Sunday, January 27, 2008
'Once a Runner' Coming Back Into Print
"Once a Runner," the classic running novel by John L. Parker Jr., will be back in print soon, according to this Running Times interview with him (so if you're just looking to read it, and have patience), it may not be worth shelling out the $200 for it on EBay). Here's a request to the Brooklyn library system to pick up a few copies.
Manhattan Half
Results for today's Manhattan Half have been posted. Kirt Joseph nosed out Jacob Cooper for top Brooklyn male (both finishing under 1:16) while Sarah Foster led the way among Brooklyn women.
Cross Country in Prospect Park
A good old-fashioned cross-country race is the perfect reminder that when you're running in Prospect Park ... realize that it's a park! And take advantage of the varying terrains rather than doing loop after 3.35 mile loop.
Today's Everything But the Kitchen Sink X/C race started just north of the Picnic House on the western edge of the park. One full loop of the meadow, sticking the edges, and doing those short, but very steep hills, and then a run down to the ballfields before heading off into the woods and doing a mix of trail, pavement, grass to create a second loop, both of them roughly 2 miles. Doesn't that sound more fun that doing two loops of Central Park as part of the Manhattan Half?
The challenging part of today's race was the terrain. Unlike the grassy section of Van Cortlandt, which seemed comparatively pancake flat, the loop of the long meadow was complete with undulating hills, tree roots and branches, sandy ballfield, and beat-up fields that have shoe prints from countless soccer games frozen in place.
No results yet (probably in the next day), but that ultimately wasn't the point for most of us today.
I'll pull together a list of local trail races, with links, in the next day or two, for those who are interested. Noting the Urban Environmental Challenge in early April, a North Face sponsored Endurance run in mid-April, the Leatherman's Loop later that month, and the Long Island Greenbelt 25K and 50K in early May - a link to most of them is here.
Today's Everything But the Kitchen Sink X/C race started just north of the Picnic House on the western edge of the park. One full loop of the meadow, sticking the edges, and doing those short, but very steep hills, and then a run down to the ballfields before heading off into the woods and doing a mix of trail, pavement, grass to create a second loop, both of them roughly 2 miles. Doesn't that sound more fun that doing two loops of Central Park as part of the Manhattan Half?
The challenging part of today's race was the terrain. Unlike the grassy section of Van Cortlandt, which seemed comparatively pancake flat, the loop of the long meadow was complete with undulating hills, tree roots and branches, sandy ballfield, and beat-up fields that have shoe prints from countless soccer games frozen in place.
No results yet (probably in the next day), but that ultimately wasn't the point for most of us today.
I'll pull together a list of local trail races, with links, in the next day or two, for those who are interested. Noting the Urban Environmental Challenge in early April, a North Face sponsored Endurance run in mid-April, the Leatherman's Loop later that month, and the Long Island Greenbelt 25K and 50K in early May - a link to most of them is here.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Update on Park Slope Armory
The Brooklyn Paper this week has a not-so-encouraging update on the status of the Park Slope Armory. Essentially, it seems there are two proposals to manage the facility ... whether either will be accepted is unclear.
The pessimistic view here stands in contrast to a post on The Gowanus Lounge blog on Jan. 10, which indicates the armory may open in September.
The pessimistic view here stands in contrast to a post on The Gowanus Lounge blog on Jan. 10, which indicates the armory may open in September.
Sale at Slope Sports
Not to be out done, there's also a sale at Slope Sports through Jan. 31 on running jackets and cold-weather gear. From their newsletter:
Take:
-- $10 off of purchases over $100
-- $40 off of purchases over $200
-- $50 off of purchases over $250
-- a whopping $100 off of purchases over $400
And plenty of other discounts, enabling folk to stock up on stuff ... with our luck, for next winter. (The pair of snowshoes I got last Christmas to do some winter workouts in Prospect Park still has the plastic wrap on).
Take:
-- $10 off of purchases over $100
-- $40 off of purchases over $200
-- $50 off of purchases over $250
-- a whopping $100 off of purchases over $400
And plenty of other discounts, enabling folk to stock up on stuff ... with our luck, for next winter. (The pair of snowshoes I got last Christmas to do some winter workouts in Prospect Park still has the plastic wrap on).
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Spirit of the Marathon Movie Was Tonight
Did anyone see it? Any feedback? Heard it was sold out in Manhattan. I've also heard some rumors, completely unconfirmed, that there may be a second showing in February ...
UPDATE: 1/26. Yep, the poster is right. There's an encore showing on Feb. 21. From the people who've seen it, reviews are generally positive.
UPDATE: 1/26. Yep, the poster is right. There's an encore showing on Feb. 21. From the people who've seen it, reviews are generally positive.
Katie Holmes and the NY Marathon
I stumbled across this the other day on the LetsRun.com site. It's telling about our obsession with celebrities (a sad side note to offer condolensces to the friends of family of former Boerum Hill resident Heath Ledger)
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2324125
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2324125
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