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FLRC Newsletter - October 2004 |
| Tribute to Frank and Sally | |
Philosophical Quote: "Don't bitch until you do it yourself!" —Ole Sal
Frank and Sally Rusby have been chosen the 2004 winners of the Finger Lakes Runners Club's Hartshorne Memorial Volunteer Award, sharing the prize with the very deserving John Whitman. Whitman was saluted in our June edition by the always-witty Rick Cleary.
How long have Frank & Sally been serving our club? So long, that they worked beside the late and great Jim Hartshorne, beginning in the late 1970s. Phyl met the Rusbys through me, but one of my first recollections of Sally was at the Ithaca 5&10, when it was held on the Ithaca Commons, circa 1979 (my other early recollection: meeting Sally in the porta-john line at the Avon Half Marathon in Central Park, but that's another story!).
No doubt, at that initial 5&10 encounter, Sally had won the age-group award at the 10-miler, then offered her and Frank's assistance to clean up the postrace mess.
While many significant others and spouses (or former spouses) of our running companions are unseen mysteries to most of us, Frank has always been front and center wherever the action was taking place.
When we think of Frank and Sally and their endless dedication to our family of runners, we imagine the perfect Mom and Dad, maybe Ward Cleaver and Donna Reed with some muscle definition. They're the couple you only see in Disney movies and 1950s sitcoms, except look away when Sal cusses and spits.
They're the family you expect to take in orphans and fresh-air kids—or lost runners. They would adopt homeless dogs, cats, and horses that amble up to the screen door, and spoon-feed the cats cottage cheese.
They're folks who let you borrow their car and truck, and don't call the police when it comes up missing. They haul food to FLRC picnics and parties, and prepare meals for the hungry (their friends who show up for holiday meals). Sally can handle a mean melon scoop, and Frank stirs up fabulous soup. How many of you have found food on your doorstep that Sally delivered in the dark of night? Please raise your hands.
Close your eyes and you can see Frank with his pipe and comfortable slippers. Look, can you see Sal in her starched apron and patent leather pumps, perhaps trap shooting?
Yes, FLRC is Frank and Sally's collection of fresh air kids, and when they call us Princess and Buddy, we know they mean it. Arriving from Horseheads every time, they take really good care of us, and always make it fun.
The list of jobs Frank and Sally have performed has been so rigorous and extensive, it's surprising they don't have an unlisted phone number by now. Most of the time, those duties require standing out in horrible weather for hours unending. To name three tours of duty for which they've volunteered: The Finger Lakes Marathon, the Finger Lakes Trail Fifties, and the Finger Lakes Snowshoe.
Finger Lakes Marathon—The Rusbys were in charge of the traveling aid station at this marathon, which was long, lonely, and laborious. It took hours for some runners to navigate the hills, but Frank and Sally waited and waited, then picked up and moved the station and water jugs to another location and waited and waited. It might be a warm autumn day; it might be snowing; the Gatorade was slopped all over the car. But they were there on some remote hill, cheering us on.
Finger Lakes Fifties—Frank let Joe Reynolds use his truck for the entire day, with Joe jacking up the odometer and emptying the gas tank after hours and hours of dirt road driving. That feat alone warrants a volunteer of the year trophy. Sometimes, Frank rode shotgun with the rangers; sometimes Frank changed flat tires; sometimes Frank lugged heavy water jugs and equipment. Meanwhile, Sal was head mistress at the Livingroom aid station for 14 hours, slicing and dicing food, and finding time to ice people down or give a massage, and demand that they rise and finish the last 18 miles.
Sometimes, Sally would pair with Phyllis on the Burnt Hill aid station where crazy women would swoop in and yell, "Sailor take warning!" But Sally knows how to swing a wicked ski pole.
Finger Lakes Snowshoe—You probably didn't recognize Frank or Sally because the below zero windchill and swirling whiteouts make it difficult to recognize anybody. Always dressed in impeccable Colorado Mountain snow togs, the Rusbys are again on the move, handing out treats on Potomac Rd and then again at the Red House Inn. Sally had to take a broom to sweep the snow off the food; and break the ice up in the cups. Frank kept the heater running, just in case.
Ed's Ultra—Sally and Frank helped cook and serve food at Ed's Ultra, and Frank helped time the runners coming into the lower park at Treman, another all-day affair.
Indoor Meets—Both have helped register runners at our winter track meets and assisted the kids in fun and games at Family Fun Day. Don't miss Sal in the three-legged race!
Skunk Cabbage—In 1981, the Rusbys designed and delivered the Skunk T-shirts. They were a trend-setting teal green, with the traditional skunk cabbage plant logo. They've also worked registration and packet-pick up at Barton Hall and Ithaca High for years and years.
5 & 10—Frank and Sal have worked the finish line and helped set up aid stations out on the course. This year, Sal clipped chips and Frank helped Don Tily cruise the course with supplies.
It's the private moments of service we cherish, too. Sally would take us out for 20-mile training runs, and Frank would be waiting at the finish with a warm car and a friendly smile—or as we put it: Rescue 911! Or, Frank would be driving the course, stopping to line his hood with cups of Gatorade. When the kiwis and orange slices began to rot and stink up the car, Frank never said a word.
Frank and Sally arranged their van for comfort and transported FLRC-ers to Mt. Washington in June. Frank, and Don Tily, drove to the top of the Mountain and waited in dense fog and bitter cold winds until all of us made it to the summit. Then they drove us back down the sheer drop to the warm and safe base camp.
Sally taught Phyllis and me how to juggle fruit and run at the same time; use a garbage bag as a dress and a porta-john; and NEVER QUIT at any age!
Sally is a true pioneer in women's running, who teamed with masters Barb Booker, Nan Blakely, and Margret Betz to win many awards in the 1970s–1980s. Frank was always there, watching and cheering our every step. In her prime, Sally won age-group awards in most every big marathon in the east, and sometimes beyond. When FLRC needed a team runner, Sally was always on the starting line.
Sally and Frank are always game to try anything new; go any place we dream about and step up to help every time.
No couple has served the Finger Lakes Runners Club with so much grace, humility, and willing spirits. And as Rick said about John Whitman, the same can be said about the Rusbys: No one makes running more fun.
Thank you, Frank and Sally, for being the cherished caretakers of our community of runners. We love and appreciate you both.
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