Latest news with #Runner
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Mt. Tam railroad's last survivor restored and ready for new role at California museum
SACRAMENTO — Early morning commuters on Highway 37 Friday would have been taken aback by an ancient mode of transportation rolling alongside the old passenger railroad tracks that once connected Marin County to Vallejo and the world beyond. It was Engine No. 9, the last relic of the fabled Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, on a tractor trailer headed up the line to Sacramento. The steam locomotive, built in 1921 and lettered in gold, was bound for the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, where it will go on public display in August. This completes a seven-year restoration effort by Friends of No. 9, a nonprofit that sank $500,000 and 15,000 volunteer hours into arriving at this point. 'This is like a coronation for us,' said Fred Runner, President of Friends of No. 9, the Novato nonprofit that got the job done. The engine was delivered in a five-vehicle parade from Sebastopol to Sacramento, led by Sheedy Drayage of San Francisco, which transported the 36-ton load of iron and steel, free of charge. 'To be invited to the CSRM is like having a vintage car invited to show at the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach,' Runner said. 'It's a very rare thing that just doesn't happen. But it did.' As a teaser for the railroad museum display, No. 9 was brought by the same Sheedy Drayage trailer to the Mill Valley Depot over Memorial Day weekend. It made its public premiere in the town parade, with its bell ringing and the whistle blowing and smoke coming out of the engine. 'There was a tremendous display of enthusiasm by people who loved the engine and thought it should stay at the depot,' Runner said. But by then the train was already rolling to Sacramento, a commitment made a year ago, when it was still in mid-restoration at a workshop. That was a job that took five years from the moment it was purchased at auction up near Eureka, where it had sat out in the weather gathering rust for 62 years. 'We are lucky that there is this marvelous group of obsessives that tracks these old steam engines,' said Runner, who led a team that outbid five other obsessive parties to muster up the winning bid of $56,240 to buy No. 9. There were 15 members of the bidding party, most of whom were devoted to the lore of the old Mount Tam railroad line and knew this was the last remaining piece of it. 'There is this whole fabric of stories about the lore of Mount Tam, and the railroad is at the center of it,' said Runner, a movie sound mixer who worked on 'Basic Instinct,' 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Total Recall' and most recently 'Top Gun: Maverick,' which won an Academy Award for sound two years ago. 'As a moviemaker I'm interested in stories, and the stories about Mount Tam are tremendous,' Runner said. The story of the Mount Tam railway, which called itself 'the crookedest little railroad in the world,' was told in the 1980s in 'Steaming Up Tamalpais,' a short documentary by Mill Valley filmmaker Cris Chater. Runner saw it at the Mill Valley Film Festival and started tracing the tourist railroad line, which was built in 1896 and scrapped in 1930. Its 8.1 miles of track from the Mill Valley depot to the Mount Tam summit — 281 turns later — had been ripped out, as was the 2-mile spur into Muir Woods. Only Engine No. 9 survived, probably because it was still new with life left in it when the railway closed so it wasn't sold for scrap. It worked an additional 25 years hauling lumber from the forest to the mills. 'Amazingly it didn't get melted down to turn into weapons during World War II,' Runner said. No. 9 was no longer in running condition when the Friends bought it at auction, and it is still not in running condition because the boiler would need to be rebuilt and certified at a cost of $150,000, he estimated. The engine is 34 feet long, 12 feet high and 9 feet wide, and every aspect including the nonworking boiler was taken apart piece by piece. It was all repaired, cleaned, greased and then put back together — tender, cab, boiler, frame, even the assembly for the steel wheels. 'The restoration of the No. 9 represents the very best impulses of the preservation community,' said Ty Smith, director of the California State Railroad Museum. 'Although the locomotive won't steam passengers up Mount Tamalpais, it serves as a window into a remarkable episode in California history. We're grateful to be able to share in telling this important story.' When it arrived by caravan Friday morning, No. 9 was put onto the museum's railroad track and pushed along to its display stage. At that point, Runner was allowed to sit in the engineer's seat and listen to the valves open and close while No. 9 was actually moving on live track for the first time since 1953. It went only a few hundred feet, but the ride was smooth, thanks to 16 new springs. 'To feel the engine actually moving and hearing it hiss was a thrill,' he said. The engine was then removed to storage space, to allow museum staff time to finalize the exhibit. No. 9 will be up for six months with a possible extension, but it still needs a permanent home. 'While it is in Sacramento, we are working on it,' Runner said. 'It's an extraordinary piece of local history that deserves to be remembered.'
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
For Alice Kearns, running was an expression of joy and resilience
Alice Kearns: Runner. HR leader. Mother. Mentor. Born Jan. 22, 1942, in Dublin; died April 21, 2025, in Ottawa, of complications from Norovirus; aged 83. Alice Kearns crossed her final finish line the day the Boston Marathon was run. It was a poetic departure for a woman who qualified for the race an astonishing 16 times and competed in it three times. She died at 2:05 p.m. – uncannily close to this year's winning race time of 2:04:45. For her family, it was a quiet, symbolic close to a life lived with spirit and relentless motion. Born Alice Heaney in Dublin to blind parents, she learned resilience and independence early. One of her favourite stories was about her father bringing home a roast from the butcher, only to discover it was mostly fat. Her childhood was shaped by hardship, but also by determination. Alice, a gifted student, had to put her education on hold to support her family. She later resumed her studies in Canada, completing a joint program between the transportation industry and the University of Toronto. Like many from Ireland seeking a better life, she immigrated to Canada in 1967, settling in Toronto. She met Jack Kearns at a Dublin dance hall in her early 20s. Just months earlier, Jack had made a life-altering decision: to leave the seminary after years of training to become a Catholic priest. Instead, he began retraining as an optician. That choice, that dance, changed everything. It was the beginning of a partnership that would last more than 60 years. They championed each other's ambitions, raised a son, Alan, and found their shared rhythm not just in marriage, but on the roads and trails where they trained side by side. Running became a metaphor for their life together: steady and always in stride. Alice built her career in the offices of the male-dominated transportation industry. She was known for her wise counsel, quiet strength and no-nonsense standards. She became a trusted administrative and HR advisor to executives. As a working mother in the 1970s and '80s, Alice faced challenges she would later reflect on honestly. 'I don't think I could be both a great mother and a great employee,' she once told her son. 'It might have been easier to choose one.' But she led by example. Her legacy was less about lunches packed or school pickups, and more about what it meant to live with conviction. She modelled excellence, persistence, intellectual curiosity and integrity. Running became her spiritual practice. She joined the Markham Centaurs and the Running Room, where she found her second family. Her mornings began with long runs and ended with bagels and coffee in the company of her running tribe. From her 40s onward, she regularly ranked near the top in her age group across 5ks, 10ks, half and full marathons. She and Jack travelled the world to combine racing and exploring – Dublin, Iceland, Chicago, China, Greece. Races were expressions of joy and resilience. Even a serious accident in her late 60s didn't stop her. Though her stride slowed, her spirit never did. Running remained, for her, an act of connection between people, places and the inner voice that said 'keep going.' She could be candid, strong-willed and fiercely loyal. Her friendships were long and deeply rooted. Her conversations were unfiltered and honest. During her final weeks in palliative care, her two grandchildren, Aidan and Aine, sat by her bedside, asking life's big questions and soaking up her presence. Just a week before she died, Aine completed a half-marathon. She called her grandmother right after the finish line. Alice told her, 'It's not about the time you get – it's about taking in the moments you have while you're in the race.' That was Alice in a sentence. Alice died of complications from Norovirus. It was a short journey from diagnosis to death – unwelcome and fast – but also mercifully gentle. 'I was in a hard race,' she reflected in her final days. 'I told myself I wanted to finish it – just for me.' Alan Kearns is Alice Kearns's son. To submit a Lives Lived: lives@ Lives Lived celebrates the everyday, extraordinary, unheralded lives of Canadians who have recently passed. To learn how to share the story of a family member or friend, go online to
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Post
Shop Allbirds' new shoes that marry design and daily life
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Here's the thing: We all want shoes that do everything. Walk far, look sharp, feel like slippers, match our outfits and — if possible — save the planet while they're at it. But until recently, that combo lived in the land of wishful thinking (right next to wrinkle-free linen). Thankfully, Allbirds just dropped the Tree Runner NZ and Tree Cruiser, and they're basically the overachievers of the sneaker world. In the best way possible. Let's start with the Tree Runner NZ, because wow. If you've ever tried the original Tree Runner, think of this as the cooler, comfier younger sibling who also happens to study design and knows their way around a packing cube. It's sleek, soft and super supportive. The big news? Allbirds has reworked its signature SweetFoam midsole with a new underfoot contour, which gives you smoother strides, better support and way less of that 'why do my feet hurt after two blocks?' vibe. Allbirds The moment you slip them on, you'll get it. There's a plush, wool-blend collar and tongue lining that feels like slipping your foot into a cloud that's been to therapy and knows how to support you. It hugs your heel just enough, keeps things cozy without overheating, and looks polished while doing it. Translation: You'll never want to take them off — and honestly, you don't have to. Aesthetically, the Tree Runner NZ is the definition of 'minimalist magic.' Without obtrusively loud logos, this pair is refreshing, boasting clean lines and calm colors that go with everything, from yoga pants to work pants. Airport sweats and a trench coat? That works, too. Absolutely. Essentially, if 'quiet luxury' had a shoe, this would be it, except it's made from sustainable materials and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And let's not forget the most underrated flex: they're machine washable. You could spill coffee, step in a puddle, get caught in a summer downpour — and it's all good! Toss 'em in the wash, air dry and boom: fresh kicks, no worrying. Try doing that with your leather sneakers. Now, cue a dramatic sneaker switch, because the Tree Cruiser is here, and it's a whole different kind of vibe. Where the Runner is sporty-chic, the Cruiser is weekend-casual-meets-elevated-everyday. Think: court sneaker silhouette, modern simplicity and just the right amount of structure. It's got a little more *presence* without ever feeling clunky. Allbirds The Cruiser is built for people who are always on the move, but don't want their shoes to look like it. You can dress it up with trousers and a button-down or down with joggers and a hoodie. It works for early-morning coffee runs, office marathons, spontaneous dinner plans and everything in between. And again: machine washable. What's impressive is how lightweight the Cruiser is. It holds that classic sneaker shape without the bulk. The material is breathable, flexible and made from — you guessed it — sustainable, natural sources like eucalyptus tree fiber and sugarcane-based SweetFoam. So, while it looks like a timeless staple, it's secretly one of the most eco-friendly things in your closet. And look, we all know travel shoes are tricky. You want one pair that works with multiple outfits, holds up after hours of exploring, and doesn't make you look like you just stepped out of a tourist brochure. The Tree Runner NZ and Tree Cruiser are exactly those shoes. They're the footwear picks you pack first, wear constantly and wonder how you ever traveled without. But even if you're not jet-setting, they're perfect for real life. Like, actual Tuesday-afternoon, forgot-to-get-coffee, meeting-ran-long life. Regardless if your day looks like you're walking the dog, picking up groceries and hustling to the train, these two new pairs will make your day *that* much more comfort-driven and amazing. The bottom line In short? Allbirds is doing what Allbirds does best: making ridiculously comfortable, good-looking shoes that are actually kind to the planet. They're here to last, to go the distance, and to keep your feet (and your outfits) happy the whole time. For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America's go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We're not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren't already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we're known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson Dubs ‘Flight of a Navigator' as a 'Favorite Movie of All-Time'
Alan Ritchson may play the bruising star of the popular television series Reacher, but one of his favorite movies of all time comes from a very different genre. During a recent video posted on Facebook, Ritchson explained what makes one specific science fiction-based film a go-to for the 42-year-old actor. Although Ritchson has starred in multiple Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, Fast X, and is slated to be in Runner and War Machine, the 1986 movie Flight of the Navigator holds a special place in his heart. "I was watching one of my favorite movies of all time last night," Ritchson said. "I wanted to show my kids one of the greats, Flight of the Navigator." Ritchson's comments do go along with the premise of his initial video, as David Freeman (Joey Cramer) is knocked unconscious for eight years. He hasn't aged at all when he wakes up. Shortly after, an alien spaceship comes to Earth, and its maps match David's brainwaves, as Collider detailed. Based on Ritchson's immense knowledge of the film and how he cross-compared it, his comments in a video, which he tagged as "#instachurch" are a fun and unique way to get his feelings and point across. It's become apparent with the Reacher star's social media postings that he's an open book when it comes to discussing God and many other important topics with his children.'Reacher' Star Alan Ritchson Dubs 'Flight of a Navigator' as a 'Favorite Movie of All-Time' first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 6, 2025
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Tennis band farewell tour 2025: Where to buy tickets, best prices, review
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. Game, set and match. Indie iconoclasts Tennis are currently midway through their 'Face Down in the Gardens' farewell tour that's sent them to music halls, theaters, rooftops and festivals all over North America. At each and every show, husband and wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley run through their deep, atmospheric catalog, delivering well-known tracks like 'Runner' and 'Matrimony' as well as cuts from their recently-released record that shares a name with the tour. On Sunday, June 1, The New York Post sent fans Alyssa Hargrove and Anissa Boukourizia to the group's gig at NYC's The Rooftop at Pier 17. 'The muted set with the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge was perfect,' Hargrove raved. 'It didn't upstage the musicians or their woozy music.' 'Their video work was really well done,' Boukourizia added. 'Hypnotizing, dissolving visuals from the live feed that helped you feel apart of the concert whether you were standing near or far.' As for the crowd, it truly was an all-ages affair. 'We literally saw a child under one strapped to their father's chest as well as people well into their greying years,' Hargrove pointed out. Most importantly though, given that this might really be 'match point' for Moore, Riley and Tennis, there was an added emotional weightiness to the evening. 'You could hear a pin drop during the final song,' Hargrove noted. 'Somehow people knew how special the moment was. So rarely do we get to say goodbye to things, people and musicians we love. There was this reverent acknowledgement in the air, and it was really meaningful to be a part of that.' As of now, Tennis has 15 concerts remaining on their 2025 run with special guests like Billie Marten, Cults, Real Estate and Hovvdy joining them. If you'd like to see them live, here's everything you need to know about catching Tennis live on their farewell tour in 2025. Tennis tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues, opening acts and links to buy tickets can be found below. Bumbershoot 2025 Before they conclude this last jaunt, Tennis will rally and play a set at Seattle's annual Bumbershoot Festival on Sunday, Aug. 31. They'll be joined by fellow exciting acts like Weezer, Janelle Monáe, Bright Eyes, Sylvan Esso, Car Seat Headrest and many, many more. Want to be there? Single and multi-day Bumbershoot Festival passes can be found here. Tennis set list On June 1, Tennis headlined at NYC's The Rooftop at Pier 17. Based on our findings at Set List FM, here's what they performed that evening. 01.) 'I'll Haunt You' 02.) 'Ladies Don't Play Guitar' 03.) 'Always the Same' 04.) 'Runner' 05.) 'Matrimony' 06.) 'One Night With the Valet' 07.) 'My Emotions Are Blinding' 08.) 'Weight of Desire' 09.) 'Mean Streets' 10.) 'Hotel Valet' 11.) 'No Exit' 12.) 'Glorietta / Pillow for a Cloud' 13.) 'I Can Only Describe You' 14.) 'In the Morning I'll Be Better' 15.) 'Diamond Rings' 16.) 'How to Forgive' 17.) 'Need Your Love' Encore 18.) 'Pollen Song' 19.) '12 Blown Tires' Tennis opening acts At all remaining shows on the goodbye run, Tennis has a special guest lined up to kick things off before they take the stage. To make sure you're acquainted, here's each artist's most-streamed track on Spotify. Billie Marten: 'La Lune' Cults: 'She Knows' Real Estate: 'Darling' Hovvdy: 'True Love' Indie artists on tour in 2025 Although we'll miss Tennis, we're more than excited to catch quite a few of our other favorites on the road this year. Here are just five we can't wait to see live these next few months. • Rilo Kiley • Magdalena Bay • Japanese Breakfast • Nilüfer Yanya • Soccer Mommy Who else is out and about? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
