NY Flyers History 2000 - 2004

This installment of NY Flyers History starts in the year 2000 -- when the newsletter was still mailed out to members via the post office and Richard Brounstein was regularly serving up his incredible guacamole.  By the end of this 5-year segment of Flyers history through 2004, NY Flyers cried together through the events of 9/11, welcomed a new speedwork coach, became well-established in cyberspace, and enjoyed quite a few parties (although having fun together has been an enduring theme throughout Flyers history!).  For prior installments of NY Flyers History written by other Flyer bloggers, please click here.

2000

The NY Flyers began the new decade by honoring Richard G as the Flyer of the Year (FOTY). Richard's organization skills took the Flyers from the Arches of Central Park to the rocks Oregon Coast for the Hood to Coast Relay. President Amy S, despite a high-pressured job on Wall Street, gave the Flyers every spare minute she had. She even took on the weekly email duties for a while, and sometimes after Executive Committee meetings, she'd crash our monthly newsletter mailing sessions to help out.


Prez Amy S at the Awards Dinner
Announcing Recipients of Year 2000 Awards

Richard B was the leader and catalyst of the monthly newsletter event. Yes, early in the 21st century, the Flyers had to do the newsletters the old fashioned way by making copies, buying stamps, pasting addresses, and doing a whole slew of things to get the latest club news out to its members. But from a work of drudgery, Richard turned it into a must attend event with his native Californian guacamole.


Flyers Team Photo 2000

Parties included the first karaoke night with many memorable performances of rock, pop, and Meatloaf. And thanks to Andy M and Ed C, the Carnegie Brewery became a post-speedwork watering hole for many thirsty Flyers. On the race front, Ellen F ran a 2:53 in Boston, and Chris F a 2:50 in New York.

2001

In 2001, the Flyers had the annual party at Park Avenue Country Club and honored Terry B as the Flyer of the Year. Yes, Terry was a fearless runner, colorful weekly email editor, West Hammer man, tattoo king, etc., but the single best Terry ("the Hammer") moment was when he crashed into a pole at speedwork full speed and lived to tell about it. That night!

2001 also was the year Ed A took over the presidency. Hard to imagine anymore more qualified. Ed had been very active for years and it was easily the smoothest transition ever.

2001 Team Photo

The Flyers also fielded a record three teams for Hood to Coast. That's nearly 600 miles of total running by 35 Flyers and, presumably, lots of sleeping bags, bonfires, and alcohol on the beach.

Back to the reality of New York a couple of weeks later--the sureality of 9-11--as Susan H saw a plane fly into a tower from her courthouse window.  Ed A was working next door to Ground Zero and for once he couldn't lend a helping hand as he barely managed to get out through clouds of darkness himself. So did Renee M and other Flyers who survived a horrific morning.

Frank C began the morning enjoying his day off, but was quickly down at the scene as the towers came down. Frank survived, but fellow Flyer Vincent K did not. The day after, many Flyers arrived at Vincent's firehouse on 85th and Lex to pay their respects.


Flyers Cup Created in Memory of Vinnie K

On marathon Sunday, Frank C was also one of the FDNY runners who started the race up at the front line. Todd B and Terry B led the team with 2:53s that year, Ellen F ("whoops I sub-3'd again") ran a 2:57.

2002

Scott C, Ironman, ultra runner, ex-smoker turned endurance king, was VP in 2001 and Prez for 2002. Scott had the foresight to invite the then new-to-NYC Mary Wittenberg to one of the club meetings and everyone was impressed by her knowledge and enthusiasm. Sure enough, a few years later, she was NYRR's Executive Director.


Team Photo 2002

The Flyers' 3rd Vegas Marathon trip in February ended up being on Superbowl Sunday (it had been postponed due to 9/11). A large Superbowl party was held in one of the suites as the Patriots (huge underdog) beat the Rams, and many Flyers collected from the upset.

Summer of 2002 saw many Flyers catching triathlon fever,beginning with the Tupper Lake half and finishing with the Westchester Tri. The Flyers since the 90s has had great triathletes with the likes of Jeanine H, Ed O' and others. But in the summer of '02, the numbers just went hyperbolic.

Terry B and 20 other Flyers flew into Chicago (before it became known as heatwave central) and ran a blistering 2:44.  In NYC, 175 Flyers ran the marathon, with Todd B leading the way with a negative splitting 2:46.   USA Track Field and Running Times both named Muriel M outstanding female runner of the year 75-79. Muriel ran a mile in 8:18 and 10k in 57:45.


Tie-Dyed Flyer of the Year

Ed A was recognized as FOTY at the awards party, receiving his big trophy in a tie-dyed vest. Eight years later, Ed appears to still be "campaigning" to be the FOTY every year. That's the kind of marathon achievement that truly can't be matched. The Flyers are eternally "Grateful" to Ed for all his contributions and service.

2003

The Flyers said yes to "girl power" in 2003 as Prez Amy M led an all female cast of the Exec Committee. Amy's communication and organizational skills were extraordinary. Not to mention her hands-on work ethic. When Deb C had to relocate to LA, Amy also filled in as the secretary and promptly produced the newsletters.

Coach Cliff Held

2003 also saw the Flyers say good-bye to Coach Cliff. Cliff H was more than a coach to many, he was a teammate and friend. Coach Cliff was a teacher during the day and at evening speedwork he taught us week after week the joys of running. Coach Cliff (and wife Suzanne) were always warm and welcoming to new members and, as true Flyers, it never came down to how fast you ran.

Coach Toby T joined the Flyers in the fall of 2003, and remains the Flyers Head Coach in overseeing the Flyers weekly speedwork program.  Toby brought in an encyclopedic running knowledge, but can be a master of understatement  -- you need to listen carefully. Some of his best words of wisdom were dished off in quiet asides rather than in the shout out loud mode.

One of Toby's mantras is train hard, race easy. The Flyers suddenly found themselves running longer and longer during speedwork, and boot camp after that! When you attend a Toby workout, you are sure to be getting your money's worth. Toby's knack for giving out nicknames kept the crew entertained despite everyone being out of breath.

Assistant Coach Joe Y, long time Flyer and a great runner himself, was the perfect person to go to when ready to drop dead after speedwork. Besides his positive energy, Joe also knew a ton about the body and muscles and how to recover in time for your next workout.


Flyers Looking Very NOT Ready for Team Photo 2003

2003 was the year that the Flyers website went into web 2.0. The team has always taken pride in its openness and transparency. The newly improved website was both innovative and informative. Not only did we have far and away the best running website in NYC, RRCA honored the Flyers as one of their top three sites in the country. Richard B received the FOTY award for this breakthrough achievement. Richard and Dana M (Dana was FOTY in 2004), along with Ed, Richard G and others are still plugging away at it every day to keep the site interesting and user friendly.

2004

Gabi D became Prez in 2004. The "Gabster" lived on the Upper East Side in NY Flyers Central, minutes away from countless other Flyers. It was wonderful to bump into folks you know everyday; it's what makes a big city smaller and livable. Be it a poker game at Bill S's or team apparel talk with Anne H, or a drink with Vicky C, Scott S, Jenn S, George C and many others, the Flyers were the Gabster's family (before she started a family of her own).


At Flyers 15-Year Anniversary Party
Paulo Flor, Heather Marcellis, Gabi DiBlasi, Tim Decker and Rich Hulnick

Gabi used the website to our best advantage and made Club communications more efficient. The Flyers also were blessed with weekly email editors JoAnn M and Bill L, whose witty stories kept the team entertained week after week.

Care for a blast from the past? Just go to the website and take a look at the Flyers 2004 Photo Album and Flyer Events from 2004. 

One of the traditions Gabi launched is the Flyers PowerBar Gel Station at Mile 18 of the NYC Marathon.  The Flyers have continued with Gabi's assistance to provide this service each year.  Many of us look forward to reaching that point for some badly needed support!

Besides marathon running, Flyers accomplishments on the Ironman front continued to pile up. Two of the outstanding athletes from 2001 on have been Vicky T and Frank C. It was a friendly rivalry, and in 2004 it also included Frank's training buddy Matt Long (before his accident) -- Matt was the Flyers featured speaker at the Annual Flyers NYC Marathon Pasta Party in 2010. A bunch of Flyers and friends all went up to Lake Placid that year to compete, cheer and test the waters. It was a fun-filled weekend with a house across from the lake and Vicky taking a slot at Kona. (Frank would get one the following year).

Frank C Getting a Tune-Up At Ironman USA 2004
from Flyer and Chiropractor Marc B

2004 also saw some VIFs (Very Important Flyers) join as as rookies. Star runners Erin B and Jamie D, future Prez Christine M and Dan G, and the incomparable Lara K.

-Lloyd H.