Sunday, February 27, 2011

Al Gordon Photos


Here's a nice pensive shot of PPTC's Mike Koenig (in the background) plotting his race strategy. Koenig blazed to a 23:59 in Prospect Park yesterday. This from the NYRR Web site. Other photos here.

South Brooklyn Running Club

A (relatively) new running club has formed, located in the Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens area (though like other clubs, it's obviously taking members not in the geographic area).

Take a look! One of the teams they formed in last week's Cherry Tree finished third (if not faster).

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Al Gordon Results Posted

here. Nearly 4,000 finishers in the third of the February Prospect Park "series." Hope you were able to run at least one of them, if not all three.

This isn't a team points race, though worth noting that Prospect Park Track Club's men's team finished first (73 overall finishers), women's team finished third. North Brooklyn Runners women finished third (33 overall finishers).

For those who pay attention, we'll get a better sense of overall strength when the first team points race of the season takes place at Coogan's next weekend.

NYT Investigates Running in Williamsburg

Umm ... I think folk from North Brooklyn Runners probably have things to say about this article, particularly these paragraphs:

"Among the first things I noticed when I started running was how few other runners I saw. That’s probably because of how cold it is, how dark it is (I often run at night) and how much ice and snow mar the route. But it may also have something to do with Williamsburg being the ZIP code of choice for hipsters these days. Whatever else running may be, hip it is not.

Which ultimately could be one reason I like it so much. Of course it’s also possible that I’m simply hooked, or maybe even addicted to suffering (see: 12-degree days), no matter where running falls on the axis of cool."


Friday, February 25, 2011

Al Gordon Still Has Spots Open

Unlike other fast-closing NYRR races, the Al Gordon 4 miler tomorrow still has spots open for registration.

Sign up info is here: http://www.nyrr.org/races/2011/r0226x00.asp

Registration is on race day is at P.S. 154, on Windsor Place and 11th Ave. until 7:30 a.m.; race starts at 8 a.m.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Cherry Tree Results Available

You can see them here. There may be tweaks.

Quick Thoughts From Cherry Tree

Wouldn't it have been nice to run this morning's race in 60 degree temperatures?

Ahh, last week's flirtation with spring was dashed as a new cold front moved in, complete with a frigid, slashing wind that seemed to blow in random directions (usually as you moved up Zoo Hill). Still, around 1300 people were out in Prospect Park - maybe 1000 doing the 10-mile race and the others doing the relay. (Numbers approximate until the results are posted).

People generally seemed in good spirits, and there was plenty of cheering as the relays went off and circled back to the starting point. Will follow with more details, links to other coverage and results as they become available.

Hats off (or should I say, headwarmers off - that was the goody) to the PPTC and the volunteers who braved the cold for their usual fine jobs!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

New Boston Marathon Q Times for 2013

The BAA Web site is crashing, so hard to see it, but the high points:

*Rolling entries for 2012 based on fastest qualifiers. First entries on Sept. 12.

*Five minutes cut for all qualifying times for 2013 for both ages, all genders.

http://www.baa.org - is the main site

Boston Globe article is here: http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/blog/2011/02/baa_announces_new_procedures_f.html?p1=Well_MostPop_Emailed2

Monday, February 14, 2011

Cherry Tree Update/Yesterday's 5K

The Cherry Tree has more than 1,000 applicants so far, with a race cap of 1,400, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the race will sell out this week. Online applications are still viable thru Feb. 16, as well as more details here.

One highlight: the race is sponsoring a used clothing drive, with T-shirts and shoes going to the youth in Belize, so bring your stuff (and get rid of all those NYRR cotton T-shirts you never wear!)

I haven't seen results from Sunday's 5K in the park - if anyone has a link to results, please forward and I'll post.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Valentine's 5K

Well, it's actually on Feb. 13 - a reminder of the first of three Prospect Park races this month. The race starts at 10 a.m.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Race Fees and Meb

This article in the New York Times was being passed around the office today as folk got a chance to face the bleak reality of race budgets. Police budgets are being squeezed, they may have to charge full freight, and that's going to mean higher race fees and/or more races being run in Central and Prospect parks.

Somewhat embedded in the article is the sense that we won't see the fees increase tremendously in 2011 - but 2012 could be brutal.

Contrast this with the commentary on Let's Run about Meb and the Boston Marathon (he didn't get offered a slot in Boston, with the obvious speculation that it's about the race fee that he might command.). If Boston paid him $100,000 appearance fee (I should say, I have no idea if this is close), where would it come from? Higher race fees? His blog is linked here.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Brooklyn Half Still Open

The race is *still* open, despite being near capacity for the past 24 hours. NYRR site says it will likely close today, so stragglers still have a chance.



Monday, February 7, 2011

Brooklyn Half "Nearing Capacity"

This according to a tweet from NYRR's Mary Wittenberg.  I'd bet at this point, it closes out today, given that there will be a ton of people who register this evening when they get home from work.

Registration Open for Brooklyn Half

It opened about 10 minutes late. Some reporting problems with the site recognizing whether they are a member or not, though the applications are going through, it seems.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

If You Get One Thing From This Blog ...

And I'm talking just *one* thing ...

Be ready for the Brooklyn Half signup at noon tomorrow (Monday).

Why will it fill up faster than any other race on the NYRR calendar that's open to first-come, first-serve entries?

*It's been deemed a club points race, and NYRR specifically sent a note out to clubs alerting them to the need to sign up early.
*It's part of the "run 4 of 5 halfs, get an entry to 2012 NYC Half"
*Too many Brooklyn residents got hosed last year because they waited too long; those who remember, won't forget this year
*It's a great half.

I'm assuming the NYRR servers can handle the influx of entries that will hit at noon; if not, expect to see a ton of angry Facebook messages (the messages will most certainly come later after the Brooklyn Half closes out.)

Last year's race had 7015 finishers; expect a cap somewhere around there this year as well (though we won't know until much later).

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities for Brooklyn to be filled tomorrow. I'd be shocked if it doesn't close this week.

Sign up *tomorrow* or get a friend to do it for you.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Brooklyn Half Registration Opens Feb. 7 at Noon


Actually, it opens for all April-June races. Make sure you're near a computer that afternoon.

Brooklyn Half Registration Nears


While it's not directly linkable, and you can't apply online yet, it looks like the application is close to ready.

Check out:
http://www.nyrr.org/races/2011/hms/brooklyn_reg.asp

I should stress - you can't apply online yet - those links don't seem to be working. But it gives you an idea of what's coming.

Of note: The course looks more or less the same. It also looks like the race registration is first-come, first-serve. And the race starts at 7 a.m.

Note the link above was working at around noon, so if it's been taken down or modified, apologies.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Trail Training in Brooklyn? Where Should One Go?

Got this note from a reader - opening it up for any comments:

"Came across your blog while researching training for the upcoming Leatherman's Loop. I'm running it this year and am trying to find local trails to train on. I know there are some on Staten Island but do you know of any place to train in Brooklyn?"

My response in part: I've jury-rigged stuff in Prospect Park, though ultimately it's not close to the kind of training you need to do for trail races. So, head to Westchester County/Bear Mountain. Van Cortlandt is great as well. Also consider parts of the Greenbelt Trail in Long Island. Other places?

Empire State Building Results

Ryan Jorgensen ran, stumbled, climbed, gasped, and then sprinted into 27 degree temperatures at the top of the building in 13:08, garnering the top Brooklyn male honor. Among women, Emily Kindlon finished in 15:06. Results are here.