Billings Blog
There’s no better way to start blogging than with the Josh Billings RunAground, an event that seems to encapsulate the athletic spirit of the Berkshires.
With few athletes that go on to play Division 1 sports in college, and far fewer that reach the professional level, it’s recreational athletes that carry along Berkshire County’s zest for sports.
At the Josh, camaraderie overrides competition. The only thing more important than fitness is fun. It’s an attitude that prevails in athletes throughout the region.
Once again, this year’s version — my second as an Eagle employee (and last, if race director Patty Spector gets her way and transforms me into a competitor before next year) — brimmed with a fun-loving attitude.
There were plenty of impressive performances: The ironmen who lived up to their titles simply by finishing, the new champions, Heaven’s Devils (including three locals), who my co-worker Howard Herman wrote about, and the group of 60-year-old women who became the first such group ever to complete the Josh.
Perhaps most impressive, and important, of all, were the presence (and performance) of some notable youngsters.
Pittsfield’s Mike Dooley and daughter Tara competed in the 2-person mixed division, a classification open to all ages.
At the age of 13, Tara was the first competitor in the class to cross the finish line.
Dooley had originally planned to have Tara complete one leg of the race with him, hoping to instill a desire to return next year. But when their third teammate dropped out, he asked his daughter to carry a larger share of the load.
They paddled throughout the summer to prepare Tara for her first try at the Josh.
“Most kids her age wouldn’t even be out here,� Mike Dooley said after the race. “I don’t know what other 13-year-olds are doing. I’m very proud of her.�
Spector was likely just as proud. Before the race began, Spector said that her goal was to get more youth athletes involved in the Josh, in an effort to ensure it continues growing in the future.
In Tara, Spector has had at least one success.
“It was fun,� Tara Dooley said with a shy smile after finishing the race. “I want to do it again next year.�