FOTY: STEVE K

Steve K

What does Beethoven’s Sixth (Pastoral) Symphony, a work composed early in the nineteenth century, have in common with our sport of running and with the New York Flyers? Inquiring Flyers want to know, and I promise to provide you with some answers by the time you have finished reading this blog entry.  For now though, let’s go back in time to some recent events in the twenty-first century…

*     *    *

When I found out that I had been nominated for the Flyer of the Year Award, I felt flattered and stunned. To that end, I send a warm think you to the 2014 Executive Board (Alan, Linda, Pei, Cassandra, and Louie) for my nomination. Now, I feel supremely honored to have been voted Flyer of the Year, and I would like to thank you for your support in choosing me for an award that, prior to my nomination, had not even been on my radar. I felt warmed by your cheers and congratulations at the Gala. Walking up to the podium, while hearing the uplifting strains of the last movement of the Pastoral Symphony was an emotional moment for me, and I consider this award to be my proudest moment as a runner.

I would like to congratulate my fellow Flyer of the Year nominees: Stephanie T, James C, and Douglas R. You all contributed significantly to the club in 2014, and any one of you would have been a worthy recipient of this award. In addition, I must recognize my FOTY predecessor, Scott C. Scott, you are missed (along with your lovely wife Elle), and your role in spearheading the first Laurie Harris race will never be forgotten.

To my SpeedPass coaches, Brian Rosetti and Joe Yates: SpeedPass has played a big role in my recent progress in races, and I owe a big thanks to you guys as well.

Over my sixteen years as a runner, I have made some rather, er, dubious decisions. For example, during my first year of racing, I thought it would be a good idea to try to break 8:00/mile in a 10K for the first time ever…on a sunny, hot and humid summer morning. On the other hand, one of the best decisions I have ever made was to join the Flyers eleven years ago. In appreciating the acknowledgment of my involvement with the club, I’ll say that it’s easy to want to contribute when I have such wonderful and supportive teammates.

Our just-completed 25^th Anniversary year was a tremendous year for our club. I still feel so fiercely proud to be a Flyer when I recall that cold November morning on Roosevelt Island, when we held the second annual Laurie Harris Hope and Dreams 5K. To me, this race speaks of the wonderful spirit and warmth of our club, that dispelled the morning chill, and of Laurie’s grace and courage in facing her disease. The bib you see below, that I displayed at the Gala, is from Laurie’s race, and hangs on my wall along with my other race numbers. As fate, perhaps, placed it at a corner of my wall, I will sometimes reach out and touch it, in tribute to Laurie, as I walk past it.

No matter how I have fared in races, whether I have nailed a challenging goal, or ran through the race at a leisurely pace, I have always appreciated being made to feel a part of this team, and the same holds true when I have been injured. Back in 2009, a horrible fall down a flight of stairs landed me in the hospital with multiple injuries. When I received two Get Well cards with so many of your signatures, I felt touched, and your kindness during that time warms my heart to this day.

*     *    *

Now, what of my promised revelation about the association between Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and our sport? For those not familiar with this masterpiece, completed over 200 years ago, its five movements depict various scenes in the country. The fourth movement is a powerful portrayal of a thunderstorm; the fifth, the beginning of which you heard at the Gala when I received my award, represents the grateful and happy feelings after the storm, and is one of my all-time favorite Classical works.

As I think about it, this music contains multiple connections to running and the Flyers.  While I originally chose this piece for its personal significance – it’s a part of me – I did not realize these links, both general and specific, until the Gala and its aftermath.

First, just as this symphony is timeless, and has endured for centuries, isn’t our sport timeless? Long before sports such as baseball and basketball were invented, weren’t our forebears running, either for recreation…or survival?

In addition, haven’t so many of us, either over a course of a year (when overcoming injury), or during a race (when fighting through a rough patch), weathered, and persevered through our own personal storms and emerged into sunlight, having defeated adversity? Finally, as that last movement can be viewed as an anthem of hope, aren’t the Flyers about hope, in more ways than one?

For those who would like to listen to this symphony, in particular the last two movements, I invite you to check out this link from YouTube by clicking HERE.

The fourth (storm) movement starts at 27:27.

The body of the fifth (joyful) movement begins at 31:33.

In closing, I want to wish all of you the best in attaining your running (or beyond-running) goals this year, whether they are setting a PR, completing a distance for the first time, finishing a triathlon, returning from injury, or simply being out there  running and enjoying this wonderful sport that has brought us all together.

GO FLYERS!

-Steve K