Brooklyn Half Can Be Used to Qualify for NYC 09

Now this is interesting.

While the application for the 2009 marathon won't be available until next week, the qualifying standards have been posted.

For the time qualifiers (scroll down), note the following:

"You must have met the appropriate qualifying time between January 1, 2008, and May 1, 2009 (an exception will be made for runners wishing to use their time from the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines: Brooklyn in May, 2009). "

The race, tentatively May 30, gives the relatively fast a chance to score an entry if they haven't accomplished any of the other ways.

So, for example, if you're a 50-year-old-plus woman and you can run the Brooklyn Half faster than 1:50, you can get into New York.

Or, I should say, have the privilege of paying ... what, $200? ... for the race. :-)

The instructions on the site are a little fuzzy about how you reserve a marathon spot with a time of a half marathon that you haven't run yet (or isn't even scheduled yet), but so be it.

Best Staircases

OK, so Chicken Underwear went out and started counting stairs. Reposting this on the main blog rather than leaving it buried in the comments section so people can see. I had forgotten about Roosevelt Island.

http://pptcblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/some-stairy-statistics.html

Brooklyn Half Back on May 30?

It's back on the calendar, with the following caveat:

"Please note that this date is tentatively scheduled. Final race date for the Brooklyn Half may change. "

You know, I'm just going to hold that date open and wait until it gets set in stone.

Bronx Half: What Weather!!!

Wow, I'm stunned. What freakishly beautiful weather at the Bronx Half! (A boon, especially after the not-so-freakishly cold weather at the Manhattan Half). This is a race that, because of the calendar switch in past years, probably has a 70 degree temperature difference between its high and low points over the years. Today: Started off at 56 degrees, according to the race stats on the NYRR Web site (personally, that seems a little high, but there's no denying the conditions were close to perfect.) And even the wind on the Grand Concourse wasn't too bad.

One of the benefits of the figure-eight course that features a few out-and-back stretches is that you get to see how the race is developing. Teklu Tefera Deneke had what seemed to be at least 1 minute lead after the first 3 miles!!!! and dominated with a 1:08:25. Top Brooklyn male finisher was stalwart Jacob Cooper, fifth overall, in 1:13:53. Sarah Joyce took the borough's female honors with a 1:28:26 (good enough for fourth overall).

Full results are here.

March Half Marathons (more or less)

With a dearth of nearby long-distance races on the calendar in March, here are some relatively nearby options for folk looking to get it a lengthy race in preparation for a spring marathon - in all cases, though, you'll need to road trip it. I should note, there may be others, and I'll add to this as I discover them.

March 1: Boston Buildup 25K, Norwalk, CT

March 8: Celebrate Life Half Marathon, Rock Hill, NY

(Runners' World says great schwag!)

March 15: New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford, MA

(A great New England half - one I've always wanted to do).

March 22: NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge (15K)

(Central Park - if only it could be longer.)

March 29: Suffolk County Half Marathon, Long Island

March 29: Ocean Drive 10-Mile, Cape May County, NJ

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.

Cherry Tree and Race Shirts

Word is from the folk at PPTC that they have 320 applicants already for the Cherry Tree Relay/10 Mile Race on Sunday, Feb. 22. The T-shirt (or should I say, nice long-sleeve technical shirt) cutoff is at 400, so if you're thinking of running, worth getting the application in. (After that, you can run, but no shirt).