As Dora quoted from vacation a couple of weeks ago, “Whenever he did wake up early, he felt like he was in on a secret, one that those still in bed would never know.”  F3 The Junction officially became part of the secret that is F3 on August 24, 2021.

The inaugural of The Junction saw a muggy day where eight PAX posted with an unknown misery index, but anecdotally it was humid below the canopy of Haverford College.  Father Delco arrived early to officially plant a flag in the concrete jungle parking lot.  His ingenuity in using a tamper rather than sticking a shovel into the grass of the adjacent cemetery was much appreciated for spiritual reverence.  Skeptical PAX were assured that we weren’t going to run through the cemetery even though we all know one of the best running routes in greenspace deficient Delco is Drexel Hill’s Arlington Cemetery.  Fun fact, also location of Father Delco’s first kiss as a youth after a St. Andrew’s beef and beer.

Theme of the day was potential.  New AO with potential to become part of a regular routine for a group of people looking to better themselves (with a side of cardio improvement).  Father Delco, Dora and YHC had been doing an unofficial run the last couple of months, but today we welcomed the support of 5 other HIMs to raise the group’s vitality.  New location that at first blush appears to just be a random parking lot next to a cemetery, but by the end of the run had a beautiful sunrise coming from the east where the city was waking up to second to last Tuesday of the summer.

F3 The Junction is at least initially a running AO where the primary route will be the loop at Haverford College.  From start to back it is 4.65 miles.  But plenty of other potential routes for rucks, etc. if by chance El Toro graces us with his presence one day.  At least for today, the beatdown summary is rather simple — run, follow Father Delco’s “Q strength pace at the start”, and stop running when you get back to the parking lot.  Someone with technology will need to share the elevation of the trek.  Dora modifies up in the 1 mile or so run from his house to the AO.

The new AO references the local train station named Ardmore Junction.  It is part the Route 100 that runs from 69^th Street to Norristown.   A “high speed line” that is not very high nor very speedy.  It is not quite the el/subway of the city nor the Regional Rail lines that spider out to all corners of the Delaware Valley.  In theory it is a fancier cousin to the trolleys that used to be more prevalent traversing Southwest Philadelphia and Southeastern Delco.  It was originally the Philadelphia and Western rail line or “P&W”, which is what you would hear it referred to were it to be mentioned in Mare of Eastown.

Genuine thanks to Father Delco and Dora for starting a new AO.  Thanks to Father Delco for bringing the coffee and Leg Kick with bailing us out with the photo.  Shout out to Lowes, Big Daddy, Trigger, Leg Kick, and Zappos for making the trek.  The route was the same today, but the increased energy illustrated the power of the 2^nd F.

The AO will surely grow and evolve from today.  So here is to the start of a new AO with a blank slate ahead.  Start of school year / Labor Day is always a reset, even for those of us with jobs that don’t get summer off.  Like the new AO of F3 The Junction, we all have the potential to write our own script for the upcoming school year.  Make it a good one.