Jerry was known by many, well beyond where he lived. He was special. When you met him, you knew he was supporting all runners at all levels, You couldn't help but reach down a little bit and move it up a notch when you ran in one of his events "just because." You knew as soon as you met him that Jerry had a lot of friends. Jerry knew famous people but those people were more excited to meet him. Jerry from what I understand started thousands of people into running, biking, and a desire to be more healthy. You know those Dos Equis commercials that are on all sports events? They're not true. Jerry was the original, "Most interesting man in the world." He had an equal partner that supported him every step of the way whether on the roads or in developing a very successful Subaru Racing Series or so many other events in life, his wife Jody. They were Paul and Linda. In many ways Ricky and Lucy. They were never Liz and Richard Burton. That wasn't possible.
I can't explain why but yesterday after my "Rod Stewart Moment," I thought about Jerry. Unfortunately Jerry unexpectedly passed away while on a morning run in November 2011. As fit as Jerry was, all who knew him were shocked at the news of his passing. I don't want to present myself as a long time friend or acquaintance. I was not. I only knew him for one week but Jerry did however have a significant impact on my life. He created Cruise to Run or C2R which was essentially going on a cruise ship and stopping at ports and having running events at each port. But it was much more than that. Jerry fostered long lasting and sometimes lifelong relationships between independent people, in this case runners. Not always, but mostly, Jerry had a sincere or encouraging smile on his face. His creation, C2R. gave me friends like Ken and Bonnie Anderson, Tom and Cathy Hopkins, Ron and Helene Horn, Adam and Pamela Bercovici, Dick and Jill Beardsley, Sarah Reinertsen, the Newton family, and so many others including Joan Howieson. These are all really good people who I got to know over a short period of time. There are so many others who have had a significant effect on me, I just can't name them all right now. Of these, when I had to make the most critical business decision of my professional career, the person I turned to was Joan Howieson who has fans in my daughter and the Boss. Somehow I just knew based on her background and her business acumen that she would give me the right advice and the backbone I needed. I never would have met Joan if it wasn't for Jerry and Jody and C2R. I model my current running style after Cathy Hopkins. Cathy's style is really quite simple, Train. Relax. Enjoy. Keep moving. Smile and don't take crap off of anybody.
On a visit to Pennsylvania, Jerry and his dear friend Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer at Runner's World Magazine, went on a long cross country bike ride. Their stories at cruise dinners were great and funny. I believe many of them to be true! Bart and Jerry were like brothers. Many folks thought on first blush that they may be twins. Bart and Jerry are pictured below with their friend Mike Dunphy, also from Canada.
Today, in honor of Jerry's memory, as almost a prayer, I wanted to go run in my favorite running trail. No watch. No IPod. No special story. Just run. If every picture does tell a story, the next one of Tallmadge Meadows this morning says it all.
It was raining when I left home for Tallmadge Meadows and the Munroe Falls Woods. The fresh smell of the wet summer meadow flowers and grass reminded me of a Cape Cod morning. The rain had stopped. Of course it did. There was a slight chill in the air. It was perfect morning to go out for a run. A couple miles were all that were required. A couple miles were all that were needed today period. As I moved through the tall grass and over the bridges that crossed the culverts of the meadows, each stride seemed to have some sort of a thoughtful purpose. I reflected on all of the good that I knew of that Jerry had done in his life. He is still loved today by those who truly knew him. You can't talk about him and not smile.
Of all the runs in this journey I have been on so far, today would be the shortest and this would be my favorite. As I disappeared into the woods and passed a large swamp like area, you could hear the frogs, the birds, the critters in the woods, and the gentle sound of my feet tracking along the trail bed. I took one picture today. That was enough. It said it all. Jerry's favorite song was, "Free Bird." I was never more free on a run than I was today. No watch. No IPod. No problems. I only knew the man for one week and he had that kind of an impact on me. You never know how much a supportive comment, a smile, or a word of encouragement can mean to someone no matter how long you know them. I moved it up a notch this morning, "just because." Thank you Jerry.
Peace.
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