Embrace the existence of angels.

Then run to yours.

Run the Vineyards, Cork High and Bottle Deep, Williamstown, NJ, state/half marathon 48

November 12, 2023 

Imagery, usually from movies, has provided me clarity and deep emotional comfort around religion. The nuns (though I am not Catholic) in the 1966 film Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows, Father O’Malley (Bing Crosby) in The Bells of St Marys and Linus speaking on the true meaning of Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas all moved me closer to finding Christ. Of course, Charlie Brown helped me discover jazz also.

But I give credit to wing-seeking Clarence Odbody (one d) in It’s a Wonderful Life for making angels real to me. Clarence shows us visually that angels are all around us and that maybe some are designated to watch over just you or me. Angels may steer us to those intersections I spoke about in last month’s Indiana story. Most angels in our lives are clearly visible because they are mortal, fallible humans that do angelic things. They change the lives of those they touch.

My life is filled with angels. Angelic moments done by ordinary people make them great and enduring friends. If you feel the same way about your life, your eyes are also wide open to angels. I think of angels like my mother, who passed away before getting the grandbabies she pined for. As I write this, Mom is holding our babies Evan and Caroline in heaven. There is former girlfriend Linda, who steered me into my life profession pharmaceutical sales/marketing. And then there is Susan and Eric. Susan was Gay’s roommate and Eric was mine. They felt Gay and I should meet, convinced Gay to do so (I needed no convincing) and in just over a year, both couples were married.

When I talk about the 50 states journey, I am often asked which race or which state was my favorite. It’s always hard to choose but no longer. It is the Cork High and Bottle Deep half in Williamstown NJ. The race, and the majestic Fall colors that decorated it, was great on its own. But the coincidental convergence of friends and angels, past and present, old and new, made the weekend magical.

There was Michael Goldman, the first 50 Stater I met after joining the group. We met on a 5:30 am bus from finish line to starting line in Biloxi MS (state #4). It was as simple as sitting next to someone on a bus, mostly in the dark. Michael introduced me to a large cadre of Staters that day and did so again here in his home state of New Jersey. It was great to see Christie Cagne, who I first met while waiting out a rainstorm before our race in Clinton, MO (state #7) and then again at a miserably wet and cold and fun trail race at Drake Lake, IL. She introduced me to the ex-pat Brit, now Floridian, Julia Turnbow (in the angelic field of nursing) and Shannon Mulcahy, from NY. The trio seem to tour the country’s half marathons like a rock band. Though I am usually a solo runner, a mild agoraphobic with day before and day of idiosyncrasies, er routines, headphones on and running in mostly smaller off the beaten path races, spending time with the 50 Staters was a reminder of missed intersections and opportunities.

**********

Just a few months back, Don Manser joined the company with which I work. Don is a larger-than-life personality, knows just about everyone in our industry and is an inspiring, experienced colleague. He is burly and gregarious, with a perfectly coifed handlebar moustache. I have already learned a lot from Don. Coincidentally, he lives 20 minutes from the Cork High starting line. Don and his lovely wife Susan (also a runner) took me to their favorite Italian food spot, Naples Pizza (https://naplesatthewarehouse.com) on the day before the race. It’s the kind of restaurant/bar that knows its regulars well, and the kind of regulars who are easy to know. What a place to work on the carb load. The lasagna was massive. I rarely leave food on the plate because well, mama taught me not to do that. This meal was an exception but it was so good, I tried really hard to finish. The wine was good also. And my hosts were kind enough to pay the tab, which made the food even better. Know your angels. Thank them.

I walked off some of my meal across the street from my hotel on the campus of Rowan University, formerly Glassboro State College. It started as a Normal school, just like my beloved University of North Texas. Celebrating its 100th year, the campus is tidy and modern. A rowdy afternoon fraternity party provided a nice diversion as I finished my walk. The rest of the evening was spent eating my traditional pre-race meal (idiosyncrasies all over the place) and stretching.

**********

Less than an hour from the Philadelphia International Airport, the wine region of Southeast New Jersey now includes more than 30 of the state’s 56 wineries. I had the joy of visiting two of them. The region itself might surprise most who visit New Jersey, especially if your first impression comes after landing at the Newark airport across from New York City. The region between Philadelphia and Atlantic City is rural, the roads between old historic towns lined with horse farms and agriculture that includes fruit trees, cranberries, apples, peaches and, of course, grapes. I found energy and comfort in the small towns, talking to small business owners and those that grow foods that are good for us.

On race day, I drove onto the grounds of Blue Cork Vineyards shortly after daybreak, was directed to a parking spot about two hours before start time and went in search of the Johnny on the Spots. A tradition was broken when I saw another runner emerge from a John as I walked up, thus I took second in first-in privileges. My John, however, appeared to be unused, still pristine. If so, props to he who removed the wraps around the toilet paper rolls in advance of the first user. THAT was a first. And more props to the Donut NV food truck, serving up donuts just twenty yards away from the line of Johnnys. The generator used by Donut NV drowned out the rude sounds I was making as I physically prepared for the race start. I heard the donuts were pretty special (https://donutnv.com).

The vineyards were well-kept, though in a late Fall dormant stage. Green, freshly mowed grass surrounded the grape vines and separated each row. Grape types were identified with signs on the vine lines that were perfectly ordered, geometrically pleasing to my eyes. I was on a working farm and our run would start here. The morning quiet and natural beauty led to an ideal mental and physical race preparation.

Our race was organized, and I do mean organized, by Ken Culbertson, his wife Beth and all the smiling, energetic volunteers at Good Day for a Run (https://gooddayforarun.com). GDFAR puts on at least 40 races each year across six states. Its races supporta a local and/or national charity. Ken is fully engaged in all aspects of managing the race. He and Beth worked the bib pick up (on their own when I checked in), he signaled the start after introducing a local’s singing of the national anthem and he called out the awards. Ken is always “on” and serves his customers with delight.

The course took us through Blue Cork’s vineyards, then to a safely managed roadway taking us to the Monroe Township bike path on an out and back that turned around just outside Glassboro. The path was pristine, lined with bright Fall foliage and a floor of fallen leaves. The only litter I saw on the approximately 9.5 miles of bike path was a single gel package discarded by a runner. And I don’t think this was a Potemkin cleaning like that performed before Xi’s recent visit to San Francisco. It looks real, as it apparently always is.

The 1:50 pacers, from Beast Pacing (https://beastpacing.com), performed their service just as their website describes. They pace while motivating those that run with them. I’ve never run with pacers that were so communicative with their runners, barking out times, paces, distances and even pointing out a doody pile (dog, not human) to avoid around mile 4. Thanks to Wei Jiang and Brandon Lausch for getting us where and when we wanted. Angels guide. Listen.

Others on the course inspired, as well. Full-of-life friends Anthony Amorosa and Julia Kirkland, both of Milburn NJ, ran with a certain joy that was fun to watch and drew me to stay with them over the last couple of miles. As I said goodbye to my pacers around mile 11.5, I caught up with Anthony once we made it back onto Blue Cork for the last half mile sprint to the finish. Though he didn’t know me, he encouraged me to press on as I pulled even with him. I suggested he join me. After the race, Anthony saw I had placed third in my age group and came over and offered a “good race.” We got to chatting and he introduced me to Julia. Julia called Anthony just three weeks before the race and asked him to run this half with her. Both are in shape, but their training for this race was less than three weeks. They finished this half, their first, in the top 35. It’s good to be young, as I recall.

After the race, I met another guy that started out in our pack, postman Daniel Magee. Daniel, a lifelong Democrat from Glenolden, PA, and I talked politics civilly. We didn’t agree about much but it was fun to talk about a country we both believe in.

There was a great outdoor meeting area at Blue Cork. The mid-morning sun was keeping the chill at bay, just right for awards. Live music came from perhaps the best cover band I can recall playing in any of my races on the course or off, including the great music at the New Orleans Rock and Roll, race #2. The Matt Noffsinger Band, from the Jersey Shore, does a lot of music from classic bands you know, but not always the songs everyone else covers. Think Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Allman Brothers “One Way Out,” or songs from Steely Dan and The Police.

The swag was fun and high quality, including a nice long sleeve mid-zip shirt (not Made in China) and medal, a wine stopper and a wine glass…with wine in it! Thanks to Good Day for a Race for a flawless race experience.

One melancholy note: the Cork High and Bottle Deep half marathon will be the last race my favorite single pair of shoes, the Saucony Triumph 18’s. These shoes, worn only on race days, got me through fifteen half marathons, starting August 2022 in West Virginia (race 34). Nebraska followed, then South Carolina, Nevada, Hawaii, California, Montana, North and South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Indiana and New Jersey. I bragged about them to marathon legend Bill Rogers at the Vermont race. They gave me my two most recent personal bests. Alternating with a decent pair of Triumph 20’s, these 18’s will become my trainers for the next 200 or 300 miles. After Triumph 19’s took a step back in comfort and quality, I found online 3 more pairs of 18’s. The first of my remaining 18s will make their debut in June 2024 when, God willing, I finish my 50 states journey in Rhode Island and Maine.

**********

The runners high from this race was not gained through a best performance, but through the great satisfaction of fighting recent sciatic pain while running happily. It stayed with me as I showered, changed, packed and drove 15 minutes down the road to John and Debra Basile’s Monroeville Vineyard and Winery (https://monroevillewinery.com). Sometimes your angels come with benefits.

John and Debra bought the land on which they live and grow grapes in 2009. For the Basile’s, husband, wife and children, winemaking is a generational story, a skill passed down through the old and deep roots of the family tree. Since planting their first vines on four acres, through weather and sweat equity, they have found the grape varieties they nurse into outstanding, in fact award winning, wines: Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Gruner Veltliner and Chardonnay grapes.

But before I knew the Basile’s as winemakers, I found John Basile to be a true man of integrity molded and driven by good family and a deep faith in God. John is a remarkable man, for his empathy and wisdom, for his ability to listen and care and for his generosity of the time he gives to understand. I met John as a co-worker in a job we shared for a few years. He knew the job well and I learned a lot from him. But what I most value from John was his ear to share some interpersonal challenges I was having with colleagues in my region of the country. His insights and guidance changed my entire day-to-day attitude and focus, and gave me confidence and perspective that I couldn’t see in myself before.

God places angels in our path, in the intersections of time and place at the perfect and precise moment they are needed. Angels are real. Now.

It was not a coincidence I chose Cork High, Bottle Deep as my New Jersey run. I chose it to also conveniently see John Basile, to meet his family and see the literal fruits of their labor. After we got to know each other a bit, John humbly spoke of his unique business, placing most of the credit for its success in the hands of Debra, who I now know as Debbie. That is so very John.

They shared their wine (they, and now I, recommend the Chambourcin 2017), paired perfectly with cheese, as we sat down and talked for hours about their business, about our past work, but mostly about family, the Basile family and the Campbell family. I met John’s father Guido, an American from Italy and I wished I had another day just to hear Guido’s stories. I got one peek into his life as he talked about being a child in Italy around the start of World War II. A retired electrician, Guido works side by side with Debbie and John on the farm. John’s mom, Arlene, also works on the farm but was away on the day of my visit. I saw the farm, met the horses and enjoyed the setting sun light up the red leaves in the trees.

Connecting with a good man, an angel, four years ago led me to the Outer Coastal Plain of Southern New Jersey. Here I found other angels, all simply really good people, a rural calm and a fantastic race.

Find your angels. They are everywhere. Acknowledge them. Appreciate, embrace and thank them. And in their glow, be the angel someone else needs.

**********

Stats: 1:48:14, 8:15/mile, 32/350 finishers, 18/84 males, 3/9 M60-69