For Times Gone By

We have been organizing a New Year's Resolution Run for more than a decade now - at least as early as 2004, because I have photographs going back that far.  Most of them have been taken by Bob Sutton, and although he is no longer running with us because of injuries, he showed up faithfully to take another photograph today.  We decided to have our run a day early this year because New Year's Day falls on Sunday and most of the runners in the photograph would have had to choose between going to church and going to run.

I always enjoy this run.  We encourage walkers and ex-runners and dogs, old and young, and it was good to find so many of each gathering at Founders Park in 27-degree temperatures to start (or end in this case) another year with a goal of staying fit.  I started out with the front runners, and then I circled back for the slow, the injured, or the happily walking (because I have been in all of those categories this year), wishing one and all a Happy New Year.  Then I circled back again, and again I passed friends going this way and that way on the frigid streets, finally hooking up with Fred and Jennifer as Fred finished out his 10-mile run - what a warrior he is!

I spent some time looking at all of the photos, remembering past New Year runs in colder temperatures than today, in light rain, in blustery wind - "running about the hillsides."  Here is the earliest one I have, and it was indeed sobering to scan over the faces and remember the sunny days of past years.

Many of the runners in this photo were here again today.  But there are some who are no longer with us, and some who have crossed the final finish line.

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago!

For times gone by, my dear
For times gone by,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For times gone by. 

We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For times gone by.