For the last 44 years, a Wednesday evening in July has brought a classic race, The Harrisburg Mile. I’ve run it sporadically in the last 20 or so years. It’s a great event for families, for corporate challenge groups and for elite runners, all in their own heats. The Mile is a fun way to spend the evening along Riverfront Park. As sometimes happens, the afternoon and evening brought off and on rain, mostly off by the time we started.

Then, there are the age groupers. I’m one of them. I have been to only a few races this year so through a some drizzles at the start, I was glad to see familiar faces and catch up with friends in the running community.

The final group called to the start was for runners age 40 and over. It was quite an age span.

It was only after I looked at the results the following day, I found life had turned another page on me. You see, I have grown accustomed over the last year or two to showing up as the oldest woman in a race, But there were always guys older than me.

I had to sit with the truth. For the first time, I wasn’t just the oldest woman in the race; I was the oldest person in the race. In that serious moment. I asked myself some tough questions. Why haven’t I let go of my love of running and given some of my other passions more time in my life? Why as a 78 year-old woman am I out here running in the rain with a smile on my face? I haven’t arrived at an answer but I will continue to ponder.

And while I am questioning why I am still out here in any season and any weather, I am also asking “where did the old guys go?” Where are the grizzled beards, the bad jokes, the good humor and the still unbelievably fast finishes? There have always been men older than the women in any race I have run. This year, the man closest in age at this year’s Harrisburg Mile was Nick Marshall, with an incredible race resumé he is one of my running idols and 77 years old. Still, younger than me.

So, here is an invitation (and a plea) to anyone older than age 78. Don’t leave me out here by myself. Come back out and support the Harrisburg YMCA. The Mile and other Y races are fundraisers for the many community programs they provide. If you are no longer running but are good for a mile walk, I will walk it with you. Just don’t leave me out here alone.

And to Pamela and Sharon, thanks for sharing the 70-79 Women’s AG with me. We showed up for our division.

Thank you YMCA for a great 44th year. It was fun.