2017 Putnam County Half Marathon: Race Photos & Results

It was my first time running the Putnam County Half Marathon.  I had thought it would be a chance to run a half marathon in Fall weather, as opposed to the heat and humidity we had last week at the Norwalk Half.  So much for wishful thinking - it was hotter and even more humid for this race (summer clearly not wanting to give way to fall, it seems).

As for the race itself, it was an out and back course - with one major glitch, the turnaround point kept getting relocated!  In amazement, I watched it get moved back - far back - literally, as I approached it to turn around!  I'm not sure where it actually belonged (my final mileage according to Strava, was 13.6 miles - according to MapMyRun, it was 13.7+ miles) but the confusion led to a lot of post-race gripes about who ran what distance - and may have impacted the awards as a result.

The course itself was fantastic.  But because of the weather it was tough, especially the basically unshaded nature of a good chunk of it.  I managed to finish in 1:53:42 (roughly 8:22 pace).  It was good enough for 2nd Place in my AG.  Even so, I was a bit disappointed with my performance - 8+ minutes slower than my already heat-slowed result at Norwalk last weekend.  Still, given that at least one runner was taken to hospital for heat related issues, more than pleased to have finished!

Don, Emmy, and Ronnie also took AG group awards as well (1st, 1st, and 2nd, respectively)!  But, in what took away from all the good vibrations was having not 1, but 2 tickets waiting for him when Don got back to his car!  That was really disturbing - and, honestly, inexcusable.  We all traveled to Brewster for that specific event.  Neither he, nor any of us, would have been in town, this morning - but for the half marathon.  Argh!

Here are the official results via Putnam Half Marathon FB page.

More great photos from Putnam Half Marathon's official photographer!

Happy Autumnal Equinox - 2017

Here on the east coast, Fall officially arrives at 4:02 PM.  Even so, Summer doesn't seem in any rush to fade away - especially with temperatures forecast in the 80's this weekend!  Hurray for that because I don't want cooler days - just yet.  We've already had an early taste of Fall over the Labor Day weekend (I can't remember a pre-race Westport 10 Miler where my teeth chattered in the chill as we waited for the race to start!).

Still, Happy Autumnal Equinox to all!

2017 Norwalk Half Marathon: Race Photos & Results

What a difference a year can make.  I ran the Norwalk Half Marathon this morning (and it's probably the first time in 10 years that I managed to run all 6 of races in an entire season).  We had 100% humidity (without rain) at the start.  Half way through the first mile it already seemed more like a swim than a race :O

I finished the double loop course in just over 1:45 (1:45:06, 8:02 pace).  That was a bit disappointing since I had hoped to run a 1:42 or 1:43 for the Half.  Given the tough weather conditions, I'll take it!  Still, in significantly less humid conditions, I ran it almost 4 minutes faster last year (1:41:13) :D

Last year I finished third in my age group for the Half.  Amazingly, despite the slower time, I again finished third in my age group!  But the highlight of the morning was a 3rd place finish in my age group in the overall summer series standing! It's been a few years since I took home an age group award for the summer series :D

Here are the Half Marathon Race Results from Lightfoot Runners.

Here are the Final 2017 Summer Series Standing from Lightfoot Runners.

Great photo of the start - thanks to Tony!

Never Forget 9/11 - 16 years ago today :(

It's been 16 years now - and it could have happened yesterday.  As I write this, I'm sitting in my office, pretty much the same place I sat when the first plane crashed into the north tower.

#neverforget

Here is my post from last year (which, in essence, mirrored my earlier ones on the subject):
__________________________________________

It's hard believe that 15 years have gone by since the cowardly terrorists destroyed so much on September 11, 2001. Despite the physical destruction - and the loss of so many innocent souls - our collective spirit survived intact and emerged from the ashes.

Today the Freedom Tower rises in the former Twin Towers site. We have rebuilt and our lives have go on - despite the horror and sadness of that day. And for those reason, we must never forget what happened.

Never forget the evil.
Never forget the survival.
Never forget the souls that didn't survive.

2017 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile: Race Photos & Results

The Fifth Avenue Mile is one of my favorite races.  This morning we had great, if slightly windy, weather for a run down a carless 5th Avenue straightaway.  It was the second year in a row (I think) that the 50's men and women ran together in what was the 12th heat of the morning.

As I suspected, my finish was in between last year's 6:13 and last month's 6:44.  The 6:19 was a solid 25 seconds faster than the Peekskill Brewery Mile.  I don't know how I ran that fast without the prospect of a cold beer waiting at the finish - haha!

My quarter mile splits were relatively even: 1:30; 1:40; 1:35; and, 1:34.  The 1:40 reflected the only "climb" of the course.  The remaining two quarters were relatively "downhill" after that one.  All in all, I was very pleased with my finish.  It was race #8 of my 9+1 (and the NYC Marathon itself will complete the (9+1 for 2017).

Here are the official results from NYRR.

2017 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile Packet Pickup

Yesterday was the first time I ever picked up a bib and shirt (other than a race day, itself) on a Sunday (not to mention a Labor Day weekend)!  Since I had to put in a few hours at the office - Fall semester kicks off with a convocation on Tuesday and classes begin on Wednesday - why not stop off at the NYRR on the way home?!  In fact, the email notification from the NYRR had, itself, only arrived the day before (Saturday).

As for the race itself, it will be #8 on my road to 9+1 for 2017.  And as for a time goal, there's a 30 second window between the 6:13 I ran last year and the 6:44 I ran last month (at the Peekskill Brewery Mile) that I will probably finish in.  My 6:44 is a pretty soft target, while the 6:13 is looking pretty tough to beat right now :O

Time will tell (actually, in  less than a week now we will - in fact - know the result) :D

2017 Westport Summer Series 10 Miler: Race Photos & Results

Fall weather came to the Westport Summer Series 10 Miler this morning.  The chilly start was probably the coolest weather I can remember for this race!  When I left the house it was 50 degrees outside (and I immediately went back inside to grab my windbreaker)!  The temperature was much warmer when I arrived at Staples -- but it was great running weather :D

As for the race itself, while my time goal was a sub-1:20, I came pretty close to sneaking in under 1:18!  Maybe the weather was a plus after all.  When I saw the clock at the straightaway to the finish line, it had just turned 1:17:50 - and despite the old college try, I couldn't sprint fast enough to cover the remaining distance in 9 seconds - it took a whopping 16 seconds!  Nevertheless I was very happy with the 1:18:06 , 7:49 pace (with my sub 1:10 glory days long gone - haha)!

Here are the race results from HiTek Racing.

As usual, thank to Tony for great photo of the start!

September 2017 Race Schedule

Hard to believe Summer is ending and Fall begins just 3 weeks!  Given the "cold" spell (if 50s and 60s fit that bill) of the last few days, it seems as if Fall has gotten a jump on its official return (9/22).  But this weather would be ideal for the Westport 10 Miler tomorrow :D

Aside from Westport to kick off the Labor Day weekend, I'm still on the fence about heading up to New Haven for the 20K on Labor Day proper.  I've done that double many times, but won't really decide until after the 10 Miler.

The following week is the NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile (race #8 of my 9+1).  Looking forward to it, as running down a car-less 5th Avenue is always fun!  But I gave serious thought to the South Nyack 10 Miler before signing up for the 1 Miler.

The Norwalk Half is on the 16th.  While not the official end to the Summer Series, it does bring it to a close for the 2017 season.  Looking forward to it (but can't say the same for the double loop course - haha).  The open question for me, again, is the next day.  Should I run the NYRR 18 Mile training run, or the Fall Frolic 30K.  Will definitely do one, just not sure which at this point.

As of now, haven't penciled in a race for the last weekend.  The Bronx 10 Miler is on the front burner.  It would be a nice bookend to the month (starting and ending with a 10 miler) :D

Here's how it looks so far:

9/2 - Westport 10 Miler
9/10 - Fifth Avenue Mile
9/16 - Norwalk Half Marathon
9/17 - NYRR Marathon Tune-up 18M, or
        - Fall Frolic 30K

As always, if you're at any of them - say Hello!