiring me to keep running!
The only thing missing from this race was former track Coach Frank Geniviva! Where were you!?
In Summation: Racing in Your Home Town=Awesome!; Hardware, Even 2nd Place=Awesome; My Friends=Awesome; My Family=Awesome! Lou Lodivico=Awesome! Nostalgia=Only slightly disconcerting;
Faith In Mankind=A Speck on the Horizon.
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