NOTE: I've copied my remarks from my original "Comment" along with some editing.
James and family,Thank you for setting this up to remember Bill. He was the consummate encourager and inspirer. Marilyn Rodak expresses the thought well, about him making everyone special. For me, there are so many ODR experiences to remember. I'll share a few:
The 2006 Bull Run Run was cold, wet muddy, and Hillary Cardin's first attempt at the 50-mile distance. Bill was the firm encourager to keep her going; when I passed them with about five miles to go and she was in trouble, Bill stayed with her, and not long after my own completion, here came Bill and Hillary toward the finish, finally smiling at reaching success at the end. Bill always made us WANT to finish, whether it was a race or a particularly grueling Saturday run.
On a lighter note, one summer Saturday run, making our way through Powder Mills Park trails, we pushed through a section barely visible due to being choked with... some type of weed. Then the itching started. You see, we had just taken a trail well-lined with stinging nettles, which some in the unfortunate group had never before experienced. He quipped, with the ever-present smile and twinkle in his eye, "I've taken that path many times before... on XC skis!" We were able to ease the sting with water from handy puddles. And we never did find out if he in fact knew they were there!
Finally, Bill was always pushing himself, always persevering. At Bull Run Run 2003 he twisted his ankle twice, jeopardizing the run. Thankfully, ADK and ODR friend Joe Gilroy was along for support, and in a stroke of luck they shared shoe size. With 30 miles covered and 20 to go, they swapped shoes, BIll putting on Joe's heavy mountain hiking boots. And he power-walked those last 20 to come in 220th of 255 finishers. His years of hiking mountains had turned the injured ankle into a minor inconvenience. He knew how to push forward.
Many more stories to share, I hope many more folks do. There are countless lessons to learn from way he led his life, so, thank you, Hearne Family, for sharing Bill with us. Best regards, Rick Cronise ODR
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