Can the Ranting Runner Recant the Rant?

It’s a New Year and even the Ranting Runner can turn over a new leaf, right?  Glorify the good instead of recounting the wrongs?  Indeed, it would be hard not to when recalling the nearly* flawless New York Flyers 21st Annual Awards Gala held on Saturday. 

It was, in short, a wonderful party, filled – as a marathon is long – with inspiration. Herewith, in no particular order, the highlights of the evening, according to the Ranting Runner.  (If it’s objectivity you’re looking for, please see the main Flyers website for a comprehensive recap and complete list of winners.)

    •    Walking through Battery Park to get to the venue - Much cooler and quieter than in August, when it serves as a post-NYC Half-Marathon rallying point, and bereft of the corresponding crowds, the park was a snowy and solemn prelude to the evening’s excitement.

    •    Memories - As it does every year, Saturday’s Year in Pictures slideshow reminded us why we get up before dawn and go out in the rain or the snow or the oppressive heat, or face whatever it is we have to face in order to keep at it and be able to call ourselves runners.  Who can fail to be moved by those skillfully taken and expertly edited photos that managed to capture the fun and the glory of what we do?  (And the inspirational “We Are the Champions” and “Chariots of Fire” soundtrack didn’t hurt.)  Ranting Runner, for one, was grateful for the scrap of tissue in her pocket.

     •    Meeting new Flyers (and Flyer guests) – The Awards Gala celebrates the Flyers at their finest.  And what better opportunity to greet rookie members and recruit new ones, especially if a trip to the bar puts you face-to-face with some unknown faces?  Who knew just waiting for a cosmo could be so much fun?

 
    •    Meeting the Flyers we already know – As winners were announced and their achievements praised, we learned more than some of us might have known about those first-class people we are proud to call our teammates.  That in addition to being a speedy runner, prolific race photographer, and smiliest person you may ever meet, for example, “Marathoner of the Year” and outgoing club vice-president Brian H. works as a coach for NYRR’s Team for Kids.  Or that expert emcees Deb Meyer and Pat Duffy are such a dynamic duo, worthy of stepping in for Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg to host that other popular awards program.

    •    Seeing newlyweds Dorian D’Angelo and Richard Brounstein – merely the latest in a long line of Flyer pairings.  (The club is a veritable lovefest – at last count, over two dozen couples are known to have met and married through the NY Flyers.)

    •    Watching the Staten Island Ferry go by during a quick outdoor break from dancing - Its sparkling lights reflecting off the water were like a floating fireworks display and reminded one of the early-morning ferry rides to the Staten Island Half Marathon, where runners outnumber bemused non-running passengers 9 to 1.

    •    Seeing recently-exiled Blogmaster, Eric S. - He endured a breakdown-filled, several hundred mile bus ride from his native Canada to spend Saturday evening with us, for which we are very grateful.  Hopefully his receipt of the “Unsung Hero” Award for his hard work in, among other things, bringing us this thoughtful blog, will console him on his journey home.  At the very least, he may be able to use the plaque as a pillow. (Blogmaster's note: Alas, I tried and was unsuccessful.)

    •    The Venue – With its view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty watching over us in the distance, our party spot was the perfect place to stop and remember that we are, after all, the New York Flyers, who call the greatest city in the world our home. Or at least, our training ground.

And with that, Ranting Runner bids everyone a spectacular running year.  May your PRs be plentiful and may your triumphant faces grace next year’s slideshow. -R.R.

* I would not be the Ranting Runner if I failed to suggest that the people talking loudly in the back of the room during the awards presentation, who made it tough for our hard-working emcees to be heard over their selfish din, should be flogged with dirty running tights for their inconsiderate behavior. Publicly. Preferably in a town square or somewhere else where we can watch and taunt them.

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The Flyers Are Dead; Long Live the Flyers!

Every year we race. Like the ebb of the tide, each year comes and goes, and each looks pretty similar to the last. The Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island Halfs. The Joe Kleinerman 10k. The Club Championships. Father’s, Mother’s, Japan Day. Etc. Sometimes a Dash is a accompanied by a Splash, and sometimes the dates change and sometimes the distances change, but it all ends up blending together after that first run at the stroke of midnight at the start of the year.

And as the year comes and goes, we keep running, and striving to set another PR. And another. And another. And another.

So what’s in it for you, in all this running? The question is rhetorical of course. No one has an answer for keeps. Each time you think you’ve figured it out, you run another race and the question arises again, if in a different way.

Rising above it all is our little club. OK, big club. Although we might run alone during the races, away from them we’re part of something big. All those races might blend together, but we relish – or hate – each and every one for their most subtle differences, and love to ponder those differences with our friends in the club. One 10k is not the same as the next, even if they’re the same race on the same course at the same time of year in the same conditions. So we tell our stories and bond together.

When it’s all done, we gather to party. We figuratively hoist our success stories on our collective shoulders and cheer, while we sweep our misfortunes under the rug and let them go. We embrace the volunteers who motivated, maintained and carried the club over the past year, and we send newly elected and appointed ones on their journey forward to lead us. At this cold, dark, and snowy (very snowy!) time of year, we can look ahead to renewal and rebirth. The days are getting longer. The temperature will rise. The snow will melt. Spring will come. And we will – our club will – set many more personal records again. And again, and again, and again.

This Saturday is our Gala. We will eat and drink. We will celebrate the year gone by. We will dance. Oh my, we will dance! We will share our love of our sport and say good bye to our past and from the night we will emerge, a new club, eyes set to the future, with one collective, uniting thought:

Go Flyers.

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The New Flyer Rundown

Emily S., Member-at-Large

Hello!

As we wrap up the Executive Board’s 2010 season and I write my last post as MAL, I wanted to take a moment to talk about our New Flyers. A big thanks to everyone who was profiled in the last year: Megan T., Deborah G., Stephanie L., Laura M., and Brian D.

If you didn’t join one of our New Flyer Runs before you joined the Flyers, you may be asking what the run entails. We meet at 10:15 am either Saturday or Sunday, about once a month. Group leaders John, Nick and I walk everyone through all aspects of our club, what is offered for running (group runs, race participation, etc), the social aspects (happy hours, picnics, and the Awards Gala), and volunteering in the park. We field questions about the pace of most people, the frequency of group runs and the size of our team.

Social events are an important part of being a Flyer!

We then run the 4 miles of the inner loop of the park, and give somewhat of a guided tour to any prospective members who are new to New York.


The New Flyer Run is a great way to introduce new members to our club. Throughout the past years, we’ve had runs of one person or a dozen people, running in 10 degrees and 100 degrees. We talk about all that our club has to offer, including the recent additions of the Marathon Training Program runs and discounts at local retailers.

We always welcome additions to our run and love to have current Flyers help out. Next run is Saturday, Feb 5th, meeting at 10:15 am at the East end of the 72nd St. Transverse, after the 9am Saturday Group Run. Join us! - Emily S.

We were all New Flyers once!

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Hot Winter Races and Cool Fun Runs

Got the winter running blues? Well, even if you don't, here are some hot races and fun runs within and beyond NYC (in addition to the NYRR racing schedule) to spice up the frosty months.

Beer Run Sounds Fun

Beer run anyone? Visit the Chelsea Brewing Company during a 5-mile guided running tour of the Chelsea section of Manhattan. Drink early and often during this thirst-quenching run that's scheduled for 11AM on Saturday, January 29th.

Beach Bum Races

Avoid the summer beach crowds as the NYS Parks Winter Series continues with the Robert Moses 5K on Sunday, January 23rd, and the Jones Beach 5K on Sunday, January 30th. Click here for race info and application.

Queens Football Relay Race

On February 6th -- rain, snow or shine -- each relay runner will chug along a scenic 1-mile loop through beautiful Alley Pond Park. At the completion of their loop, each runner tosses a football in the specified zone to the next player on their team to run the next one mile loop. Every team will get to keep their football, too! Info and pdf application here.



Hit the trails

The NJ Winter Trail Series continues on February 5th with both a 5 mile and 10 mile option in Lewis Morris Park, not far from NYC in Morristown, NJ.




Romantic Running

Running around in circles trying to come up with romantic Valentine's Day plans, or a person to spend it with? Then the Valentine's Marathon on Sunday February 13th, one in a series of Holiday Marathons, is the place for you. Bring your honey, or find a new honey, while working up an extra-large appetite for post-race lovey-doving.

And/or for something shorter, and charitable, on Saturday February 12th there's the Cupid's Chase 5K in Riverside Park at 97th Street. The race is one of many that will be held throughout the nation, and it benefits people with disabilities.


Indoor Triathlon

For Flyers looking to avoid winter's blast altogether, but bored of the same old treadmill, consider a JackRabbit Indoor Triathlon. Register to go to the Upper West Side JCC to swim for 10 minutes, bike for 30 minutes, and run for 20 minutes while competing for prizes provided by JackRabbit Sports -- the Flyers' exclusive apparel provider.



These are just a few of the interesting races and organized runs scheduled for this winter. Tell us about others in your reply to this post, please! - Dave K.

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A Call to Volunteering!

Why did you join the New York Flyers? Because it's a running team? Because it's a social team combined with running?

Well, do you know that we also volunteer at special events?

Flyer, Heidi I., as LTR Paceleader

When you ask most people when they joined the NY Flyers, many would say that they joined right after one of the Long Training Runs (LTR) that the New York Road Runners puts on every year around August and September. These are a couple of our premier events for volunteering, combining running, teamwork, and team camaraderie.

We do support other NYRR events as well:

• The NYC Half Marathon (March 20) - Our team volunteers at a fluid station as we see runners including our own teammates whizzing by.

• MORE Half Marathon (close to the last Sunday in April) - Our NY Flyer females pace most of the pace groups and volunteer at the Expo. The males man (no pun intended) a water station and also volunteer at the Expo.

• NYC Marathon (First Sunday in November) - Headed usually by Gabi D., near Mile 18, the Power Gel Station is where many Flyers take pride in handing out these energy packets to everyone from the elite to back of the pack (it's where the party is at) runners.

But what if you can't take part in these events? There are other opportunities to help the club out in other ways:

Weekly Group Run Leaders or  (if you can't commit full time) Alternate Group Run Leaders
In my book, the group run leaders take the cake, as they help and encourage other runners who participate in the group to finish the run. They are out there in weather that includes everything from torrential downpours to winter cold to steamy hot summer days. Hats off to them, as they are out there once a week, every week. 

But they need your help, too! They can always use an extra alternate or two to come out and support them on any group run. Contact the Flyers President or Vice-President to help out.

Executive Board and Volunteered Positions
Yes, remember that although they are runfor office and vote in particular ways to help urn the club these people are still volunteers and volunteer to help steer the club in the right direction for the year or even more.

Even though this year's elections are over, there are other positions that are still available to be filled. Blogmaster (Blogmaster's note: yes, it's true!), social chairs, apparel coordinator, and more.  All of these positions need to be filled with one or two capable peopel.
Think about running for next year's Executive Board as we always hope to get more people involved with our club.

Social/Humanitarian Events

Gala volunteering!

NY Flyers Gala Committee
Yes, these people who plan the extravagant party of NY Flyers Awards Gala, usually held at the end of January, are all volunteers.  Planning the agenda of the evening, locating a venue, planning the menu, and all the little details in-between don't just happen on their own - they're seen to by a dedicated group of volunteers - so that we can all enjoy this special night. Ask our club President how you can get involved next year.

Central Park Conservancy (usually 3-4 times a year)
Last year Heather M. and David K. headed up these events which usually occur on a weekend after a group run or race. The club helps out Central Park Conservancy in cleaning up our beloved Central Park, the place where most of us do our regular runs. Raking leaves, pulling weeds, throwing down mulch or sod, are usually the tasks that are generally rewarded with scrumptious baked goods supplied by our own Heather M.  Apart from the social fun, you feel great helping out your community and the place you run! E-mail Heather M. or Dave K. if you want to get your hands dirty!

Post-volunteering treats!

NYC Marathon Pasta Party (Thursday before the NYC Marathon)
Pasta! Pasta! Pasta! The Flyer community, including NYC marathoners and friends, get together for a pasta dinner to celebrate the upcoming marathon.  Hey, even if you're not running the NYC marathon, and are out there cheering, you need to carbo-load for that as well. Get involved by contacting our club President.

Soles for Souls
Run by Dave K. and Diane Z., the Flyers donate their used running shoes (those that have reached their 300-500 miles) to Soles for Souls to give to developing countries. Donation sites for these used shoes to find a loving home having included marathon pasta party, holiday party, and other Flyer events.  They always need help expanding to other Flyer events.  Interested?  Drop and email to Dave K. or Diane Z to offer help.

At the Holiday Party, 2010

Holiday Party
Organized by the Events Coordinator, this party in December brings friends together to celebrate our own personal relationship to the season. Winter arrives and we celebrate our achievements from the past year. There are many ways to help out - just contact the Events Coordinator to find out how you can help.

Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots
For many years, Sandy A. has organized Toys for Tots.  A crew of crooning Flyers and friends run along a running route through various areas of NYC, stopping at Rockefeller Center and NYC's famous Christmas tree and at the Children’s Hospital, singing Holiday songs and handing out gifts to the kids. E-mail Sandy A. to participate next year.

The Food Bank of NYC
Started by our own webmistress, Dana M., this has been the third year that our club has collectively donated to the NYC Food Bank charity to support the city's vast community of people who are unable to provide for themselves. E-mail Dana M. to find out how you can help.

NYRR Youth Programs
The NY Flyers also helped out with the NYRR Youth and Community Services, acting as "race buddies" at a NYRR race. We've mentored various kids from all different boroughs - some running the distance for the very first time. Volunteer to be a NYRR race buddy - look for it in our list of announcements.

In closing, our club always welcomes people to volunteer in various ways and opportunities. So make it your resolution this year to give a helping hand and help out our loveable running club.

I hope to see you all out there! - Brian H.

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Run-to-Work Day, Everyday!

Commuting sucks. Crowded sidewalks, crowded buses, crowded subways. Monthly MetroCards costing 17 percent more.

Fortunately I've discovered an alternative that involves doing something I truly enjoy: running.

You can do it, too. All you need is some planning, some place to lock your valuables in the office and, if you are commuting to work, access to a gym.

It's four miles door to door from my apartment in the Upper East Side to my office near Penn Station. I can add a mile by going through Central Park or another few miles by going along the Hudson River. If you live too far from the office, you can consider running part way and jumping on a train for the rest. Every minute to spend running is a minute avoiding the getting squished on a bus or a subway. At the height of my training, it wasn't even worth getting a monthly MetroCard, because I'd need the transit system for community so few times.

The toughest part is getting started. I recommend starting out with a run home every week. Then make it two. And then three. Bring running clothes to change into once you're ready to leave work. Bring along some cash, IDs and other important cards – including any keys or building access card you'd need to return to work the next day. Lock the rest in your drawer or conceal it under that folder you know no one will ever check – it might be marked “high priority” or something like that. Bring along your house keys, and you're on your way. You can retrieve your work clothes the next day or later in the week.

Running to work takes more planning, as you'd need to bring work clothes and shoes you'd need ahead of time. Also if you pack lunch, you'd need to bring extra the day before. After you get used to running home two or three times a week, try running to work once a week. You might not have room to bring your entire wallet or purse, so just bring the cash, cards and IDs you'd need. At the office, swing by your desk to grab your work clothes. Head to the gym, shower and start the work day refreshed.

Once this becomes a routine, you might plan ahead for the week – bringing enough stuff for a few runs to the office and a few runs home after the work day. You'd also have to make sure you have enough coats at each place, lest you'd have to return home or start the next morning without warmth. I save at least an hour a day in commuting, and I can't even recall the days I'd take a subway and bus home only to change into my running gear and spend another hour on the run. - Nick J.

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Hawaii Healthy Eating!

Anne H.

I just arrived back from a wonderful trip to Hawaii. I don't know if you have ever had the glorious opportunity to visit this paradise, but not only did the air smell sweet, the land look lush, and the fruit taste luscious, the site of the volcanic landscape was just, well, s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-r!

While I was on my trip, I made sure to indulge in my daily five,  That is, five servings of pineapple each day! The pineapple was so fresh, it was hard not to have it with every meal.  Living in NYC, I would typically purchase the pre-cut pineapple

The volcanic islands of our 50th state

chunks from the local market, because carving a pineapple was too much of a chore. Well, not anymore! I’ll be purchasing whole pineapples from now on and carving them up myself. Making the effort will be worth it, and will only remind me of the wonderful land of Hawaii.

Fresh fruit aplenty!

So, in the spirit of Hawaii and its great pineapples, I have made the new year’s resolution to try to incorporate more fruit into my diet. Some of us eat high protein, low carbs, low fat. I eat low fruit. That has to change. Also, now that we are in the winter months it is much harder to think about eating a fresh fruit salad. I’d rather eat a hearty turkey burger and mashed potatoes, or an open-face turkey sandwich as they are both warm and cozy foods.

Yummy fish tacos!

So, I am now thinking how I am going to incorporate more fruit into my diet. Any suggestions? Well, I’ve decided that I’ll be making a big batch of fruit salsa (i.e., a mango, pineapple salsa) to top on fresh fish when I can. It’s a fun side dish and is very flavorful.

Talking about fresh fish? Well, I had the best fish tacos on this side of the equator! A new item I’ll be adding to my own menu at home which I’ve just got to share with you. Slice a swordfish steak in strips, which would look something like the size of a long hot dog. Season and grill. Take a wrap, some spicy hot sauce, your fruit salsa, wrap and dig in. It’s a delicious way to enjoy a healthy piece of fish, and fun, too. It's a great meal for just sitting in front of the TV

Hau ‘oli Makahiki Hou! (Happy New Year in Hawaiian) - Anne H.

PS: Did you know the true way top pronounce Hawaii is "Hav-vaii"?

The beautiful Hawaiin landscape

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Boston, Women, and Qualifying Times

Scott S.

With registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon closing out in record time there's been a fair amount of discussion among Flyers and other runners lately that the Boston qualifying times should be changed. Specifically, many have voiced the opinion that the traditional 30-minute gap between the male and female qualifying standards for each age group is “too much”. The elite women finish much less than 30 minutes behind the elite men – doesn’t that prove that the gap is too much?

No, it doesn’t. In order to draw any meaningful conclusions about Boston qualifying times, you must consider a much larger sample than the handful of men capable of running a sub-2:10 marathon and the handful of women capable of running a sub-2:30 marathon. One way to do this is to analyze age group results for a sufficiently large population of both male and female runners.

Paula Radclife and Haile Gebrselassie: Elite men's and women's times are getting closer, but that doesn't mean BQ times should be the same.

I chose the 2010 NYC Marathon, which had 29,000+ male finishers and 16,000+ female finishers for this analysis. For each age group that had a reasonably large sample of finishers I looked at the times for male and female finishers in the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. Here is a summary of my results:

First, let's look at the breakdown of finishers, just for reference:

Total Number of 2010 NYC Marathon Finishers by Age Group and Gender

Age Group	#Male	#Female	#Total
20-24	699	575	1,274
25-29	2,477	2,639	5,116
30-34	3,857	2,887	6,744
35-39	5,000	2,794	7,794
40-44	5,761	2,801	8,562
45-49	4,289	2,037	6,326
50-54	3,448	1,356	4,804
55-59	1,647	594	2,241
60-64	1,051	271	1,322

Now let's break it down further, looking at the men's finishing times first:

Men’s Finishing Times by Age Group & Percentile

(Faster time corresponds to lower percentile)

Age Group	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%
20-24	3:21:04	3:42:11	4:11:53	4:41:24	5:20:21
25-29	3:11:38	3:38:30	4:03:00	4:37:39	5:14:29
30-34	3:16:34	3:39:52	4:06:19	4:39:15	5:12:12
35-39	3:18:53	3:40:07	4:05:45	4:38:44	5:11:38
40-44	3:17:55	3:39:19	4:05:35	4:36:57	5:13:07
45-49	3:22:03	3:44:09	4:10:22	4:43:09	5:17:20
50-54	3:27:39	3:48:12	4:16:13	4:49:14	5:27:10
55-59	3:39:49	4:00:32	4:32:05	5:07:45	5:44:31
60-64	3:47:06	4:09:48	4:42:22	5:23:52	6:09:51

Now compare the above chart to this one for the women:

Women’s Finishing Times by Age Group & Percentile

(Faster time corresponds to lower percentile)

Age Group	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%
20-24	3:42:39	4:06:51	4:33:31	5:07:20	5:49:04
25-29	3:41:25	4:02:22	4:29:01	5:02:35	5:36:48
30-34	3:41:37	4:04:14	4:31:28	5:05:58	5:44:39
35-39	3:45:26	4:08:07	4:35:15	5:07:58	5:46:48
40-44	3:43:49	4:05:20	4:34:49	5:09:01	5:48:26
45-49	3:46:09	4:09:30	4:41:31	5:;16:28	5:55:45
50-54	3:58:03	4:22:17	4:51:35	5:29:37	6:10:34
55-59	4:08:42	4:36:17	5:05:51	5:49:15	6:32:54
60-64	4:17:35	4:44:07	5:24:53	6:09:51	6:47:54

Now, let's refresh your memory regarding Boston Qualifying times:

Current Boston Marathon

Qualifying Standards

(by Age Group and Gender)

Age Group	Men	Women
< 35	3:10	3:40
35-39	3:15	3:45
40-44	3:20	3:50
45-49	3:30	4:00
50-54	3:35	4:05
55-59	3:45	4:15
60-64	4:00	4:30

Here are the two things that strike me when reviewing these results:
1. The 30-minute gap between men and women at the 10% percentile (roughly the cut-off for qualifying for Boston) appears to be justified. Perhaps one could argue for lowering the gap to 25 minutes for the age groups up to 45-49, but I doubt the Boston Athletic Association would want to explain having different gaps for different age groups.
2. The drop-off in qualifying standards across age-group bands is too rapid. The major drop-off in times occurs in the 50-54 band, not the 45-49 band.

Here’s what I would propose as an alternative, with the revisions in red:

Proposed Boston Marathon

Qualifying Standards

(by Age Group and Gender)

Age Group	Men	Women
< 30	3:10	3:40
30-34	3:15	3:45
35-39	3:15	3:45
40-44	3:15	3:45
45-49	3:20	3:50
50-54	3:30	4:00
55-59	3:40	4:10
60-64	3:50	4:20

I realize this proposal is based on the results of just one race in a given year, but since the NYC Marathon has a significant number of finishers in most age groups and is slightly more difficult than the other major Fall marathons, it’s a good starting point (note: I did a similar analysis ~5 years ago for the Flyers newsletter, and if anything, NYC should now be “easier” given the implementation of the wave start in 2009, which I’m guessing more than offsets the now larger field).

What strikes you looking at these results? - Scott S. (The Numbers Runner)


Blogmaster's Note: Along with being our beloved Numbers Runner, Scott is also known across the web for his Sherpa websites: Sherpa Social Media, Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball. Check them out and let him show you the way!

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