VHTRC Board Candidate Statement of Paul Blackman

Thirty-nine years ago, when four of the current candidates for VHTRC board were nearing middle age, a Supreme Court nomination was defended on the grounds that the mediocre were entitled to representation. In that light, I’m the candidate for the VHTRC board representing the minimally involved and qualified – although I have attempted, usually unsuccessfully, to complete several VHTRC events, and have done (almost) annual trail maintenance and other volunteer work. In the ‘80s, I was an above-average ultrarunner – especially on roads and tracks – once running the last 12 miles of a JFK with Anstr, resulting in his best time ever. As a reward, since I devolved into an ultrajogger in the ‘00s, Anstr has respectfully accepted my private kibitzing about VHTRC activities for several years. In a sense, I see my role as board member: to have my kibitzing be constructive, to make the best website I’ve ever seen even easier for computer illiterates (like me) to use; to increase the fanaticism of proofreading our pubic public statements; and, like many other old fogeys, gradually to spend more time giving back to the sport in which I can no longer compete so it retains its appeal to our younger betters – while still encouraging our occasional feeble efforts.