Wow, a ton of them over the weekend. Let's get to some of the highlights:
One of the fastest marathons* (in part because it's a huge net downhill (*that is, unless you hate downhills), the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA, boasted a good handful of Brooklyn runners. Daniel Blausey had a net time of 3:11:25, making him the top Brooklyn male finisher. Maggie Deschamps led Brooklyn women with a 3:40:05.
And then, of course, there was Chicago, where the fastest marathon on U.S. soil was run. Pretty friggin' awesome. The results are here, but right now it's not letting me search by city and state.
Closer to home, the Staten Island Half Marathon boasted almost 4,000 finishers on what was a picture perfect day for the 13.1 mile race. Jorge Eliecer Real smoked the field with a 1:10:04. Sarah Foster finished second overall for women with a 1:28:39.
Kirt Joseph led the way with a blazing 16:30 at the Get to the Point 5K, which boasted 449 finishers. Miriam Beyer dominated the women's field with a 19:21.
No immediately seeing any official/unofficial results for the Restoration Plaza Bed-Stuy 10K. Some rumblings out there that there were some problems with directions on the course, which may have caused some problems (and added some distance.)
The fall weather is here, and so is racing season. Congrats everyone who laced on shoes over the weekend - and good luck to those who are gearing for competitions in the coming weeks.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saturday Snoozing
This Saturday morning was one of very few in recent memory that I haven't dragged myself out of bed for a run by choice (as opposed to being injured). But with a race Sunday -- and so many options out there -- there was no impetus to dash down some coffee and speed-read the Sunday paper.
Best of luck everyone running Bed-Stuy 10K, Staten Island Half, Chicago Marathon or whatever. And congrats to local runners who ran in Hartford today - hope it wasn't as windy as it was here in NYC.
Wrapups, coverage and other stuff late Sunday and Monday.
Best of luck everyone running Bed-Stuy 10K, Staten Island Half, Chicago Marathon or whatever. And congrats to local runners who ran in Hartford today - hope it wasn't as windy as it was here in NYC.
Wrapups, coverage and other stuff late Sunday and Monday.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Race of the Weekend
Here's a quick shout-out to the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration 10K this Sunday. I ran it a couple of years ago and had a blast - it's a fun course, with plenty of entertainment both before and after the event. Be mindful of all the subway construction this weekend as you're trying to get there.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Random Thoughts on a Monday Evening
I am not a huge fan of running the early mornings. 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. starts, I can do with no problem. Even 6 a.m. isn't so bad. 4:30 a.m., after being awoken by a persistent (and yet undead) mosquito - not a fan. I read about the people who regularly get up for 5 a.m. runs and come back after a 10 mile jaunt - consider me impressed.
Yet circumstances and training necessitated a 9 mile run this AM
The few things that remain in my sleep-deprived mind (there is no way I'll see the second half of Monday Night Football tonight):
-- at 4:30, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is empty, and beautiful when there is a full moon shining on the water
-- at 5 a.m. in Prospect Park, there are more power walkers (and couples, I might add) then there are runners
-- the park's raccoon and swan population is alive and well
-- I have to be really, really, really desperate to open one of the PortoPotties at that hour (I didn't)
-- It's harder to sprint for a subway car after running 9 miles
Other stuff as I'm thinking about it:
-- The Prospect Park Track Club is sponsoring a marathon bus ($10 for members, $15 for nonmembers) to get to the NYC marathon start. Also of interest: a Gatorade supported group run on Oct. 25 of the last 10 miles of the race
-- Check this out: Photo and article in Prospect Park, including resident Chris Bither, about running with a stroller
-- I asked Heavy Metal Runner for his description of an almost 20-miler that he's been running, and he obliged. To quote from his e-mail:
"It's a pretty good route. Lot's of water available on the 2nd half. I run from carroll gardens up union street to easter parkway, then up bedford all the way through williamsburg. I make my way into long island city over the pulaski bridge, the over the queensboro bridge, across manhattan to the west side and then I take the west side down until I hit chambers street and then i head over the brooklyn bridge and straight home. I like this route also because it covers a lot of territory that the marathon covers which I had yet to run on (this years marathon is my first so i figured it would be to my benefit to run some of it's faraway from home stretches to gain a little familiarity)"
Yet circumstances and training necessitated a 9 mile run this AM
The few things that remain in my sleep-deprived mind (there is no way I'll see the second half of Monday Night Football tonight):
-- at 4:30, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is empty, and beautiful when there is a full moon shining on the water
-- at 5 a.m. in Prospect Park, there are more power walkers (and couples, I might add) then there are runners
-- the park's raccoon and swan population is alive and well
-- I have to be really, really, really desperate to open one of the PortoPotties at that hour (I didn't)
-- It's harder to sprint for a subway car after running 9 miles
Other stuff as I'm thinking about it:
-- The Prospect Park Track Club is sponsoring a marathon bus ($10 for members, $15 for nonmembers) to get to the NYC marathon start. Also of interest: a Gatorade supported group run on Oct. 25 of the last 10 miles of the race
-- Check this out: Photo and article in Prospect Park, including resident Chris Bither, about running with a stroller
-- I asked Heavy Metal Runner for his description of an almost 20-miler that he's been running, and he obliged. To quote from his e-mail:
"It's a pretty good route. Lot's of water available on the 2nd half. I run from carroll gardens up union street to easter parkway, then up bedford all the way through williamsburg. I make my way into long island city over the pulaski bridge, the over the queensboro bridge, across manhattan to the west side and then I take the west side down until I hit chambers street and then i head over the brooklyn bridge and straight home. I like this route also because it covers a lot of territory that the marathon covers which I had yet to run on (this years marathon is my first so i figured it would be to my benefit to run some of it's faraway from home stretches to gain a little familiarity)"
Race Results
Plenty to catch up on:
Here's the final standings of the Brooklyn Triple Crown
Grete's Gallop Half, a 2+ loop of Central Park, is here
Kelly Chin was the top Brooklyner in Minnesota at the Twin Cities Marathon with a 2:49:34, just missing qualification for the 2012 Olympic Trials (go Kelly!). She needs a 2:46.
Cross-country ruled at Van Cortlandt, as it should (first of three consecutive Sundays, races at 11:30)
No results yet for the Liz Padilla 5K (unless I've missed) - will link when available.
Here's the final standings of the Brooklyn Triple Crown
Grete's Gallop Half, a 2+ loop of Central Park, is here
Kelly Chin was the top Brooklyner in Minnesota at the Twin Cities Marathon with a 2:49:34, just missing qualification for the 2012 Olympic Trials (go Kelly!). She needs a 2:46.
Cross-country ruled at Van Cortlandt, as it should (first of three consecutive Sundays, races at 11:30)
No results yet for the Liz Padilla 5K (unless I've missed) - will link when available.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Gangs of 4
Was running an easy 7 miles today because of a 5K tomorrow, and was struck by the number of groups I saw in Prospect Park and on the roads leading to the Brooklyn Bridge.
It's actually something I've noticed for the past several weeks, and I realize this is purely anecdotal, but the number of groups (2, 3, 4 or more) of runners - at all hours -- I've seen seems to be increasing. And this is ultimately a good thing. I love running on my own, but I'll be the first to admit that running with someone else can add another element that makes the run both enjoyable and successful.
I tend to do group runs on the weekend, and then probably once during the work week (work and family commitments often make it difficult to schedule more than that, something I know that weighs on a lot of my colleagues, especially the ones with young children). But I've found that the extra effort in trying to schedule runs and speed workouts with my friends is well worth it. Not only does it help me when I'm trying to run faster, it also helps to control me when I'm seeking to run slower.
Happily, there are plenty of clubs out there that have scheduled groups runs, where you can meet up with folk, make friendships/alliances, and then set up your own runs. Local running stores also tend to be sponsoring runs, so check them out.
Some links below to some of the area clubs and organizations: Scheduled workouts are available on their sites. There's also Team in Training, which has some Brooklyn-based workouts, and more formal workouts with stores like JackRabbit (though this involves a fee), as does the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp (not solely fixated on running).
Brooklyn Road Runners
Brooklyn Running Meetup Group
Prospect Park Track Club (with Slope Sports)
North Brooklyn Runners
Shore Road Striders
It's actually something I've noticed for the past several weeks, and I realize this is purely anecdotal, but the number of groups (2, 3, 4 or more) of runners - at all hours -- I've seen seems to be increasing. And this is ultimately a good thing. I love running on my own, but I'll be the first to admit that running with someone else can add another element that makes the run both enjoyable and successful.
I tend to do group runs on the weekend, and then probably once during the work week (work and family commitments often make it difficult to schedule more than that, something I know that weighs on a lot of my colleagues, especially the ones with young children). But I've found that the extra effort in trying to schedule runs and speed workouts with my friends is well worth it. Not only does it help me when I'm trying to run faster, it also helps to control me when I'm seeking to run slower.
Happily, there are plenty of clubs out there that have scheduled groups runs, where you can meet up with folk, make friendships/alliances, and then set up your own runs. Local running stores also tend to be sponsoring runs, so check them out.
Some links below to some of the area clubs and organizations: Scheduled workouts are available on their sites. There's also Team in Training, which has some Brooklyn-based workouts, and more formal workouts with stores like JackRabbit (though this involves a fee), as does the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp (not solely fixated on running).
Brooklyn Road Runners
Brooklyn Running Meetup Group
Prospect Park Track Club (with Slope Sports)
North Brooklyn Runners
Shore Road Striders
Liz Padilla 5K Oct. 4
For those of you who might be interested in what tomorrow's Liz Padilla 5K in the park is about, here's a summation from a colleague to put it in perspective:
"On Thursday, June 9th, 2005, we suffered the tragic, untimely loss of Elizabeth Kasulis Padilla. Always an active person, Liz was riding her bicycle to work when she was killed in a road accident. Her absence continues to weigh heavily on those who knew and loved her, yet she continues to inspire us through her legacy of generosity and kindness.
Liz, a graduate of Cornell Law School, joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project as a Pro Bono Coordinator/Staff Attorney in December 2004. She immediately focused her extraordinary talents and abundant energy on providing direct representation and counsel to clients with family law issues, as well as the challenging task of coordinating the efforts of the Project's volunteer attorneys, making certain all eligible clients received appropriate representation in family law, bankruptcy, elder law and housing matters. Her fluency in Spanish was a great source of comfort to many of the Project's clients. Liz was an active participant in the Project's Senior Legal Education and Assistance Program (LEAP), visiting many of the senior centers herself. Liz approached each day with excitement, eagerly seeking opportunities to give back to her community, especially to those most in need of a helping hand.
In addition to long hours at the VLP, her days were filled with an amazing mix of challenging and meaningful activities: tutoring high school students, training as a tri-athlete, enrolling in a trapeze school, running the NYC marathon with disabled athletes as a member of the Achilles Track Club - and so much more. More than anything, Liz loved her very special family, laughter and hard work. In the summer of 2005, Liz was planning a 5k Race to benefit the VLP, her unique way of joining two of her favorite activities. We dedicate this event to her. "
The race starts at 10 a.m at Bartel Pritchard Square (15th/Prospect Park West). There's also a donation page.
"On Thursday, June 9th, 2005, we suffered the tragic, untimely loss of Elizabeth Kasulis Padilla. Always an active person, Liz was riding her bicycle to work when she was killed in a road accident. Her absence continues to weigh heavily on those who knew and loved her, yet she continues to inspire us through her legacy of generosity and kindness.
Liz, a graduate of Cornell Law School, joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project as a Pro Bono Coordinator/Staff Attorney in December 2004. She immediately focused her extraordinary talents and abundant energy on providing direct representation and counsel to clients with family law issues, as well as the challenging task of coordinating the efforts of the Project's volunteer attorneys, making certain all eligible clients received appropriate representation in family law, bankruptcy, elder law and housing matters. Her fluency in Spanish was a great source of comfort to many of the Project's clients. Liz was an active participant in the Project's Senior Legal Education and Assistance Program (LEAP), visiting many of the senior centers herself. Liz approached each day with excitement, eagerly seeking opportunities to give back to her community, especially to those most in need of a helping hand.
In addition to long hours at the VLP, her days were filled with an amazing mix of challenging and meaningful activities: tutoring high school students, training as a tri-athlete, enrolling in a trapeze school, running the NYC marathon with disabled athletes as a member of the Achilles Track Club - and so much more. More than anything, Liz loved her very special family, laughter and hard work. In the summer of 2005, Liz was planning a 5k Race to benefit the VLP, her unique way of joining two of her favorite activities. We dedicate this event to her. "
The race starts at 10 a.m at Bartel Pritchard Square (15th/Prospect Park West). There's also a donation page.
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