The number 50 motivates many toward milestone mileage

You better get 50 - A slang expression from the ‘70s meaning, “get out of my face,” preferably at least 50 feet away. Duane Christy, 53, from Havre De Grace, Md., belongs to the 50-race-plus club, a group that puts pressure on each other to run at least 50 races per calendar year. Duane is currently at 58, well behind club leader Ted Poles’ 134, which proves not only is there always a faster guy, but no matter how crazy you are it takes time and money to run from the front. Mike Wardian from Virginia, a runner I call the Congenial Crazy guy, wins any and all crazy endurance contests. Duane is an Afro-American runner with blond hair who works at a Clorox distribution center in Perryman, Md., you can’t make that up. He is pointing toward the Dover Speedway half marathon this fall. I asked Duane what type of training he does, it was like asking Allen Iverson about practice. “Training? I don’t do any training? I don’t have time for training? Training?” Duane ran 22:32 at the Que Pasa 5K and 22:12 at the Greene Turtle 5K the next day.

50K at age 50 - Ann Rolke of Sacramento, Calif., but with a local Milford connection, turned 50 in the spring and decided she would run races to total 50 kilometers, which doesn’t sound hard if you’re the one not doing it. Ann ran the Greene Turtle 5K Aug. 14 in 34:59. Ann wore a pink crown for the race occasion. I asked her if she was in a bridal party, she looked back at me, “What bridal party?” 

Amazing Grace - Just 15 months old, Grace McDougall relaxes with a drink and a big hat watching the finish of the Greene Turtle 5K. Kids like the morning race scene, lots of people talking down to them, but not in a bad way. It’s great to knock around and be passed around - good socialization. It works for therapy dogs, why not people?

Take the joke - There’s a rule in journalism “when in doubt, take it out,” and now in all discourse we are all so careful not because we don’t want to offend but rather we want to avoid backlash that may disrupt our tranquil lives, like a meteor impacting Lake Placid at the speed of sound. I covered a race for the Delaware Kids Fund Aug. 13, then on Sunday a race for the Harry K Foundation. Both organizations do a lot of things for kids, including making sure they have plenty of nutritious food. “You do realize there’s an epidemic of child obesity in this country?” seemed like a joke looking for a home, I just couldn’t find the right person to drop it on. 

Real Milton - Due to the summer successes of the Milton baseball teams – 11-12 and 9-10 – it seems like everyone wants to rock the 684 and be Milton proud. First of all, if you don’t know A.J., B.J., C.J., D.J., E.J., J.J. and their families, and if you don’t know Shorty and Shorty Dog, you’re just a visitor. Back in 1969 when small school districts went to consolidated larger ones, Rehoboth and Lewes seemed like a natural blend, but people weren’t sure if Milton should go east to Cape or west to Sussex Central. Cape won and now in 2016 thanks to a bunch of youth baseball players everyone wants to be 684, but I suggest a local knowledge test and an interview before getting a membership card.

Snippets - High school fall practices began Aug. 15, but at least it’s scorching hot and Cape’s screaming green turf fields are underlain with black rubber from old tires. I asked a paramedic what the first thing to do if a person crashes from heat exhaustion. “Check for vital signs, then try to cool them down.” And unlike old westerns, give them water to drink if they can tolerate it. I’m thinking six-on-six indoor volleyball in the Olympics is stocked with incredible athletes and I’m thinking not one beach volleyball player could hang in any of those games. I just wish NBC would show more of the trampoline competition. Back in my day along the highway there were trampoline parks filled with Friday night drunks. “Us kids” would go watch and laugh; it was a great spectator sport. I know it doesn’t sound funny, so why are people laughing?  See you on the flip side. Go on now, git!