As it has been some time since I have weighed in, (I am no longer sought out for advice in this new age of Boston partisanship), I felt that as past president of the Pine Belt Pacers that the minority should at least be given a space for rebuttal. But since I was rudely asked to leave the membership table by certain members at the Run For Love last Saturday, I have decided to speak directly to those of you who not only would not run the Boston Marathon even if you’d qualified, but also resent this new movement toward having to be in perfect shape to hang around the rest of the members.

In the beginning, the Pine Belt Pacers were nothing more than a rag-tag group of washed-up high school athletes, many of whom had divorced or otherwise experienced some such unfortunate setback. The core group bonded based on the fact that we were all basically losers, more or less, and were happy just being friends. I guess I am the only one of that group who remembers his roots, so to speak, since all the rest are now disciples of the great Jim Coll. Now, all we hear is how great it is in "Boston" and "Moab" and other such exotic locations. (I remember when we used to talk about how only sissies went to Boston, even if it was because we knew there was no way we could qualify to run in its marathon...) Personally, I think it is a shame that the Good Ole Boy, the Mississippi, and the Austin Marathons to name a few- they are now just "hokey" races, to hear the current administration tell it.

What ever happened to "balancing the budget" and fiscal responsibility? (I hear that there is talk of raiding the club treasury to finance the magnificent seven’s trip to Boston.) Back in the old days, we scraped up enough change and wrote hot checks to cover entry fees and gasoline, and stayed four or five to a room when we went to races. Now the leadership rides around in convertibles, works in big jobs at the university, and ponders what new deli or coffee house may be opening in town. Time was when we celebrated the end of long runs at places like Clyde Depot or Jackson Road on the Longleaf Trace by an ice chest at the back of a worn-out pickup.

Let me close by saying on behalf of the silent minority of those who quietly pay their dues that we will return to power soon. (I am busy collecting proxies for the next election.) Notwithstanding the fact that no less than three lawyers have been added to the club lately- they are legal lightweights by the way- I am planning a coup wherein I will install my own officers and oust the current leadership. Until that time, I ask that you join me in supporting the current administration, but also demand a return to the principles that the Pine Belt Pacers club was founded upon.

Run (away), for your life…

Anonymous