Delaware Distance Classic 15 in Wilmington, Delaware on October 4, 1992

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 9.321 MI

Time: 58:02

Place: 1

Prize: $200

∑ Career Earnings: $28,079

 

The Skinny: Not much record keeping went on for this event. But winning is good!

 

Coming next time: The Detroit Marathon in Detroit, MI on October 18, 1992

Toronto Q107 Half Marathon in Toronto, Ontario on September 20, 1992

(I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.) 

Distance: 13.1 MI

Time: 1:22:12

Place: 3

Prize: $50

∑ Career Earnings: $27,879

The Skinny: Not much record keeping went on for this event. An Australian woman won.

Coming next time: The Delaware Distance Classic on October 4, 1992

Linde 10 KM Run in Buffalo, NY on June 5, 1992

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 6.214 MI

Time: 37:48

Place: 1

Prize: $100

∑ Career Earnings: $27,829

 

The Skinny: Nancy was never a fan of supper-time races, but she held serve in the Master’s Division of this popular hometown race.

 

 

Coming next time: Toronto Q107 Half Marathon in Toronto, Ontario on September 20, 1992

The REVCO 10 KM Classic in Cleveland, OH on May 17, 1992

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 6.214 MI

Time: 37:16

Place: 2

Prize: $350

∑ Career Earnings: $27,729

 

The Skinny: Patricia Welch won.

 

Coming next time: The Linde 10 KM on June 5, 1992

The Elizabeth River Run in Norfolk, VA on May 2, 1992

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 6.214 MI

Time: 37:39

Place: 2

Prize: $400

∑ Career Earnings: $27,379

 

The Skinny: Nancy Grayson was the winner.

 

Coming next time: The REVCO Classic 10 KM on May 17, 1992

Josh Allen is to Football...

 ...what Phil "The Thrill" Mickelson is to golf.

"Hold my beer. I got this."

The Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL on 12/14/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 26.2 MI

Time: 2:57:31

Place: 2

Prize: $500

∑ Career Earnings: $26,979

 

The Skinny: Nancy Hutchison won. Race Director Harold Tinsley always treated us very well.

 

Coming next time: The Elizabeth River Run on May 2, 1992

The Tulsa 15 KM Run on 11/2/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 9.321 MI

Time: 0:57:09

Place: 2

Prize: $375

∑ Career Earnings: $26,479

 

The Skinny: Nancy Hutchison won.

 

Coming next time: Rocket City Marathon on 12/14/1991

Dayton River Corridor Run in Dayton, OH on 10/13/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 13.1 MI

Time: 1:23:07

Place: 1

Prize: $800

∑ Career Earnings: $26,104

 

The Skinny: Details seem to have vanished in a memory hole.

 

Coming next time: The Tulsa 15 KM Run on 11/2/1991

REVCO 10 KM in Cleveland, OH on 5/19/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 10 KM

Time: -36:21

Place: 2

Prize: $350

∑ Career Earnings: $25,079

 

The Skinny: Priscilla Welch won.

 

Coming next time: Dayton River Corridor Classic on 10/13/1991

Elizabeth River 10 KM Run in Norfolk, VA on 5/4/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 10 KM

Time: 36:05

Place: 2

Prize: $300

∑ Career Earnings: $24,729

 

The Skinny: Nancy Grayson won, again.

 

Coming next time: Revco Classic 10 KM run on 5/19/1991

Sallie Mae 10 KM in Washington, DC on 4/14/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 10 KM

Time: -36:10

Place: 3

Prize: $250

∑ Career Earnings: $24,229

 

The Skinny: Nancy Grayson won.

 

Coming next time: Elizabeth River 10 KM run on 5/4

Shamrock 8 KM in Virginia Beach, VA on 3/16/1991

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 8 KM

Time: -29:16

Place: 3

Prize: $200

∑ Career Earnings: $23,979

 

The Skinny: Decent payday, considering all expenses were also comp-ed. But I apparently recorded no further details. Nancy spoiled us with some many wins, I guess I wasn’t too interested in a 3^rd.

 

But we cashed the check 😉

 

 

Coming next time: Sallie Mae 10 KM on 4/14

Wondering Whether Winners Never Quit

Although born and raised a city boy, I was magnetically drawn to hunting and fishing magazines like “Field and Stream.” But since my dad didn’t grow up a sportsman in the hardscrabble 1930s, my first hunting adventures had to wait until I was older. Meanwhile, I played the sports boys played in the 1960s, and endured my fair share of coaching. Among the hackneyed nuggets passed along to me, one of questionable accuracy has, like crabgrass, been obdurately resilient: “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”

I want to see that statement amended.

Late in 2022, I sent my woodcock hunting diary with a note to Ken S. at the LODGH. Part of the note follows:

“My 25 year old ‘honey holes’ really showed their age this Fall. Hunting only 23 of NY’s 45-day season, my pup flushed only 16 woodcock. I’ve been loyal – stubborn? – in hunting these old coverts. But I now believe that if I’m to get my pup into birds, I’ll have to search out new coverts…. sad. But it’s necessary.

I’ve been blessed to have had such good woodcock hunting locally over the last 25 years. So hooray! to the past. But, by Gosh, I’m going to try hard to give my pup a birdy future.”

I know that my down-the-street patch of redbush that’s produced so many woodcock since 1994 isn’t coming back anytime soon. I know this because there’s a house – heck, a whole development – sitting on that ground today.

There goes the (birds') neighborhood

But I still return to isolated patches of cover near there. I enjoy reconnecting with past hunts enjoyed in productive cover with good dogs and good friends. I wrote about that in 2010. But nostalgia won’t help Jake now.

Recently I read an article by Peggy Noonan. I attach a relevant section below:

“Sometimes you have to realize a dream is a fixation, its object no longer achievable because it doesn’t exist.

(Another) story involves Norman Lear, who produced many… television comedies (in) the 20th century… He said there are two words we don’t honor enough. One is ‘over’ and the other is ‘next.’ There’s a kind of hammock between the two and it is right now, this moment we’re sharing. He was saying: Be present. But as he talked, I heard embedded within his words a layer of advice: That it’s actually a key skill to be able to see when something’s over, when it’s the past, not the future; that you have to have eyes that can find the next area of constructiveness, which may take time; and in the time between, the hammock, you must maintain your peace and poise.”

I’m going to recall that paragraph when I try to find whatever’s next for pup and me. I’ll find “peace and poise,” even if not many birds, in what’s left of my beloved local covers. Meanwhile, I’ll redouble my efforts to find new opportunities essential to bringing Jake along.

Maybe “Winners would at times do better to redirect” is a better course of action, even if not better locker room bulletin board material.

How Yellow Perch Can School Us About Social Media

 John Glenn first stepped onto the moon nine months before the Old Duck was graduated from college. This factoid is included here to provide my approximate age, hence to indicate when my values were formed, and to give the lie to malicious gossip that I am Abe Lincoln’s older classmate.

 

Back in college I learned in statistics class about the normal or bell curve. It looked like this:

 

 

This curve is very useful in describing the way many things occur in nature. Lots of stuff, that is, comes in a variety of sizes. The normal curve shows that most of the items usually are about an average, or "middling," size while fewer and fewer items are bigger or smaller the farther they are from average. For a simple example, think of catching a nice bucket full of perch in the honey hole on your favorite lake. Two or three are probably going to be runts, and another three or four are going to be relative “hogs,” but the great majority of the perch are going to be about the same size.

 

 

Most are average, or “normal.” I hope the perch take no offense at the term. 

 

When I listen to many radio or TV commentators these days, or browse the Internet, I get the impression that the normal curve has it all wrong. There seem to be two enemy camps, each thumping its righteous chest while decrying the ignorant vicious hordes of the opposition. Someone only casually observing such reporting might get the impression that the great majority of our fellow citizens occupies the far right and far left tails of the curve, with a scant few milquetoasts wavering in the middle. Such a curve might look like this, with more items in the tails than in the center:

 

 

I spend most of my time living a geezer’s retired exurban life. I walk the dog, buy some groceries, play some golf with my buddies, enjoy suppers with family and friends, all the while gladly taking people as I meet them. I find almost every single one of the flesh-and-blood people I meet “normal” in the curve’s sense. Those using social media to make outrageous claims on both the right and the left are having, if you’ll pardon the expression, the tails wag the dog.

 

So there you have it. Who are you going to believe? An honest mess of beautiful, tasty perch, or some nasty nameless gnome who’d rather tap a screen all day than have fun fishing?

On The Joys Of Walking Your Dog

 How many times have you heard words like “…but first I’ve got to walk my dog” from friends you’d like to meet later in the day? Well, yes, your dog does love to go for a walk, specially if he gets to sniff all the guest books along the way before signing them himself.

 

But I think this has the walking-my-dog relationship bass ackwards. I own my dog precisely because I greatly enjoy walking with him. We are partners in enjoying the opportunities and challenges that every day outdoors presents. As classical Roman poet Ovid wrote, “We two form a multitude.” In a contemporary wording of this sentiment, “our whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

 

Just a phrasing quibble? Or maybe a demarcation between dog owners and dog lovers?

 

 

 

 

Non-Randomized Scoots Just South of the Northern Adirondack Blue Line

Immediately after marrying a lovely North Country girl in 1978, I began exploring from her parents’ “base camp” routes and places inside the Adirondack Blue Line.

In 1983, I bought a newly-introduced Chevy S-10 Blazer. I was itchin’ to test its 4WD capability out, and so, after reading what Paul Samuelson had to say about the Wolf Pond Road in his “Adirondack Canoe Waters – North Flow,” I decided to try it out there. Here’s how Samuelson described that “road” in 1981:

 “…the Wolf Pond Road from Standish to Mountain View is venturesome. It is a winding, one-lane dirt road used by lumber trucks and an occasional quixotic motorist. Avoid it if you are addicted to claustrophobia. The forest shuts you in as tight as a clam in its shell. Avoid it too in wash-out season or when pressed for time. Chances are that you will meet no more than one truck and one car in the 12.5 miles. It is a road you will never forget.”

Samuelson got it right. The Wolf Pond Road is highlighted in red on the map below.

Fourteen years later, I took another scoot, this time down Route 99 (the map’s blue highlight) southeasterly from Duane. The highway at that time was nicely paved, but save for one property near Loon Lake, it was the only reminder of civilization until the road terminates at Route 3.

That remaining property was what was left of the Loon Lake House, a resort famous and well attended at the turn of the 20th century. You can read more about Ferd and Mary Chase and their resort here.

Apparently the golf course was still open in 1997, although probably not nearly as well kept as it had been in its salad days. I stopped in and picked up a score card.

The course was designed by Seymour Dunn, who also designed the Craig Wood and the Links Courses, both in Lake Placid.

I’m not sure whether Mother Nature has entirely reclaimed the property, as I haven’t been back there since. But I’m glad I had the chance to see what was left of a grand Adirondack resort.

Juvenile delinquent finally quits his low-down ways

 As a young pup, our Jake was a bouncy, bitey handful. Actually, he was several handsful, and all at the same time.

 But we hung with him through thick and thin and thinner. And then, beginning last year, he suddenly realized

 

 

that his ol’ Dad knew lots of groovy places where he got to do fun things. All he had to do was be cooperative to earn attaboys and ear scritches and encore performances.

 

By May of this year, he was progressing so well that I thought he might actually, mirabile dictu, be able to earn a ribbon with a “Pass” in a doggie contest called a Hunt Test. In such a test, he has to find two live birds in the woods and fields, and retrieve them to me after they’ve been shot. He also has to fetch a dead duck from a pond and, again, deliver it to me. A "soft" mouth is expected from the dog; tooth marks or worse on the delivery are serious no-nos.

 

On a recent Sunday, Jake and I traveled to his first-ever Hunt Test, run in NY’s Southern Tier. Boy, has he ever come a long, long way.

 

August 7, 2022

Wings Are Just Chicken Feed In Buffalo’s Rich History

 Lots of things have their roots in Buffalo, NY. When used here, “Buffalo” refers to the whole “Niagara Frontier.” A starter list of things Buffalo follows below, with links.

° If you wanted piano keys at the beginning of the 20^th century, your purchasing decision went through Buffalo.

 

° The “blue” in blue jeans once came from Buffalo’s National Aniline plant.

 

° “Manhattan” came to Buffalo at the Lake Ontario Ordinance Works.

 

° The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, the third-most produced American fighter of WWII, was manufactured in Buffalo.

 

° Wurlitzer organs, pianos, and juke boxes were produced in North Tonawanda, a Buffalo suburb.

 

° Highest-quality Kittinger furniture that sits in the White House and other exclusive venues was made in Buffalo.

 

° Buffalo’s Wilson Greatbatch invented the Pacemaker.

 

° The first manufacturer of Mason Jars was Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company founded in Buffalo in 1880.

 

° Willis Carrier is credited with inventing the air conditioner while working at the Buffalo Forge Company.

 

° Steam powered grain elevators made Buffalo the third largest port by tonnage in the world by 1899.

 

° Buffalo Mayor Grover Cleveland became the 22nd President of the United States.

° After Zachary Taylor died, his Vice President Millard Filmore became the 13^th President of the United States. Before and after his Presidency, he significantly pursued social, educational, and philanthropic causes in Buffalo.

° Shaped like a bullet, the X-1 was built by Buffalo's Bell Aircraft Corporation.

° James Ambrose Johnson Jr., aka Rick James, was born and raised in Buffalo.

Ice Breaker 5 MI in Great Falls, MT on 4/22/1990

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 5 MI

Time: 30:48

Place: 2

Prize: $150

∑ Career Earnings: $23,779

 

The Skinny: A Lady I Won’t Name won the Masters’ Division. But Nancy was very cooperative with the racers and race director, glad handing entrants while giving a pre-race training clinic, and being accessible and positive post race. So the director, whose name I sadly forget, funneled a few extra dollars into the first runner up’s pockets. Hey, what goes around comes around!

 

Lunching with Frank Shorter

 

Coming next time: Shamrock 8 KM on 3/16

Sallie Mae 10 KM in Washington, DC on 4/8/1990

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 10 KM

Time: -36:54

Place: 3

Prize: $200

∑ Career Earnings: $23,629

 

The Skinny: Barbara Filutze won the Masters’ Division and was ninth overall.

 

Coming next time: Ice Breaker 5 MI on 4/22

Shamrock 8 KM in Virginia Beach, VA on 3/17/1990

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 8 KM

Time: -30:09

Place: 3

Prize: $200

∑ Career Earnings: $23,429

 

The Skinny: Gabby Anderson won.

 

Coming next time: Sallie Mae 10 KM on 4/8

ICI-USRA end of year results on December 31, 1989

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: -

Time: -

Place: 3 or 7, depending on who’s doing the ranking

Prize: $750

∑ Career Earnings: $23,229

 

The Skinny: Nancy had a great year “on the circuit,” finishing 3^rd and 7^th among Master’s women in two different ranking systems. That’s how she was able to earn $750 after the Naples, FL race without leaving her sofa back in Buffalo, NY.

 

 

Coming next time: Shamrock 8 KM

Rocket City Marathon in Huntsville, AL on December 9, 1989

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here..)

Distance: 26.21 miles

Time: 2:55:53

Place: 1

Prize: $1,250

∑ Career Earnings: $22,479

 

The Skinny: Race Director Harold Tinsley treated his invited runners like royalty. Huntsville was always a great road trip.

 

Here’s the newspaper’s writeup of the results.

 

 

Coming next time: Shamrock 8 KM

Vulcan 10 KM Run in Birmingham, AL on November 18, 1989

 (I started writing about Nancy Mieszczak’s 32-year-old races back in 2010. I thought they’d been too much fun to be enjoyed just once; and, maybe just a little bit, I wanted to show The Kids how the Old Folks used to roll back in the days of yore. Anyways, I initially crammed a bunch of her races into one continuing post. Lately I’ve been writing them up one by one. If you’re interested, you can start from the beginning here.)

Distance: 10 km

Time: 0:36:10

Place: 1

Prize: $750

∑ Career Earnings: $21,229

 

The Skinny: In our warmup run the day before the race, we were surprised to learn that Birmingham is so hilly. With the help of friendly hotel staff, we also found a wonderful Italian Restaurant which served herbed olive oil and bread as an appetizer. It’s hard to believe now, but we’d never had that before. Birmingham was a terrific host: thanks!

 

Coming next time: Rocket City Marathon