Redemption Running

I headed out this morning for what needed to be about a 15 mile jaunt. I am two weeks out from the NYC marathon so technically last weekend should have been a 20 mile training run but that didn’t quite happen. But it’s OK. I’ll figure it out on race day. (the most famous of my famous last words).

I really had no idea where I was going when I left the house. I just figured I would run and keep running, ala Gump until it was time to turn around. So I headed north on City Ave towards St. Joes University. My initial thought was to either turn right on Belmont Ave and head towards the Please Touch Museum and then down Black Road to MLK Drive… OR… turn left on Belmont and make my way into Manayunk. I could decide once I got there.

But neither of those two things happened.

Once I hit Lancaster Ave I felt an uncontrollable urge to bang a west-hand turn. So I plodded on along route 30….. destination still unknown. In fact at that point the very words “Destination Unknown” popped into my head. And for the next hour, the Missing Persons song of the same name haunted me.

As I headed into Wynnwood, it hit me. I knew where I needed to go. I made my way into the quaint little borough of Narberth and I did so for a reason. Growing up, Narberth was very near and dear to me. My father managed the legendary hardware store in town called Ricklins Hardware. And I spent many many hours and days in and around Narberth between the hardware store, the neighboring shops and restaurants, the basketball courts, and the baseball field where I watched and/or played almost every weekend…. as well as watched 4th of July fireworks.  My father passed away in 2005 and I haven’t stepped foot in that store since several years prior to that when he retired …. perhaps even 10 years prior.

So as luck would have it, my water bottle was nearing empty just as I was approaching Ricklins…

I walked in and made my way to the water fountain for a quick refill. A few (very young) employees asked if they could help me. I just chuckled and said, “no thanks… I just need to refill…. and walk down memory lane a little”. All of the memories came rushing back. Everything looked and smelled the same. I walked around a little, exploring some of the nooks and corners where I hung out and played as a kid. It was good. It was all very good. But after a few minutes, it was time to move on. So I thanked the staff and continued on my trek.

Exiting the borough of Narberth I felt that my run had a sense of purpose. A reason. So I figured as long as I was reminiscing, I might as well pull out all of the stops. I cruised along Wynnwood road and did a quick lap of South Ardmore Park where I played Cadet baseball, then continued into Ardmore…… passed my old elementary school, Chestnutwold. (now a sprawling new school). I passed the school’s baseball field where my dad, and several other fathers built the first backstop by hand in 1970 so we could all play summer league baseball.

I passed the strip of stores that was once Herman’s (then Frenchie’s Pizza), I passed the site of the old Givens and Goldens supermarket, and Ben & Edies pharmacy…. and … oh look – Yearsleys is still there!

I had come that far so I knew I needed to run down Malvern Road and see the old house. Hell, I was ready to introduce myself and invite myself in had I seen any activity, but I did not. So I waved to no one , and I kept running.

I weaved my way up the Septa bus road, crossed over Darby Road, passed my old Junior High/Middle School and forged my way back home. This run has meaning. I found myself naming the old residents of all of the houses that I knew, and realized that I am lucky enough to still be in contact with many of them. In fact many of them may read this post.

It was a good day and a good run. Most of the free streaming consciousness was positive and peaceful. The couple of very random questions that popped into my head were:

“Why does Lankenau only get one L but LLanarch is worthy of 2″?

and …

“Lindsay Lohan, just what is your problem exactly”?