Another Summit in the books

Well, my 20th Summit Challenge is in the books.
I was told the walk up Interstate 40 East (on possibly the finest weather ever for the race) was the 20th by the person who talked me into the first Summit Challenge two decades ago, Jamie Brooks. (Jamie is a math teacher so I trust she’s pretty good with numbers.)
Most likely, twenty out of 33 races pales in comparison to the accomplishments of others, but I’ll gladly add it to the list of personal achievements.
I was a bit disappointed with my time of 47:10 — gravity and grade win the day most of the time with me — but pleased as I exited the 50-54 age group as the fastest male walker as well as covering the 3½-mile trip faster than most of the other wonderful athletes who took on this unique challenge.
But, I was more the proud uncle with the accomplishments of my nephew and niece.
I “dragged” Jason Lohr up the Summit on his first walk as a 10-year-old in 2008. After nudging him along with the “slap-on-the-hip-catch-up-to-me” approach for most of the race, the soon-to-be Hempfield graduate slipped in front of me in 42nd place to win his age group in 50:59.
Fast forward to 2015. Jason passed me on the exit, slowing momentarily to ask about a pain in his shin before taking to the Summit in proper walking form and technique. He crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 42:44. First running, now walking, again in Jason’s dust.
His younger sister Emily took to the hill for the first time and did a wonderful job, finishing 71st overall and winning her age group in 53:05.
Alas, I sense I will soon become the slowest walker/runner in family by year’s end.
But to all the friends and families who shared the experience with another, congratulations! You’re all part of one of the most unique clubs in the country!
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At the request of John Garber, a physical education teacher at Waynesburg Central elementary school, I made my way down (eventually, given the state of Route 21) to Greene County on Wednesday. I’ve known John for years from his days as the Waynesburg Central golf coach, so it was worth the trip.
His classes had a special treat on a beautiful morning with instruction in their golf unit from alumnae Rachel Rohanna. The Symetra Tour had a week off, so Rachel decided to come home to recharge.
Rachel brought a lot of golfing knowledge, as well as a big cardboard check from her first-place finish in the Guardian Retirement Challenge at Sara Bay on SundayJi.
Rachel is well known for her use of family members – father, mother and uncle – as her caddies on tour, and the ranks will swell with the addition of her younger sister Emily, a junior on the Youngstown State golf team, this summer. Though, the union will likely mean some work for Rachel at the end of the summer because her caddie will also be her intern.
Emily is majoring in fashion merchandising and needed to get internship credits, so she managed to tie the two together with golf fashion and helping her older sister read a green.
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The individual track season really gets into gear today with the Baldwin Invitational. The individual qualifiers for all athletes are on Thursday, May 7. Hopefully, the weather holds, especially after the drenching rain during last year’s district meet.