As members of our Thursday night training group and other runners gathered for the 7 p.m. “Pre and Post Race Injury Prevention — Beach To Beacon and Beyond” it started to rain. I finished introducing Greg Knapton and Peter Clark of Riverview Physical Therapy, when one store associate mentioned we had a small problem in the back of the store. The store’s roof is being replaced and the unfinished portion in the back was experiencing some leaks. By the time Greg and Peter were finishing the clinic, we had what was amounting to a small flash flood.
This time of year is our busiest. We helped sponsor and direct the Yarmouth Clam Festival Kid’s Fun Run and 5 Miler and also sponsor the Peaks Island Road Race. We’re heavily involved in the Beach To Beacon road race expo and have our biggest crowds of the year for the Weekly Back Cove Series. It’s also the busiest time of the year in the store.
So, as our stock room floor filled with water, serious panic began to set in. This was not going to be just another small leak in the roof — which is why it was being replaced in the first place.
Suddenly, ceiling tiles popped off and insulation began to fall. Most of the crowd had left and I was oblivious to what was happening as I mentally was preparing for the worse. I heard another “Oh my god! Come here!” and ran into the office where there were leaks occurring above our computer network system.
What happened next stunned me. It was if the National Guard was called. A parade of friends and community, including Katherine Dow, Brian King, Greg and Peter, Tim and Brian Whitton, Michael Gaige, Wendy Carter, Maggie Oechslie and more were there to help. Quickly, and with resolve, this team moved the entire office, along with inventory and anything important into a safe section of the store. Then, they helped re-configure and re-network all our systems so we could be operational the next day. More importantly, this “community” gave me hope and a sense that everything was going to be OK.
Community is what sustains us, drives us, gives us a sense of purpose. It’s important to give back to community, but sometimes it gives back to you.
John Rogers is the owner of Maine Running Company on Forest Ave. in Portland. Send questions or comments to him at jr@mainerunning.com or check out the store’s website at www.mainerunning.com.