More Quality Time At the Hartshorne

Not everything can make the newspapers or the headlines. But I saw some heart-warming moments on and off the track at the Hartshorne Mile. It restores your faith in good sportsmanship and compassion. Sometimes track is a peacock strut, but not at Hartshorne...

The Belle Whatley Guys from Buffalo make the trip every year -- Jack O'Sullivan, Ted Sullivan, Sandy Bueme, Dick Sullivan & Co. These gentlemen come for the camaraderie and tradition, not to bury their senior division competition. Section III was a race for men 60-up or for those with declining speed. Ithaca's M75-59 whiz Frank Moore hasn't really declined in speed -- he's nationally-ranked on the roads, but he hasn't run Hartshorne in a while. Frank ran a 7:20.07 and won the M75 category. When he finished his race, the Belle Whatley guys, who probably lost an age-group award to Frank, all came up to him, shook his hand, slapped him on the back and congratulated him.

FLRC's Victoria Smith entered the women's section II mile, and was very excited to run on the new track. Just before the heat, she tripped over the curb (haven't we all?), blackened her eye, cut her head, broke her glasses -- and was found crying and covered with blood, needing some help. The Checkers A.C. from Buffalo -- a very talented group of runners coached by Bob Carroll, took Victoria under their wing, cleaned up the blood, fixed her glasses and comforted her so she could get back up and enjoy the meet.

Suzanne Myette of Endicott also found Victoria crying in the women's room, and helped her get herself settled down. Suzanne, who finished 3rd among the elite masters, then asked Rick Hoebeke to give her 3rd-place prize money ($50) to Victoria to help her fix her glasses.

As one old-timer to another, it was wonderful to see Chuck Collins, Tom Hartshorne, Caleb Rossiter, Frank Moore, Vern Rockcastle, Bob Congdon and Katy Gottschalk at the meet, either watching or running. We all used to be a lot faster, but we still care.

And welcome back to health to Harland Bigelow. One year ago, Harland broke his streak of Hartshorne Miles because he was nursing a broken neck. Remember? We were all signing a get well T-shirt. Bigelow was back in 2001, and ran a 5:50.42

Do we love Patti Ford, or what? She came to set a F45 American and world record -- which she did. But in her spare time, she baked us homemade Valentine's Day cookies and brought them for all of us at the race. And she spent a lot of time talking with all the runners -- first to last, always interested in others' achievements more than herself. Patti is one of the most gracious and kind-hearted female athletes I've ever known. She made the day special for many runners.

--Diane Sherrer