PPTC/JackRabbit Marathon Bus

Details are here about the PPTC/JackRabbit Marathon Bus (this year leaving from 151 7th Avenue between Garfield and Carroll) at 6 a.m. sharp. Once nice touch; JackRabbit will be open before the buses so people can get their last minute Gu/Glide and other stuff.

Also note in this link, PPTC sponsors a "last 10 miles" run the weekend before in Manhattan. This is open to the public - you don't need to be a PPTC member - and it's a great chance to see what the last 10 miles of the course are like - crucial if this is your first race.

Sad News: Slope Sports to Close

Don't have all the details yet, but Brooklyn is losing one of its premier running stores with Slope Sports shutting down. Kirsten and Haig Marino have been great supporters of the Brooklyn running community, including race sponsorship and great clothing/shoe selections. They will be missed.

JackRabbit Q&A on Oct. 1

A quick promotional pitch from JackRabbit, if you happen to be in the neighborhood ...

JackRabbit is hosting a marathon Q&A night in each of our three stores at 7:00pm on Thursday October 1st to help everyone who is running a marathon this fall.

Whether you're wondering about how to time your taper, or about race day nutrition, or what to do about a nagging little injury, we'll be able to answer all your questions. Each store will feature a panel of three marathon experts:

A Doctor or Physical Therapist

A Running / Marathon Coach

A Sports Nutritionist

Each will give a 10-minute talk, and then they'll stay as long as needed to make sure all of the questions from the audience are answered.

Everyone attending the marathon Q&A night will also get 15% off everything in the store, so you can make sure you have everything you need for the final few weeks of training and for race day. IN ADDITION, if you bring a friend to the event, you'll each get an ADDITIONAL $5 off any purchase over $100.

Cash for Clunkers: Turn in Your Old Shoes

Super Runners Shop, which has a location in Brooklyn at 123 Court Street (the former New Balance store), has a promotion this Wednesday (one day only) whereby you recycle your old running shoes and receive $25 off a new pair of shoes.

Details of this are scarce - a store clerk I asked said the promotion was being run at all of the New York City stores, though I can't find any mention of it on their Web site (the Grand Central location is promoting a similar deal.) So, what I don't know, if there's any restriction - any type of shoe you must get, or can't get.

Also not clear: If you turn in four pairs of shoes, do you get four $25 off certificates? Still, it's a pretty good deal, especially if you spent part of Labor Day laboring in the house (and having to get rid of stuff) and a great way to avoid cluttering up the landfill.

The store is open until 7 p.m.

Aug. 25 Race to Support One of Our Own

Add this to your calendar among the many worthy races this summer and fall to raise funds for folk and charities: A JackRabbit employee, Greg Hamilton, is battling testicular cancer, and the store is coordinating a fund-raising race on Aug. 25 in Prospect Park to defray the mountain of expenses that aren't covered by insurance. Volunteers are also needed for the race, which runs on the sidewalks and trails of the park, rather than the traditional loop.

From an e-mail I got today:

"Greg Hamilton was diagnosed with testicular cancer in June of 2009. The cancer has spread, so he is currently undergoing four months of chemotherapy, and if that is not successful he intends to undergo major surgery to remove the cancer from every part of his body. Before the diagnosis he was training to run his first Ultramarathon, a 50 miler. Now, between the disease and the chemo, he struggles to climb the stairs to his apartment. His dream of joining the FDNY has been put on hold while he focuses all of his energy on getting better.

Greg is 22 years old, and has worked at JackRabbit since he arrived in NYC almost two years ago. As an assistant manager first in the Union Sq store and now in the Brooklyn store, Greg has helped thousands of people start running, get faster, and reach their goals. This is our opportunity to give back for all the support he’s given us over the years. "

Mmm, Free Gu ....

Back in the days, runners would be enticed by free beer. (One race shelled out a free half-gallon jug of pale ale ... to all ages! Heaven for a 16-year-old!)

But, it being the 2000s, we should be happy with what we can get. Including, that's right, free Gu, if you train in Prospect Park or Central Park at certain times and are spotted wearing some JackRabbit clothing.

The announcement from the JackRabbit Web site:

"... Anyone wearing the JackRabbit bunny - be it on a shirt, hat, backpack, sweatband in Central Park or Prospect Park will receive free Gu!

Starting this Sunday, July 19th and almost every weekend leading up to the NYC Marathon we will provide complimentary GU to anyone in the park between 9am and 12noon. We will be stationed at Engineers Gate in Central Park and on West Drive at the park entrance at Garfield Place.

Also, we've created a special technical JackRabbit NYC 'Skyline' Brooks shirt just for these supported runs. They're available at any of our JackRabbit locations and are just $5.

We'll be in Prospect Park every Sunday beginning July 19th and the following Sundays in Central Park:

July 19 Support, July 26 NO, August 2 Support, August 9 Support, August 16 NO, August 23 Support, August 30 Support, September 6 Support, September 13 Support, September 20 Support, September 27 NO, October 4 Support, October 11 Support, October 18 Support, October 25 NO."

Sale at JackRabbit!

Yes, it will hit 56 degrees tomorrow, but be inspired to pick up some cold-weather gear at JackRabbit Sports ... could be some good bargains. According to their e-mail:

"Spring is just around the corner, but there's still a chill in the air. Come by JackRabbit from Thursday, February 26th through Sunday, March 1st for your last chance to snag excellent deals on ALL winter apparel: jackets, long-sleeved tops, tights, pants, arm/knee/leg warmers, baselayers, midlayers, cycling toe and shoe covers, winter hats and gloves."

It's at both the Union Square and Brooklyn locations, through March 1.

Valentine's 5K Run ... on Feb. 15

I realize that I didn't put together the February race calendar, but didn't want to forget to give a shout out to the Valentine's 5K next weekend in Prospect Park on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m.

It starts near the Windsor Terrace side of the park, and does, the traditional 5K loop. Details are here.

Sale at Slope Sports

For those of you who still don't have enough winter gear, check out Slope Sports this week.

From their newsletter:

Slope Sports has been in business for 5 years this month and we want to celebrate! From January 24 to February 1^st, we are marking down all winter apparel 25% off.

Sale items include:

· All down jackets

· Winter running jackets & tights

· Thermal midlayers

· Baselayers

· All hats & gloves!

Random Thoughts on a Saturday Evening

** I'm listening to the Boston-Montreal hockey game over the Internet, and trying to decide if it's more or less interesting than trying to watch the streaming video, with limited audio, from the Division III National X/C championships from earlier today. (I've got some NYU ties, so was hoping for the upset ... no luck ...) So far, the jury is out ... Hope the Div. 1 Nationals are better.

** If you haven't signed up for this Thursday's Turkey Trot in Prospect Park, don't wait until the last minute. Race applications are higher than ever, and it's possible that last year's record turnout will be threatened (meaning you show up, get into the race, but won't get the swag). Details here about how to sign up for the 5 mile race. (And hey, if you pick up your stuff at JackRabbit, support the local running community)

** PPTC has a link to some comments from the finisher's of the NYC Marathon earlier this month. If you download, note that it's an Excel file.

** Good luck to everyone running the Philly Marathon tomorrow. Hopefully, the colder temperatures won't affect the times too much (though have got to admit, my run this morning was curtailed because I just simply couldn't get my legs loosened up)

** Am hearing some rumblings that we *might* see more NYRR races outside of Central Park in 2009. This, obviously, would be dependent on a ton of factors - city permits, venues, etc. Worth keeping an eye on, especially if any come to Prospect Park or elsewhere in Brooklyn (hey, maybe a Red Hook track series?)

** Speaking of JackRabbit, some good and bad news. The good: they will have a huge post-Thanksgiving clearance sale. The bad: It's only at their Union Square location, according to the recent newsletter. Still, an opportunity for some cheap running stuff as we head into the dark days of winter (I need new tights, I realize).