Back in the day, they ran like the wind and were all business.
Now, a generation or two later, they can talk up a storm yet it’s anything but serious.
We’re referring to a half-dozen Bucks County senior striders who get together the first Monday morning of every month at a local breakfast joint to shoot the breeze and maybe embellish a story here or there. Informally, they call it the “Breakfast Series.”
The whole thing was organized by 93-year-old Frank Rubino about 10 years ago. He was an original member of the Bucks County Roadrunners Club from back in 1978 when the outfit was put together.
One would think Rubino would have age seniority in this informal monthly fraternity — but think again.
That distinction is held by Sandy Oppenheimer, the former Bucks County Courier Times editor, who will turn the big 100 this September.
Also in the group are Rich Riggi and Lance Mervine, who were instrumental in the creation of BCRR, along with Tom Fuoco and Mike Dale.
Everyone has passed their 70th birthday so there are quite a few stories to tell.
Rubino suffered a heart attack 13 years ago and he credits running for still being here.
“My doctor told me that if I hadn’t been physically fit through my running, I’d be still laying out on the road,” Rubino recalled. “I walk everyday for 20 minutes. It keeps me going. I’m happy, I’m really blessed.”
Mervine was quite a distance runner in his prime. He enjoys the camaraderie of being around like-minded people.
“I’m a newcomer, it’s a great time of sociability,” he said of the breakfast club. “Great stories. And it’s special to see Sandy.”
Fuoco continues to cover ground both on foot and on his bicycle. He’s one of the fastest age-group athletes in the area for either venue.
“It’s a pleasure to come here once a month,” he said. “Being retired, we’ve got all the time in the world. But if we didn’t have a planned meeting, we would probably never get together.
“So having a meeting like this solves that issue and it’s good to catch up with everybody and have fun.”
Oppenheimer was one of the BCRR activists back in the late ‘70s. A native New Yorker, he completed one of the first New York City marathons and went on to run locally for decades. He still ran into his 90s.
Asked if he can relate to some of the stories that are told, he shook his head.
“No,” he said with a smile. “Their times were too good.”
Dale was quite the runner himself and enjoys hearing others talk about their exploits in and around the Philadelphia area.
“I look forward to this,” he said. “Tell some old war stories. It’s great to see everybody.”
Riggi, former fitness director of the Lower Bucks YMCA, was instrumental in bringing world-class coaches and runners to the area and having them pass along their wisdom. That list included former Olympic coach Arthur Lydiard as well as Jeff Galloway, a U.S. competitor in the 1972 Munich Olympics and later author.
“This is a great thing to do once a month,” Riggi said. “It’s a pretty cool thing – after all these years, we’re still around.
“These guys, we’re friends for life. As Tom said, we have to keep going as best as we can. It’s good to see the company.”
Rubino wants to keep this group together as long as possible.
“When we started it, we never thought it would be like this,” he said. “We all have the common denominator, we’re all runners. Being social, everybody’s a good guy.
“It’s a good thing and it’s only once a month. It’s great to hear how everyone is doing. We’re getting up there in age, but as long as we’re still here, we’re going to do it.”>Race calendar
Now, a generation or two later, they can talk up a storm yet it’s anything but serious.
We’re referring to a half-dozen Bucks County senior striders who get together the first Monday morning of every month at a local breakfast joint to shoot the breeze and maybe embellish a story here or there. Informally, they call it the “Breakfast Series.”
The whole thing was organized by 93-year-old Frank Rubino about 10 years ago. He was an original member of the Bucks County Roadrunners Club from back in 1978 when the outfit was put together.
One would think Rubino would have age seniority in this informal monthly fraternity — but think again.
That distinction is held by Sandy Oppenheimer, the former Bucks County Courier Times editor, who will turn the big 100 this September.
Also in the group are Rich Riggi and Lance Mervine, who were instrumental in the creation of BCRR, along with Tom Fuoco and Mike Dale.
Everyone has passed their 70th birthday so there are quite a few stories to tell.
Rubino suffered a heart attack 13 years ago and he credits running for still being here.
“My doctor told me that if I hadn’t been physically fit through my running, I’d be still laying out on the road,” Rubino recalled. “I walk everyday for 20 minutes. It keeps me going. I’m happy, I’m really blessed.”
Mervine was quite a distance runner in his prime. He enjoys the camaraderie of being around like-minded people.
“I’m a newcomer, it’s a great time of sociability,” he said of the breakfast club. “Great stories. And it’s special to see Sandy.”
Fuoco continues to cover ground both on foot and on his bicycle. He’s one of the fastest age-group athletes in the area for either venue.
“It’s a pleasure to come here once a month,” he said. “Being retired, we’ve got all the time in the world. But if we didn’t have a planned meeting, we would probably never get together.
“So having a meeting like this solves that issue and it’s good to catch up with everybody and have fun.”
Oppenheimer was one of the BCRR activists back in the late ‘70s. A native New Yorker, he completed one of the first New York City marathons and went on to run locally for decades. He still ran into his 90s.
Asked if he can relate to some of the stories that are told, he shook his head.
“No,” he said with a smile. “Their times were too good.”
Dale was quite the runner himself and enjoys hearing others talk about their exploits in and around the Philadelphia area.
“I look forward to this,” he said. “Tell some old war stories. It’s great to see everybody.”
Riggi, former fitness director of the Lower Bucks YMCA, was instrumental in bringing world-class coaches and runners to the area and having them pass along their wisdom. That list included former Olympic coach Arthur Lydiard as well as Jeff Galloway, a U.S. competitor in the 1972 Munich Olympics and later author.
“This is a great thing to do once a month,” Riggi said. “It’s a pretty cool thing – after all these years, we’re still around.
“These guys, we’re friends for life. As Tom said, we have to keep going as best as we can. It’s good to see the company.”
Rubino wants to keep this group together as long as possible.
“When we started it, we never thought it would be like this,” he said. “We all have the common denominator, we’re all runners. Being social, everybody’s a good guy.
“It’s a good thing and it’s only once a month. It’s great to hear how everyone is doing. We’re getting up there in age, but as long as we’re still here, we’re going to do it.”>Race calendar
Sunday
The Great Cupid Run 5K/10K, 9 a.m., Doylestown. Contact www.runsignup.com
BCRR Winter Series Pick Your Way 5.3-Miler, 9 a.m., Tyler State Park, Newtown-Richboro. Contact www.bcrrclub.com
