2019 Taconic RR Freezer 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

Normally I'd begin a race post with the race itself - but today, a small rant is in order.  This was third weekend in a row my IPhone died right after a race/run (going back to the 20K in Fairfield, 2 miler in Van Cortlant Park, Trail Run in Rockies, and - of course - this morning's 5 miler in FDR park!).  Some of those were pretty cold; but today, for example, the temperature never dipped below freezing (despite the name of the race - haha).  I am not a happy Apple camper :(

Okay, rant over - back to running.  This was a rare back to back race weekend - with the Stratford 3 Miler yesterday.  My legs lacked anything approaching a second gear for this one.  I only ran another six+ miles to bring my mileage up to 10 yesterday - and those were easy miles.  But I did manage to come in under 40 minutes (my soft target).

My 38:33 finish (7:42 pace) was good enough for 4th in my AG (3rd in the 5 year AG).  It was a tough course, and I wound up walking a bit of "the" hill on the second loop.  Had I skipped the extra mileage yesterday I may have squeezed in under 38 minutes - but more than happy with both days!  In fact, the best part was the lack of any meaningful rain!  It was raining when I left the house - drizzling at FDR, pre-race - and relatively perfect for the 5 miles!

Post-race we had plenty of food.  And awesome fire going in the fireplace to dry off/warm up.  But the key to rehydration was the Captain Lawrence IPA that Gary brought :D

I managed to bring my IPhone back to life after charging it in the car to get these couple of shots!

Here are the official results from Taconice RR.

I'll add a link to the Taconic photos once they're up.

2019 Last Chance for Romance: Race Photos & Results

If it's February, then a trip up to Stratford for the Last Chance for Romance 3 Miler (formerly 4 Miles) is definitely in the cards.  Similar to last year, all the award were edible (as in Valentine's day candy).  That was in addition to all the great post-race food (tacos, chili, soup, bagels, muffins, and donuts - plus all that candy)!  It is indeed a greater challenge (than the race itself) to limit "calories in" to those consumed over the 3 miles - haha :D

As for the race itself - and its one (huge) hill in the last mile - acquitted myself with a 22:14, 7:25 pace (which, amazingly, included a bit of walking up that one hill).  It was actually 4 seconds faster than last year's performance.  That time was good enough for 2nd AG (a move up from last year's 3d AG).

As for the team races - we took first overall (a major improvement from 1st AG last year)!


Here are the official results from RunSignUp.

World Radio Day - 2019

Today is World Radio Day!

For a brief background, I'll repost last year's description (from the official website):

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The date of 13 February, the day the United Nations radio was established in 1946, was proposed by the Director-General of UNESCO. The objectives of the Day will be to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.

The consulted stakeholders also proposed ideas for the programme of celebration: extensive use of social media, annual themes, a dedicated website enabling virtual participation, special radio programmes, radio programmes exchange, a festival involving key partners, and so forth.

On 14 January 2013, the United Nations General Assembly formally endorsed UNESCO’s proclamation of  World Radio Day. During its 67th Session, the UN General Assembly endorsed the resolution adopted during the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference, proclaiming 13 February, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, as World Radio Day.
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So today it's an opportunity to listen old school - radio broadcasts via an actual radio.  I'll put my SDR on the backburner for a few hours and see what I can hear over a physical shortwave radio receiver!

Happy listening!

2019 Boston Buildup 20K: Race Photos & Results

It may have been a small miracle, but I somehow managed to run the Boston Buildup 20K this morning.  Given that I had no voice to speak of when I woke up (from all the coughing I had done through the night), I was inclined to skip it.  But since I hadn't run either of the first 2 races in the series during January - and, more importantly, I would probably have gone running later in the day - just got in the car and drove to Fairfield.

I was glad I did!  Despite the cold (I wore my jacket over my running clothes), finished in a sliver under 1:42 (1:42:59 - to be precise), an 8:12 pace.  Then my Iphone immediately died after I turned off Strava - so no pictures (the starting line photo is thanks to Tony!).

Here is the link to the official results at Athlinks.  One very cool thing I hadn't realized was that a finisher's certificate was available.  So there is mine - haha :D

2019 VCTC Tough Love 2x2 Relay

It may not have been the proper training plan to line up for Van Cortlandt Track Club's Tough Love Relay this morning - with the prospect of the Boston Buildup 20K in Fairfield tomorrow morning!  The wintery blast of cold weather was simply the icing on the cake (could not resist that chill pun)! 

But I love VCTC events - and I love running at Van Cortlandt Park - so this was a no brainer.  Plus, the prospect of winning a carrot cake muffin sealed the deal.  And, despite the frigid cold (the wind chill alone had to take the real feel temperature down to low single digits - but when the wind stopped blowing, the conditions were excellent)!

Don't know how we managed it, but Emmy and I teamed up and finished 3rd (behind Susan's team and Benny's team) in our AG.  So in addition to the race gloves - took home carrot cake muffins!

As always, VCTC put on an excellent event (and Carolyn, as RD, did an excellent job as well).  Hiroshi and I did a deja vu photo - a reprise of last week's photo from the TRRC Freezer 5K up at FDR park :D

I'll add link to the results once they've been posted.

2019 Taconic RR Freezer 5K: Race Photos & Results

It was actually balmy at FDR Park this morning!  And with the temperature at 33 degrees for the start, it was practically a heat wave give the sub-zero wind chills of last week!  The Freezer 5K was my first race since December - plenty of running, just haven't gotten myself over to a start line for a race (of any distance) until today.


I was pleasantly surprised w/my 22:30 (22:32 official), 7:15 pace.  Amazingly, for little if no speed work this season, it was about 6 seconds faster than my 2018 Freezer 5K!  Last year that was good enough for 2nd AG - but this year I dropped 3 places to 5th in my AG - so much for shaving off those few seconds - ha!


Anyway, regardless of time - it was great to be out there running (dare I say... fast) for a change!

Hiroshi and I hamming it up after we finished :D


I'll add a link to the official results once they've been posted.

Happy Groundhog Day - 2019

Happy Groundhog Day!  And the good news from Punxsutawney this morning, no shadow - Spring arrives 6 weeks earlier!  But given Phil's recent batting average (right just 40% of the time), flipping a coin would actually increase the prediction odds - haha.

Anyway, whether you have faith in Phil's prognostication skills, or not - today is the day to watch Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day" (what better way to celebrate?)...