I still remember what Charlie Post told me before I ran my first half marathon.

“Be proud of what you’re doing,” stated Post. “You’re part of an elite crowd. There’s not many people who can do what you will do.”

At that time, Post was Catasauqua’s head cross country coach, a position he held for six seasons. During his time, Post re-energized the program, instituting a summer running program and winning 20 matches in his final season in 2013.

We had our weekly chats about the team, and Post was a driving force behind my running career. Post certainly has the base to talk about running, as he ran in eight half marathons and finished second in his age bracket three times. His last half marathon was at age 60.

Post also made his mark on the basketball court, where he was a boys’ assistant for six years at Catasauqua before he became an integral part as an assistant a part of two state championships at Allentown Central Catholic.

From there, Post began another monumental coaching career as an assistant with Central Catholic’s head girls’ basketball coach Mike Kopp, where he won four state titles and helped Kopp establish himself as the state’s all-time winningest coach.

Through it all, Post established himself as one of Catasauqua’s most respected English teachers, a position he held for 39 years. During his time, Post resurrected the school newspaper.

Post’s anticipated slower track still hasn’t materialized.

“I truly thought time would slowdown when I retired,” reflected Post. “It has absolutely not! I can’t believe it’s been 13 years since I retired from Catty.”

After being out of coaching for four years, Post, at age 72, is ready to get back on the trail. He checked with his wife, Kathleen, who gave him the “go-ahead.” She realized her husband’s coaching pilot light was still lit.

He will be the lead assistant for new Parkland head girls’ coach Megan Kave, whom he coached and coached with at Central Catholic. With their previous ties, it couldn’t have been a better script.

Along his coaching stops, Post admittedly has learned plenty of life’s lessons from his mentors and has cherished them, one main one being organized and running a tight practice.

During his coaching tenures, Post made an impact, and he has always been recognized as one of the area’s elite in his role. Ironically, Post had the Parkland proposal and an exact same one from Southern Lehigh within a day or two of each other.

When he retired, Post told me that he would plan to spend an hour a day reading and exercising. Post spends an hour a day reading or on his computer, and he has his golf game and weight training. His running days are over.

But he has been drawn back to his passion of coaching, stressing that he will review his status after this year and now plans on taking just two years with it.

At age 72, Post doesn’t plan to allow his age to slow him. He never has.

“I have never allowed my age to define me,” beamed Post.

Post already has taken the first steps in his new venture, reviewing offenses he previously utilized on the court, and he has been in sync with his new coach. He’s sure to dive in head first.

He has some apprehensions about how he will be accepted by his new players, but his new coach assured him that there wouldn’t be an issue.

Despite spending time with his grandchildren and the allure of moving down South, Post is back where he belongs.

Like he told me years ago about running a half-marathon, Post is part of an elite group, as a person and a coach.