It’s like the Pirates’ home opener. I’m sitting in the bleacher seats, a hot dog in one hand, beer in the other. The outfield grass is green and alive with possibility, and the faint, moist scent of hope carries on a breeze from the river. I tip back my head, close my eyes to the sun and think World Series.

Or it’s like the first day of school. I’m wearing a new starched shirtwaist plaid dress, as are most of my fourth-grade friends. Mine is a back-to-school gift from my grandma and the product of an annual trip to Gimbel’s department store in the city.

The teacher tries to focus our attention, but she competes with the last of summer streaming in the open window. I’m drawn not to the window, but to the well-worn books on the bottom shelf. I long to disappear into the worlds of imagination hidden within the musty and dog-eared pages.

Or it’s like opening day of trout season. I’m chilly and slightly bleary-eyed and from lack of sleep after a late night of retelling fishing stories. I trudge down the rocky path to the spot I know so well I could fish it blindfolded.

I hold my breath and plunge my fingers into a plastic cup of wriggling maggots. Two juicy ones threaded on a gold hook, a spiderweb thin line and a flick of the wrist offers a prayer for dinner.

It’s like all of those — only it’s running. It’s the first day of marathon training, one of the best days of the year.

I laid out my clothes the night before and checked my alarm clock twice —- can’t be late. Right on time, 7:40 a.m., Mom pulls into my driveway and we head to the morning run.

The weather is typical for January, but I know I’ll have company for the run. The 15 degrees with two inches of snow on the ground is the best first day of training the group has faced in three years.

Nearly a dozen runners gather in the warmth at 8 a.m., sorting out distances, routes and partners so no one runs alone. Although we’re eager to begin, we’re not looking forward to stepping into the winter morning.

Finally someone heads for the door and the rest follow like horses being led from the barn. And, like horses, we begin our loping gallop down the frozen road.

While we’ve all bolted from the gate, the first hill settles our pace to something more sustainable. We quickly break into groups of like-minded and like-paced runners.

Then it’s casual conversation along with our steady breathing. We catch up on what’s happened over the holidays, our families, our work. Enough conversation to pass the time and the miles until we step into the warmth once again.

One by one, runners stomp through the door, peeling off hats, gloves and layers.

Over hot coffee and snacks, we mentally check marathon training day No. 1 off the schedule and vow to meet next week.

It’s been a day of hopes renewed, goals revisited, plans revised — and a day that’s marked the difference between “I could have” and “I will.”

Upcoming eventsSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.comJan. 22, 11 a.m.: Chilly Cheeks Challenge 5-Mile or 10-Mile, Buhl Farms Park, Hermitage. 724-456-2373 or bonnherb@yahoo.comJan. 29, 9 a.m.: Miles for Smiles 5K Run-Walk, Morgantown, W.Va. 304-541-6876 or kdolin@mix.wvu.eduFeb. 12, 8:30 a.m.: Community Options Cupid’s Chase 5K, North Park. 412-431-7079Feb. 12, 10 a.m.: Valentine Prediction Race, Presque Isle State Park, Erie. Racewalkers welcome, no watches please. 814-774-3209 or dana@erie-runnersclub.orgFeb. 26, 10 a.m.: Spring Thaw, North Park. Choice of 10, 15 or 20 miles. 412-490-0881 or ksmith@eliterunners.com

Race results

Harmony Silvester 5K, Dec. 31: Eric Geddis, 1st Overall M, 16:38; Nate Alter, 3rd Overall M, 17:03; Lisa Chilcotte, 1st Overall W, 19:22; Leslie Kramer, 2nd Overall W, 20:13; Lauren McKinney, 3rd Overall W, 21:04; Grant Baron, 1st 15-19 M, 17:23; Nick Minich, 2nd 15-19 M, 17:48; Braden Davis, 1st 20-29 M, 18:16; Rich Marcotte, 2nd 30-39 M, 18:43; Colin Theis, 1st 14 and under M, 18:51; Dan Monhemius, 3rd 30-39 M, 19:05; Tim Wyant, 1st 40-49 M, 19:09; Rich Makin, 2nd 50-59 M, 19:31; Lee Stough, 3rd 20-29 M, 19:32; Andrew Seiuto, 2nd 14 and under M, 20:15Brett Foster, 3rd 14 and under M, 20:39; Holly Bauer, 1st 30-39 W, 21:27; Sarah Thompson, 1st 20-29 W, 21:30; Monica Duffell, 2nd 20-29 W, 21:41; Emily Helbling, 1st 15-19 W, 21:55; Ashley Crawford, 2nd 15-19 W, 22:04; Susan Moury, 1st 40-49 W, 22:16; Heather Healy, 2nd 40-49 W, 22:28; Kate Robb, 1st 14 and under W, 22:30; Christy Monnie, 3rd 15-19 W, 22:34Dorothy Moxie, 3rd 40-49 W, 22:46; David Adams, 3rd 60-69 M, 24:00; Katie Lutz, 2nd 14 and under W, 24:18; Bridget Ray, 1st 50-59 W, 24:46; Cindy Waltemire, 2nd 50-59 W, 25:24; Megan Pudlo, 3rd 14 and under W, 25:46; Dez Csizmadia, 2nd 70 and over M, 28:34; Lou Lodovico, 3rd 70 and over M, 31:14; Lois Adams, 1st 60-69 W, 32:30; Nancy Prince, 3rd 60-69 W, 33:58Pete Mullins, 18:08; Scott Slaney, 18:30; Tyler Cramer, 18:48; Jean Gannon, 19:17; Mark Davis, 19:25; Ben Nickel, 19:33; Brendon Lemmex, 19:44; Eli Pudlo, 19:44; Stephen Hepler, 20:15; Rick Colonello, 20:17; Brian Forester, 20:19; Matt Marshall, 20:28; Michael Wherry, 20:37; Jeff Smith, 20:48; Stephen Mick, 20:51; Mitch Radella, 20:52; Zachery France, 21:09; Steve Salvatore, 21:11Mark Shipley, 21:13; Alex Mascio, 21:14; Mike Melvin, 21:19; Dominic Sarachine, 21:27; Greg Schiller, 21:37; Matthew Crawford, 21:39; John Lemmex, 21:53; James Jones, 21:55; Joshua Denny, 21:59; Sean Dolan, 22:00; Tyler Gilbert, 22:01; Dave Szakelyhidi, 22:01; Bob Theis, 22:04; Tom Robinson, 22:14; Robert Miller, 22:14; Rob Fauller, 22:18; Sheridan McWreath, 22:27; Chuck Faust, 22:36; Dalton Fury, 22:51Jeff Cypher, 22:55; James Buechele, 23:06; Rita McClelland, 23:07; Kristen McKinney, 23:07; David White, 23:14; Ryan Patrick, 23:16; Rob Morrow, 23:25; Clint Hartle, 23:30; Dan Sabo, 23:31; Mike Pekich, 23:35; Bruce Hall, 23:37; Ron Hartle, 23:52; Todd Miller, 23:52; Emily Seibert, 24:00; Ben Lowery, 24:01; Emilee Hertweck, 24:02; Scott Platt, 24:07; Bob Todd, 24:16Anne Conn, 24:18; Connie Frazier, 24:22; Jim Lynskey, 24:23; Amy Condrick, 24:26; John Ristey, 24:28; Ben Ranayhossaini, 24:29; Michael Druschel, 24:31; Elizabeth Morris, 24:36; Todd Heney, 24:37; Katie Williams, 24:40; Michelle Botyrius, 24:43; Eric Wahlstrom, 24:45; Lindsey Monahan, 24:46; Bruce Faller, 24:47; Angela Marchiori, 24:50; William Osche, 24:52; Logan Farine, 25:03Tony Pitak, 25:07; Cheryl Fox, 25:08; Doug Cygan, 25:10; Kathleen Torso, 25:16; Jim Hinchman, 25:19; Jeff Kopinski, 25:30; Jon Ross, 25:33; Dawn Morrison, 25:35; Buddy Turner, 25:42; Emily Clark, 25:46; Becky Monhemius, 25:51; Neil Falco, 25:52; Mike McCarthy, 25:58; Emily Todd, 26:02; Samantha Ross, 26:02; Mark Vandewater, 26:11; Ryan Blum, 26:12; Kristy Martino, 26:29; Michelle Pekich, 26:30; Shane Brunazzi, 26:30; Christi Hoffman, 26:31; Joseph Brower, 26:33Jinny Hertweck, 26:36; Anne Druessel, 26:43; Eli Davis, 26:45; Barb McCandless, 26:48; Lisa Lamm, 26:48; Kim Bell, 26:49; Emily Wilkinson, 26:50; Katelyn Conn, 26:51; Scott Gliehe, 26:51; Suzanne Leonberg, 26:58; Daniel Ranayhossaini, 27:00; Michael Coyne, 27:08; Richard Buechele, 27:09; Travis Lommock, 27:13; Terry Melis, 27:16; Alex Musgrove, 27:18; Erin Connolly, 27:21; Katie Blinn, 27:29; William Paul, 27:33Justin Reno, 27:40; Tom Murray, 27:50; Franklin Baune, 27:50; Brian Zamborski, 27:56; Stacy Matz, 27:58; Jill Todd, 27:59; Ken McFarland, 28:03; Jason Wisniewski, 28:06; Austin France, 28:12; Scott Wahlstrom, 28:15; Susie Altemus, 28:15; Mallory Cranmer, 28:28; Giovanni Sarachine, 28:33; Jaime Wisniewski, 28:38; Matthew France, 28:45Kary Vandewater, 28:47; Jeff Byko, 29:07; Jim Kalnas, 29:11; Jack Bussard, 29:16; Sue Platt, 29:23; Phil Lope, 29:26; Laura Augustine, 29:42; Chuck Morse, 29:48; Dave Galatti, 29:54; Tim Landry, 30:02; Carley Parsons, 30:02; Carol English, 30:04; Matthew Greenawalt, 30:05; Beth Prince, 30:17; Autumn Heinz, 30:24; Bryan Branby, 30:43; Kelly Stenger, 30:45; Lauren Stanley, 30:46; Mike Baxa, 30:50Debra Kuninkoski, 30:53; Sara Brunazzi, 30:56; Donna Statzer, 31:00; Desiree Atkinson, 31:02; Jennifer Cygan, 31:06; Susan Tassey, 31:20; Lisa Moss, 31:52; James Bussard, 31:55; Catherine McElresh, 32:07; Douglas Wilkinson, 32:08; Robyn Stewart, 32:24; David Hartuns, 32:29; James Rokosky, 32:31; Rachel Gallagher, 32:33Randy Simmons, 32:39; Ben Houston, 32:43; Candy France, 32:43; Dawn Dixon, 32:53; Christin Cooper, 32:54; Gordon Cooper, 32:55; Heidi Wolanin, 32:56; Allie Bernstein, 32:58; Dayna Martin, 33:17; Vesse Allen, 33:19Pete Spigler, 33:19; Lynn Aufman, 33:48; Vickie Turner, 34:20; Judy Lyle, 34:36; Gary Torso, 34:52; Megan Lowery, 34:58; Stacie Lowery, 34:59; Valerie Wolenter, 35:01; Lily Murray, 35:02; David Murray, 35:03; Kate Murray, 35:19; Julia Murray, 35:19; Connie Hoffer, 35:20Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg PA 16056. Phone: 724-352-4395. E-mail: lotzak@consolidated.net