Dale Matson
At age 71, I am the youngest
member of a group of Fresno California men who have regularly met on Thursday
mornings for over 20 years. I am certain that every city and town in America
has a group of men who regularly meet for morning coffee and chat.
Traditionally we have followed our meet up with a bike ride. It is shorter and
less ambitious than it used to be and some of us no longer do the ride part of
our ritual. I was never a big fan of a cold weather bicycle ride. Isn’t that
why they have exercycles at the fitness center?
What is different about this group is our common continuing
involvement in sports competition in general and triathlons in particular. Most
members are also long time members of the Fresno
Joggers. The Fresno Joggers as a group has aged and their weekly Saturday morning
meet up at Woodward Park now means one lap around the park at a brisk walk. The
breakfast following remains an important part of the ritual.
The Thursday morning group originally met at Chuck Freuler’s
house for coffee and a ride but now meet at a local restaurant called Batter
Up. We usually try to avoid discussing religion and politics because firmly
held opinions have led to sharp disagreements. The main topic of conversation
is the most recent competition results and “war stories” from ancient and
distant competitions. We also offer up the “organ recital” of ongoing physical
maladies and health emergencies.
Some in our group were also race organizers and directors.
Chuck’s opening question to me is always, “What’s your next event?” Most of my
events require a backpack and not a race number these days. This is a group of
men who are still very much in the hunt when it comes to age group victories in this or that event.
Chuck not only was a Hawaii Ironman finisher in his late 50’s,
he won the 85-year-old age group in the sprint triathlon world championships in
London. He was also one of the original organizers of the Two Cities Half
Marathon. Franz Weinschank was the race director for the popular Shaver Lake
Triathlon and was the first 90 year old to finish the annual Merced Triathlon.
Chris Denny has completed over 200 triathlons, finished the grueling 155-mile Climb
To Kaiser bike race in his 60’s and the Boston Marathon in his 70’s. As a
younger man, he competed in both the 2-mile and 10K Woodward Park races on the
same day and won both in his age group. Mark Hayman completed the Western
States 100 Mile Endurance Run, earning a silver buckle for a sub 24-hour
finish. He and Chris have also been involved in rock climbing. Warren Rosenbaum
accomplished the California Triple Crown (3-200mile bike rides in one year) in
his mid 60’s. Others of us, like Bruce
McKee, Walt Brown, while less skilled have similar accomplishments. Franz,
Chris and I have completed the 211-mile John Muir Trail. (They did it as thru
hikers and I did it as a section hiker.)
Perhaps as noteworthy is the fact that while all of us have
had health challenges, we remain engaged in the life of our Fresno community.
Bruce still teaches at Fresno State. Franz finally retired from teaching at
Fresno Community College last year and will have a story published in a
national journal next year. Chuck and Joy are still world travelers as well as
Bruce and his wife. Walt continues to be the editor of the Jogger Newsletter
and keeps up with the latest computer hardware and software innovations. I
became an Anglican Priest following my retirement as a professor.
Chuck hosted his annual Christmas week luncheon get together
for our group and many more who are long time Fresno competitors. There are
less of us than there used to be but most of us stubbornly continue to ‘…run
the good race’.
Click On Photographs To Enlarge
(L To R) Chris and Dale
(LTo R) Mark, Dan, Chris
Warren With Back To Window
(L To R) Bruce, Franz, Phil and Walt
(L To R) Bruce and Chuck
This Photo (Courtesy of Bruce who took the photo) is at our weekly Thursday morning coffee klatch
Left to Right is Franz, Chuck, Dale, Walt, Mark and Chris
Franz Weinschank passed on June 1st at Hinds Hospice at age 92. RIP Franz
ReplyDeleteMark Haymond passed away this week. Mark earned a silver buckle at the Western States 100 mile endurance run. He was a true gentleman and had a wonderful rye sense of humor. RIP Mark
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