Upcoming Local Races in Prospect Park

Plenty to talk about, but let's just focus on three, all in the local park.

Tomorrow (Sunday), the Valentine's Day 5K takes place, starting at Bartel Pritchard Square. Online registration has closed, but it looks like you can register on site for $30

Next Sunday is the annual Cherry Tree 3-person relay/10 mile run, sponsored by PPTC. Last I heard registration was filling up fast, tho keep an eye on the PPTC.org website

And finally the Al Gordon 4-mile run on Feb. 25 is nearing capacity, but slots are still open.

Jingle Bell Jog Now a 6K

Umm, yeah. "Unexpected construction work on Center Drive" (did it suddenly get blocked off in the past week?) makes the course now 3.7 miles rather than 4 miles.

The good thing: There will be a ton of PRs!

No course map is available, though the race starts and finishes on Center Drive.

Entry fees are $50 thru Dec. 9. Proceeds benefit NYRR's Youth Programs.

Free Entries to Rock 'N Roll 10K in Prospect Park*

*Of course there's a catch.

You have to be an Active Advantage member *and* you have to be one of the first 20 to sign up at 1 p.m. *today* (Tuesday, Aug. 23)

http://advantage.active.com/deals/Rock-n-Roll-New-York-10K/

Otherwise? Steep, steep entry fee of $60 if you're planning to run. The race is Oct. 22.

Battle of Brooklyn Tomorrow in Prospect Park

The 2nd annual JackRabbit Battle of Brooklyn takes place tomorrow in Prospect Park tomorrow at 8 a.m.

Three loops, 10 miles - it's similar to the Cherry Tree that's run in the winter.

There's still time to register online ($25) or pay $30 tomorrow at the door. And yes, there's a relay!

And, of course, a gimmick:

This year we're adding a new element: "Time your Climb" sponsored by Garmin. Each runner will not only receive their splits for the three loops, you'll also receive your splits for climbing Prospect Park's big hill. In each age/gender category, there will be a "Time your Climb" winner for the fastest combined time up the hill, *and* for the most consistent times up the hill.

Founders 5K Results Posted

Top results, both male and female, dominated by Central Park Track Club, which was the host of the race (not much from the local Brooklyn teams). Still lot of Brooklyn turnout overall. Next week is the NYRR Team Championships, the annual smackdown among registered teams.

One thing I'd note - I was running in the same direction as the runners doing a long run today - lot of traffic on the Prospect Park pathways. That's both good (love it when tons of runners are out there), and obviously bad (when you're racing, the last thing you want to do is be having to worry about runners - and cyclists).

Results are here - click on the .pdf to see age-group rankings.

Founders 5K on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Late notice I realize, but for those looking to run one of the many 5Ks in Prospect Park this summer - here's the next one.

Founders 5K, to honor the founders of the city's running clubs, starts at 9 a.m. just outside of Bartel Pritchard Square.

The First Brooklyn Marathon

How much do you love Prospect Park?

3 loops (like the Cherry Tree 10-miler). How about ... 8 loops.

You get the opportunity for the inaugural Brooklyn Marathon, to be held in November. Details are here

Fun Workout in Prospect Park: Hydrants

I was doing a workout in Prospect Park the other night and a guy passing by asked "Are you doing hydrants? Cool."

Well, at the time, I was leaning over gasping for air, heading for one of the working water fountains in the park, so I didn't really appreciate the comment. But it was nice to get an acknowledgment of one of the quirkiest workouts the park has to offer.

It's very simply, a fartlek ... a "fun" workout where you alternate running fast and slow over a wide variety of distances. Put another way: It's speedplay.

There are a number of ways to do this - we chose to do it by using the hydrants on the inner loop of the park as the determining factor. After warming up, start at the first hydrant you see. Run fast until you see the next hydrant. Run slower, until the next hydrant. Run fast. And so on.

It gets you running fast over a wide variety of distances - in the southern half of the park, the hydrants can be spread out over 100-200 meters, in the northern half of the park (between GAP and 15th Street), you get some 800 meter distances. It's equally fun if you do it at dusk or at night (hey, is that a hydrant? Or a stump?).

You decide how fast you run. And especially during the first loop of the park, if you don't remember where the hydrants are, or can't see them ... it's a different workout every time. Do it with friends - and it doesn't matter if you end up doing the fast parts at different paces - just have the faster runners circle back and pick the slower runners up.

Brooklyn Half: Quick Reax and Random Thoughts

Some highly subjective comments about today's race - as always, feel free to agree/disagree/comment away:

*The volunteers at this race rock. Seriously. Mary Wittenberg said they were on hand at 1 a.m., and the effort showed. From the directions and the organization to the water stops (more on these in a sec) - they did a great job.

*The weather was ... well, as predicted, those who love heat and humidity had a great day. Took me a mile before I was dripping (and that was even before I started dumping cups of water on me). Thankfully, Ocean Parkway was mostly in the shade as I was running down (I'm wondering if the sun had gotten higher though as the race progressed?)

*The past several days of rain had a minimal impact in Prospect Park, though I wouldn't be surprised to hear of some slips and falls - in a few cases, parts of the inside lane really weren't suitable for running, and the puddle at the southern end of the park, while smaller than usual, was very present and made for interesting navigation during the first loop

*I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on the second loop of the course, when the faster runners and slower intermingled. During the long downhill on mile 6, when people separated, I think it was fine. But mile 5, from GAP to 15th Street? A bit messy.

*No way to back this up, but was mile 6 a tad long? (and I would think that mile 5 possibly a tad short as a result). Until losing it in the final mile of the race, it was my slowest mile by a good 10 seconds (and yes, I realize that part of the run was on Zoo Hill).

*Water stops at every mile (almost) on Ocean Parkway were incredibly helpful. The one quibble I'd have is the very first water stop (at mile 1), which may have been set up there because of the park construction, was a little too soon for most runners (of course it was welcome at mile 4).

*I think I've expressed some doubt about the change to the course a few years back, but I think I'm now a total convert - it's a hassle to finish in Coney Island and get back, but I like getting the hills out of the way early and being able to pound it out (or in today's case hang on) during the flat part for the second half of the race. (For the first time in three years, I wasn't fixated on the alphabet streets, which certainly helped.)

*One wonders whether the MTA and NYRR talked about the date before the race. I completely understand that work has to be done on the tracks, but having the F out of commission (shuttle buses aside) isn't a very smart move. (And, this probably could have been avoided by the people who got burnt by this, but the Brooklyn Bridge was also closed to Brooklyn bound traffic early in the day, which didn't help some folk.) It's never a good thing to see a couple of hundred people sprinting to the start during the national anthem (very beautiful today, btw).

*Part of that may also have to do with the bathrooms. The lines looked really long today. Longer race commute means more bathroom needs, me thinks.

*Is there a way to avoid closing baggage claim at 6:30? I'm sure there are reasons, but it gets messy, especially when folk are getting to the race late.

*Set the Brooklyn Half date now. Saturday, May 19, 2012. Get the speculation out of the way. Just do it.

*The water at Coney Island: a bit chilly, but was definitely worth walking into the surf to soothe some sore muscles.

*Runners are good people. After suffering brain freeze when I checked my bag with my Gu (so much for my perfect pre-race preparation), a friend's friend gave me a strawberry-banana Powergel as I was getting a bit desperate. Without that, my final mile almost-collapse would have happened a) a lot earlier and b) would have been a collapse. So thanks.

*I've got ties with/friends on both clubs, but I'd love to see a North Brooklyn Runners (95 finishers)/Prospect Park Club (89 finishers) showdown (and throw in Brooklyn Road Runners (17 finishers) to boot).

PPTC 5K Race Series

What's not to like about this annual race series?

*5Ks every other Wednesday in the park.

*Low-key, yet intense competition.

*Great opportunity to get medals in your age group.

*Wonderful chance to work in some tempo runs into your long-distance training.

Here are the dates:

May 25
June 8
June 22
July 6
July 20
Aug. 3
Aug. 17 ****(site says Aug. 18, but because it's supposedly on a Wednesday ...)

Each race starts/finishes by the Oriental Pavilion (on the zoo side of the park) around 7 p.m. (a bit later usually because PPTC waits for the cars to clear the park.)

PTA 5K in Prospect Park April 30

Now that the temperatures are pushing past 70 degrees (oh the heat, oh the humidity), it's time for 5K season in Prospect Park. A few have already been run this year - get set for the onslaught.

This weekend, the Brooklyn PTA 5K takes centerstage to raise money for Brooklyn schools. Details are at NYCRuns.

Lots of other races, this weekend, including the Bronx Zoo 5K and the High Rock Challenge out on Staten Island. Check out the list here. And good luck everyone running marathons and halfs in New Jersey and Long Island - hope the heat holds off.

When Not to Race

At the beginning of each week, I tend to map out my planned mileage and workouts. In some ways, this is folly, since my work schedule fluctuates, my kids don't always fit my schedule - in short, it's pretty much what most runners with families who work face.

The additional challenge, however, is running the planned workout *on that planned day.* And this discipline, I admit, is problematic. Because what happens it that an easy day turns into a hard day (or vice versa).

Group runs (which are great, and if you don't have a group you're running with, I urge you to find one), are great at setting this discipline ... most of the time. I had to laugh when I got an invite to run with a friend at a much slower pace than he usually goes out on.

As for single runs: if I'm not training for anything specific, I tend to run at the pace I feel like. Some days fast, some days slow. My legs let me know what's going to happen.

(Bear with me, there is a point coming)

And then there's today - a planned easy run up to Prospect Park and then an easy loop, prepping for a longer run tomorrow (even with the expected rain). My run up to the park was bit more brisk than I wanted, but no worries - it felt fine. It was in the park that it got a bit dicey. I was passing another runner, when she suddenly sped up and surged past me. She slowed down a bit, I passed her again, and then she surged forward again.

This happened for 1 1/2 miles before I finally passed her for good. But the problem here was less to do with the "competition" that can occur when doing a loop in the Park and you pass someone/are passed by someone is that my pace suddenly accelerated by 30-40 seconds a mile. To be sure, there are times when it's fun to do this. Today wasn't supposed to be one of them. And while I'm pleased with the overall results (it gives me a better sense of my fitness 4 weeks into the Brooklyn Half), I've also muddled my planned training for the weekend.

In the larger scheme of things, there are worse things that can happen. My long day tomorrow will be a short/easy day and I'll find time on Easter Sunday somewhere for the long run. If you're running only 4 or 5 times a week, make sure you're doing the workouts that you should be doing. Making an easy day a hard day can be problematic.

One way to avoid (something I referred to a few weeks back): Take a time check at known measured distances to see how you're doing. Prospect Park, with the 1/4 mile marks for the PPTC 5K race is great at doing this. It's also how I knew that I was running a lot faster than I should be (yeah, I should have slowed).

Some unsolicited advice as you get prepped for your spring races. A bunch of Brooklyn folk are running either New Jersey or Long Island (half or full marathons) next weekend; make sure you're not running hard this week, even though it will feel relatively easy as you complete your taper.

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.

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.

Whaddayou Think About the Prospect Park West Bike Lane?

Opportunities galore to protest, and respond.

As a runner - it's easier to cross the street, though I'm leery about wayward bikers. It also keeps them off the sidewalk on the rare times I'm running there rather than in the park.

Reminder: Liz Padilla 5K Tomorrow

For folk looking for a good 5K (with awesome weather) tomorrow, reminder the Liz Padilla 5K takes place tomorrow in Prospect Park at 10 a.m.

A full listing of local races tomorrow, and further on in the calendar, is here at NYCRuns

Liz Padilla 5K

The death of yet another cyclist on Brooklyn's streets unfortunately coincides with the race brochure I picked up at the gym today.

The 5th Annual Liz Padilla Memorial 5K takes place in Prospect Park on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. to remember Liz Padilla, a competitive runner who was killed in road accident on her way to work. The race is sponsored by the Brooklyn Bar Assn Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Needless to say, there are a lot of races with a lot of worthy causes. This one is ringing home today.

Battle of Brooklyn Race-Day Registration

Spots for the full 10-mile race (not the 3-person relay) are available if you want to race on Sunday, Aug. 22 ... 6:30am to 7:45am ($30 cash only, no relay team registration on race day) Start/Finish is in Prospect Park near the intersection of Prospect Park West and 15th St.

Places to Run

Pulling up this question from one of the comments, since there's likely interest from others

Q: "I live near Prospect Park but am not a huge fan of running there - too many people, not a great route. Do you know of any straight tracks in Brooklyn that allow runners access?"

A: Red Hook Track, in Red Hook about 2 mi away from Prospect Park (roughly, depends where you are starting from), is your best bet for a track (if I'm understanding your question correctly - if I'm not, please respond and I'll try to do a better job).

Head down any of the streets (Union, 9th, etc.) across the Gowanus and make your way over to Henry, Hicks or Columbia, then hang a left. There may be a couple of detours, but you'll eventually get there.

Here's a link to NYC tracks.

One suggestion if you are frustrated by the number of people in the park - do a loop using the upper and lower transverses. There are *a lot* fewer people that run there - a loop is about 1.64 mi. (See this park map, with distances)

Founders 5K July 31

Adding to the wave of 5Ks in Prospect Park this summer, the Founders 5K takes place next Saturday, July 31, at 9 a.m. (Bartel-Pritchard Square start)

New Balance shirts to the first 750 applicants (not sure if any left at this point), sponsored by the *Central Park* Track Club and Urban Athletics among others. Details here