In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips. – Salman Rushdie

Cerberus is a vicious three-headed dog.  Basically, my spirit animal. In Greek mythology, Cerberus (/ˈsɜːrbərəs/; Greek: Κέρβερος Kerberos [ˈkerberos]), often called the “hound of Hades”, is the monstrous multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving.

Some of us think, why not use that same energy to keep the living from leaving. And have a good time while we’re still here.

Think positive, people. Suppose Cerberus was a very good dog. Or three.

When I heard about The Cerberus Trio, I had to learn more. Older than your normal dirt, they are still running AND they’re in a band. That’s living, for sure.

A Three-Dog Pack by Jay Birmingham

I met Rodney Smith (he’s 70) in 1974, halfway through a charity 20-miler. I was an Ohio transplant to Florida, with considerable running experience. Rodney was a recent UNF grad who loved to run.  We headed a pack of six “leaders” and when one guy started pushing the pace, I put him in his place with a sub-six-minute mile. He eased back, then fell behind. Rodney and I finished one-two, though it wasn’t a race. A couple years later, we were two of seven original members of the Jacksonville Track Club.      

Bob Fernee is 73, more short distance than Rodney and me. He had a Gate River Run streak of 44 years. His struggle to finish the last five actually got the three of us back together.       

In 1978, I started a Phidippides Running Center. Rodney managed it for me (I was also a teacher and coach.). Bob worked for me part-time.      

Four years ago, I bought a guitar and we started running together and playing tunes. The photo (at bottom) is after we played the post-race party at The Last Gasp cross-country race at Jacksonville University on Dec 31, 2023.

I finished far back but still get to wear the race sweatshirt. Bob – slacker! – ran the one mile fun run with his grandson. Rodney is the race’s sole streaker – 47 years in a row.

Running Pals by Rod Smith

I met Jay Birmingham in 1974 at a 20-mile charity walkathon in Jacksonville Florida. He had recently moved to town and was a seasoned distance runner. I was a bit of a novice who had just started running seriously the year before. I cherished any advice he had and he soon became a mentor and also supported me in becoming a high school running coach a few years later. I ran my first marathon with Jay and worked for him for a while at his Phidippides Running store. Our running pal Bob Fernee also worked there for a time and joined us on many a training run. All three of have coached at various levels.

I coached high school track and cross country for 35 years. Bob coached xc at Jacksonville University for several years, and Jay has coached at the high school, college , and club level for some 50 years. He and I were co-founders of the Jacksonville Track Club back in 1975 and both volunteered to work at the very first River Run in 1978.

Bob and his dad Norman, also an avid runner, founded the Last Gasp cross country race at Jacksonville University in 1977 as the last race of the year . It has been put on every year since and I have run all 47 races. Bob has been there every year as either a race director, competitor, or performer.

For this past race, Jay, Bob, and myself performed for the post race party as our trio Cerberus. We had begun playing guitars, singing, and writing songs together after reuniting for the Gate River Run 15k five years ago and for the past two years, rather than run the race, we played along the course as one of the performing bands.

Even though Jay has moved to Raleigh, NC, we still plan to meet up for the occasional open mic and some local races. The three of us still run almost everyday and communicate regularly about running plans and music goals. Though our running endurance may not be what it use to be, our 50-year friendship will continue to endure and inspire.

Sonnet For The Ages And The Ageing by Bob Fernee

Yes, Oscar Wilde said it best,
“Youth is too good to be wasted on the young,”
Life is too short, winter’s here before spring is sprung,
We must enjoy it well, before our final rest.

Make the most of every day,
Some exercise and a positive attitude,
Mix very well with humbleness and gratitude.
Don’t let love and friendship slip away.

Never dwell on mistakes and regret,
Or worry over things that haven’t happened yet,
Forge ahead, and don’t look back,
Don’t envy those with more, or cry for what you lack,
No one’s getting younger, and some, sadly, won’t get old,
Take the years as they come, live life, and be bold.

This gives me an idea. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could all get to the Gate River Run next year? That’d be living, wouldn’t it?