2018 Taconic Road Runners' Beer Mile

I love one mile races - and I lover beer.  My fellow mile/beer lovers lined up for the always awesome Taconic Road Runner's Beer Mile (which tonight also included what appeared to be wine coolers and/or hard ciders)! 

Last year I couldn't run it because the date conflicted with my summer session class.  But back in 2016 I managed to run a solid 8:35 - something not to be repeated this time around.  Four beers, high humidity, and slightly older runner... I eked out a 9:30 finish :O


Addendum:  According to Strava, my moving time was exactly 6:59 - which meant that 2:30+ was "drinking" time.  Well, of that drinking time, practically an entire minute was devoted to beer #4 - haha!

Another highlight of this event is that it's held in conjunction with our Club's monthly meeting.  So after the running/drinking we climbed up the hill to the Gazebo for the results/meeting/food - and, it should go w/out saying, a bit more drinking :D


Here are the official results from the Taconic RR.

Here's the link to the Taconic Race Photos!

An impressive array of fluids nicely lined up at the start!

Done!

A bucolic venue for the meeting :D

2018 Waveny Summer XC Series - 2 Person Relay: Race Photos & Results

I love the Waveney XC Series - but getting there after work can be chore.  The drive to New Cannan normally takes me less than 30 minutes - but on a Tuesday night (like tonight), it's more like 40/40+ minutes in rush hour traffic.  But then, on the way home, usually no traffic (again, like tonight) and I make it back in the door in less than 30 minutes.  Okay, my traffic rant is over :O

As for the relay (one of my all-time favorite events), Rob and I teamed up to run the 3x 1 Mile repeats.  I got to be the anchor (which gave Rob great opportunity to have beer waiting at the finish line!) leg of our team.  We finished the 6 miles in 43:53, for a combined 7:19 pace.  I didn't wear a watch/carry my phone, so didn't have my splits.  Luckily, Rob was able to breakout out times from his GPS - 22:08/21:45.  But, interestingly, his GPS measured the course at 1.04 miles (a bit long)!

That was a reversal from the short (very) 5K at Westport on Saturday.  Still, a 21:45 worked out to a 7:15 pace, slightly slower than my 5K pace Saturday - but right in line w/the cross country terrain.

Only a couple of pictures this time around - some of which I "borrowed" (such as Francoise modeling this Summer's hot pink tee shirt for AG winners!)

Next up - the Taconic Beer Mile tomorrow night!

Here are the official results from ClubCt.

2018 VCTC Flats Mile: Race Photos & Results

Celebrated Global Running Day with a trip to Van Cortlandt Park to run the Flats Mile!  It was a fun time, running and socializing.  But as for racing, after a long day at the office, all I could eke out for a mile run on the cinder track encircling the parade grounds was a 6:50 finish.  It was certainly one of my slower miles, but I'll take it :D

In addition to the great patch we received for signing up for the race itself, the NYRR were set up with their "finish line" for the Global Running Day runners - and I received a great buff as some nice bonus swag!

The official results have been posted on the VCTC results page.

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

Peekskill Brewery Mile: Race Photos & Results

 

What a great night (late afternoon) to run a mile!  The Peekskill Brewery Mile went off just after 5 PM and the best part of it (aside from the net downhill) was getting to run it with Katie.  We haven't run an official race together in years - since she was in middle school.  Instead of road races, she spent her middle and high school years playing field hockey and lacrosse :D

And what better way to finish a mile (or any race/run for that matter) than to rehydrate with some excellent beer!  In fact, I'd venture to say it was the prospect of a cold beer that got me to the finish in 6:44 - haha.  I was a little dubious of running fast after the Westport Summer Series 8.4 Miler yesterday, the post-run miles after that race, and the trail miles I ran this morning.  But where there is cold beer, there is always a way :D

Here are the official results from the Taconic Road Runners.
and here are more race photos from the Taconic Road Runners.

 

Thanks Bette for the great photos of me in action (during the race and post-race with Hiroshi)!

2016 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile: Race Photos & Results

Great morning to run a mile down Fifth Avenue in the company of a lot of fellow 50 year old runners!  I upped the distance a bit by running over to the Met from 86th Street and running down to Grand Central afterwards.  But the 2.5+ miles was still short of the 10 I would have run at Westport - so I tacked on another 6.5 miles when I got off the MetroNorth :D

As for the one Mile that mattered, I ran a 6:13 - trying hard to sneak under 6 minutes, but given no speed work this summer, that wasn't realistic.  Still I'm very happy with it!  In fact, it's a solid 26 second improvement over last year's Fifth Avenue Mile (6:39). 

Like last year, this was NYRR race #8 - and like last year, the NYC Marathon itself will be the ninth.  Unlike last year, when I still had the volunteer requirement to do, this time around I already took care of that one.  Not sure if, I'll run another NYRR race before the Marathon, but pretty sure there be a couple more before the end of the year :D

Here are the official results from NYRR.

2016 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile: Packet Pick-Up

I think the Fifth Avenue Mile was the 4th NYRR Packet Pick-up that I've done this month (albeit this one was off site - appropriately enough at New Balance store on Fifth Avenue - haha).  It will be my 8th NYRR race of 2016 - phew!  Hopefully, I'll complete #9 with the NYC Marathon itself, in November - a fitting way to wrap up the 9+1 for the 2017 race!

Except for having to miss the Westport 10 Miler, I'm looking forward to this one.  I love 1 mile races - and point to point ones especially!

As always, if you're at this one - say hello!

2016 Taconic Road Runners Beer Mile

I've run plenty of one mile races over the years (and drunk plenty of beer before and after some of those races)... But last night was the first time I combined the two (drinking a 12 ounce beer at the start of each quarter mile split) - at the Taconic RR's second annual Beer Mile! 

It was a lot of fun -- and somehow I did manage to drink my 4 bottles of beer and finish in a respectable 8:35 :D

Will I do this again next year?!  YES!

2015 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile: Race Photos & Results

The Fifth Avenue Mile was NYRR race number 8 of 2015 for me.  I haven't run this one in a long time (maybe 10 years)!  But it's always fun to run a mile - especially on a straightaway.

As for my mile, the 6:39 was probably my slowest one mile race.  But given that I had run the Norwalk Half Marathon yesterday, I was more than pleased with it :D

It was also fun to get live results at the finish!  One more race + the volunteer requirement and I have my 9+1 for the 2016 NYCM :D

Here are the race results from NYRR (via live results page).

2015 NYRR Fifth Avenue Mile packet pick-up

This afternoon I stopped by NYRR to pick up my bib and shirt for the Fifth Avenue Mile.  To my surprise, it was one of those rare time I discovered my registration hadn't gone through!  Luckily it took just a couple of minutes to re-register me and get a new bib assigned.  I should have been tipped off that something wasn't right when I didn't receive a reminder email from NYRR - like they typically send out before a race :O

I haven't done the Fifth Avenue Mile in years (in fact, I need to look it up)!  This will be 2015 race #8 on the road to my 9+1 for the 2016 NYCM.  Still have to line up a volunteer slot - and the marathon itself should be race #9 :D

As always, if you're at this one - say hello!

2014 greenburgh mile: race photos & results

this year the greenburgh mile coincided with the summer solstice.  this is one of my favorite low key, old school, races - and i've been running it for years. this time around, however, my 6:28 was my slowest finish for this event (and a race at this distance!).  with the queens 10k on deck for tomorrow morning, i didn't want to go all out for this one, even if it was just a mile.  i'm getting to be way too conservative in my old age.

even so, i stilled managed to finish 3rd in my age group :D

i'm not sure the results will be posted.  but i'll add a link if they are.

2012 new canaan mile: race photos and results

tonight i ran the new canaan mile. i ran this one a couple of years ago, and one reason to come back is the post race pizza :O a lot of calories for one mile - but i love pizza! i missed my 6:30 target by 9 seconds, but i was still happy with the result.

here are the race results from clubct.