Dave Ortman knows adversity. In 2015, this multitalented masters champion out of Seattle had a heart attack. He wrote me: “I know several other masters athletes who have problems with their tickers. Perhaps we all should be wearing T-shirts that say, ‘I (heart) Track and Field. Not Dead, Yet!’”

Dave — who already helped set two Guinness World records — made a full comeback, topped by an M65 world record in the 4×4 in September 2019.

But T-shirt slogans aren’t his only talent outside track. He’s our own “Weird Al” Yankovic.

He recently wrote me: “Even with 20/20 vision, 2020 turned out to be a bust. Here is to a better 2021. Onward.”

He sent this ditty, sung to the tune that ran at the end of “Dr. Strangelove.”

WE’LL RUN AGAIN

[by David E. Ortman, with apologies to Hughie Charles and Ross Parker]

We’ll run again,
Don’t know where,
Don’t know when
But I know we’ll run again some sunny day.

Keep running through,
Just like you always do
‘Til the blue skies drive the CoVid far away

So will you please bring the sun
and get back to the fun
Tell them it won’t be long
They’ll be happy to know
that as you saw me go
I was singing this song.

We’ll run again,
Don’t know where,
Don’t know when
But I know we’ll run again some sunny day.

We’ll run again,
Don’t know where
Don’t know when.
But I know we’ll run again some sunny day.

Keep running through
Just like you always do,
‘Til the blue skies drive the CoVid far away.

So will you please bring the sun
and get back to the fun
Tell them it won’t be long
They’ll be happy to know
that as you saw me run
I was singing this song

We’ll run again,
Don’t know where,
Don’t know when
But I know we’ll run again some sunny day.

And Dave shared a shot his daughter took in Paris that evokes the theme:

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