May 2019
  
 Finally, May is here
 Let’s utter a cheer
 The snow is gone
 We see our lawn!
  
 Winter stays too long
 We need more birdsong
 And a bright early dawn
 Hmm, is winter really gone?
  
 Now, if when you read this
 It’s snowing then please hiss
 May snow is out of bounds
 As we make our road rounds. 
  
 Memorial Day is summer season
 And do we need another reason
 For a vacation and driving away
 On or before that May 27 day?
  
 Yes, May, 2019 is welcomed back
 By many including the road pack
 Finally we enjoy spring weather
 While strolling along green heather.
  
                     George A. Hancock 
 
 Spring Cleanup
  
 Wow, look at all those bags
 Filled full and some with tags
 Other trash is stacked beside
 Picked up, harvested with pride.
  
 April and May see road projects
 Where full bags are the subjects
 Various groups clean the roads
 Insuring many trash-free episodes.
  
 This road trash is really incredible
 And for most critters never edible
 If not picked up, it just stays there
 Decaying slowly and creating despair.
  
 I run along SR 160 for several miles
 Trotting past bags with big smiles
 Thank you for cleaning this road
 Those many bags are a truckload.
  
 The tires and trash are again gone
 Spring cleanup is never a road con
 Maybe one day there’s less work
 With trash-free roads a nice perk!
  
                  George A. Hancock
  
        Warmer
  
 Ah, May is now warm
 And outside folks swarm
 Running along the road
 Enjoying a spring episode.
  
 The daily runner again smiles
 Since the sun warms his miles 
 Gone are the icy cold forays
 That dominated winter days.
  
 We cleaned and stored the gear
 That dispels most winter fear
 Now dressed in Tee and shorts
 We enjoy our running sports.
  
 May’s wind is a gentle breeze
 And we run along quite at ease
 The sun drenches our road scene
 Now colored with a lusher green.
  
 More folks are up and outside
 Truly enjoying May’s spring ride
 This runner smiles and runs on
 Viewing a delightful spring dawn.
  
                George A. Hancock  
April 2019
  
 The year is moving along
 While spring grows strong
 More green spreads out
 Across my warmer route. 
  
 April’s drier roads a plus
 Without ice there’s no fuss
 Soon even this anti-skid
 Is removed from our grid.
  
 Easter arrives on April 21
 Will the sun shine a ton?
 Or will that dreaded snow
 Create a wintry show?
  
 Can a runner outrun a tax?
 A question burning in wax
 Of course, many get a refund
 And spend it or save to a fund.
  
 Running now on any April day
 See more sun than that gray
 That populated a winter day
 And that sight earns a Hooray! 
  
              George A. Hancock 
  
  
       More Rain 
  
 You heard that old refrain
 About the end of April rain
 April showers bring May flowers
 That bloom by the spring hours.
  
 Now running in the spring rain
 Is generally warmer so no pain
 As with an Arctic wintry blast
 That slows us from running fast.
  
 However, we’re seeing more rain
 So those areas in the floodplain 
 Become dangerous to run through
 Run weather-aware or bid adieu!
  
 Four years of above average rain
 Have drenched our local plane
 I often run by uprooted trees
 On many long-distance sprees.
  
 We need time to slowly dry out
 In many areas on my road route
 A rain balance is what we need
  If not weather aware, take heed! 
  
            George A. Hancock 
  
  
    Easter
  
 April 21 is Easter Sunday
 For many a religious day
 For others candy on the way
 Still more family dinners are OK.
  
 Easter and spring go together 
 They bring us this green heather
 Our greening road scene is nice
 Get outside is always solid advice.
  
 A later Easter is a happy thing
 The songbirds are known to sing
 About these days devoted to spring
 With sun, warm temps, and zing.
  
 Sure, April snow could fall 
 But, we still road run tall
 Mother Nature’s on a course
 And winter folks feel remorse.
  
 Did I mention the Easter candy?
 Chocolate bunnies are so handy
 A bite or two after a spring run
 Is really delicious Easter fun.
  
 George A. Hancock  

     March 2019
  
 Have you seen green clover?
 Winter’s record days are over
 Meteorological spring’s here
 Let’s utter a thankful cheer! 
  
 Of course, fresh snow will fall
 Perhaps even drift very tall
 But time is again on our side
 Get outside, no need to hide.
  
 March brings nice spring days
 And cold, it’s a seasonal phase
 The March winds bring change
 The road view is never strange.
  
 The daily roadster views a scene
 Steadily growing a rich green
 Sometimes a morning run is raw
 Complete with a very cold paw.
  
 March is my birthday and spring
 Now we hear those birds sing
 They chirp and warble a song
 About warm days growing long.
  
              George A. Hancock
  
          Spring
  
 March brings us spring days
 Often with warm sunny rays
 Even the March rain is warm
 And outdoors folks will swarm.
  
 The woodland critters now move
 Spring creates a perfect groove
 They bustle and scurry about
  Along our March road route. 
  
 The birds have also flown back
 These critters have the knack
 Of knowing when winter’s done
 And when to enjoy spring fun.
  
 The warm sun melts the snow
 Soon creating a green show 
 The sun, rain, and warmer days
 Earn from many seasonal praise.
  
 We bid winter a firm adieu 
 Only a few cry a boo-hoo
 It’s time we move along
 Winter’s stay is always long.
  
          George A. Hancock 
  
      Road Shale
  
 Running on untreated roads
 Creates miserable episodes 
 Those icy spots are very slick
 The untreated ice grows thick.
  
 Road shale is spread down
 By trucks all around town
 Also road salt is used too
 But it brings a big boo-hoo.
  
 Salt is a corrosive agent spread
 On roads, but with great dread
 Salt will eat materials away
 Despite its good on a snowy day.
  
 So, shale or cinders are in play
 During an icy snowstorm day
 Shale provides traction thrills
 Avoiding those upsetting spills.
  
 Shale remains after the snow melt
 Sweeping it is a chore we’re dealt 
 Soon the machines sweep it up
 Allowing us to run like a pup.
  
                  George A. Hancock  
February 2019
  
 February’s a shorter run
 Sometimes with nice sun
 More often with white snow
 By now a dreaded late show.
  
 Old Phil gave us his view
 And many hurled a shoe
 Disrespecting his forecast
 That leaves half aghast. 
  
 Valentine’s Day is here 
 Each new year with less cheer
 President’s Day is the same
 Holiday for a few is the game.
  
 We all celebrate more light
 Daylight really now takes flight
 Despite the cold, the light’s nice
 Now we can see that tricky ice.
  
 Quickly February’s run is gone
 We’re viewing a March dawn
 A new season is at the door
 With a warmer weather score.
  
                 George A. Hancock
  
 Soon!
  
 February is a short run
 Blink and it’s all done
 28 days never last long
 It’s a very simple song.
  
 It’s the last winter run
 Goodbye to snowy fun
 Some see March snow
 But it’s a spring show.
  
 Crows are active now
 Their caw earns a wow
 Crows know garbage day
 Those bags hold food pay.
  
 Stores hold spring sales
 They’re coming in gales
 Maybe new running shoes
 Will end those wintry blues.
  
 Increased daylight is great
 Dark running slows the gait
 Fully viewing the road scene
 Helps us see spring green.
  
        George A. Hancock 
  
  Gentle Snow
  
 A blizzard if it’s ice scream
 Is more of what folks dream
 A blizzard in blinding snow
 Is never a fun February show.
  
 'Ya know by winter’s end
 Folks look around the bend
 They want a warmer spring
 Weather with a sunny zing.
  
 Any gentle fluffy snow is nice
 Not dark days of frozen ice
 Or wind driven drifting snow
 That makes running very slow.
  
 Each season is only so long
 Is my persistent road song
 Sometimes winter will stay
 Creating a miserable road fray. 
  
 A light dusting on the grass
 Is great without the harass
 It’s time, we need to move on
 We want that spring dawn.
  
        George A. Hancock 

 
RG
  
 A new RG has come to town,
 It’ll make you smile, and
 Erase that frown.
  
 Our own Mz. Freddi
 Has done her proud.
 She’ll attract new eyes, and
 A whole new crowd.
  
 With stories and poems and
 Race results, too,
 With pictures galore of
 Runners like you.
  
 I have just one problem,
 With no smart phone,
 I won’t be able to read it
 On the porcelain throne!
  
                  Sal Citarella  

 
December Roads
 The morning run is dark
 Daylight is not on my lark
 We see December’s delights
 Thanks to several street lights. 
 
Sometimes the morning’s cold
 So only a few seek the gold
 Found in running every day
 The road sights are great pay.
 
Christmas displays are in place
 Creating for me a happy face
 Dazzling lights, Christmas things
 Are perfect as the wind flings.
 
And yes, sometimes the snow
 Falls creating a seasonal show
 That on a quiet morning thrills
 Our road crew beating the chills.
 
The December roads are nice
 Excluding that nasty black ice
 Warm spells the past few years
 Has lessened weather fears.
        George A. Hancock
 
Christmas Cookies
 Christmas cookies are great
 But they do suffer a sad fate
 My wife bakes them small
 So, we tend to eat them all.
 
The cookies are a sweet treat
 And thrills this road athlete
 Chewing them without guilt
 Is part of the Christmas quilt.
 
There are so many great types
 All deserving the holiday hypes
 Even the road-running rookie
 Appreciates a Christmas cookie. 
 
Of course, savor them over time
 Eating them all is a Christmas crime
 Eating these cookies on a January day
 Does help that winter gray go away. 
 
Hooray! It’s Christmas cookie time
 Often heralded in song and rhyme
 Yes, please have one after your run
 Like me here in the morning sun.
              George A. Hancock  
December Snow
 The weather changes into snow
 Now we find a different show
 It’s early before the traffic flow
 And this snow emits a faint glow.
 
Maybe this early December snow
 Is special, do we really know? 
 Fresh snow near twinkling lights
 Adds plenty to our Christmas sights.
 
Motorists forget that their car
 Speeding will not travel very far
 New snow lacks good traction
 Sliding away is a distraction.
 
December snow is pretty inside
 But outside a tricky road ride
 This guy dons his winter spikes
 And runs along minus the Yikes! 
 
Often December’s snow scene
 Completely covers our green
 But lately it never lasts long
 Despite that Christmas song.
      George A. Hancock 
 
Rambling Roads: A Christmas Wish
 By George A. Hancock
 runnergah@comcast.net 
 
Once again we turn the page
 And find December’s stage
 Our last 2018 month is here
 Many will utter a loud cheer.
 
This was a very raucous year
 So many events made us jeer
 And we lost so many friends
 The Good Byes are sad trends.

 Mother Nature was a force
 Her storms were on course
 Locally, so much rain fell
 That mold began to smell.
 
The creeks flowed very high
 Earning another loud sigh
 Some topped their banks
 Yep, local flooding ranks. 
 
And then autumn was warm
 And outside people swarm
 Are these summer days?
 We asked beneath the rays.
 
Autumn remained very green
 Gone was that colorful scene
 Runners eye along the road
 While relishing fall’s episode. 
 
Toss in that mid-term election
 And many folks seek protection
 From the awful rancid words 
 Hurled by the campaign herds. 
 
Finally it’s the Christmas season
 Now we have a great reason
 To get outside and explore
 Fabulous lights beyond our door.
 
Despite the lack of white snow
 We find a perfect Christmas show
 In many communities, in the parks
 Nicely decorated for our road larks.
 
Christmas is hectic but also calm
 This season is a soothing balm
 For our twisted, tortured souls
 Just like our daily road strolls.
 
So, what is our Christmas wish?
 A delicious mouthwatering dish?
 A double chocolate mint cookie?
 Or a getaway maybe work hooky?
 
No, our Christmas wish is simple
 Designed to please a facial dimple
 We need a TIME OUT here and now
 So, please stow your petty scowl. 
 
Well, what do you mean TIME OUT?
 Isn’t that for kids after a loud rout? 
 Well duh, this is what we mean
 Many people created a bad scene.
 
Many have stopped sharing, caring 
 Their nasty words so overbearing
 They uttered words plainly cruel
 Yes, it’s time for many to refuel.
 
And Christmas is the perfect time
 To stop, pause before this crime
 Of malicious hate becomes a fate
 Considered by many as first rate. 
 
Yes, Peace and Goodwill thrill
 Steadily erasing this cold chill
 We need kindness all year long
 Often repeated in Christmas song. 
 
Many homes are decorated in lights
 Creating so many endless delights
 The blustery cold morning is gone
 With dazzling display lights at dawn.
 
Despite daylight shrinking these days
 Christmas decorations provide displays
 Of brilliant, cheerful illuminating light
 That daily electrify our running flight. 
 
I noticed while running, a friendly wave
 Plus a smile makes many folks behave
 Many motorists will wave and honk
 Dispelling for a time our political zonk. 
 
It’s OK to disagree on various things 
 That’s normal but this rancor stings
 Civility is a quality never out of style
 Even in a packed Christmas store aisle. 
 
I have a simple Christmas season wish
 Please dial back the words on your dish
 A Time Out soothes the weary soul
 And refreshes those on a Christmas stroll.
 
A Time Out is a perfect Christmas gift
 Because our passing days are swift
 Soon we’re back to the daily grind
 And once again many are snow blind.
 
December 2018 steadily slipped away
 As the runner enjoys his morning foray
 It’s cold, windy but the roads are dry
 The runner ponders and asks why?