1st Long Distance Runner

Mr. Teed was the first long distance runner I ever saw take to the roads. That was almost 40 years ago, in the high hills not far from the Susquehanna River known as the southern tier in Vestal New York. At the time I was living with my aunt & uncle on Underwood Road. One of his sons was my class mates and so my guess is Mr. Teed was probably 35-40 at the time. I was blown away by this man who ran up our steep road quite religiously, with what seemed little effort. As a nine year old kid, I was amused that an older man would run long distances when he didn't have too. I was impressed by his toughness and self-discipline. He was obviously very fit and as he ran by he'd smile and wave and so I was taken back by the fact that he seemed to enjoy it even. This spectacle unfolded long before long distance running was popular and before marathons could be found nearly every weekend of the year. It was a time when seeing a runner on the roadways was an anomaly. So today I went for a long distance run out in the country. I ran some roads that made me think of Mr. Teed. I sure didn't understand the pleasure he derived from taking on steep roads when I was 9 years old. Today, I think I have a better understanding of his passion for running far in remote places of Broome County. I wonder if he still runs and I wish I could ask him why he started it in the first place. In all likelihood I will probably never know, but I think back on the sight of a silhouette slowly rising up over a quiet country road. It's strange the thoughts that pop in a runners head when he's running on the edge to nowhere.