Camp Hill's Bob Yonick crosses the finish line in 1:20:10 at the Salisbury Half Marathon in Salisbury, Maryland. Yonick finished third in a field of 358 runners.
With each passing day since the start of spring, I’ve felt a rising pressure to take care of the lawn and yard projects still remaining on my to-do list.
Sure, I’ve already gotten the front flower bed weeded out and built a new raised garden box out back, but those are just the basics.
I’m not a “Keeping up with Jones’” kind of guy, but it would be nice if my home had just a little bit more pop. At this point, our lawn decor consists of a trio of stone tortoises and a small “spring” flag that gets blown off its flagpole every chance it gets.
I’ve been straining my brain to think of a creative upgrade, and the only solution I’ve come up with is that I won’t find my answer sitting in this chair and scratching my head.
So let’s step outside and get some inspiration from my neighbors. I could walk for this operation, but if I run and keep my glances brief, maybe they won’t notice me trying to poach their lawn ideas.
Just as I begin to settle into a nice jogging pace, I get a clean view of a backyard that has it all, both visually and practically. There are flower beds bursting with color, flanked by large raised vegetable gardens ready to bear produce for every recipe. The two-seat hot tub and hammock just make this even more of a paradise at home. THIS is what I’d love to have, but as I start to calculate the estimated costs in my head, I figure it wouldn’t be a bad idea to see what other yards have to offer.
I continue my journey and scan every front yard, comparing garden mulch and stone styles. There are hand-carved wooden signs with family names, calming wind chimes, and rows of cleanly trimmed bushes. It’s a lot of information to process.
As my run progresses down this block and through the next few blocks, I can feel beads of sweat running down my forehead. Am I running faster or just feeling the pressure?
Filled with ideas, but short on any actual plans, I turn around and head back home. The last yard I study is that of my next-door neighbor. Her garden beds are both gorgeous and varied, and the sound of her fountain just makes me want to sit outside and dive into a book. If I could get my yard to look half as nice as hers, I’d call that a win.
It’s time to make dinner, now, and I’ll have a lot to think over while I prepare this meal. I’m a little anxious that I’ll be no closer to a clue on how to proceed than when I started, but the good news is that I’ve added a 2.5-mile run to the books, and that has me feeling positive. Even if my yard continues to remain average for a few more days or even weeks, it will just give me more time to pound the pavement to “jog” my thoughts.
Now if you’ll excuse me I have to abruptly stop here, as our flag is blowing down the street once again.
A week’s worth of rain wasn’t enough to stop almost 400 runners from hitting the muddy trails last weekend at the popular Buck Ridge Burn. Dozens of runners from the Sentinel area were among the competitors at the Buck Ridge Burn 5K/10K/Half Marathon, and they did not disappoint.
The featured 13.1-race saw its top spots get swept up by Cumberland County runners, with Enola’s Stephen Schelander capturing the overall win in one hour, 44:08 minutes and Boiling Springs’ Katie Bicksler finishing as top female in 1:58:12. Carlisle’s Andrew Razanauskas (7th in 1:52:42) and Shippensburg’s John Carey (eighth in 1:56:21) both landed in the Top 10, while other solid times were recorded by Carlisle’s Lucas Hockensmith (2:01:12) and Harold Travis (2:13:59), Camp Hill’s Shawn Rairigh (2:06:43) and Matthew Byers (2:08:01), as well as Mechanicsburg’s Joe Tabone (2:17:07).
Carlisle’s Kimberly Helder (seventh in 1:08:10) and Mount Holly Springs’ Julie Henninger (eighth in 1:08:26) were both Top 10 finishers in the Buck Ridge Burn 10K, while the 5K was highlighted by the efforts of Camp Hill’s Jonathan Wegman, who logged a fourth-place finish in 29:40.
Staying on the trails for a moment, a trio of Cumberland County runners landed in the Top 10 at the Camp Innabah Challenge Trail 5K: Camp Hill’s Matt Looloian (fifth in 24:30), Boiling Springs’ Nate Cross (sixth in 24:54), and Mechanicsburg’s Jacob Evans (seventh in 24:59). The Eagleton Trail Challenge 10K, in Lock Haven, featured a handful of strong area performances. Scott O’Donohue of Newville ran to a sixth-place finish in 1:26:09, while New Cumberland’s Stephen Ferraro was just behind, taking 10th in 1:32:33. Monica McCartney, also of New Cumberland, finished as second female in 1:32:35.
In Harrisburg, C. Fred Joslyn added another win to his lengthy resume at the Capital 10-Miler, a race that drew more than 300 runners. Joslyn, of Boiling Springs, blitzed through the race at a 5:43/mile pace to run away for victory in 57:07. Joslyn was chased by Mechanicsburg’s Michael Garraway (ninth in 1:06:15) and Emily Nelson (1:10:49), as well as Enola’s Robert Sisock (1:07:01), and Camp Hill’s Keith Parker (1:09:44) and Alexandra Sagen (1:10:17).
Kris Beckert of Lemoyne won another race in Harrisburg, finishing as first female in 21:29 at the Bunny 5K. She was joined in the Top 10 by Wormleysburg’s Larry Ditty, who finished seventh in 23:32. A pair of Mechanicsburg runners highlighted the other “Bunny” races, with Raja Perachi taking 10th in 56:59 in the 10K, and Nic Brown logging a time of 1:57:40 in the half marathon.
Shippensburg had back-to-back weeks of racing, with hometown runners claiming three wins. The Bunny Hop 5K featured Shippensburg winners in Erik Davis (20:15) and River Burrows (22:33), while the Levi a Bon 5K saw another Ship runner, Jackie Eichelberger, finish as top female in 28:49.
A number of others were active in races across the region and beyond, including Carlisle’s Lacey Higgins (26:29 at Live Bold 4 Miler), Mechanicsburg’s Eric Madden (22:20 at Pirate 5K), Henry Leardi (22:57 at Kutztown Fools Run 5K), George Spangler (53:10 at Martins Mill Covered Bridge 5 Miler), Tyler Jahraus (1:31:20 at Hair of the Bear 15K), Robert Balla (1:54:37 at Kutztown Fools Run 10 Miler), Dominick Majorino (1:43:50 at Scranton Half Marathon), and Noah Gualtieri (1:56:26 at April Fools Half Marathon), Camp Hill’s Zachary Bowerman (6:26 at MoonGLOW Mile), Dave McSherry (1:02:52 at Pirate 10K), Jonathan Holjes (2:10:33 at JSRC RunAPalooza Half Marathon) and Kelly Leighton (3:45:10 at Salisbury Marathon), and New Cumberland’s Donna Vasiloff (57:10 at Sole of the City 10K).
Finally, a shoutout to Camp Hill’s Bob and Jenny Yonick, who put on a monster performance at the Salisbury Half Marathon in Maryland. Bob was the third overall finisher in 1:20:10, while Jenny conquered the women’s field in 1:31:13.
And now, a look ahead
Heralds of Hope 5K: 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Shippensburg. This race, held on the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, benefits the Ministry of Heralds of Hope. Register for the race on timberhilltiming.com.
Halfity Half Marathon: 8 a.m. Sunday in Harrisburg. There are options for a half marathon, quarter marathon and an eighth marathon in this event, which features scenic views of Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River. Find the race on runsignup.com.
Yuengling Light Lager Jogger 5K: 9 a.m. April 20, in Pottsville. The best part of waking up is lager in your cup? Probably not, but that’s how runners will be celebrating their completed run at this popular event. Find the race on lagerjogger.com.
Also: Boston Trail Half Marathon (Saturday in Elizabeth Township); Brew to Brew 10K+ (Saturday in Allentown); Butterfly Trail Run 5K/10K (Saturday in Lancaster); Dirty Kiln Trail Races (Saturday in Hollidaysburg); EYHS DECA Dash 5K (Saturday in Hellam); Ninja 1M/5K/10K/15K/Half Marathon (Saturday in York); Philadelphia Trail Marathon (Saturday in Philadelphia); RunPA Kids Little TrailBlazers Trail Run 5K (Saturday in Lancaster); Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run 5K (Sunday in State College); Thirsty Thursday 5K (April 18 in Reading); Celebrate Trails Day Distance Medley 5K/10K/Half Marathon (April 20 in Shickshinny); Get Muddy for Masyn Marie 5K (April 20 in Dover); Hyner View Trail Challenge 25K/50K (April 20 in Hyner); Junior League of Williamsport 5K (April 20 in Williamsport); Rock the Nock 5K/10K/Half Marathon (April 20 in Quakertown); Run for the Horses 5K Fun Run (April 20 in Lewisberry); Viking 5K/10K (April 20 in Akron); Run to Breathe Half Marathon (April 21 in Portersville); Valley Forge Revolutionary Run 5 Miler (April 21 in King of Prussia).
Photos: 22nd anniversary Carlisle Family YMCA Turkey Trot
Camp Hill's Bob Yonick crosses the finish line in 1:20:10 at the Salisbury Half Marathon in Salisbury, Maryland. Yonick finished third in a field of 358 runners.