Brooklyn Half is Closed

Just a quick update: registration for the Brooklyn Half is now closed, NYRR site says.

This hopefully didn't sneak up on too many people ... a lot of the races seems to be closing earlier and earlier, which means you need to make your race decisions earlier and earlier.

Brooklyn Half: Register TONIGHT

This came from out of the blue, but the NYRR Web site says this:

"Registration for the NYRR Brooklyn Half-Marathon on May 22 is very near capacity and will close at 11:59 p.m. tonight, March 23. "

How's that for last minute notification! So if you haven't signed up, get cracking! (And thanks, TC, for the tip).

NYRR Race Results - No It Didn't

Ahh, apologies to readers. Brain lock last night on a post questioning whether the NYRR had changed its results formatting. Pulled the post (since I didn't want to spread misinformation) but obviously, there hasn't been a change:

*If you want NYRR member results, click here (this needs membership number.)

*If you want a general race results search, click here

*If you want NYC Marathon results, click here.

There are a variety of efforts kicking around to try to encompass *all race results* from races, which would be super-cool. I'll address the ones I know of in a future post, and would be glad to know of others.

Anyway, sorry for confusion.

Fast Times at NYC Half

Don't have time to break down the Brooklyn results yet, but a quick glance at the results indicates a pretty awesome showing. A bunch of PRs hit by the people I personally know, helped by almost ideal conditions.

One disappointment: As I sprinted to the race course to see Halle ... he'd dropped out. But still great to see the finish of my first sub-1 hour half in person. (Not quite as great as the first sub-4 minute mile, but definitely up there.)

Doppelganger

Had to laugh, here's my WordPress Web version ... who's competing in triathlons and running faster times than me to boot.

His link to my blog: More Running in Brooklyn :-)

Needless to say, time to update my blogroll ...

NYC Half Top Runners

If you make it out to Manhattan tomorrow morning on the cheering section, here's a look at some of the top runners for men and women ... as well as a different take from Letsrun.com (interesting in that they discuss how NYRR picks its runners.)

It'd be very cool, though may not happen, if we saw a sub-60 in the half tomorrow by Gebrselaisse (he's done it before). His course record is 59:24, done in 2007

Meanwhile, in Lisbon, a world record could be set in the half ...

Marathon & Beyond: Weekend Reading

There's a nice piece in Marathon & Beyond this month about the NYC Marathon - and then spending time touring Brooklyn during your trip. Unfortunately, it's not online.

But these articles are: From each issue (published 6 times a year), the editors select one article to post online. It's a great representation, and a lot of fun.

Barnes & Noble stocks single copies (the one on Court Street in Brooklyn Heights always has a few) if you want to get a sense of what it's all about. It's also a great running gift: $36.95 a year, and well worth it.

Leatherman's Loop

At this point, it's too late to register for this year's race. But I'd urge you to keep checking the Web site, because the race keeps on giving:

-- a link to the top 99 of 100 trails in the Westchester area (very awesome)
-- a link to trail races in the Greater New York area (it's one I've mentioned before, but always worth publicizing
-- a link to possible car pools

All races should be like this.

P.S. For those who didn't get in, let me refer to you to the Urban Environmental Challenge 10K in Van Cortlandt, two weeks before. Not as muddy, but just as challenging.

Anyone Can Win 5K April 13

JackRabbit is hosting an "Anyone Can Win 5K" on April 13 in Prospect Park with a cool gimmick. Basically, you have to predict your time. The winners are the ones who come closest. No clocks on the course, no watches, etc. So, if you're someone who churns out an 8-minute mile like clockwork, no deviation, this is the race for you.

Race costs $20, capped at 400. Proceeds go to some kind of running related project at Prospect Park. Registration is here.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Opening Monday

Of course it's supposed to rain, ironic given the wonderful weather we're having. Still, the Brooklyn Bridge Park - that beautiful green space you see when you run on the Promenade or the Brooklyn Bridge, will open Monday. From a running perspective - there's a small hill, and we'll probably go in and out of the loop in about two minutes. But it gives us a taste of what the whole project might be like. So, very cool.

NYC Half This Sunday

Sunday morning will see the NYC Half - a loop-plus of Central Park and then down the West Side into Battery Park.

NYRR will have a press conference tomorrow morning, Webcast, featuring the top runners. On Sunday, you can watch the race live on Universal Sports TV and on the Web.

Another option? Run over the Brooklyn Bridge, hang a left on Chambers, and cheer on the runners as they go by ... and then run back. (Or go over Manhattan, keep going on Canal and ... you get the picture).

Fuggetaboutit 5K This Weekend

It's a tagalong to the duathlon that's running the park this weekend, but the Fuggetaboutit 5K starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Signup info is here and the main duathlon Web site is here

Slope Sports is a sponsor, so any questions, stop by there as well.

Trees Down in Prospect Park

Some photos here from a fellow blogger. The main roadways are passable, the paths are kind of a mess.

Ten Weeks to Brooklyn Half

Ten weeks until the Brooklyn Half from this weekend. It's Brooklyn's destination race (one of the ones you put on your calendar and say: I'm going to run this).

Over the next 10 weeks, I'm planning to offer you hints, tips, thoughts, etc. as you get ready for the race. Details of the course are still to be posted, though there's no reason to think that the course won't be the same as last year: a loop-plus in Prospect Park before heading out along Ocean Parkway to Coney Island.

Some things to do if you haven't to help prepare for the May 22 race:

*Build out a running schedule, that includes both a gradual increase in both weekly mileage as well as the weekend long runs (for example, if you're running 18 miles a week and your long run is 6.5 miles, build up both over time)

*Target some key, shorter races that allow you to focus on both pace and distance (the Scotland Run, a 10K on April 3, in three weeks, is a good example: Can you run your proposed pace, or do you need to modify your goals?)

*Find other people who are running the Half, and arrange training runs with them. Plenty of organized club runs, and if you're in the park often enough, you'll see some familiar faces.

*Make sure you're familiar with parts of the course. Prospect Park is hilly. Ocean Parkway is flat (and mind-numbing). So arrange to train over both.

*Keep a running log. It gives you a sense of what's working, and what's not.

*Sign up now. The race cap at NYRR races is somewhat arbitrary, so worth locking your entry in now.

Note to Self

"How many times have you run over the Brooklyn Bridge? Hundreds?

How many times have you run over the Brooklyn Bridge in the rain? A couple dozen?

You know that puddles form on the roadway right near the bridge entrance, correct? And that traffic in the lefthand-most lane, if they go through that puddle, it creates a pretty awesome splash?

Can you explain to me why, for some inexplicable reason, you forgot this pretty salient fact as you and your friends went running onto the bridge this morning? Yeah, I thought so ..."

Um, yeah, not one of the most brilliant moves in my running life. Got in the long run, got soaked in the process (and even more soaked on the bridge, where the rain was sideways and the aformentioned splash incident). So much for local knowledge. But can't complain - it was pretty fun. Hope you made it out there today as well, either for a workout or the race in Central Park.

NYRR 8000: Weather or Not?

Not entirely sure whether to be insulted by the posting on the NYRR Web site about tomorrow's race:

The NYRR 8000 will take place, as scheduled, on Saturday, March 13, at 8:00 a.m.

Umm.. .. it's going to rain. Yeah, there may be a lot of it, but it's rain. Some puddles. Some flooding. You will get wet. But it's rain. It's not going to snow. It will be windy, but it's not going to be a hurricane. No need to even think about canceling a race. And no reason for you not to run if you signed up.

Let's say this first: Good luck to everyone who races tomorrow - it'll be wet, but you'll have fun out there.

If you don't run because of the weather: a gentle question: Much of running and races are outdoors? So when conditions are bad (like tomorrow will be), why don't you?

My gentle suggestion: Running is wonderful sport, particularly since it *exposes* you to the elements. I have a desk job by day, I love going outside at night (or in the AM) and seeing what's out there. Yes, sometimes it stinks. And sometimes it's a blast.

No, maybe you don't hit the PR tomorrow

But maybe you discover that your best performances are found in windswept rain.

I'm not racing tomorrow because of my training schedule, which calls for 15-18 miles. I will be soaked and probably cold. But I know that most of the run I won't be doing it alone (since there will be others with me braving the elements ... hint, hint to those runners who will be running with me that might be reading this)

OK, off the high horse. I'm preaching, ranting. Please, one suggestion: if you run outside, run in the rain, at least a few times. Yes, you can avoid it. But it's part of the whole fun of this sport.
















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Why I Run: In Honor of Craig Virgin

Check this out. 30 years ago today, Craig Virgin won the World X/C Championships.

Spring Is Here!

Well, the calendar doesn't quite agree, but consecutive days in the 40s and 50s - absolutely gorgeous running weather. When you start seeing bare arms and legs, and dozens of runners during your run when only a handful surfaced before -- you know spring is back.

Today's run, which looks like a mess on the map, is what happens when you change plans on the fly. I had planned an easy loop of the Brooklyn Bridge, around to Battery Park and back. Then realized that a) I was feeling pretty good and b) Brooklyn Bridge was crowded. So decided to add some miles - cutting up through Chinatown to the Manhattan Bridge, and then messing around in Dumbo to add some miles to get it up to 10.

So, no, not exactly what I had planned. But that's the beauty of running, being able to adjust and have some fun doing it.

Bridge Running, Redux

Check out this post from One Runners World on a bridge run done today. It includes Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, Pulaski and Queensboro.

How Quick Are You Gonna Get Up?

I'm not prone to hype shoe commercials, thought I've got to say the Nike commercial during the Winter Olympics was pretty cool.

Here's a link to the full video on YouTube, "Ali in the Jungle"

Random Thoughts on a Monday Evening

A few moments to kill before delving into another episode of "Lost," so clearing out the inbox a bit ....

* I don't know if any of you dragged yourselves out of bed at the crack of dawn this morning, but if you did, you missed the smell of spring in the air. The sun was rising, the birds was chirping, and you could just tell. (This of course didn't last when I went for my run this evening amidst the cold drizzle)

* Offer a salute (real, finger, your pick) to to the Gowanus next time you cross over it: The latest Superfund site.

* Two separate conversations today about how folk are training for the Brooklyn Half. Completely random in some ways, but it's an indication that Brooklyn - even more so that the NYC Half - can cement its place as *the* spring race here in the city. Application is here.

* What are you doing Sunday morning. Want to run with Scott Jurek? There's a morning run at 8 a.m., sponsored by JackRabbit, sign up through Facebook.

Mount Washington Lottery is Open

A little far afield, but the Mount Washington Road Race lottery is open through March 15. Yeah, it's one of those life races, so bear with me. It's only 7.6 miles ... up. One of these years, I'm doing it.

How Many Bridges Have You Run?

I ask this question, and I need to think about it a bit. Verazzano, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg, Queensboro, Pulaski ... I've walked over the GW, though never run it. A whole slew of smaller bridges, I'm sure (how many different ways have you crossed the Gowanus?)

Had a chance the other day to do a workout in Manhattan, and, bored with Central Park, realized that I'd never run Queensboro from Manhattan (obviously, it's always from the Queens side, and I'm usually in massive pain at the time).

And so I did, after finding the walk/bike path (thanks officer). The approach from Manhattan seems longer - definitely longer than the Williamsburg (or maybe it's just the steepness -- I'll need to get some measurements).

Got into Queens, figured I'd try to get to the Pulaski, realized I hadn't a clue how. (When in doubt, pick a direction). After wandering for a bit (always fun as a runner), and about to give up, I found a sign for the Pulaski and, lo and behold, managed to run that as well. I'm thinking a run from Manhattan back to Brooklyn is in the works.

One of the various message groups I'm on had some lengthy discussions about various bridge runs that could be done, incorporating a lot of the big ones. Yeah, it's a lot of miles, but you can also probably shorten it by some targeted subway/bus rides.

The above photo, BTW, is a picture to the entrance for the ... actually, not going to say. (Lot of hints - it's one of my favorites for running, it's been featured in recent commentary). Just find it, and run on it. It's worth the experience.