My dad, Frank Bruno, would have been 84 years old today. Growing up, he always wrote “Happy Birthday Anthony” on a dollar bill or a five, even though my mother worked in a greeting card store.
Being that this is a running site, I will share with you my three favorite running related memories that involve my father.
In 1988, I ran the Pittsburgh Marathon and my goal was 2:30. My parents were at the finish line waiting, however; my hamstring did not cooperate and I just enjoyed the last nine miles and limped in at 3:17. The first thing my Dad said, “What the hell took you so long? We’ve been waiting here for almost an hour!”
A few years later, also at the Pittsburgh Marathon, my brother and our friend, Nicky Riviere were running. They had people at different spots to hand them their water bottles. At about the half way point, I was to hand my brother a bottle and my Mom was supposed to had Nicky his. Well the “hand off” didn’t go well and the bottle dropped. Nicky stopped, but the bottle rolled into the crowd, so he took off again. My Dad found the bottle, jumped out on the course (in jeans and a golf shirt) and started chasing Nicky down. The fans along the course started chanting, “Go, go, go”, after about 150 meters, my Dad caught up to Nicky and the crowd erupted in a massive cheer.
Finally, my Dad went to an indoor track meet my freshman year at Robert Morris College. After sitting through heat after heat of sprints, and several other events until he got to watch me run (which was 2-3 hours behind schedule). After I ran and warmed down, I talked to my parents to tell them thanks for coming, I loved them and goodbye. My Dad’s response, “I’m never going to another f*cking track meet in my life!”
I miss him everyday. Happy birthday, Dad!
N of 1 Running 