#1 Kathy Bruno

Number 1 on my list is the only person never to run a step. However, she learned the sport of distance running and was as knowledgeable as some people that have been running for years.

When I came home from high school on day late in my sophomore year, I told my Mom that I was going out for Cross Country next year. She asked me about what cross country was, after I explained it, her first comment was, “Let’s go get you some good running shoes.” Later that week, my Mom took me to the only running store in our area, the Athletic Attic in Natrona Heights, PA, and bought me a pair of Etonic Tran Ams. For my birthday, later that year, she bought me an Etonic rain suit.

During my high school career, my Mom worked at a greeting card store, less than a mile from the school. So, for all my home meets, she would schedule her break to come over to the school and watch every home cross country meet. She would take her days off to coincide with my home track meets.

In the times when cross country or track wasn’t in season, Curt Schreffler and I would run a road race. We had two cars at home, my Dad’s for work and my Moms. She always made sure that when it was my turn to drive, her car was available.

When I started running at Robert Morris, my Mom would be at every home meet and the away meets that were within an hour or two drive. As the team improved and we started running in bigger meets, that were overnight trips, I couldn’t wait to call my Mom after the meet and let her know when I ran well, there was no one that I would rather share my joy with. And when I didn’t, she would console me.

During my junior year at RMC, my brother, Mike got a new high school cross country coach. He was a teacher that had no knowledge of the sport what so ever. My brother was expected to come up with the workouts for the team. So my Mom would call me up and have me help her and Mike with planning a training schedule.

In the summers and when I was home on break from college, one of favorite things was to sit in the kitchen in the mornings with my Mom and talk about everything, but especially running. Even later in life, sitting, having breakfast with my Mom was something that I always cherished.

When I started coaching at Duquesne, she would make it to as many meets as possible and was always asking how the team was doing. She always took pictures of all of my runners and made sure they got a copy at the next meet.

I attribute my strengths in running (mental toughness, tenacity and work ethic) to my parents, but my Mom was always was the one that nurtured my running/coaching career.

We lost my Mom five years ago earlier this month, and there are still days I want to call her and tell her how my run/race went or just hear her voice. I love you, MOM.