The Ocean Parkway Problem

In looking at other postings, and looking at my own experience on the day (which I'll eventually get about to writing), Ocean Parkway, from miles 8-10 (or 8-11) was among the toughest miles of the Brooklyn Half, even though it was essentially flat.

Perhaps I'm extrapolating a bit from experiences, but it wasn't so much the physical challenge as it was the mental effort. Ocean Parkway, is, well, boring. (I contrast this with the Wall Street Run, which took place earlier this month, where much time is spent preparing for the next hairpin turn, or dodging the oblivious Wall Streeter who is intent in crossing the street.)

There was a slight, slight downhill, there was a slight, slight uphill, there was a slight, slight downhill and it was, well, boring. (And it was hot, and it didn't seem to end, and the alphabet wasn't all that interesting and ....) It's not until the road curves near Avenue Z and the you can see the end somewhat in sight that it becomes ... a race again. I spent a lot of time looking at other people, regardless of sex, quite frankly ... .

It's not a physically difficult stretch, but coming at a point in the race when you're already mentally fatigued ... yeah, I can understand. (And I'd argue that when the race went the other way, you were still mentally fresh enough to cope with it, though the Prospect Park hills have their own problem).

If NYRR keeps the route for this race in this fashion, I've got a suggestion, however, on how to train for it.

Start in Prospect Park (anywhere) and then run down Ocean Parkway ... alone. Hit the water fountains (if they're working) at Coney Island, maybe even do some mileage on the boardwalk.

Then, run back. Alone. (Maybe the first time you try this run, you do it with people. But the second time. By yourself.) You'll probably hate it. But it's good for you (kind of like the medicine my wife and I are trying to convince my daughter to take right now).

In looking back at my training logs, I look at the language of how I've described the run back, especially when I've either separated from the group or am doing it by myself. I can think of a couple successful runs. Most of them have been a slog. (That sucked!!! is a favorite phrase that recurs). A friend of mine said he would pick up the pace on the way back, simply to get it over with.

(BTW, bring water. Yes, there are bodegas on the side streets, and one park, but water is missing, except for a local hospital).

It's a mental challenge. Combine that with the physical training, and it may work. Any others have suggestions?

More Blogs and Comments from the Brooklyn Half

Some of your stories from yesterday's race. Some had a blast, others have comments about the baggage set-up (too far), the porta-potties (not enough), the water situation (not enough) and the second loop in the park, with faster and slower runners intermingling (frustrating) ...

From Sica Here!

"I truly thought it was never going to end. But, like all things, it did, and we ended the race by running, maybe half a mile, into Coney Island. The crowd that lined the boardwalk was amazing. Cheers at the end of a race, heading towards the finish, is always motivational! I did well, and I'm proud of myself. I still have to work on not shutting down at the last mile."

From The Long Road to the 2009 NYC Marathon

"Seriously, this race was a wake up call. Either I've got to take my training up a notch or retire from this attempt at this year's Marathon ..."

From New York Barefoot Runner

"I ran this barefoot for the first time. It was a bit hot at 70 degrees and the Brooklyn roads are much rougher than I had anticipated or hoped for. Parts of prospect park road are very coarse and have sharp gravel spread on the road which sucks."

From What You Do Not Know Because You Are Not Me

"Just as I was telling my teammate that runners from all over came to run this course, the women next to us said "Yes, I came from Australia just to be here today. ... I got to boo Marty Markowitz, and yell "Develop, Don't Destroy" as I crossed the starting line."

From Hangry Pants

"Mile 8: Have first of my Sharkies and feel a little better. Start thinking about Scallion Pancakes and Yam Fries from Veggie Heaven and Ice Cream with peanut butter in it. ...

Mile 11: Still feeling awesome. See man lying in street with ambulance. Not so awesome. Yikes!"

From The Adventures of Cowboy Hazel

"I’ve saved the worst for last: We had to do almost a full lap of the park on the outside of the the slower runners. There was no divider on the inside, so they were stretching out into our “lane” and often completely blocking our paths. I was exhausted by the time I left the park, and not because of my pace."

From Live to Run - Run to Live

"We all finally got going. It was disturbing to us back-of-the-packers to make the first turn onto the loop and see runners going by already on their second lap! Grrr. Well, at least it was a downhill start - that really helped me warm up and build momentum."

From Runner, Knitter, MTA Rider +250mg Sarcastic Humor

"I don't know what happened around mile 8 - 9, but i started feeling pretty fatigued. I knew I was more than half way done, (only 6 miles left! only 5 miles left! I kept trying to remind myself) but I was tired. I think at the 8 mile water stop I forced myself to gag through half an orange GU. (Have I told you how much I despise those retched things?!?!)"

From A Healthier Happier Bear

"Even with THREE bathroom stops (in the woods) and having to wait at two water stations since they were out of water I lowered my time by 2 minutes according to NYRR since the MORE ..."

From One Runners World

" At mile 12.5, right when we got onto the Coney Island boardwalk, my body just shut down ..."

Top Brooklyn Women at Brooklyn Half

Here are the top Brooklyn women at today's Brooklyn Half Marathon (with time and age).

KELLY	CHIN	1:22:45		28
ARIEN	O'CONNELL	1:25:37		25
KRISTAN	LUCAS	1:27:01		25
KATIE	CASTO	1:27:28		26
DARLINA	GOLDAK	1:29:57		24
BETH	ST JOHN	1:30:59		32
CASEY	DEPASQUALE	1:31:22		23
LINDSEY	REU	1:31:42		26
ANNIE	HAUSER	1:31:42		26
AMANDA	JINKS	1:32:10		28
MIRIAM	BEYER	1:32:47		32
SALLY	PRITCHARD	1:32:55		32
NANCY	LABINER	1:33:07		40
JESSICA	AISENBREY	1:33:09		26
SARAH	SCOTT	1:33:33		32
MAGGIE	DESCHAMPS	1:33:55		45
GILLIAN	HARO	1:33:58		31
CITABRIA	STEVENS	1:34:16		24
STEPHANIE	HEISTER	1:34:35		25
JESSICA	CHATFIELD	1:35:12		33

Top Brooklyn Men at Brooklyn Half

Here's the top 20 Brooklyn males, based on the preliminary data on the NYRR Web site (with time and age)

FELIPE	GARCIA	1:08:58		27
OREST	BABYAK	1:13:25		41
NEEL	TARNEJA	1:14:21		26
JACOB	COOPER	1:14:58		35
KIRT	JOSEPH	1:15:55		38
DIRK	MUENCH	1:16:01		31
NATHANIEL	CLAY	1:16:11		32
ADAM	MULIA	1:16:15		33
CARLOS	SAUCE	1:16:44		32
TROY	SQUIRE	1:18:08		34
FELIPE	VERGARA	1:18:20		44
JORGE EL.	REAL	1:18:43		38
DAVID	ALM	1:18:57		33
ERIC	WASHER	1:20:10		29
ROBERTO	EUSTAQUIO	1:20:40		38
JOSEPH	TUMBARELLO	1:20:52		34
BRIAN	ESHLEMAN	1:21:18		32
DAVID J.	GENDELMAN	1:21:29		41
PIETER	BEZUIDENHOUT	1:21:44		46
MATTHEW	FREY	1:21:51		29

Blog Commentary on Brooklyn Half

I'll keep posting snippets and links as I see stuff.

From eastcoastwestcoast:

"It was a blissful run, I was so relaxed in my pace, with easy breathing and heart rate, enjoying the sights around me and the breezes, and then having a little juice left for the last half-mile sprint to the finish. The two loops of the tree-covered drive in Prospect Park were lovely ..."

From 4:30 or Bust, a Bid for Marathon Mediocrity:

"I did not go all out in Propect Park, and found the energy to finish strong over the last 3 miles. Can’t complain with the result at all, considering the warm temps and my leg issues."

NYC Marathon Deadline

Especially if you've just whet your long-distance appetite with the Brooklyn Half today: please take note. The deadline for lottery applicants for U.S. residents for this year's NYC Marathon is 11:59 p.m. on June 1 (Monday). The drawing is in early June.

The lottery is, well, a crapshoot. For those of you considering New York in 2010, the easiest way to guarantee a spot is to run the nine qualifying races (and the one volunteer commitment). (Unless of course you're really fast or choose one of the charity routes ... or the several other loopholes in place).

Results are In

Results are here. According to the NYRR Web site, there were 9,413 finishers (which on the surface seems a little weird, given NYRR announced at the beginning of the race that 11,800 started.)

Then again, that may have included the people who signed up and didn't show. It was hot, but doesn't immediately appear that people were dropping like flies ...

Run Dangerously has a Brooklyn Half take here.

More to come ...