April Treasures

"The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong
Find some treasure in a field, and in the treasure find a song"

As April flies by, I used this Sunday's sending song to encapsulate all the treasures from another whirlwind month. In no particular order...

Donut Daughter

This past Saturday's Donut Dash in Indiana was a triumphant 3.1 miles. I will hold on to the image of my 2-year-old licking all the chocolate icing off a donut during mile 2. As I attacked the course with the stroller, she attacked that donut. In the end, we took home the prize for Fastest Stroller and she looked like she was hit with a chocolate water balloon. I treasure these Dad-daughter events and how excited she was when she got her hands on her first trophy. My wife cheered us on every stroll of the way. Our infant did not cheer, but showed family support by snuggling her mother.

A Connected Community

Our Mother of Sorrows, Saint Michael's, and Café Sundays @ Mill House Café continue to shape my spiritual identity. They are places I enjoy taking my kids. They are places where I have created relationships and strengthened others. There have been a lot of uplifting experiences that I have had in Johnstown since starting this blog. Many of the those experiences have occurred within this connection of believers. One of the most memorable was the Easter Vigil at OMOS. The music that night was not only a tribute to a belief, but a demonstration of how when people come together, amazing things can be seen and heard.

Ballerina's

This past Friday our family went to one of our favorite Johnstown spots to eat - Gallina's in downtown Johnstown. My 2-year-old misidentified the restaurant as Ballerina's. We carbo loaded and successfully fueled up for the Donut Dash. In a heavy Italian accent, Gallina's owner congratulated us on our growing family. Thank you Gallina's for great family meals.

The Road Ahead

It is hard to believe that this weekend is the last stand for April 2017. What is not hard to believe is that positivity can be found all around if you are willing to look. Next up on the racing calendar is the 34th Annual Johnstown Christian School 5000 Meter (5K) Classic. It is at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13th. Jogging strollers are welcomed.

Get out and experience Johnstown and the surrounding area. Find your treasure.

Running & Treats

Any type of movement and any type of treat seems to satisfy my two-year-old. At 33, I find similar satisfaction in getting going and refueling. This April, we are attacking the streets and the sweets together.

This past Saturday was the 10th edition of the Wings of Hope. This 5K/10K race in Richland is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their battle to cancer and to local residents still fighting. As I laced up on Saturday morning, I thought about my uncle who is fighting that fight. It was perfect weather to get out and run and to appreciate the physical health that makes each mile possible. A perfect race to think about Uncle Pep as I chugged along.

While the 5K is familiar territory for this road runner, I am a newbie to the stroller run. Wings of Hope was the Stephenson stroller debut. I have put a lot of miles on it, but none on the run. The first precaution I took was to remove my daughter's shoes. I feared she would kick them off in a fit of excitement or protest. She needed to sit back, put on her sunglasses and let Dad drive. And to her credit, she gave me 25 minutes of cooperation and camaraderie.

In the initial seconds of the run, she exclaimed a plane was in the sky. Dozens of runners heard this news update. Once the race opened up, she stuck to some unintelligible self-talk and sporadic "Go Dad" inspirations.  Down the stretch, I could feel and see her wiggling around. With huff-and-puff instruction, I tried my best to motivate her to stay put. You do not want to be the Stroller Dad whose kid falls out. She hung on. 

My wife and youngest daughter were there to watch our final turn. Mission accomplished. And now, the treats. 

Some, if not all, the calories burned in a 5K can quickly be loaded back on. Wings of Hope had a nice spread. I went with a blueberry muffin and pecan roll. Daughter dearest went with a pink Easter bunny cookie. We did it. 

Each year, Wings of Hope is a well organized and worthy cause. It makes me appreciate my health, my family, and a community that knows how to rally around a meaningful pursuit. Some of the money raised at this event will go towards helping local cancer patients. If you are out there, keep fighting. 

Easter was the next day and this led to a bombardment of candy. Then, Shaffer's Frosty Freeze opened on Tuesday. This was the 60th season of Shaffer's. People were lined up almost on to Somerset Pike to get some soft serve. It looked like a line to a rock concert or the premiere roller coaster at the amusement park. If you drive by Shaffer's, it is just a shack in gravel. If you have Shaffer's ice cream, you've tasted a Johnstown landmark. It has stood the test of time and my wife stood in line for over a half hour to get our teaberry and chocolate/banana treats. I explored the parking lot during that half hour with the two-year-old who was given back her shoes. She was determined to walk a 5K around Shaffer's. 

Alas, this weekend is the Donut Dash. 

https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Indiana/2017IndianaDonutDash

This race combines a good cause with one of the most notorious not-good-for-you foods. It benefits teens in Indiana County attending a camp this summer. I benefit from it because my daughter and I get another 3.1 miles together with guaranteed treats no matter our time. 

At some point, running satisfaction might dwindle and my doctor might recommend to cut back on the treats. 

But for now, its sweet. 

Have a Wonderful Easter

Sending song:  "When I survey the wondrous cross"


This Easter season I find myself wondering and wandering through parenting. Two bunny rabbits in the home makes the adventure even more adventurous.

One of the most shocking moments of my fatherhood occurred right before Easter 2015. My eldest daughter was only a few months old. Minutes after she spent her first moment sitting a top the Easter Bunny, I sang to her while my wife and mother-in-law went to get brunch. They would be right back. There I was - just a bouncing Dad in a pastel plaid shirt with his baby. I could not believe I was at Sunnehanna Country Club for brunch, let alone serenading my daughter. Lost in my thoughts, my mind wandered.

And then it happened.

She pooped all over me.

It was an explosion. Somehow, someway, the diaper did not do its job. While my wife was preparing her plate, I was panicking. Ultimately, we survived. I had to go home and change my shirt. And pants. I think I changed my socks just to be safe.

This will be my second daughter's first Easter. I am hoping she does not try to top her sister's unexpected-time-bomb poop. But if it happens, I'm an experienced father.

For thousands across Johnstown and millions around the world, I hope Easter is a positive, uplifting celebration. Like parenting, the cross is truly wondrous. Over the past two years, my mind has wandered many a time - grateful for my faith and family. I think back and laugh at what was the 2015 Easter catastrophe. In a weird way, I now think of it as a blessing.

As I continue to survey the cross and my life as a Dad, I'll use gratitude as my guide.

Have a wonderful Easter.

Pick Your Battles

Running and music continue to enrich my life. On the first day of April, the combination of the two was a true victory.

In the neighboring county of Indiana, the Road Runners organized the Fool's Run. The Indiana Road Runners Club has been around since the 1980s and this was the 39th time for Fools to Run. With a touch of chill and mist, a 5K and 10K took off into the Indiana streets. This Dad is all about 5Ks. I've got 10K in my wheelhouse; however, after a 10K I might find myself aching around the house. 5K Fool I am.

It was my first time on this course and the uphill challenge of Mile 2 was no surprise for us spring chickens running the race. This is because we ran down the hill during Mile 1. More like a wise man, I paced myself in order to complete the climb. When I saw the finish line, I sprinted to the finish. The first run of the 2017 season was in the books.

And since Positive Johnstown is a fact-based blog, I must write that I finished in first place in the illustrious 30-34 year old male division.

(Hold writing for Applause)

Additional fact: I was the only 30 to 34 year old male out of the 71 5K participants.

(Continue to Applaud)

This was the perfect start to my running season. When I returned to my household of ladies, we took a powerful nap. My 2-year-old covered me like a blanket. I may have sweat more during that nap than in the 5K. My wife had the luxury of our 2-week-old; 20+ pounds lighter and much less squirmy.

Upon coming to our senses, my wife asked if I would go on a date with her for Battle of the Acoustics. I assumed she was still dreaming as we have two small children. The only music we have listened to lately is an endless stream of Moana ballads. She explained that her mother offered to watch both rugrats in order for us to go into battle. I fired up the Subaru.

Flood City Cafe continues to be a rock of positivity in the city. We walked into a packed venue for local musicians to let it fly. There was a countdown clock and a bunch of caffeinated people surrounding the stage. Eight different acts performed covers and original songs. From Stevie Wonder to Nelly. Fuel to Queen. Guitars. Harmonicas. Feet stomps. Coffee spills. Laughing kids. Serious looking judges. Serious looking parents when the coffee spilled.

It was awesome.

Not only did we get out of the house, but we saw and heard the best that Johnstown has to offer. Those performances and that crowd was a trail mix of positivity. I don't know where everyone came from and where they returned to, but it was Flood City fun. Musicians offered messages of loving your neighbor, finding connection with others, and singing the songs that have stood the test of time.

My wife and I sung the songs we knew and enjoyed the ones we never heard before. When we returned to parenting, our rockstar daughters were having separate concerts. One was performing a cry for milk. The other was recording a gibberish soundtrack. Best performances of the night.

Every time I run a race, I listen to that initial sound of feet hitting the pavement. It does not matter why you are running, you are a part of that rhythm. To the 70 other fools, thanks for coming out. And thank you to all the people who clapped as one during the Battle of the Acoustics. While on the move and in my seat, I was proud to be in the crowd.

I am blessed with the health to run and blessed by those who can carry a tune, play the guitar, and inspire others through music. I'll stick to learning Moana songs.

Go out and support local races and music. If you are not a runner, walk. If you do not like to walk, cheer. If you play an instrument, find a venue. Flood City Cafe is dynamite.

Thank you Indiana Road Runners, Flood City Cafe, and each and every act in the Battle of the Acoustics. I got up early to write this blog before my rockstars arose.

Pick your battles.

And looking ahead...

For 2017, I'd like to preview the next race in my running calendar. Hopefully, this will inspire others to sign up and be a part of the race day community. If you are reading this and are a man between 30-34 years old, bring it on.

The Wings of Hope 5K/10K is scheduled for 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 15th. I do this event each year. Great course. Great cause. I plan on running this one with my 2-year-old daughter in a stroller. This is a warning.

Hope to see you there.