This article appeared in the December 2003 Pacesetter.

Living Vicariously in Yourself

High School Cross Country – Is there anything like it? From the hot and sweaty summer training runs to the freezing championship races of November, anyone who has run in high school can agree that there is something tremendously special about it. It was more than just an after school activity, it became your life. I can remember vividly (it’s not hard, I only graduated 3 years ago ?) sitting in class during ninth periods, eagerly awaiting the bell, not to go home, but to rush to the locker room where it all began. There was nothing like it – changing while gossiping about things that don’t matter, yet then had so much importance. Then the warm-up, before doing whatever coach had on the table for us.

High School Cross Country - running races in the rain; avoiding the crowd by running through the thorn bushes that lined the course; spending a night in a hotel… without your parents… and with all your friends. There is nothing like it – and on September 20, 2003, Andrew Rickert brought this experience back for all the old folk of yesterday’s glory.

While the Guilderland Invitational celebrated its 33rd annual running this year, the Alumni race made its debut appearance. The brainchild of Rickert, the Alumni race was open to any high school graduate with the desire to remember the days of his or her youth. The Alumni race was run on the same course as the high school race at Tawasentha Park, which offered competitors a chance to see where they stood among the youth of the twenty-first century. It was quite the success.

As the Albany Running Exchange descended upon the park that Saturday morning, we were immediately brought back to what it was like to see hundreds of runners, scores of cheering family members, and the resounding echo of clapping, screams, and cowbells. After registering for the event, we set up our “team” blanket, threw all our running gear on it, and took off for the team warm up. Somewhere along Route 20 we went from a motley crew of college students to a close-knit team ready for competition. It was with great jealousy that I noticed all the other high school teams convening in their tents, with coaches giving as much praise to their last runner in the JV race as to their superstar in the championship race. Only in high school cross country.

With only a few minutes before the gun, the starting line began to take its shape. From those who graduated in the ‘60s to those who graduated only a few months ago, we were all connected. Nearly three generations stood on the starting line; all of us in different stages of our life, yet standing there, it seemed we all became high school cross country runners again.

After a brief introduction to the race, the runners toed the line, and the gun sounded. In what seemed rather ironic, it was now the real high school runners cheering while the adults (and those getting there) took off, loving every second of it. We all merged as the course narrowed, fighting for position, not wanting to lose precious seconds. For some, it was their 1972 state meet, for others, a small duel meet, but most of all, it was cross country at its best.

There were sixty-five participants in the race, and there was a variety of awards and eccentric raffles that didn’t just favor the swift of feet. Up front was a close battle between Bob Irwin (’91) and Josh Merlis (’00). The lead changed several times before Merlis took the front at the top of suicide hill and went on to a four second victory. The top female was Jaimie Donaruma (’97) who also was the top female coach. The top male coach was Jeff Richards (’93). The race also featured the “Middle of the Pack” award given to the runner who, in a most exemplary case of sound logic, finished in the middle of the pack. That runner was Michael Pasquali (’77). The “Give it Up” award went to Marlow Olson, class of 1964. In related news, only seventeen of the remaining sixty-four runners had been born when Olson graduated (just over ¼). In convincing fashion, Guilderland was the top alumni team, led by Jim LeBrou, Dan Smitas, and Rickert.

The day was finished off with perhaps some of the most bizarre raffles ever to be given away. Foot cream and antacid were some of the more innocuous prizes… rather it was the denture cleanser won by the 22 year old that made shockwaves throughout the land. Perhaps the most stunning revelation of all was that she needed it.

All in all, the race was a great success. Everything went smoothly, and the event was quite festive. It had a much different feel than a road race-for the better-and please mark your calendar’s for next year’s race, when you will be able to reverse the hands of time, if only for 2.7 miles.