Racing June

What's a guy or gal to do in June? How about go for a race or two (or maybe 10 if you're Tim D.)!

I know, I know. We've heard that many of us race too much.

And we've been told that we should do race-specific training, like what the elite Kenyans and others do, for just a few pre-determined goal races so that we can achieve our best possible finish time whenever we race. Sure, if that's the goal then that seems to make a lot of sense.

Personally, I like to race fairly often and I do so because it's fun! Like many racing runners, I like:

• The pre-race anxiety that gets my adrenaline flowing and gives me an endorphin rush.
• Challenging my limits and testing my will
• The roar of the crowd chanting "Dave, Dave, Dave" as I fly by (yes, I have a rich fantasy life)
• NYRR's Peter Ciaccia (Chacha!) instructing us to run in a circle
• Seeing Flyers at the start, along the route, cheering, taking photos, and getting friendly with each other post-race
• Running with friends or family
• Pacing someone else to a PR
• Guiding an Achilles athlete from start to finish
• Trying to out-run jugglers, runners in crazy outfits, and strangers who may push me to a friendly finish-line kick to see who will get there first and who will go down in flames trying but come up short
• Checking out all the fantastic post-race photos taken by Bob C., Richard B., Brian H., Cheryl S., Andreas S., Lara K. and others who frequently photograph Flyers in Flight (maybe next time I'll even like how I look!)
• Checking out the post-race results (maybe next time I'll be faster than any of the Flyers who always finish faster than me!) along with Dana's clever comments that liven up the Flyers News Flash on the homepage
• Rationalizing taking a day off from speedwork the following week because I just ran an up-tempo Tempo Run
• The post-race nap (rare, but savored when I can grab one!)

Sure, I may race too often, denying myself of achieving my greatest potential each time I race. But that's okay. I'd rather race too often than not race enough for my liking.

So, drum roll, here are some opportunities for Racing June (I hear she's fast :)

NYRR

There are plenty of New York Road Runner Races in June, including the Japan Run, the Mini 10K, Wall Street Run & Heart Walk, Front Runners NY Lesbian and Gay Pride Run, Achilles Hope and Possibility Race, and more, more, more.


Race Brooklyn

Races in Prospect Park are lots of fun, including the Wednesday Evening Summer Speed Series. These 5K races occur every other Wednesday at 7pm, including June 9th and June 23rd.

Trail Races

Spring and summer is a great time to hit the trails, and there are many races not too far away. For a list of trail races throughout the U.S., visit: www.trailrunnermag.com/racecalendar.php And, don't forget the Van Cortlandt Park Speed Series X-Country Summer Races

Long Island

Race the AIDS/Cancer 5K in Seaford, the New Hyde Park 8K, the Shelter Island 10K, and other races of varying K's www.lirunning.com/races.htm.

Westchester

Why not the North County 5K in Yorktown, the YMCA 5K in Tarrytown, the Centaur 10K in Sleepy Hollow, or one of many other Westchester races?

New Jersey

In New Jersey, how about the Lakeview 5K for the Institute of Disabilities, Montclair 10K, or the President's Cup 5K? Not enough for you? Check out the many other great NJ Races here!


Connecticut

There are lots and lots of Connecticut races listed on the Running in the U.S.A website. If you can make it out to the gorgeous Fairfield, CT Half Marathon on June 27th, I'll be there, too (and if you want a ride to/from the race, let me know).

Elsewhere

Or check out one of many other races, including some listed on the NY Flyers Other Events Calendar .

So, Flyers, it's off to the races with us. May we all have Jubilant June races, and remember to heed Gabi's wise words and keep our cool.  - Dave K.

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Summatime!

The warm weather the past few days started me thinking about songs, and while I’m no David Kleckner when it comes to lyrics, here’s one to think about:

Summer runnin' had me a blast
Summer runnin’ happened so fast

Went on a run, slow as can be
Went on a run, hot as can be

Summer runs, joggin’ away, to uh-oh those summer nights

Uh Well-a well-a well-a huh

Tell me more, tell me more
Did you go very far?
Tell me more, tell me more
Like was there water?

Uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh

She ran by me, she got a cramp
He ran by me, splashed me with water
I saved her life, she had heat stroke
He showed off, sprintin’ away

Summer runs, something's begun, but uh-oh those summer nights

Uh well-a well-a well-a huh
Tell me more, tell me more

Obviously I’m not quitting my day job anytime soon, but running in the heat brings two things to mind. One, Water and Two, Heat.

First of all water. For those who run in Central Park or any park for that matter, you know exactly where the water fountains are, which ones have the best water pressure, which ones inevitably have gum stuck on the drain and which ones seem to smell. For those who run outside of parks, we know where there are water fountains, which delis or coffee shops are willing to spare a cup of water and what neighbors tend to water their lawns when we run. When all else fails, or it’s miserably hot, we carry water with us.

Carrying water adds a whole new dimension to running. Personally I can’t stand carrying something in my hands when I run. I don’t know why, I just can’t. Back in the day of Sony Walkmans, I never carried mine with me (forget the arm strap, that would cut off the circulation in my hand by the time I got it tight enough to stay on). Nowadays I rely on my trusty hydration belt, with room for 4 bottles, each with eight ounce capacity. With all four bottles loaded, it’s about right for a sixteen mile long run, and I can slide bottles off for shorter runs. Granted I hate the bouncing that I get with all four bottles fully loaded, but it beats dehydration.

I’ve seen a lot of people use a hydration pack system, you know, it looks like a knapsack, but has a hose sticking out of it that runners seem to chew on while they run? I’ve never tried it so, am curious as to how any of you who have it feel about it. My only thought would be on hot days, it would make you hotter and sweatier (if that’s possible) where it sits on one’s back.

Obviously we don’t need to carry water only when it’s hot out, but anytime we are out for longer then our usual “keeping” fit runs (whether they are two, four, six, etc. miles).

Onto heat. It’s forecast to hit ninety plus and stay warm over the course of the Memorial Day weekend. While ninety in May is unusual, it’s not as bad as the ninety plus we hit in early April. Our bodies were not acclimated to that at all. At least now we’ve had some time to get used to temps in the seventies and eighties, so while it’s still a stretch, it’s not that bad. Those general rules of thumb apply when running in the heat – slow down, don’t run at the hottest time of day (believe it or not, it’s not at noon, but rather between 3 and 5pm), wear light colored clothing, hydrate and my personal favorite, use sunscreen.

With all that said, I went out at 11:30am, simply because that’s what fit into my schedule (I was planning on going at 5:30am, but a certain four and half year old decided that it was a good morning to snuggle in with mom and dad – who could resist?). It was hot, I had a light colored top on, I sunscreened my face, shoulders, arms and legs (no hat). I was running on a trail, that is pretty well shaded, I know where the water fountain is. I took it slower then normal.

I survived. It was hot, but in the shade, there was a slight breeze (and not that nasty hot breeze you get when the subway comes into the station) and when I was done, there was air conditioning! I guzzled Gatorade and water when I was done. I cooled off in air conditioning (boy that was great). And I kept thinking how back in January on that same run, there was snow on the ground, it was twenty degrees and I couldn’t wait for summer. As they say in Disney, “Wishes can come true”.

Summer runs can be fun, but make sure you are prepared, both with your gear and your expectations. Safe running. - Gabi D.

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Flyers Doing It For Central Park

Come and join the fun on Sat June 12

for

Spring Fling, Weed and Beauty Day

The Flyers Central Park clean-up and beautification events -- last year dubbed the Summer Safari -- have blossomed and bloomed under the planning and leadership of Flyer Extraordinaire Heather M., and in cooperation with the Central Park Conservancy.

As runners in Central Park, we get to enjoy how each season showcases the beauty of the park in unique ways. But maintaining that beauty for the benefit of us runners and others involves a lot of work, many dollars, and much tender loving care.

We've already seen and will be reading more about some of the architectural wonders of Central Park right here on this blog thanks to Flyer Brian H. And for those interested in learning about the Park's many bridges and arches, Flyers Andreas S. and Scott S.  provide a fascinating annual guided fun-run tour of the park every summer.

But we can do more than look and learn. We Flyers can give back to Central Park. This year, Heather sought a Flyers assistant to help her plan and promote the upcoming Flyers Central Park clean-up and beautification efforts. I was going to write that I was inspired to team up with Heather because she brings cookies to the events. And, sure, cookies are important (ha!).

Yet in all honesty, it's meaningful for me to partner with Heather on this. It's easy to take the park for granted. It's always there for us. Yet Heather has also been there for the park, organizing these events each year as an expression of her love and caring and concern. While I have admired her initiative and dedication to the park over the years, it was also very rewarding for me when I served as one of her volunteers a couple of times last year.

Yes, the events are fun, as all Flyer events are, but they also are particularly important and fulfilling. They provide an opportunity to view the park from a different perspective. And while we may be inspired to volunteer as a way to do a good deed, it really is we who receive the biggest gift. We are gifted with the feeling of profound satisfaction from working together with other Flyers to show our respect and contribute to the beauty of our park. I encourage Flyers who haven't yet volunteered for one of these events to come on out and see for yourself.

For some context, I'll also write here a bit about the wear-and-care of Central Park. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation is the NYC government agency primarily responsible for the care of Central Park. In cooperation with the City, the Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 as a not-for-profit organization to form a public-private partnership with the City to restore the Park to its former splendor after decades of neglect, and to manage and preserve it for present and future generations.

The Conservancy celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, as we runners continue to celebrate Central Park. The Conservancy, as the official manager of Central Park, is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance.

Presently, 80% of the Park's maintenance operations staff is employed by the Conservancy, which provides 85% of Central Park's $27 million annual budget through its fundraising revenue. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation retains policy control, has discretion over all user permits events in the Park and also provides 20% of the field staff.

Conservancy crews care for 250 acres of lawns, 26,000 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams, and 130 acres of woods; install hundreds of thousands of plantings annually, including bulbs, shrubs, flowers, and trees; maintain 9,000 benches, 26 ballfields, and 21 playgrounds; preserve 55 sculptures and 36 bridges; remove graffiti within 24 hours; collect over 5 million pounds of trash per year; and provide horticultural support to City parks.

For more information about the Central Park Conservancy, including if you'd like to become a member (I recently joined!), you can visit www.centralparknyc.org. Flyers also can help support the Central Park Conservancy by participating in the Run for Central Park on July 17th

The Flyers have been fortunate to work at Central Park under the direction of Neddie H. of the Conservancy. Neddie provides all of the tools, equipment and information we need -- complete with kindness and a smile -- to help us make a difference in giving something back to the park that gives us so much.



Please join us at the next scheduled Flyers Central Park Spring Fling, Weed and Beauty Day on Saturday, June 12th, 10AM -- immediately following the NYRR Mini-10K. You can click right here to volunteer.

We'll work hard, have fun in the sun (although it's rain or shine), and leave feeling good about having given back to Central Park. And don't forget, there will be cookies (if I don't get to them first!). Don't miss out! - Dave K.

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Brooklyn Half Marathon Recap

This was my 3rd time running the Brooklyn Half-Marathon, 1st time on the new course-and I finally had both a race performance and time for this race I was happy with (not to mention a great post-race party!).

Things on race morning went like clockwork-the Flyers bus made it to Prospect Park in plenty of time (many thanks to Richard B. for arranging this again!), no lines for bag check or craziness getting into the corrals, and the start was relatively smooth too.

My goal for this race was a 1:45, so my plan was to average under 8 minute miles in Prospect Park and then pick up the pace on Ocean Parkway. I started the race running with Deb M. and Joe J. but they pulled way ahead and I let them go...wanted to run my own race. A few weeks ago, I had done a long run consisting of 3 loops of Prospect Park and it paid off as the evil hill (you all know which one!) seemed less intimidating. I exited the park at mile 7 right on target, if not a little bit ahead of my goal.

Unlike Prospect Park, which was packed with spectators and cheering sections, Ocean Parkway was pretty quiet. Even with the absence of hills, it was pretty tough, but I hung in there. Was very happy to see Richard B. out there taking pictures, and a couple of friends of mine from Urban Athletics cheering too-both were definitely welcome sights. Dr. Marc B. caught up to me around mile 9 or 10 and I tried to use him as my rabbit for the last few miles on the parkway.

At the 12-mile mark, I felt the finish line calling my name. One more mile. Less than 10 minutes. I can do that. Finally the turn onto Surf Ave and then another left, up the ramp, onto the boardwalk. Yes, the boardwalk: two years in a row, it tore up my calves and left me in pain for a good part of the race. This year - none of that. I did feel the boards moving underfoot, though. Normally I can really gun the last 1.1 miles of a half, but I think I had to step off the accelerator a little bit to prevent from wiping out. And even though the crowds were great here (thanks to Flyer Anthony P. for coming back out and cheering after his great race!), the scenery was very nice…this mile just seemed to last forever!! I think my legs were tired of the boardwalk. :) Finally, the Mile 13 sign and I can see the finish line!! Did the best I could for a finishing kick while staying vertical at the same time. I finished in 1:42:27-which I was very happy with!

But the best was yet to come! All the Flyers I saw were in really good spirits afterwards and ready to have some Coney Island fun. First off, me and Flyers Elle G., Charlotte N., Kate M. and Jessica R. headed over to the ocean…while a couple of them had a desire to go swimming, I just wanted to dip my legs in the Atlantic to give them a nice ice bath. While it was eventually deemed that the water was too cold for swimming, it felt absolutely awesome on my legs. Then even better: a lot of Flyers (and other teams, I saw) congregated at Beer Island to toast ourselves and our races. Just a lot of fun kicking back, having a few beers by the beach in the morning with a bunch of friends…love it!! A few of us were saying how we may need to make this an ending point for some long runs this summer! Finally, after some Nathan's hot dogs and fries, we were all ready to make the trek back to Manhattan and ready for some well-deserved naps.

I give a huge thumbs up to the Brooklyn half, version 2.0. I am looking forward to running this one again next year! Congrats to all the Flyers who ran the race! - Lara K.

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New Flyer Profile: Laura M.

Hello all,

MAL here again with another New Flyer Profile. We have Laura M. this month, joining us recently from California. Laura has been running about 6 years, but that’s not her first venture into sports. For 12 years, she was a competitive artistic roller skater! She was a regional champion, a national champion and just missed qualifying for the Pan American Games. Both running and skating have allowed her to compete.

Her biggest running accomplishment comes from a PR at the Cowtown Marathon/Half-Marathon race in Sacramento last year, with a time of 1:57 in the half.

She joined the Flyers recently to meet other runners, find good running areas, and get motivation to train. She also would like to take on speed work! She’s enjoyed the dedication of our team and it has motivated her to keep attending. Everyone has been willing to help with all her “newbie” questions.

Laura loves watching all sports from golf to football to basketball. Her love of competing translates to a love of watching high stakes competitions as well. She likes to push herself and see what she can do!

“I think one of the most beautiful and inspiring things is to watch is someone performing at their highest level when they are under the most extreme mental pressure.”

In her non-running life, Laura is an Indian lawyer, working for Indian tribal rights. She is a part of the Pechanga Tribe of southern California. She worked to get a California law passed to preserve tribal sacred and religious sites. She’s also working on a book about present-day California Indians while she lives with us here in NYC.

Quick facts on Laura:

1. Favorite Quote: Go big or go home!

2. Training tip: Core, core core!!! Core strength can take you through fatigue and high mileage.

3. Best Advice Received: You will never achieve greatness by staying in your comfort zone.

4. Non-running hobbies: Yoga and Golf.

5. Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. “Simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them.” –Paulo Coelho

6. Best Vacation: Scotland and Ireland to see the Ryder Cup and golf at St. Andrews.

7. Worst Habit: Doubting herself – when she doesn’t, she is continually surprised by what is possible.

Laura also has an adorable dog named Mr. Noodles. He’s a pug, and food motivated (like Laura, or so she says.)
- Emily S., Member-at-Large

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Healthy Eating: Snacks

Snack Attack! What snack do you reach for most often? Salty chips? Sweets? Chocolate? I used to be a Chocolate Entenmann’s Donut gal, (TMI, I know) but now I’m a yogurt or nuts and raisins gal. In keeping with the theory of ‘fueling with high octane’, I wanted to address snacking in this month’s blog, because some of us probably snack and graze more often than eating a fully balanced meal. Whether we are working late, sitting at out desk, on the go and no time to catch a meal, or just pure lazy, snacking right can be an important element to maintaining your healthy nutritional intake.

It’s recommended that your snacks are in the range of 100 calories. Agreed, that would be hard to do accomplish, but not unachievable. Keep that in mind, there are still a lot of choices available. While I’m running around town, and I throw a yogurt into my bag (the Fage 0% Fat Free is great), or pick up a packet of nuts and raisins from the newsstand (they are not too bad!). Although these might be more than 100 calories, I know that the health benefits are superior then picking up the bag of pretzels or a Twix bar. Healthy snacking would be best if it had a component of protein too. Other choices: peanut butter and celery, hummus and carrots, edamame or natural fruit & nut bars, granola and of course, fresh fruit (or dried but without all of the sugar) is always a good choice. Edamame is a great source of soy protein, fiber and amino acids. It’s easy to make and can be found in most freezer sections of your local grocery store. Natural peanut butter is better than regular Skippy, but if you’re at least having peanut butter, it’s better than a bag of salty chips.

Healthy snacking takes just a small amount of planning too. Keep a container of nuts and raisins at your desk if you work long hours or stock the fridge at work with your favorite healthy snack. When traveling, try to pack some nutrition instead of eating at the airport fast food spots. (That is unless you are in Italy, when all food is fair game).

It’s also cool to create your own snacks. A friend of mine loves to make her own hummus in her food processor, and I just learned from another NY Flyer that her homemade black bean hummus is all the rage. Last week’s NY Times Dining section featured Bill Yosses, (the White House Pastry Chef) recipe for homemade fruit and oat bars, as Michele Obama is directing the White House chefs to create healthy meals and desserts. The recipe looks speedy and simple. I’ll include these recipes in the next newsletter.

If you’ve got to have that donut, then enjoy it and move on! Don’t fuss too much, as long as you can assess your current snacking behavior, and try to amend it to more healthier choices your efforts should have a positive effect. In general, if you think, “nuts, fruit, protein, fiber” you’re off to a good start.

And remember, “Eat Incredible to be Incredible”! (I heard this on an advertisement from the American Egg Board this morning, and loved it!) - Anne H.

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Ragnar Relayted: The Flying Borgnines Report

To put it succinctly, “Ragnar Rocks!” First, some general comments and observations from a relay race newbie: The race organization was very good and the volunteer level was also very good. The race route was easy to follow if you were running. I personally only noticed two or three overturned signs for the legs I ran. It would have been better on the morale side if the race was well-known in the towns that we ran through because there was no crowd support along the way but it is only in its second year so maybe that will come with time.

This was my first relay and as a result of the privilege of working closely with 11 outstanding team members I am completely sold on relaying. From the first rounds of email correspondence, to the team meeting a few weeks prior to race day, to the thirty hours or so of traveling, cheering, becoming grateful for the invention of the porta-john, and loving the site of a gym hardwood floor at 3:00am, it was just magnificent and magical. My more practical tips for aspiring relayers: bring a large quantity of baby wipes(that baby fresh scent is immensely more preferable to the alternative when many of you have run a leg in 90 degree heat combined with what seemed to be 90 percent humidity); oatmeal cookies from Inatesso in BPC taste great and help you finish that last leg; van size should be of Chevy Suburban proportions, our Chrysler mini-vans were nice but about three feet too short on interior floor space; pay attention to the navigation pages handed out by the race crew and don’t rely on GPS; and finally savor every moment together because you will really miss every one of your teammates the next few days.

The Flying Borgnines!

Finally, let me share some humorous stories and observations courtesy of The Flying Borgnines. Ray S. learned to never again consume a large meal featuring beef brisket less than one hour before running an 8 plus mile leg on a 90 degree day. He had to stop a few times along his leg and deposit that meal along the roadside. He is now known as the “Mad Yakker”. Binu T. was our toughest warrior having run his second and third leg on a rolled left ankle which he rolled on both legs. Despite his considerable pain he managed to run two of the fastest legs on what were rated very hard legs. Courtney L. pound for pound was probably our strongest warrior. And she will probably be in charge of the navigating duties in the future for her van. Cristina B. maintains an incredibly calm and reassuring demeanor even in the most demanding and sometimes chaotic conditions. And Sungwon H. brings along an incredible amount of enthusiasm and caring for her teammates as well as being a top-notch athlete. Finally, Alan G. proved that his best days as an athlete are definitely not all behind him. He was also an emotional leader for the team.

As for my van mates, kudos to Kenny H. for being probably the steadiest presence in our van and the most dependable. He was really rock-solid. Mark N. was also doing his first relay and he exceeded by a considerable margin his expectations for his performance. He was also the best navigator any team could have to sort the roads out in the dead of night. Without him we might still be driving somewhere between Garrison and Dobbs Ferry. Beth W. was both lots of fun, as she personally guaranteed us and pretty fast on the road. Beth is also prone to race hallucinations as she mistook a tree stump for a deer. Alisa N. is both genuinely warm and quick to laugh. She is also a very good road warrior. The day after Ragnar finished Alisa did a duathlon. Ami I. is also a fighter like Binu because she had to overcome an ailment that began in her second leg but she refused to let anyone down. I also learned that she is an outstanding snowboarder and I am looking forward to hearing about her planned trip to parts of Asia. A very graceful teammate. As for me, I just drove where directed, ran when I was supposed to, and loved every minute of the time spent with a great bunch of teammates. I eagerly look forward to the next opportunity to participate in a relay. It was a blast and I hope all the other Flyer Teams had as much fun as we did! - Jim S.

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UAE Healthy Kidney 10K Recap

A stunning Saturday sun and gentle cool breeze greeted runners lacing it up for the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K this morning in Central Park.  With cool temperatures and low humidity, the elite men ripped through the demanding 6.2-mile course.  Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia set a new course record in an astonishingly fast 27:42. That’s 4:28 per mile through all those hills, folks! (I try not to think about where I was on the course when Gebremarian broke the tape for the win.) It was also a welcome-back of sorts for running legend (at age 38) and new American citizen Khalid Khannouchi who finished in a very impressive 30:31. Not a bad way to restart the career. Word has it, too, that they are working on a new TV-show based on “Welcome Back Kotter”, a running version called “Welcome Back Khalid”. (Guess I’m dating myself with that reference.)

I ran into many Flyers before, during and after the event and it’s always great to see how well-represented we are at all of these races.  I hung out in the start corral with Pat Duffy and Anthony Pitarresi, each of whom turned in great performances of their own.  Pat and I talked briefly about the importance of keeping the shoulders relaxed throughout the run.  It’s a great pointer and one that as runners, we maybe don’t typically think about. But keeping the shoulders relaxed certainly alleviates stress and can improve one’s performance.  Personally I still run with my shoulders up by my ears at times, but I’m working on it!

A couple of funny things I noticed during the run that seem to be par for the course during all races….

1. The “I missed my exit” sudden B-line from one side of the course to the other to get to the fluid station.
2. The “over the shoulder blind spot check and veer” by a runner you are about to overtake and that runner’s subsequent veer into your path.
3. The “I must protect this house” extended arm flailing movement which subtly suggests to all nearby runners “STAY BACK!”or “stay out of my kitchen or you’re gonna get burned.”
4. The “thank god it’s over“ complete, full stop at the finish line.  Not a yard or two after the finish line or a fade to walk after crossing the line, but a full stop right at the line.

All in all, I guess running in these races is akin to driving on America’s roadways! But the one thing about these races and the sport of running in general I’ve noticed is how it unites people. There’s such a positive vibe in the running community! I’m thankful that I decided to join the community and the New York Flyers. In a world where it can sometimes seem like people on one side are just yelling at people on the other and no one is taking the time to listen, or where it can seem like no one ever has a positive thing to say, running is the great sanctuary, a magical elixir of positive mojo that can cure what ails you!

After the race, it was time to head back downtown. On a day where there were many great Flyer performances, I’d just like to take a moment to congratulate Chris Morgenroth who finished third in her division today. An accomplished runner, Chris continues to inspire and impress by churning out strong performance after strong performance.

Cheers all! - Drew G., Team Captain - Masters Men

Flyer Women at the Healthy Kidney 10K

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The Best Injury Treatment: Team Support

Injuries are torturous both physically and mentally. Not that I would have been able to tell you that firsthand until about a month ago. Somehow, despite participating in fairly high-risk sports my whole life, I was blessed to never have been injured. Sure, sometimes things hurt or I was sore, I am not claiming to be superhuman, but it was always tolerable and went away without any residual complications. Even when I jumped right into running marathons with reckless abandon, almost exactly a year ago, I was still an injury virgin. So why was it that two weeks before the NJ Marathon at the end of a completely injury-free training cycle that went so well and where I hardly ever even felt the effects of my long runs, I suddenly could hardly walk, let alone run? Note: this is a rhetorical question and I am not really interested in hearing once again that I ran too much, or anything of that nature.

The clichéd lyrics of the song Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, “Don't it always seem to go/ That you don't know what you got till it's gone” have run through my mind on more than one occasion. So true. I definitely took a lot for granted and often forgot to really appreciate running. Suddenly the thing I looked forward to most in my day and that made my whole life brighter was gone. I had no idea what to do with myself. I honestly could not remember what I used to do with my life before I started running and consolations of “now you can do all the stuff you normally don’t have time for” were no comfort at all. I was not interested in doing those things. If they were important to me, I would have already made time for them. I wanted to run! Unfortunately, wanting only takes you so far when you can barely do three limping strides before wanting to start crying from the pain. I could have easily tried to hide myself from anything running related, but I found it oddly comforting continuing life as before, so I continued attending Flyers events, going to marathons that I was supposed to run to cheer on teammates, and just generally doing all the things I would have done before, except without running.

However, the stage of denial can only last so long. I tried everything, including massages, ice baths, warm Epsom salt baths, foam rolling, stretching, over-dosing on cherries (apparently the anti-inflammation superfood for marathon runners) and even taking painkillers for the first time in my life (seriously). Each morning I would open my eyes and hope that it was the day I would be magically better, but no luck. Then doomsday arrived; the day that I said I would see a sports medicine specialist if I had not gotten better. I solicited help from fellow Flyers for doctor recommendations, received so much support and help, and was able to schedule two appointments in the following two days. I was petrified of what they would find. Of course the one thing I had started doing with all the time I was not running was looking up every single horrible possibility of what could be wrong with me as reading about all the possibilities proved to be quite interesting (and addicting).

I turned out to be quite fortunate. The consensus of all the specialists I have seen seems to be that it was weak muscles creating compensation issues and extreme muscle tightness. In some ways it seems unfair that whatever has been causing me all this hardship does not even have a proper name making it seem less legitimate when it is definitely real! Yet, namelessness is better than the alternative. I have been given permission to run, but it still hurts and does not feel normal. I cannot wait for the day when running feels effortless again and while I cannot promise not to take things for granted, I will try not to forget how lucky I am to be able to run. However, one thing is certain. I will not forget how kind and supportive everyone has been. Thank you! I am lucky to know such a great group of people and if any of you has any secrets/miracles to get rid of my pain that you are keeping from me, please let me know!

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The Architecture of Central Park, Part III

Today's post about architecture near Central Park is focused on one building, folks. It's a short one, but no less important. I'm sure you know this building to see it. It is the majestic, the beautiful:

The Ansonia Hotel


2109 Broadway (between W. 73rd and W. 74th Streets)

1904, Paul E.M. Duboy

The Beaux-Arts style was the name given to the newest neoclassical architectural style, as taught at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It became popular in the United States between 1880 through 1920. The Ansonia was a confection built for W.E.D Stokes, a finicky Upper West Side Developer, as an apartment hotel. Stokes had ambitious goals for the building - including a farm on the roof! He insisted on fireproof masonry construction and ordered that all of the apartments must be soundproof behind three-foot-thick walls, which made it attractive to such guests as singers Lauritz Melchior and Ezio Pinza, as well as conductor Arturo Toscanini and composer Igor Stravinsky. Showman Florenz Ziegfeld lived here, too, but a name not often mentioned in the Ansonia’s long and illustrious guest list is that of Babe Ruth. He was following a tradition already established by almost the entire New York Yankees baseball team. - Brian H.

Read more about the Ansonia Hotel at Wikipedia

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Mother’s Day

Waking up to streaming sunlight, the smell of coffee and no pattering of small feet. Ah, it must be Mother’s Day (or I went to sleep in the wrong house last night).

My husband and daughter insisted on making breakfast for me this morning, which is a nice treat. The funny thing is that now that our daughter is four and a half, I no longer get to choose my breakfast. Well, I can choose it, but it should be along the lines with what she wants. Who said mothers have pull on this one day?

Anyway, that sunshine and brisk temperature was calling my name along with my sneakers. So on they went and out the door I went, confident that my eight miler would be just the right thing before banana pancakes and bacon.

Now my husband and I have a tacit agreement about my long runs: I can do them as long as I am back for breakfast or by the time he’s back from hauling Elizabeth to gymnastics on a Saturday morning. Bottom line, I have a decent window depending on what time I haul myself out of bed. Today, I needed to be back by 8:45 or so to get the pancakes while they were still hot and bacon while it still lasted on the plate.

I remember when I lived on the Upper East Side and would do the Mother’s Day run in the Park – I remember when the run was a half marathon put on by one magazine or another (who else remembers those days?). I think the race in 2003/2004 was the first time the Flyers volunteered as a group – we were race marshalls and also timers (you know those people who stand at the mile markers and yell out the splits). Those races always seemed to be hot and humid, not exactly today’s weather.

I went out for that eight miler in 44 degree temperatures this morning – anything but hot and humid. It was also a bit breezy (ok – make that howling wind) straight out of the northwest, which made me wonder why in the world I didn’t wear gloves. But gloves? In May??? You would think I lived in northern Minnesota (they had four inches of the white stuff on the ground last night – honest) and not Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The nice thing about running in the suburbs on Mother’s Day? It’s quiet. Really quiet. You don’t have to worry about traffic and getting run over by all those mom’s in their SUV’s rushing to some lesson or another, perpetually five minutes late (disclosure: I drive a Volvo cross country and strive to be five minutes early). You do have the dads rushing to pick up that one ingredient they forgot to get yesterday and the card and flowers that they also forgot about, but they seem more sleep deprived then anything.

So it was a quiet run, a little hard with the breeze against me on a few stretches, but peaceful. Not that different from a morning run, but nice because I knew that I didn’t have the responsibility of getting breakfast on the table, packing a lunch, getting said child out the door so that we weren’t five minutes late or just getting home in time for hubby and said child to be home after gymnastics. It made the run ever so more peaceful and relaxed. Just the right way to start mother’s day and another year of being “Mama”. - The Gabster

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Half Is Where the Heart Is

With Mother’s Day around the corner and the Mets still within a shot of first place, why, it must be Spring! And indeed, not only are the days getting longer, but race distances are too as the temperate weather simplifies race-planning logistics and puts half-marathons – my favorite race – back on the local calendar. They’re long, but not too long, tough but doable; if Goldilocks were a runner, this juicy, hunk of a race would be her choice, too.

There are plenty of reasons to run a half, whether you’re looking for an alternative to the full marathon, or trying to break through your “spandex ceiling” of 10k or 10-mile races. For starters, look at the mileage – 13. A baker’s dozen. Like bagels. (No, I’m not forgetting the .1 at the end, but that’s like crawling from your couch to the fridge and back to get the cream cheese, so it hardly counts.) It's no wonder the Brooklyn Half sold out nearly two months ago. If you’re still not convinced that the half-marathon is just the most perfect race distance ever invented, in the interest of efficiency (Reason # 3!) here are just 13 reasons to give this more manageable sibling to the Big M a shot:

1. Scheduling. A long training run for a half-marathon is, well, another half-marathon; you can do that every weekend if you want to, and still have time for a life.

2. Variety. There are plenty of half-marathons on the calendar in NYC and nearby:

• The Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Race keeps you moving with the promise of a refreshing post-race cool-down on the beach. This Connecticut favorite of NYC runners (easily-accessible by train!) starts in the suburbs and ends at the Long Island Sound, on June 27, 2010.
• If you need a little time to get up to speed, the very urban Bronx Half Marathon, is back to its sizzling summer spot on the calendar, just over three months away on August 15, 1010.
• But if you think you’re in decent half shape already, then shuffle off to the Buffalo Half Marathon, on Memorial Day Weekend later this month, where finishers are treated to pepperoni pizza, in addition to the more standard (read: bo-ring!) post-race fare.

These are just examples: the growing popularity of the half-marathon distance guarantees that some time this year, you’re bound to find a half that meets your particular requirements for climate, terrain, scenery, and post-race snack.

3. Race day efficiency. Speaking of snack, the manageable half-marathon distance means you can run a challenging race in the morning and still beat the Sunday Times crowd to your favorite brunch spot.

4. . . . where you can splurge on the Eggs Benny. That’s right: you run 13.1 miles, you burn 1500 calories, more or less. Enough said? (Check here to get your exact number.)

5. The comedy. To hear your non-running friends ask, “A half-marathon? How many miles is that?”

6. The drama. What’s more dramatic than running around a volcano? Or through the spectacular scenery of the Utah canyons?

7. The tragicomedy. Slip on your best tights and get your codpiece from the cleaners when the Bard’s birthday rolls around again next April. The Rotary Shakespeare Half-Marathon in England starts and ends at Will’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. Check back here for info on next year’s race.

8. The warm, fuzzy feeling. Because they are longer races, but more accessible than marathons, halfs are popular goals for fund-raising. Team in Training, for example, is still looking for runners for the Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio 1/2 Marathon in November. Fred’s Team, Joints in Motion, and the NYRR’s own Team for Kids are just a few other groups that will get you to a half-marathon and help you train for the event in exchange for your fund-raising finesse. Some organizations will even get you into events that are otherwise sold out or closed to non-qualifiers.

9. That loving feeling. Studies have shown that running improves sexual performance. Other studies suggest that sex improves running performance. Don’t think about it too much – just do it.

10. Why? Because we like you! You can make those miles magical at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January, consistently rated one of the top ten halfs in the U.S. . . . But lay off the pixie dust, ‘cuz you know that junk’s illegal.

11. The awards. Most half-marathons give medals. When was the last time you won a medal for a race it didn’t take you a month to recover from?

12. The adventure. A half-marathon is a wonderful destination race.

Head up to Vermont for the Pittsfield Snowshoe Half-Marathon next March (yes, snowshoes), and still have the strength to hit the trails after the race (on skis.) I have a friend who doesn’t run 5ks because she says she never wants to run a race it takes longer to get to than to complete. So for half-marathons, unless you’re an elite, that gives you about a 100-mile radius around the city to work with, or East to West from the Hamptons (Hamptons Half on October 2, 2010) to Philadelphia (ING Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half-Marathon on September 19, 2010.)


And if all that’s not enough, consider:

13. The accolades. Though it’s not a full marathon, you still get to use the “M” word, guaranteeing that when you tell people what you did over the weekend, they will be impressed!  -Uli H.

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