Thirty-three years later, my weight reached 199 pounds. I had to face the fact that I had gradually become a fat man in pretty poor physical shape.

A year earlier, in the aftermath of her father’s slow deterioration and death from Alzheimer’s, my wife, Claire, began running. She certainly didn’t need to lose any weight–she sill fits easily into her wedding dress–but read that physical exercise into old age helps keep a person’s mind sharp. After watching her get out and run faithfully for a year, even in snow and rain, I was finally shamed into joining her.

On February 18, 2009, I pushed myself to “run” a mile. I changed my diet too, dropping to two meals a day, one light and the other heavy. I started losing about a pound a week and feeling more comfortable during my runs. By April 26, Claire and I felt fit enough to try to a five kilometer (3.1 mile) road race. All kinds of people ran–thin, heavy, young–and even some pushing strollers. We finished 262nd and 302nd out of 500. She ran it in 32 minutes and I came in a minute faster. I was delighted. From then on, I became hooked on running.

I signed up for other races and began meeting people. I started attending a weekly race in Holyoke, Massachusetts, which my older all-around athletic brother Michael and his friends run regularly. Those friends were very encouraging. Harry Haywood coached me in ways to get faster and avoid injury. After each race, we enjoyed a couple beers and had a lot of laughs.

Meanwhile, back in Worcester, Claire and I discovered a weekly run starting at An Cu Liath (the Greyhound), an Irish Pub in Kelley Square, a place where six streets meet without a traffic light. This three-mile race is free and ends with a pot luck at the pub. Although somewhat standoffish at first, the members of the Central Mass Striders club who sponsor the race have become as pleasant to hang out with as the folks in Holyoke. You couldn’t find friendlier people than Beth, Tracy, Sue, Karen, Dave, Mike, Tom, Eddie, J.J., and Sanjay.

Worcester, 6:30PM Mondays: An Cu Liath City Run Monday 3 miler. An Cu Liath Pub (The Grey Hound), 11 Kelley Sq (Bring your watch!! Freebie self timed race through the Canal District). This event is part of a weekly 52 part series. Contact: Scott (CMS member), USA, 01602. 1-508-951-5324 anculiathcityrun@charter.net

And ace runners like John Pajer, Thaddeus Bell, and Carol Hurley always share the secrets of their speed. Another standout, John Colucci, will tell you he runs to honor a son who was brutally murdered. Quite a few runners are parents or grandparents. Many, like Thaddeus, used to be quite heavy. Some, like the affable bar owners Cyndy and Paul Curley, go no faster than 10 minutes a mile. And yet, Cyndy ran the Bay State Marathon and is planning to run another in Ireland come April. Unlike my high school, where athletes were so focused on individual achievement, these runners keep things in perspective. Nobody is boastful. Folks who have run dozens of marathons wear those achievements lightly.

Nonetheless, friendly rivalries have developed between me, “Iron Man” Al Barrera, and “Flash” Jack Goolsky. We race every Monday night at 6:30. In the winter, reflective vests alert drivers that we will be darting across streets. Just before Christmas, we ran as a group in and out of the atrium of the Worcester Medical Center led by a fellow in a Santa Claus suit. We also stopped at K.J. Baarron’s Fine Wines and Spirits for a free whiskey toast.

And, to my surprise, I got faster. I now finish in the top third of most races. I even won a race for my age group. My time has dropped almost ten minutes in the 5k. In my first year, I ran 79 races and am looking forward to attempting the Worcester Half Marathon on June 13. My weight is stable at 154 pounds. My co-worker Ken says I’ve become obsessed and warns that I will pack on all the pounds again eventually. But I don’t think so because I am not just dieting and exercising. I am having terrific fun. I love the competition and the comraderie. On a week when he beat me soundly, Scott Stevens, a Central Mass Striders board member who posts online results of the pub races, razzed me with the entry “Scott Schaeffer-Duffy beatdown”. He included a photo of a traffic sign depicting a child running and the word SLOW. His caption read, “Signs erected for the safety of Scott Schaeffer-Duffy.” I laughed my head off when I saw it.

You may wonder why this article is included in The Catholic Radical. [Ed.: Or Pie and Coffee, for that matter.] It’s not only because I’m excited about the topic, but also because one of our readers recently wrote that, even though he liked our paper, it was “not merry.” His comment reminds me how important it is not only to expose injustice, but also to celebrate goodness.

In his marvelous book Born to Run, Christopher McDougall, a former war correspondent for the Associated Press who is now a long distance runner, describes a revelation he had during an ultra-marathon. When McDougall fell to the back of the pack, a world class runner relinquished his chance at victory and jogged alongside the writer to encourage him. McDougall learned from this athlete that “the reason we race isn’t so much to beat each other . . . but to be with each other.”

No matter what your income, age, skill level, or weight, runners will welcome you into their offbeat family. They have taught me joyful lessons about genuine community.

This article was originally published in the April/May 2010 issue of The Catholic Radical.

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If you want to get involved with the effort to bring Google Fiber to Worcester, you can get started with this map.

Mike recommends the Central Mass Striders weekly 5k. Meet 8:30am Saturdays inside the Worcester State College gym.

The School Committee raised the CFO’s salary to some controversy. School Committee Member Tracy Novick went direct about her “yes” vote.

Worcester Magazine has a cover story about bloggers this week. We have mixed feelings about it.

Finally, Brendan talks about ice hockey and ice bocce.

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Today’s topics are union activity at Clark, and trends in campus crime.

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This week, Mike and Brendan begin with a recap of city government’s efforts to bring Google Fiber to Worcester. The Whiskerite charity beard competition raised almost $1000. Check out the video.

We have learned of the origins of the “Right Place, Right Time” song. (Video here, too.) Anyone have a copy of Worcester’s 1972 theme?

CSX wants to expand their Worcester rail yard. We are planning to learn about Worcester’s position on the Opioid Overdose Prevention program.

Worcester’s metalheads are awesome. We may as well link to Juggalo News.

Mike is enthusiastic about the Free Store at the Holden Recycling Center, and Coinstar.

We don’t like Worcester’s proposed pit bull ordinance. Mike recommends a Malcolm Gladwell article on the subject.

Finally, Holmes Wilson had a beautiful wedding in the Midtown Mall.

The best thing about entering a charity beard competition is telling people with a straight face: “I have entered a charity beard competition.”

Thanks to the organizers for raising money for the Worcester County Food Bank and giving us an excuse to stop shaving!

WINNERS: Burly Man – Derek Ring; Facial Topiary – Mike Benedetti; Fan Fav – Peter Mascitelli; Best in Show – Duncan Arsenault.

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Inspired by Jeremy’s Worcester Magazine cover story “Selling Worcester: Who will take the lead to market our city?”, we discuss the rich oral tradition around Worcester’s many slogans, including the long-lost “Right Place, Right Time” and Bruce Russell’s “This City Should Be Destroyed”. Worcester even had a No Slogan Day. In the ad industry, slogans have fallen from favor.

Mike mentions that you can buy Ethiopian/Eritrean foods at Fresh Farm in Worcester, across the street from Lincoln Plaza. This Saturday is the Whiskerite fundraiser, Distant Castle anniversary party, Q arts fundraiser, and Pecha Kucha IV Haiti fundraiser.

Jen tells us about Clark students and alumni uniting to help Clark food service workers unionize.

The ongoing Venerini Academy story is starting to make sense as we learn their fundraiser has left a “trail of lies”.

Mike didn’t like the AP article in the T&G about Wal-Mart’s financial situation; he thought the NYT article was better.

Worcester: Right Place, Right Time

Matt Feinstein performs “Right Place, Right Time” on 508 #100

Worcester: Paris of the 80s, Port Au Prince of the 90s (via WCCA)

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This week, we ride the #2 and #16 buses and record the 100th show.

Other posts:

• Bringing Google Fiber to Worcester
• Signs of Worcester: At least we’ve got “diversity” on street corners, How did we get here?, The typography of street name signs, Graphic elements and street-type designations, How do they compare?, Oops!
• Jeff comments on the show
• Tweet from the show

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Tracy, a School Committee Member, talks about fundraising efforts for the vandalized Belmont Street Community School. You can help. We spend most of the show talking about the upcoming city school budget, and why there always seems to be a funding crisis.

Greg is the cook behind the uncontested world-champion vegan macaroni and cheese recipe.

Mike has entered a charity beard competition. February 20, Dive Bar.

Scott Zoback et al have a Haiti fundraiser today. February 5, 5pm-1am, Lucky Dog.

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There was a big rally for (now-Senator) Brown at Mechanics Hall; the City’s considering banning plastic bags, though Mike has long advocated non-governmental action on this issue.

Vegetarian Renaissance: vegan mac’n'cheese cookoff coming up; veg fest coming up; creative Dunkin Donuts event. (Non-veg: Dr. Gonzo may have a roadkill barbeque.)

There are fancifully-dressed tax services advertisers on the sidewalks. Chain bar McFadden’s has closed.

Belmont Street Community School was massively vandalized. There was a Haiti fundraiser.

Mike talks about cargo cults. “Do different dumb things, Worcester. Do different dumb things.”

We’re planning something special for episode #100. Please share your ideas.

This is too awesome: Nick Nassar at WCCA TV13 has made a documentary about Worcester’s cross-cultural, well-organized, relentless, and so far unsuccessful “Save Our Poolz” campaign.

I wish somebody posted a Worcester video this good every week.