A Night to Remember

DANA DELIVERS:

CLUB NIGHT NEWS  While the annual Awards Gala is the highlight of the Flyers social calendar, the broader running community as a whole looks forward to March, when the New York Road Runners (NYRR) hosts its annual festivities to recognize and honor outstanding athletes and clubs at NYRR Club Night.

This year, Club Night was held at the midtown Hard Rock Cafe on Thursday, March 3rd. The Hard Rock Cafe is presently in the throes of reconstruction, which caused the women's restroom to be located in what was formerly the men's restroom, where the superfluous porcelain hardware was disguised by the presence of a thick, black curtain. (Don't ask me what elegant fixtures were in place for the gents!  Buckets, maybe?)  Nevertheless, the posters, guitars, and rock star memorabilia for which the Hard Rock Cafe is known was out in abundance.

The first thing I noticed about Club Night was that as a group, the female attendees had the best aggregate arm definition I've ever seen.

Typical NY Flyer Female Arm

Recommended dress was cocktail attire, but most attendees opted for business casual, which, interpreted liberally, made it possible for so many ladies to show off their amazing biceps and triceps. That was certainly clear among the Flyers, where the glamour girls included Deb M., Bo K., Deanna C., Jodie F., Lara K., Chris M., Vicky T., Dorian B., Margaret B., Jo Ann M., Jeannine H., Nina P., Heather M., and Andrea L.

Not to be outdone, the gentlemen on the team looked equally sharp, including Pat D., Siggy T., Alan G., Richard B., D.J. V. (accompanied for the occasion by his visiting niece), Eduardo F., Bob C., Mark R., Derek R., Mr. President Glen W., John H., Mark P., and Mike M.

Jeanine H, Jodie F, Deb M, Pat D, Alan G, Heather M, Dana M, Eduardo F, Siggy T, Lara K, Bob C and Deanna C

The $50 admission fee included appetizers that were substantial enough for a meal, plus two drink tickets and a raffle ticket. While five to ten hard-core Flyers usually attend Club Night every year, the fact that the Flyers were in the running for three separate honors helped bring in a great many more Flyers, all in the name of supporting our own.

Deanna C., looking glamorous in hot pink, received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Flyers and cheers throughout the rest of the crowd as she accepted the first-annual Freddie award (named in honor of Fred Lebow, and featuring his image) in honor of being named Ultrarunner of the Year. 

Deanna C with her Ultramarathoner of the Year Award

The Flyers also made plenty of noise for superstar Master Blaster Chris M., elegantly attired in black and named as a finalist for the Runner of the Year award in the women's 45-50.

Christine M, Nominee for Masters Runner of the Year

And, speaking of speedy women, the Flyers Veteran Women took home 2nd Place!

Nina P with Veterans Team's 2nd Place Award

Finally, the Flyers were one of five teams nominated for the Team Spirit Award, although ultimately the honor went to the North Brooklyn Runners. Being the good sports that we are, we heartily congratulate the North Brooklyn Runners on their victory and challenge them to try hanging onto it next year. 

The dancefest started after the awards ceremony was completed. A 5:00 a.m. wake-up call waits for no one, so I instead opted to trek uptown with Pat D. and Jeannine H. to conduct a study that considered the relative merits of Francesca's pizza versus Big Nick's. (If you have to pick one, go with Francesca's.)  As documented by the photos on the Flyers website, a wonderful time was had by all.

Flyers Dance Team Nominees: Bo K, Lara K, Jodie F, Alan G, Deb M, and Deanna C



You can find details on the award recipients and a full photo gallery of award recipients on the NYRR Club Night Page .  In the meantime, your roving reporter will be accepting drink tickets for the next social occasion.

Dana M.