The Flyers Hall of Fame: The Best of Our Best

In 2007, there was talk amongst a handful of Flyer members about assembling a list of the best times in race distances for the New York Flyers. We knew there had been some very impressive club records set in the past, and that some of those records were still being set, but what were they and who were the runners that set them? Could we compile the names, races, and times, and put them on the website, perhaps, like the Fifty State Club? The executive board at the time, led by Chris Morgenroth, approved the idea to collect the times, and launch a "Hall of Fame" page.

However, the task wasn't as easy as anticipated. Frankly, the sheer volume of names and numbers over the Flyers' (now) 20-year history, was enormously daunting. Over the next two years, discussion continued: Which distances? How would we address age groups and genders? What about triathletes? What about Ultra-marathoners? What if the person wasn't a Flyer anymore? And does anyone in the club really even care about this anyway?

Finally, decisions were made by committee, a chart was created, and the numbers began to be filled in. Recently completed, we have the table below. As this is a draft and not yet on the website, we invite all Flyers to send us corrections or oversights. Don't be shy - even if you yourself have a race time that should be on the table, send it in so that we can accurately update the table so as to reflect Flyer accomplishments as the best we can. For now, please send this to either the Secretary (Richard G.) or Blogmaster (me) of the NY Flyers. In the future, once we have this on the website, we will likely have a system so that new times are submitted through Team Captains, who can then verify the results and then have the new record posted through the webmasters or secretary.
A few things to note:

• You must have been a member of the Flyers on the date you set the record. For example, if you ran a 2:15 marathon the year before you joined the club, that time is not eligible for the Flyers Hall of Fame.
• Races outside NYC are included, but all results need to be verifiable -- preferably published in online, searchable results.
• Only the actual race distance will be accepted for the record, not a split time. To clarify, for example, if you broke the record for the 4-mile time while running a 10k race, you do not get the 4-mile record. You must be running the 4-mile race to get the 4-mile record.
• If a race distance is later found to be shorter than the record, it will be disqualified. For example, if a 5k race (3.1 miles) is later found to be only 3.05 miles, it is not eligible for the 5k record.
• Related to the above, if a race is later found to be longer than the record, it will still qualify for the record. So if a 5k race is later found out to be 3.15 miles, it will still be eligible for the record.
• We have only addressed typical running race distances - not Triathlons, Biathlons, Duathlons, or Ultra-marathon distances. For those members who regularly participate in these event, we invite you to step up with fellow members and tabulate results for posting.
• We realize that some people do come very close to breaking these records, and there was initial discussion about creating a top three or five list of best times, but due to the labor-intensive nature of researching and updating these numbers, it is with much regret that the committee decided that only the very best times would be reflected in the table.

The committee and those responsible for this effort include: Sarah D., who championed the idea and back-checked times and names, Dan L., who initially brought this to the attention of the executive board, Eric S. (that's yours truly, folks!) for coming up with the chart format, Eduardo, F., who, probably most importantly, spent many hours poring over the Flyers' historical data and results, and finally, longtime Flyer and 2010 Secretary, Richard G., who also contributed names and numbers from his vast Flyer experience, and vetted the times on the table.

Welcome to the first draft of the Flyer Hall of Fame:

- Eric S.
Editor's Note: Happy birthday to me!