2009 greenburgh one mile fun run: race report

the 2009 edition of the greenburgh mile was my sixth time at this race in the last seven years! i've run all of them with katie - which alone, makes each one especially memorable for me. in the earlier years, i ran back after the first heat and ran side by side with katie as she did her mile. those races are, hands down, my favorite.

the race itself is as basic as it gets: a one mile straightaway parallel to the metronorth tracks, with the finish line at the hartsdale train station. the event has its own built-in plan for a warm-up - a brisk walk, jog, or run to the start line one mile south! as a sop to the humidity (but thankfully, no rain), katie and i warmed up with a walk instead of jog.

in a surprise, andy (the rd and owner of westchester road runner) let pat start the race with the horn and he started the timing clock. then they drove the lead vehicle ahead of the runners down to the finish. the first wave included the competitive runners (adults and teens alike), while the second wave featured parents running with baby strollers and the race walkers.

in the past years quarter-mile splits marked the course. this time around there were no markers. for the most part, after what was probably the first quarter mile, the pack stretched out into its approximate finish order. i didn't pass, nor was i passed, after settling into the 6th place in the string of runners ahead of me. my 6:02 was a big improvement from my 6:26 finish (a huge personal worst) in 2008, but well off my average times for this event.

afterwards, the results were tabulated (and opportunity seized by pat and katie to visit the adjoining farmers market and get some cupcakes) and awards were presented. katie's 8:39 finish took first place in her age group. i collected a bronze medal for the second place finish in my age group. a good time was had by all :D

here are my race photos.