Valley Stream Running Club News

Box #212 Valley Stream, New York 11580

Stanley Friedlander, President

Vol. 25 No. 4 April 2005

Aphorisms from various running thinkers:

‘I think my wife would divorce me if I couldn't run. I get crabby.’ - James Carville - Political Consultant
‘They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ – Isaiah 40:31
‘My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions but in the fewness of my wants’ – J. Brotherton
‘Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself’ – Sam Levenson

April - Living to Run

If you over 40 years old, your heart has already beaten more than 1.5 billion times (I read this in Runner’s World – Therefore this must be true). I know that when my heart stops, it will be too late to change my ways. So I’ve been trying to control my weight, get exercise, and watch only what I eat but also what’s eating me. This last point relates to another organ called “the spiritual mind”. It too has throbbed millions of times with thoughts, affections, and choices. To keep the mind spiritually fit consider:

Weight - Lose the weight of unnecessary burdens and cares.
Pulse - Maintain a steady rhythm of gratitude and praise.
Blood pressure - Have a greater trust to remove anxiety.
Diet - Fill the mind with positive thoughts.

Running and living is a nothing but the right combination of physical and mental conditioning.

Good News – Brian (Carol’s son) and wife are visiting Florida; hence we again are dog sitting. I have my running buddy back. Rambo the Running Dog and I are visiting various tree and wonders of St. James, we have run our 2005 ‘F.J.I.S.’ (First Jog in Shorts) on 4/4/05. Rambo says that ‘Better running weather is coming, so get out there.

Over and Out … Joe Tito

Tip of the Month

You probably don’t think much about your breathing – which is precisely why you should. Most elite runners use a two-two breathing pattern-breathing in for two steps and out for two steps. Using a very rapid rhythm (one-one, for example) can be quite inefficient. A rate this rapid leads to more work for the breathing muscles. Experiment with different breathing patterns during training runs, find one that works best for you, and then practice it until its second nature.

What’s happening by Stan

SPRING IS COMING: HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP:

We’re meeting back in the park again:

We will meet in Hendrickson at 7:00 by the Administration Building for running and walking groups to form and start. The breakfast will begin at 8:00 with the meeting afterwards. We will discuss what races or relays we will have if any, at the meeting.

We are meeting on a weekday night - details to be determined:

In my opinion, the club is in danger of going stale and not renewing its membership enough. One tactic to fight this is to go back to the mid-week run/walks that were a feature of the club from its inception in 1979 to the mid-nineties. There is a group now meeting on Wednesday night but it could be expanded with more activities and perhaps a different time and night. We will discuss the details at the coming meeting.

L.I. Marathon Party:

Please R. S. V. P. soon to Donna about our annual party which will be at Murph’s on April 30^th. Details elsewhere in this rag.

Dinner for Bob and Val:

The dinner was a success: I can summarize it best by sharing an e-mail exchange between John and I after the event:

E-Mail from John Cranston:

Greetings from down south. Today truly marks the end of an era as the Mayor of Hendrickson Park and Valerie leave for the Poconos. You will both truly be missed. When I started running a little over 10 years ago it was Bob who welcomed me into the group. It was Bob who went out of his way to pick up race packets, organize rides to races and it was Bob and Valerie there to cheer us all on when they were not competing themselves.

Somehow going to the Park on cold mornings and seeing Valerie's smiling face and Bob's familiar gait circling the Park gave me and many others comfort that we were at home and welcome. Bob, along with Mike, Ted, Angela, Denis, Rich, Tony and even Tom Moore and I logged many long miles together. Miles and memories that I will never forget and always cherish.

Sorry that I could not be there with you tonight, but know that I think of you and all of my "Club friends" often. Best of luck in you new home.

John

Reply from Stan:

John, It was definitely a success. The food, seating, service, and cake were excellent. I read your note which was a highlight. Other people joined in with good things to say about Bob and Val. At the end, Val and Bob spoke from the heart about how grateful they were for the dinner and how they will miss us. There was also the usual exchanges involving Tom but no one takes that seriously, I hope. Ted also entertained us with some funny stories. So all went very well. We hope to see you again soon.

Stan

Best wishes and good health to all and I hope you can all get outside often this Spring and have a great time.

Stan

What a Runner really needs – Joe Tito

While reading the local paper, I came across an article about a new Running Shoe. This $250 shoe is computerized and called the ’Adidas-1’. I visualize running on 2 Desk Top computers, is this what Adidas has in mind? No; the article when on to state that the microprocessor takes readings from a sensor. Then the processor directs a motor-driven cable system to adjust the cushioning to the wearer. A spokeswoman for the Foot Locker, which was selling the shoe, didn’t have specific sales numbers but said it was ‘exceeding expectations, and appears to be a sellout’. I hope Carol did not buy it for me. Joe T.

Dues – Last Notice

2005 dues are $20 for local and $10 for out-of-towners (price includes all members of the family). Please send your check to Lois.

Donna is planning ahead and doing the Mud

I made a reservation at Murph's for 4/29 for the pasta party. It will be at 7:00 pm and it will cost $28 per person. It will include beer & wine. The food will be chicken Parmagiana, penne ala vodka & pasta primavera, bread & salad. It also includes coffee or tea. Hopefully we won't have to cancel this time. Please contact me if you can make it.

On, 3/26, Rochelle Holden & I went to Reading, PA to take part in Mudfest. This has become an annual event that I look forward to every year. It's a 15k trail run with lots of rocks, roots and downed trees to contend with. There are also 2 streams that you get to go through twice each. This year because of the amount of snow and rain, the streams were quite full. Even the streams have large, slippery rocks in them. The streams were not quite up to my knees. There are several water stops along the way. At mile 7 there is not only a water stop, but they have beer and margaritas. The symbol of this race is a hot pink pig. Therefore, everything has hot pink pigs on it. Before and after the race you can shop at the cheap clothes lady. She puts up racks and racks of very inexpensive running/biking clothes. She is a very popular attraction there. There is also this couple who sings and plays the piano after the race. The whole event is fun. I always feel like I'm at the circus when I'm there. This year we drove to Reading with friends from Walking Club. It was fun to be together in their truck. We all brought food to share and talked most of the way. I finished the race in 2:30 and Rochelle finished right behind me. Donna

Thank you from Bob and Valerie

It was the end of October and the pasta party was going to be cancelled! I mentioned to Donna that Valerie and I were moving to Pennsylvania and this might be our last pasta party. I made some phone calls to try and salvage the party with no luck. Valerie and I went to Pennsylvania for the weekend and when we got home on Sunday evening Stan called. He said the club wanted to have a going away dinner in March at the Lucky Duck. I said we were flattered but it wasn't necessary but he insisted! We had a great time on March 9th at the Lucky Duck! The food was very good and it was nice talking about runs and runners from the past. Valerie and I would like to thank everyone for attending our special night and others who regretted for various reasons couldn't make it but we understand. A highlight of the evening was a letter John Cranston wrote from Georgia and Stan read. He had several nice things to say and Valerie and I appreciated it! Stan then had some nice words for us and then tried out his comedy routine which needs a little work! The club gave us a gift card to Home Depot for a $100 which was unexpected. Donna just informed us that there were some contributions after the dinner and we would be getting another card soon! We would like to thank everybody and we will miss you guys. We hope to see everyone at Stan’s barbeque in July. If you want to get away for a day or two, Valerie and I would love to see you guy! Thanks a lot, Bob and Valerie

Bob and Valerie – Its has been fun!

These are some of the well wishes for Bob and Valerie; we also wish them a great journey in PA. (Bob - Keep sending the jokes). Carol and Joe.

Hi Bob. I just read the latest newsletter and I almost missed your great news. You and Valerie are moving away to start a new life in another place but you're also going to be parents again. I have to give you credit, Bob, starting a new family at this point in your life and I see that it's going to be twins, triplets? I'm surprised you didn't write more about your exciting news, just one little sentence that almost got lost in your letter: "We're looking forward to some babies being born in May." Congratulations again and see you soon,
Mike G.

I will truly miss Bob and Valerie as they head west across the Hudson and Delaware rivers to the new land. Now, while I am very fond of Valerie (especially considering that she has to put up with Bob), I will direct most of my remarks to Bob. Now first of all, why is called Whitey? There is no evidence whatsoever that he once had blond hair and, in fact, there is no evidence that he ever had hair period. And if he was, in fact, blond as he would have us believe, why is it then that he has personally circulated 3,912 blond jokes over the last 7 years? Come to think of it, in that picture of Bob and Ed Kranepool when he was signed by the Pirates, he didn't have any hair.... Speaking of baseball, this guy's a Mets fan since 1962, then one day he wakes up and decides he's Cubs fan. Not only is that lame, but illogical. If someone is going to abandon the team of their growing up loyalties, (always an unwise move) why would they pick the Cubs? I won't harp on this point, despite the
obvious stupidity, but I will point out that Diane's father was born in 1910. He has seen Haley's comet come and go twice, but he has never seen the Cubs win the World Series.
Second of all, what is it exactly that Bob does at the gym? On second thought, don't answer that; I don't want to know. Third of all what is it with Bob and these kittens? Yeah, I don't want to go there either....Maybe that's why he woke up a Cubs' fan one morning. hmmmm.
That all having been said, I can't think of a nicer guy to have run a few thousand miles with in the 1990's. Bob was completely agreeable to any crazy plan. Drive to Muttontown and run back, at night, in the snow. "Sure, why not?" Bob would say, "Sounds like fun." And it
usually turned out to be fun. Two wacky outings leap to mind. One snowy winter, maybe it was 1995, there had been a few storms that had disrupted our running, and a big one was forecast for Sunday morning. So I called Bob Saturday night and asked him if he wanted to
get out before the snow. Sounds like fun he said. So we met at the bridge about 7:00 am and ran to Woodmere Park. The snow began to fall just as we began, but we went anyway. It was really cold and windy, and after a few minutes, it was snowing very hard. We finished the run of 7-8 miles, but we had to run in the streets in car tracks, and we were both wet, cold and chilled to the bone. Probably there was 4" of new snow by the time we finished. But it was fun. Another memorable time was when we went to Rob's Run (1996) Bob had
just picked up a new car and he drove Gillen and Barcellino and I to Syosset. We had no idea what we were in for. We started on a big wet slippery soccer field. This was like the foreboding in a B movie. The woods were the slipperiest thing any of us had ever seen. Running downhill you had to grab on to branches and going uphill was impossible
even pulling yourself up on trees. The mud had the color and consistency of chili. I passed Bob on a little uphill where his shoes got caught in the mud and came off. As I recall, 26 minutes was a killer time on that 5K course. We finished covered in brown-green gook
from head to toe. Then we all got in Bob's new car and drove home. But it was fun. Ted Orosz

Thanks to Bob and Val for all their time and effort for the Club. Best of luck in PA. Don't forget to visit. Gregg W.

Val and Bob - I'm really sorry not to be able to make your dinner on the 9th. Here's the skinny: Just as it is possible to have anti-Semitism in Poland, even though there are no more Jews in Poland, it's possible to have bladder cancer even though I no longer have a bladder. You may recall I lost my bladder 7 years ago; in a rare but not unheard of occurrence the same bladder cancer cells have appeared in my lungs, left kidney and ureter. Right now I'm in the midst of a cycle of chemotherapy and not up to doing much. I tried to keep running - with great difficulty - but injured my leg. So I'll miss you both and hope to cross paths again some day. Joyce echoes these thoughts. Love, Harry Feigenbaum

To the only guy I know that has his own Baseball Card, it was a pleasure running with you. Good Luck and Stay Healthy! Joe Mannino

Bob and Valerie - We are sorry to see you leave Long Island. Your cheering faces will be missed at the races. I always enjoyed looking for you both specifically at the Long Island marathon. Bob, you are definitely a contributing factor in me running the 1/2 marathon and marathon distance which I love to this day. I remember running with you and you saying, "if you can run a 10K, you can run a 1/2 marathon. If you can run a 1/2 marathon, you can run a full marathon." It was fun training with you and the guys for my first marathon in New York City in 1996! Thanks for the memories!

I'll see ya on the roads! Angela (and Joe) Mannino

Running at the Mouth by Mike Gillen

Recently, Jack reported the sighting of an unusual creature in the park. He spotted it in the State Park just beyond the entrance from Hendrickson. We discussed the 'Creature', as Jack called it for several days without determining its species. Jack said it was swimming in the stream so I questioned the type of stroke it was using. He said it was the Doggie paddle so that ruled out elephants, sheep, goats and Sasquatch. But it still didn't tell us what the 'Creature' actually was. He has now reported to me that it was a muskrat so I'm enclosing a picture with some details. I don't know how he came to that determination because I asked an expert on muskrats who told me that they do not do the doggie paddle. So, when you're in the State Park, keep you eyes open for the 'Creature'. In fact, bring a camera with you so we can get some proof that this creature actually exists outside Jack's imagination.

Muskrats are rodents that live in freshwater and saltwater marshes, lakes, ponds, and streams. Muskrats often build dome-shaped houses in marshes. These houses, made of plants, protect the muskrat from predators, since the only entrance is underwater. Some muskrats live in burrows on the water banks. Muskrats are excellent swimmers but are slow on land. Muskrats are native to North America, but have been brought to Europe and Asia, where they now live in the wild. Muskrats got their name because they have musk glands that produce a strong scent.
Anatomy: Muskrats are about 12 inches (30 cm) long. They weigh roughly 2 to 4 pounds (1 to 2 kg). Muskrats are covered with thick, insulating brown fur. They paddle in the water with their partly-webbed hind feet and steer with their scaly tail.
Diet: Muskrats eat water plants and shellfish.
Predators: Muskrats are hunted by many animals, including foxes and raccoons. Muskrats cannot move very quickly on land, so their best defense is to retreat into the water or into their burrow or house.

Race Results

Joe Tito – Little Cow Harbor 4 Miler 3/5 38:02

Joe Cataldo - 3/6/05 Eye of the Dragon - 10K, 1:03:20, 3rd

Joe Tito – Saint Patrick’s Day – Smithtown 5 K, 3/19/05, 27:50

John Corrigan All Clubs Challenge 5X2 Mile Relay - 3/20

Valley Stream A - 1st place Masters - 1:14:56

Rich Ostrowski 16:15, Greg Weinstock 16:39, Sean Corrigan 13:16,

Mike Gillen 15:33, Denis Brazil ` 13:15

Valley Stream B - 1st place Mixed Masters - 1:54:15

Joe Tito 18:20, Pamela Lee 23:32, Terry Blyth 25:31,

Donna Hahl 19:56, Carolyn Drab 26:44

Stan Friedlander 28:50, Ran on the Slow Guys Team