In this week’s Foot Power column, M.C. Besecker writes about the various hats he’s worn when it comes to the Bob Potts Marathon, which is scheduled for Sunday on the York County Heritage Rail Trail. This time, he’ll experience it as a father and a fan:
The fifth annual running of the Bob Potts Marathon, the only marathon in York County, starts at 6 a.m. Sunday, and is officially sold out. The race starts near the York College track, and the majority of the run takes place on the York County Heritage Rail Trail. It is mostly flat, which makes it fast, and popular among runners trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
OK, that is the business end of the column. Now for the personal part.
I ran this race in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed it, but that is not what I am focusing on today. I have also covered it from a journalist standpoint for five years, but that’s not important today, either.
No, this time around, everything is different. For the first time, I will be there in a role as a father and a fan all rolled into one.
My son, Tyler, a junior at Dallastown Area High School, has trained for this race ever since the fall, when he completed his first half-marathon. It has been a long six months, and a lot different for me watching him rather than doing it myself.
In fact, as humbling as this is to write, he has totally left me in the dust. I have been there for support and advice, but have not joined him on many of his training runs. Tyler is doing this on his own.
Read more about the race and how Tyler has prepared for it in this week’s Foot Power column.
Be sure to check out the Foot Power calendar for more local racing events.
