Bernie Gallagher’s running resumé boggles the mind

Bernie’s bio - Bernie Gallagher, 84, walked the Seashore 5-Miler July 13, crossing the finish line like he was breaking the tape at an Olympic race. His total time was 1:26, which is a 17:10 mile pace. Rehoboth was horsefly hot with no wind; the course had extra water stops, and spray stations and cold towels were ready at the finish. Bernie will push himself like an abandoned baby in a jogging stroller. Back in 1988, Bernie ran the Boston Marathon in 2:42.25. He followed that with a 2:42 clocking in the Marine Corps Marathon. Bernie has run Boston 10 times, mostly under three hours. He ran 11 Cherry Blossom 10-milers, with a personal-best time of 57:51 in 1985. He ran the Rockville Twilighter 8K in 27:42  in 1992. Also in 1992, Bernie ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon in 1:17:48. Bernie has run 20 marathons in under three hours. A cool Olympic connection goes back to 1997: Bernie, 57, ran the SGMA Capitol Challenge 3-Miler as a member of Team Gober’s Grunts and posted a time of 18:57. He ran faster than Olympian Jim Ryun of the Flyun Ryuns, who at 50 years old ran 19:14. “Despite all the miles I put in, I never had any knee or hip problems,” Bernie said. Bernie has a law degree from Temple University and worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The moral of this story is: “You may know who you are looking at, but you have no idea where they have been.”

Anachrophobia - A syndrome I created, which is the fear that no one will know what I am talking about. An anachronism in language belongs to an earlier time; now, younger generations look at you like, “What on God’s flat earth is Grandpa talking about?” I met three women runners a generation younger than me in the parking lot of Grove Park prior to the Strider 5-Miler. I chatted them up and got a photo. They copped to being from St. Louis – when in Delaware from Missouri, just say St. Louis and get ready for all the Cardinals talk. Dropping names like Stan Musial and Bob Gibson will not make you relevant. They were elementary school teachers on a summer quest. I told them I was a retired high school teacher and asked if letters on their shirts, ERA, stood for Equal Rights Amendment.  They responded with the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. I took consolation, if not resignation, that none of us knew what the other was talking about. 

Aortic valve replacement - You can schedule this service at Meineke but not even NAPA can deliver the necessary parts. Mike Piorkowski, 64, of Glen Mills, Pa., is a fit and affable runner, part of the local running community. I spoke to him before the Rusty Rudder 5K July 12, and he said, “I’ve been walking faster and doc said I’m cleared to start running, but just to take it easy.” That’s when Mike talked of open-heart surgery that had to be reopened because of a leak. Mike smiled the entire time telling the story. The next day, I snapped his photo finishing the Strider 5-Miler. Some older athletes get Ticking Time Bomb Syndrome after heart surgery, afraid to take out the trash, but guys like Mike just get right back out there. 

NOKE team camp - Cape wrestling sent a squad to cover 15 weight classes at last weekend's Roanoke College Team Camp. Coaches Chris Mattioni and Shane Jensen were there, and also Luke Spoor out of Saint Mark’s, who helped with the coaching. I followed results on trackwresling.com, and it appears Cape wrestled half a dual-meet season – 10 matches – in just two days. Nick Walker and Austin Guerrieri took unblemished records into an all-star final. Walker, 157 pounds, won while Guerrieri narrowly lost. Walker went 13-0, all falls and tech falls with one 13-3 major. The Fargo National Tournament is this week and can be followed on flowrestling.org. 

Snippets - “Those Days Are Gone,” a song by Busted in 2016. In July, high school campuses used to be empty, but those days are gone. There are camps and clinics all day long into the dark night under the lights. The meaning of teenage burnout has changed from stoner to stone-cold athlete. “It is what it is,” is what people say when they can’t explain their feelings on an issue. Good hydrations – bop bop – will solve all your problems. Go on now, git!