After a couple of months of full-on hiking, I wasn’t trained to run the Harrisburg Marathon. What to do but join this group of guys running the marathon relay in an over-age 70 team.
Meet ‘That 70’s Show” Relay Team- Frank, Mary Lou (aka stillarunner), Tony, our organizer/manager Brad, and Gregg. We did a post-run/breakfast photo day before the marathon, knowing we would not all be in the same place at the same time race day. Yes, I know, none us looks a day over 69.
I’ve done training runs and races with these guys for more than twenty years and most of them have far more running experience than me. Some of the team have been running the Harrisburg Marathon since before I arrived on the scene, but among us we have finished a total of 38 Harrisburg Marathons. Additionally, everyone on the team has run at least one Boston Marathon.
Planning this relay has been fun, with fun being one of the goals along with showing a strong over-70 representation and improving on the overall finish time of previous over-age 70 relay teams at Harrisburg Marathons.
With a 32 degree chilly start, I was ready to run the first leg of the marathon when I saw a few familiar faces: fellow relay team members Tony and Gregg, Jen who was one of the Harrisburg Marathoners Legacy Runners honored that morning, and Mike and Becky who both won their age groups with Becky setting a new record for her age group.
Starting with the full marathoners, I warmed up quickly, even with the cool wind as we crossed the Harvey Taylor Bridge. Then, up river and back to the first relay station where Tony was waiting to hand off for the second leg. I finished my leg of 7.96 miles in 1:21:39 with a pace of 10:28. Full disclosure, I messed up entering the relay station, but I believe it only cost us a couple of seconds.
As soon as volunteers removed the timer from my ankle and switched it to Tony, I began a two-mile jog/walk back to City Island to pick up my car. I had obligations out of town so there was no time to stay and cheer on my teammates. I did learn along the way that our marathon relay time of 4:40:58, bested the previous 70+over teams in previous years by at least six minutes.
So goals of having fun (being absent, I did miss the post-marathon revelry), representing our age group well, and setting a new Harrisburg Marathon over-70 relay record were achieved.
Congratulations to the YMCA for another well organized race, as well as all who participated in the full marathon, the half-marathon and relay. The tradition continues.
Still a Runner 
Thanks Mary…..it is always a treat to read your blog…..hope you are all well and that you, Ray, and your Hawaii contingent, all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Cliff
Thanks for reading, Cliff. It’s always fun to have friends along for my adventures. Wishing you and the family the best for the holidays. Hope some of you are able to travel and be together.
I LOVE this–especially that you bested the former over-70 team by so much!
Thanks, Linda. Maybe many years down the road you will be in an age group to join us.
This is awesome. I wish I could be part of your team. I’m 70.
Why not? I’d love to put together an over-70 women’s team. If you’re anywhere near our region, Harrisburg is an easy location to get to by vehicle or by train.