2012 backwoods bushwack 4 miler

as a result of hurricane sandy, the beachfront bushwack was not only rescheduled, but it was relocated it to camp simmons as a result of the significant damage to todds point.  the distance was also reduced to 4 miles (from 5) - and, since it was no longer run along the beach, the race was renamed the backwoods bushwack.  that isn't to say there wasn't any water - the new location (which was also the site of the "get muddy for kids" 4 miler in early october) had multiple water crossing - and a sustained stretch through a creek!

it was a blast.  with a few minor variations, i ran this course at the "get muddy for kids" race, so i knew the water crossings that lurked out there and the general layout.  but, even so, i managed to go off course twice during the 4 miles!  it took me just under 40 minutes to finish the 4 miles and i enjoyed every bit of it.  as much as i enjoy the todds point course, i don't think it would be so bad to have future bushwacks at camp simmons :D

2012 nyc marathon cancelled in wake of hurricane sandy

as i write this on sunday morning, wave one of the four wave start for the 2012 nyc marathon would have just gotten underway.  late friday afternoon mayor bloomberg belatedly pulled the plug on the race.  i had taken the train into the city to pick up my bib on thursday and, just hours before the cancellation announcement, made another trip into the city to drop off a post-race bag at jack rabbit sports on 72nd - and a side trip to the marathon pavilion to check out the indonesian food tasting.  then, i learned of the cancellation when some friends posted the news on my fb page.

i am completely out of step with a good number of my friends who think cancelling the marathon was the right thing to do.  i think it was mistake.  i say that even as i was totally under trained for the race, and would have preferred not to run it.  there is no doubt my 11th nyc marathon would have been a personal challenge to complete this year.  but that was my own personal situation.  every one to the 47,000+ entrants had his or her own back story coming into the race.

it will be interesting to see how the nyrr address the post-race fallout - especially the registration fees and guaranteed entries for the 2013 edition.  stay tuned.

november 2012 race schedule

november seems to have just snuck up on me this year!  the nyc marathon kicks off this weekend - amid some controversy over whether it should be held at all in the wake of the damage from hurricane sandy earlier this week.  for better or worse, i'm in the "race must go on" camp.  but that debate, is for some other post.  it will be my 11th straight nyc marathon!

the following weekend, will head over to greenwich to run the beachfront bushwack.  it will be something of a recovery run, 5 miles on trails.  the alternative would be a drive north to run the "after the leaves have fallen" 20k in minnewaska state park, i ran it last year and would love to head back there for another go.  but it's a long drive - and i'll be headed down to maryland the following weekend....

for the jfk 50 miler. i'm pretty dubious about this one.  it's been on my calendar since i registered for it last spring.  but i'm seriously under trained for a 50 miler.  i haven't run an ultra since i dnfed at mile 44 of the nyc 100 miler last june.  the final decision on whether to run it will probably wait until the week of the race.  last year i ran the brooklyn marathon that weekend.  given my training, that might be the better race for the pre-thanksgiving day weekend.

my thanksgiving day plans are still open. last year i went down to van cortlandt park, but sadly, the free holiday marathon are no more.  if i stay close to home, i may head over to greenwich for the gateway gobbler,  another choice is a trip north for the mid-hudson road runners thanksgiving day 25k - the best way to burn off those turkey day calories :D

post-thanksgiving i'll volunteer at the greenwich alliance for education 5k.  emmy is the race director for that one - and it's for a great cause.  consider running this one if you're nearby that weekend!  the next day i'll head over to harriman state park to run with todd, as he celebrates the third anniversary of his completion run!

here's how it looks so far:

11/4 - nyc marathon
11/11 - beachfront bushwack, 5m
11/17 - jfk 50 miler
11/22 - gateway gobbler, 10k
11/24 - alliance for education 5k
11/25 - todd's harriman park run

as always, if you're at any of them - say hello!

2012 wilton halloween hustle 5k: race photos and results

the wilton halloween hustle is one of my favorite 5k races.  typically i run this one in the morning and the new canaan pumpkin chase 5k in the afternoon.  that was my plan this weekend until the approaching hurricane sandy warnings kept me from heading back to for the second race (that, and the giants game).

my 22:17, 7:11 pace, was good enough for second place in my new age group. unfortunately, this race only gives out awards for first place in your age group!  oh well, i'll just have to run faster next year :D

here are the race results from clubct.

i posted more photos on facebook.

reservoir run half marathon course

since the new weston reservoir run half marathon kicks off the same day as the nyc marathon, there was no chance i'd get to run it.  instead, yesterday don, emmy and i ran the course on our own.  we had expected to run it with a group of runners - but they were nowhere to be found.  in fact, we did briefly meet up with another runner at the weston high school parking lot who had also expected to find a group run of the course.

be that as it may, we set off on the course and had a great time.  there were some fantastic views - aided no doubt by the colors of the fall foliage.  lots of hills - it was a pretty challenging loop, and took us a solid 2:10 to finish it. 

if you're not running the nyc marathon next weekend, check it out :D

the rest of my photos are posted on facebook.

volunteering at the poland spring marathon kickoff

yesterday afternoon i volunteered at the poland springs marathon kickoff pack pick-up.  it took care of my nyc marathon 9 +1 volunteer requirement.  with 8 nyrr races in the book this year, the nyc marathon next weekend will be my 9th scored race of the year and wrap up my requirements for 2012 guaranteed entry!

in a change from the past couple of years where i was assigned to the bib pick-up, yesterday i was assigned to the tee shirt distribution.  for our three hour shift (12:30-1:30) my 3 fellow volunteers and i probably handed out close to two hundred shirts (by my unscientific guess).  the time flew by and it was more fun than i thought it would be :D

two runners mentioned that the poland springs 5 miler would be their first race - ever!  chatting with them was pretty neat (as was the one runner who asked us whether he had to wear the shirt during the race).  except for the one runner who insisted that we find him an xxl (there were only xl) every runner who picked up a shirt during our shift was a pleasure to deal with :D

2012 great train race: race photos and results

it was a tough morning for me at the great train race.  i love this 6.8 mile point to point course from new canaan to wilton.  unfortunately for me, digestive problems made for an unwelcome pit stop just after the third mile.  my goal of a sub-55 became undoable - and i wondered if i'd be able to finish in under an hour.  my 59:23 didn't come easy.  even backing out 2 minutes for the pit stop, i didn't come close to my sub-55 target.  but i was still happy to be out there running it :D

here are the race results from clubct.

the bulk of these photos were taken by kate - who road the course on her bike :D