It was a perfect day for racing.
If you happened to be in a sailboat, that is.
As for a marathon, well that’s a different story.
It was blowing up a storm for the 2022 Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday but even with people hanging onto their hats, Bucks County runners managed to hold onto their pace.
There were some snappy times recorded by runners from Bensalem to Buckingham on the 26.2-mile course through the streets of Philly and along the Schuylkill River.
Runners such as Jim Larson of Langhorne didn’t seem to mind the gusts, which hit the 25-30-miles-per-hour range.
The Bucks County Roadrunners Club veteran ran a 3:29.20, less than a minute off last year’s time, which had qualified him for the Boston Marathon.
Philadelphia’s overall runner-friendly course, featuring relatively flat terrain and not too many turns, probably compensated for the challenging weather, with temperatures failing to get out of the 30s.
In other words, January in mid-November.
Plus, as Larson pointed out in an interview prior to the Philly race, there is a large contingent of hometown fans and the starting line is convenient to reach.
“It is motivating to see family and friends from BCRR along the course and in the race,’’ he said. “I really like the course around the different parts of the city and it has enough hills to keep it interesting without being too steep.
“Running along the river on Kelly Drive is classic Philly and it is good to see runners coming from the other direction. I don’t like racing in the heat, so the cooler temperatures in late fall are a big reason for me to use a qualifier.’’
He can say that again. Hats, gloves and long sleeves were the order of the day.
Some other times of note by Bucks County runners:
Ryan Schiele, 19, Chalfont, 3:05.09; Tony Pereira, 53, Newtown, 3:42.46; Pat Donadio, 53, Bensalem, 3:11.38; Jin Lee, 48, Warwick, 3:48.21; Alex Santamaria, 44, Bensalem, 3:18.50; Bob Morrow, 53, Chalfont, 3:17.03; Keyu Wu, 51, Chalfont, 3:08.15; Austin Darigo, 32, Warminster, 3:13.26; Andrew van Hoogenstein, 38, Newtown, 2:27.51; Bode Wildgrube, 19, Newtown, 3:11.36; Lucia Sanchez, 27, Newtown, 3:07.35; Dan Kilvey, 44, Morrisville, 3:17.54; Cheyenne Randle, 28, Levittown, 3:22.56.
Congratulations to all for excellent performances on a less than ideal day for racing.
>State park receives donation
On Saturday, Nov. 12, Wild Hearts Production (WHP) Events co-founder, Anthony Accardo, presented a check for $1,500 to the Washington Crossing Park Association (N.J.) executive director Annette Earling.
The funds were raised from the inaugural WXT Ultra Trail Races which took place Saturday, Oct. 29, at Washington Crossing State Park, N.J.
WXT Ultra Trail Races consist of both 50K and 25K ultra trail competitions produced by WHP Events and co-hosted by the Bucks County Triathlon Club.
The races were attended by athletes from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, Connecticut and Maryland.
To learn more information about upcoming events, visit wxtultra.com.
The Washington Crossing Park Association is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to preserve, enhance and advocate for the park and the history it represents. The WCPA strives to educate citizens and enrich their quality of life through knowledge of and exposure to the park. To learn more visit wcpa-nj.com.
WHP Events, co-founded by Trish Gray and Accardo, produces races to raise funds for charities throughout the area.
Race calendar
Thursday
32nd annual Bucks County Roadrunners Club 5-Miler/5K/1-Miler, 9 a.m., Langhorne. Race day registration available.
Sunday
Doylestown Jingle Bell Turkey Trot 10K/5K, 10 a.m., Doylestown. Contact www.runsignup.com
