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.

2018 NYRR Team Championships 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

It was hot and humid for the team 5 milers this morning (typical conditions for this annual staple, actually).  I was on the fence about this one because I'm doing the Escarpment Trail Run tomorrow.  But I decided it was important enough to run it easy to see if I've managed to recover from the beating my quads took in Vermont last weekend.  Thankfully, all systems are a go for tomorrow (except for speed - ha).

As for the race itself, I had wanted to run 8 minute miles and finish in about 40 minutes.  That turned out to be a stretch.  I managed a 41:49, 8:22 pace - well off my 40:00, 8:00 target.  While it was probably my slowest 5 miler in recent memory, it did serve its purpose.  My quads have bounced back and I should be able to survive the down hills tomorrow :D

One interesting aside, on the way there - at the 125th Street Station - there was a distressed old timer from Brooklyn who had gotten "lost" on the way to Central Park.  To make a long story short, there was not downtown local service.  We had to go to 86th Street, cross Lexington Avenue, and take the uptown local back to 103rd Street.  A day in the life of the NYC MTA :O

Here are the official results from NYRR.

2018 NYRR Team Championships Packet Pickup

This afternoon I picked up my bib for the Team Championship races on Saturday.  There are no shirts given out for these races.  Instead NYRR has given out various running related goodies over the years.  For the 2018 edition we get a running shoes bag!  These are pretty cool, actually.  I've only gotten this swag once before (if I remember correctly) - and it was at a trail 50k! Running shoes or not, it's a pretty nifty bag :D

As for the 5 miler, it will be more of a jog instead of a race for me.  Coming off my 44 mile DNF at Vermont last weekend and on the day before my 8th trip up to the Escarpment Trail Run on Sunday, this one more about socializing with fellow runners and their teams!  Taconic always comes out in force for this one - along w/post-race food and refreshments (e.g. beer) :D

If your at this one - say hello!

2018 NYRR Italy Run 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

What a great morning to run in Central Park - especially given that it was 20 degrees cooler than the heat and humidity we had yesterday!  Today was the inaugural of the Italy Run (and I think it was at least the 4th country specific NYRR race that I've run: after, France, Portugal, Israel, and UAE).  And what better place to line up for this one than next to the statue of Giuseppe Mazzini on West Drive (Mazzini was a leader in the effort to reunify Italy in the mid-19th century)!  It also coincided with the Italian holiday "Festa della Repubblica" (2 June, actually) - which celebrates the birth of modern Italy (ala our own Forth of July) :D

As for the race itself, I managed a 38:33, 7:43 pace.  I was more than pleased with that result since I haven't done much speed work lately.  I was solidly under my 39:00 minute target, but well off my reach for a sub 38 finish.  I probably could have shaved a few seconds off that time but I watched in shock as a runner collapsed about a 100 feet from the finish - and began to CRAWL to the finish line!  He kept refusing all attempts at aid (from spectators, runners, and medical personal alike) in an effort to complete the 5 miles under his own power!  A remarkable sight to say the least.

Afterwards, there was a festival set up in front of the band shell - and tons of goodies!  Nutella and Lavazza coffee among the booths set up.  I included some of the goodies that I brought home in the picture of my race bib :D

Here are the official race results from NYRR.

2018 NYRR Italy Run Packet Pickup

Picked up my bib and shirt for the Italy Run this afternoon!  I'm really looking forward to this 5 miler on Sunday - because of the Italy connection :D 

It's a bit hard to believe that this will be my first NYRR of 2018 - can't remember ever waiting this long to do a Central Park race.  Be that as it may, have a few more NYRR races lined up for this summer (the Retro Run, Team Championships, & France Run are 3 that come to mind).

If you're at this one - say hello!

2017 NYRR Team Championships: Race Photos & Results

It didn't seem as if the weather Gods wanted the Team Races to go off this morning!  I woke up to a pretty violent sounding thunderstorm!  NYRR email advising runners to wait outside the park arrived just as I was leaving the house.  Second NYRR email arrived while I was on MetroNorth heading in that said Men's race was pushed back half hour (till 8) and Women's race 15 minutes (8:15).  But by time I had gotten off the train at 125th Street, it was a light drizzle - and when I got to 103rd Street station it had stopped altogether!  In it's place was just soupy humid conditions.

I headed over to the Taconic meet-up location (right next door to our good friends on the Van Cortlandt Track Club). They had just set up our table (and we'd use it as baggage check as well).  In addition to my team mates, ran into some old friends - Michael, and then Grant and Sal as well. The best part of this event is always the socializing :D

As for the race itself (can this be the 3rd 5 Miler I've run in Central Park this summer?) - it was tough out there.  Despite the rain having finished, it was replaced with grey skies and 90+ humidity.  It was more of a swim than a race.  I was pretty happy to squeeze in under 39 minutes (38:55, 7:47 pace) considering I felt like walking the rest of the way a couple of times!

But a finish is always a finish!  And, better yet, we had some cold beer waiting while we lined up to cheer on the women as they took their turn on that soupy loop of the park :D

Here are the official results from NYRR.

And, very big surprise - made it into the NYRR Team Spirit photo album!

2017 NYRR Team Championships: Packet Pick-up

I picked up my bib for the club team championships on the way home from work - and was surprised to get a hat as well!  It's the first time I can remember NYRR giving out something in addition to the bib for these races!  Very cool.

As for the races - 7:30 start time for the mens race :O

This will be 2017 qualified/scored race number 7 for me.  As always, if you're running this one - say hello :D

2017 Norwalk Summer Series 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

 

Hot, humid morning for the second race in the 2017 Norwalk Summer Series.  The 5 miler is also the 2nd and last full loop course of the series.  The remaining courses all include double loop variations. 

 

This was my 3rd 5 Miler in a month - and came close (but no cigar), in being the fastest.  But the perfect weather conditions and Central Park gave me a 38:08 at the Retro 5 Miler that kicked off the month of June.  But my 38:25 this morning was a solid 2 minutes faster than the 40:29 at the rain soaked Front Runners LBGT Pride Run last week :D

 

I'm happy with all of them!

 

Here are the official results from Lightfoot Runners.  Next race in the Summer Series, the 7 Miler, is on July 15.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 NYRR Front Runners LGBT Pride Run 5 Miler - Race Photos & Results

Wow, today's Front Runner's Pride Run could easily have been renamed a swim!  It rained (sometimes poured) on and off until minutes into the race!  I was wet from the minute I walked out of my house, drove to MetroNorth station, walked (1 block) from MetroNorth to subway, and continued to be soaked from the 102nd street station to the start!  I went straight to the corral (not checking a bag) and ran the race with my mini knapsack, squeaking all the way :D

At 40:29, it was one of my slowest non-trail 5 milers (2+ minutes slower than the "dry"  Retro 5 Miler that kicked off June)!  But getting it done under those wet conditions was fun, if a bit exasperating - and I was more than happy with my time.  It was NYRR race #5 of 2017.

Here are the official race results from NYRR.

2017 NYRR Front Runners LGBT Pride Run 5 Miler - Packet Pickup

Yesterday I picked up my bib and (excellent) singlet for the 2017 Edition of the Front Runner's LGBT Pride Run.  The 5 Miler will be my NYRR race #5 on the road to the 9+1 needed for the 2018 NYC Marathon guaranteed entry.

I last ran this race back in 2011(?), when instead of a shirt, they gave out hats (and drawstring bags).  Hopefully the weather Gods will keep it modestly dry out there tomorrow (and we won't need hats) - because the forecast is for rain!

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

2017 NYRR Retro 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

What a great morning to run in Central Park!  The Retro Run 5 Miler was my 4th NYRR race of 2017 (5 more to go and the +1).  I was very happy with my 38:08, 7:38 pace, given that I had done a longish (10 mile) run yesterday. 

But it was probably the post-run rehydration sampling some fantastic cocktails at Zachy's the contributed to my inability to squeeze in under 38 minutes at the finish line ;D

Here are the race results from NYRR.

2017 NYRR Retro 5 Miler: Packet Pick-up

Yesterday I picked up my bib and tee shirt for the 2017 edition of the Retro 5-Miler.  In something of a flashback (of the innocent variety) I vaguely recall the prior two times that I ran this one it was only 4 miles!  Did I lose track of that last mile in 2016 and 2015 - haha :D

In any event, the 5 miles on Sunday will be NYRR #4 for me this year.  As always, if you're at this one - say hello!
   

2016 NYRR Team Championship 5 Miler

Another hot and humid July weekend - must be the NYRR Team Championships!  The twist this year was the tougher (north) 5 mile loop - that included the Harlem Hills.  This time around I wasn't racing, but using the 5 miles as a training run (sometimes I find myself saying that, even when I started out racing - haha).  But with the Escarpment Trail Run tomorrow, didn't want to pass up a another point and did plan an easy run today.

My 42:08, 8:26 pace was probably my slowest (non-trail) 5 mile race - but somehow still managed to squeak in under my planned 8:30 pace (42:30).

The best part of the morning was the post-race socializing with my Taconic team-mates and getting to see my friends running for other clubs.  Regardless of the weather, this is one of the most fun events on the NYRR calendar!

Here are the official results from NYRR.

2016 Norwalk Summer Series 5 Miler: Race Photos & Results

We had great weather this morning for the Norwalk Summer Series 5 Miler - including a nice breeze to cool things off.  I had hoped to just finish under 40 minutes (no speed work to speak of lately) - and was surprised to finish in 37:36, a 7:32 pace! That's just a couple of seconds off my pace at the NYRR Retro 4 Miler a month ago.  It was, even more surprisingly, enough for second place in my age group :D

Next up is the Taconic Road Runners Putnam County Classic (8 Miles) on the 4th of July!

Here are the official results from Lightfoot Runners.

The rest of my photos are up on Facebook.

2015 mudders & grunters 5 miler: race photos & results

this edition of the taconic rr's mudders & grunters 5 miler was cold - so cold that most of the mud was in the form of ice (though there was still plenty of actual mud to slog thru)!  the main water crossing was especially brisk :D

finishers were greeted with a space blanket and a roaring fire back at the concession area.  a number of runners decided to toss out their trail shoes instead of cleaning off all the muck!  to add an easter-like flair to the festivities, pink cookies were given out as age group awards :D

my 57:15 finish was well off my 50 minute target.  but given all the ice out there, better to take it slow and finish in one piece.  though my hands did get pretty trashed from all the thickets.  at one point the glove was ripped off my hand - and i had to retrace my footsteps to free it from the bramble bush that had seized it!

here are the race results from taconic rrc.

herfe are the rest of my photos up on facebook.