Sartorial Splendor at the Flyer Awards Gala

Francine A
(with Laurent N)

Once again, Flyers dressed to impress at the 2014 Annual Flyers Awards Gala. 

We are all indebted to Bob C for his fabulous Red Carpet photos. 

Studies in Scarlet

Amy S with her Beau
(Paul)

Amy S looked adorable in a bright red dress with a lattice neckline.  Sharon B, was elegant in her tea length red dress.  Susanne F, who is about to celebrate her golden anniversary with Jerry F, wore a chic red dress that hit just below the knee.  Andrea K shone in a floor-length crimson gown.  Jodie F, Daphine C and Cheryl Sp dazzled in ruby red dresses.

Susanne and Jerry F

Jewel Tones

Ruby red was not the only jewel tone at the ball.   Lara K, Noirin L, Louise C, Joanna C and Lisa M wore gleaming sapphire gowns. Jena T, Rachel B, and Laura G chose amethyst. Cortie E and Deborah B wore garnet. Cassandra G opted for a deep emerald gown. Marcy W's silver cocktail dress sparkled as though it were made of diamonds. Colleen R wore a gown the color of opals.

Colleen R

Maggie Schwartz and Anne Halpern chose short pearl grey frocks with lovely draping  Megan Tracy accented her black dress with a deep burgundy shawl. Karen Harris’s dusky purple gown was detailed with studs.

Karen H with Andreas W

Fine Prints

Debbie P with Dave K

Flyer women made bold statements in patterned dresses.  Master of Ceremonies Debbie P co-hosted the awards ceremony in a pink, orange and black pattern that could have come straight from the walls of MOMA.  Julie W was a breath of spring in a tiered turquoise print dress. Fran B accepted her super veteran award in a flawless black and white print dress. Esperanza V, out for a night out with ultramarathoner Scott M, evoked the tropics in her flowered gown.

Constanze L chose a small print in black and white. Martha M and Kathy K wore Flyer black and red.  Laura P opted for a muted animal print. Renate S combined prints and ruffles in her black and white number. Liz K opted for a deep blue tweed pattern.

Martha M with Richard S

The Indispensable Little Black Dress

Flyers demonstrated why the little black dress remains the indispensable choice for a night out. From Pei A’s strapless numbers to Nina P-T’s handkerchief hem, the LBD showed its infinite variety.  Elizabeth A, Noel C, Dorian D’A B, Cheryl St, Tracey A, Emily A, Justine K, Joyce S, Francine A, Janna G-E, Jeanine H, Naomi R, Lisa S, and Luiza S were the height of chic in their midnight black frocks, each with its own detailing.  Jocelyn T’s black dress included a diagonal flower pattern.  Stephanie P, Joy G and Deb M looked seriously elegant in floor-length black gowns. 

Nina P-T

One-Shouldered

The one-shouldered trend so prevalent on the runways made its way to Battery Gardens. Sarah Dahl danced the night away in a one-shouldered, blue bandeau dress. Wendy Shao wore a ruffled blue cocktail dress with a single jeweled strap. Khris Della Pace flaunted a one-shouldered cocktail dress with a dazzling sequined top.

YSL Lives

The black pantsuit designed by Yves Saint Laurent is often cited as the greatest game changer in modern women’s fashion. YSL’s influence was evident at the Gala.  Liz G was the picture of elegance in fitted black pants, impeccable white shirt and short black jacket.  Kettia M chose a romper with high-waisted black pants and a ruffled white shirt. Liz C sported black pants and a black lace top.

Liz G

Lace

Lace is no longer just for brides.  Jennifer O, Jeanine H, Catie B and Sandy A were adorned in black lace. Dana McL’s lace gown was in dusky purple. Elle G wore a dress with a lace overlay. Friederike E had one of the most original dresses of the evening, a short white sheath with a long-sleeved lace overlay.  Stephanie T sported a black skirt with a white lace top. Nora S exemplied le rouge et le noir in a deep red sheath with a black lace overlay.

Stephanie T in Lace with
Husband Ray T and Wendy S

Nora S

Flyer Men Wore Clothes, Too

Richard B with
Dorian D'A

Flyer men also made an effort to dress to impress. Dave K, Pat D, Francisco R,  Richard B, Tom M, Doug R, Jerry F, Richard G, Bill S and Ed F evoked George Clooney in black tie.

Alan G and Mark R wore Flyer ties.

Abel B with Liz C

The Fashion Forward award goes to Abel B and his sky blue suit with light pink piping.  

-Francine A.

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Flyer of the Year: Scott Cohen

Scott C

Receiving the FOTY award is truly an honor and I will be forever grateful to the club for recognizing me. I'd also like to acknowledge the other fine candidates who were nominated -- Bob Cowin, Nick Jesdanun and Justine Kirby -- as they were all very deserving of the award as well and I know we are all appreciative of all of their efforts and service through the years. 

In a very real sense the Flyers have taught me so much about my own life and who I'd like to be. As I enter my 20th year as a NYF, I can't believe how fast the past twenty years have gone. As I write this I think back to my humble beginnings with our club like that first time in October 1994, on the cusp of running my first NYC marathon.

My then neighbor and teammate, FlyerTom D, told me about the buses his club charters to take the members from Lexington and 86th street all the way to the start in Ft.  Wadsworth in Staten Island. Back then I recall it was two maybe three buses at the most until it grew and grew through the years as the clubs ranks swelled. As I continued to find my stride and race anything and everything I could, I also began to develop and nurture my love for the Flyers and the great people who were and continue to be part of its charm.  

2003
With Amy S, John W and Tim D

I began to want to become more involved as friendships and the club itself grew. I wanted to emulate certain people who always pushed past their own boundaries on the roads and within our ranks, always looking to improve themselves and the club they cherished.  

In proudly accepting my FOTY award at the gala I had expressed gratitude to a lot of individuals that include Laurie Harris who inspired us with her energy, her determination to live, to love and to run and that's how I will always choose to remember her. The opportunity to create the Laurie Harris Hope and Dreams 5K Race to support Laurie also produced an opportunity for so many of us to be together on a sunny warm Saturday morning and feel the love and energy we created!

With Laurie Harris
March Madness Biathlon 2004

I had mentioned at this year's Flyers Annual Awards Gala that possibly on one beautiful warm day to come, while you're out on your run -- whether it's to clear your head, to zone out or whatever reasons we need or don't need to push our bodies and minds -- that off in the distance maybe you'll see her distinctive running gait. Maybe the focus will become sharper and you might see that shock of blond bouncy curly hair and finally maybe you'll see and receive her warm smile and loving embrace. 

I feel very fortunate to belong to a club that not only has helped and encouraged me to always reach for more within myself and my athletic potential, but perhaps more significantly has allowed me to find my voice and use it, to conceive and apply ideas and in the process apply leadership, make mistakes but also make many new friends and do my best to continue to make the NYF the most dynamic club in NYC. 

In closing I'd like to offer that a club like ours will only continue to be as good and vibrant as the people who want to be involved and committed and I want to use this passage of thanks and gratitude to encourage and ask anybody who enjoys being a Flyer to use their voice, to offer their ideas and opinions and to continue to make the Flyers even better. 

Ask not what your running club can do for you but....

Go Flyers!!!

-Scott C

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Flyer Profile: Christy J

Christy J

Howdy! I just re-joined the Flyers after a hiatus of a few years and wanted to take the opportunity to re-introduce myself to the club.

I started running in 2006 when I heard my company had a team that competed against other media firms in a weeknight 5K series. Even though I had never been an athlete, was born with a gait deformity that was surgically corrected when I was little, and was consistently picked last in gym class all the way through high school, something in me stirred. 

I said, “That sounds like fun!,” showed up with a pair of Keds I borrowed from my mom, and spent 45 minutes lumbering up and down the hills of Central Park, cursing my decision all the while. Did I mention this 5K series was in the summer?

Despite my miserable racing debut, I quickly became hooked and found myself waking at an ungodly hour before work to run up Eastern Parkway into Prospect Park to train. Ever the cheapskate, I suddenly found the purchase of items such as Speedlaces, foot pods, and the latest fads in post-race nutrition imminently justifiable. I ran my first half (the always-frigid Manhattan Half) in January 2007 and made the foolish decision to jump right into 26.2 (Columbus Marathon) in 2007.

My dismal performance in that event (who the hell eats spaghetti with Italian sausage the night before a marathon? —yep, you guessed it) caused me to re-evaluate my torrid love affair with the sport. I watched Chrissie Wellington take the Ironman World Championship by storm that year and decided running and I needed to separate for a while. 

I bought a wetsuit, taught myself how to ride a bike for the first time at 26, and took up multisport, completing the NYC Triathlon and a sprint tri in Belmar, N.J., in 2009. But I soon discovered that I was rather terrified of cycling, post-work swims were a logistical pain in the butt, and twice-weekly runs weren’t giving me the endorphin fix I needed. It was time to kick triathlon to the curb and get back to my true love.

Since reuniting with running full-time in late 2009, I’ve logged miles all over the city; in Washington, DC; on Ohio country roads; and in Bermuda, Barbados, St. Lucia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. I’ve done 9+1 twice and the NYC Marathon once.  I’ve volunteered with Achilles International and with KEEN New York—a group that pairs adults one-on-one with disabled children for two hours of sports and games.  

But after joining the JackRabbit long training run group for the 2013 NYC Marathon, I found that I missed my one-year stint with the Flyers from 2007-2008—that simple pleasure of connecting with others through the joy of our sport. 

I’m excited to meet new friends on group runs and volunteer to plan social and community service events for the club. In a nutshell, I’m so happy to be back! Cheers!!

~Christy J

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A New Year's Day Hash

by Papa Bear

A great way to start the New Year

The Start at Coogan's

The Finish at The Irish Brigade Pub

My running friend Susan and I were hoping to do some kind of run on New Year's Day. She was going to Central Park to do some running and watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve, and I would be home quietly celebrating with my wife. The strategy was, she would call me on New Year's Day when she was up and about and we would meet for some kind of run. Instead, she called me about noon the day before saying she got an email that there would be a New Year's Day Hash at 3:00 in the afternoon and would I like to do it with her? It was to meet at Coogan's in Washington Heights, a favorite of ours, so I said "sure."

So What's a Hash? 

I had never done one (Susan had done a couple), but I knew it's a run where you follow a course (unknown in advance) marked on the sidewalk with various arrows and other symbols, and — if you don't get lost — end up at a bar. They are organized by clubs of a group called the Hash House Harriers aka HHH (variously described as "a running group with a drinking problem" or "a drinking group with a running problem") and you can apparently find one to join in most major cities of the world. Sounds like fun. See this: Wikipedia entry, and you'll find out more than you want to know. 

Susan ran up from home (show off) and arrived about 5 minutes late and I arrived at Coogan's by subway about 10 minutes late. There was no one on the street so we thought we had missed the start and would never find the course or catch up with the pack. But when we peeked into Coogan's, we saw about 20 folks hanging out at the bar, apparently "hydrating" prior to the hash run. 

 

Finally, about 3:30 we moved outside and the "Hare" explained a few fundamentals. First off, all the runners are called the "hounds", and the hounds follow the trail left by the Hare — simple! There's also the "Hash Cash" who collects the money at the destination bar to pay for the food and drinks, but we wouldn't meet him till we got there.

The Hounds baying
"ARF, ARF!   ARF, ARF!"

The Hare had drawn some of the direction signs we needed to look for on the sidewalk in chalk (everyone knew all this except newcomers like me). There was an arrow and that was pretty easy to "get". Then there was a circle with a cross in it. That's called a "check" and it means the course can go any which-a-way from that point. When you see that you're supposed to split up and look for possible trails. I figured if you found an arrow, you're good, but later I found that there are false trails. You need 3 arrows in a row to determine you've found the "true trail". When you do find the true trail you yell "ON, ON!" and the mob group collects itself and follows. They're supposed to extend a line through the next arrow, letting the latecomers arriving at the "check" know which trail is the true trail.

Alice the barkeep, the Hare and the Hash Cash
waiting for the hounds at the ON-IN

There were also some special symbols, such as when you need to cross a dangerous road (which advice, I noticed, the group largely ignored) or that there is beer near, a fluid replacement station ahead. And the best one is at the end: The words "ON, IN" inside a circle. That means you're done — go in and have a drink (it always ends at a bar). This one also started at a bar (see the  pictures at the top), which, I'm sure you'll agree, gives it a nice symmetry. 

There was one other direction symbol that caught my attention, It was a two headed arrow with a "C" and an "E" by the arrow heads. Susan had mentioned that the hounds are subdivided into "chickens" and "eagles" and anyone can chose which group to be in. The eagles get to run a longer run (typically 2 or 3 miles extra). The two headed arrow is where the eagles go off one way and the chickens (that was us) go the other way. The two groups rejoin at some point along the trail. 

Now you might say you "get" the idea of a Hare leaving a trail, and some hounds trying to follow that trail, but having hounds divided into a bunch of chickens and eagles is a bit of a stretch, metaphorically speaking. Well, I think so too, but I didn't make this stuff up — I'm just a virgin chicken-hound, so WHATEVER! 

And We're Off!

I was expecting some one to say "go" or "on, on" or something, but when the guy stopped talking, all the hounds simply took off like so many bats out of hell to follow the trail. We went south a few blocks, then west to Riverside Park. We followed a path down the hill under the highways and eventually over the tracks and ended up on the Hudson River shore line.

Susan and I were somewhere in the back half of the pack (but by no means last) which is good, since you can follow along as the faster hounds "sniff" out the trail, but it's bad if you fall so far behind that you lose site of the pack. But the "check" points (of which I recall there were 3) provide an opportunity to catch up to the pack (this is a "feature", not a "bug"). 

Then we headed north under the GWB, up the hill, across the highway, onto 181st Street and up the stairs (yes, stairs!) to Pinehurst Avenue and eventually headed north and into Bennett Park. 

If you've followed along on the map and know a little about this area, you will realize we were running up and down hills, big time. In fact, the 1 mile stretch from the shore near the GWB (a little above sea level), to Bennett Park (the highest point in Manhattan at 265.05 ft above sea level) has the most elevation gain in one contiguous stretch in all of Manhattan! And with an average grade of around 5%, it is mucho steep! (see the elevation chart below.)

Remember all the speedy hounds who took off at the start and left us standing there with our mouths open? Well guess what? A number of them died like dogs hounds on this long steep hill as we wise old harriers just trotted on by them. After all, we had climbed this hill umpteen times.  


We left Bennett Park and continued along Pinehurst Avenue and Cabrini Boulevard towards Inwood Hill Park (home of the Cloisters). Along this section a side trip took us back down to the edge of the highway to an old structure from the 1920s where we had some "fluid replacements". Water? No. Beer? No. Bloody Marys? YES! Hey, it was New Year's Day and many of us (not me) needed something to counteract the previous night's revels! Then it was back up to Inwood Hill Park and around the Cloisters.

At last it was "all down hill from here" as we took the path that steeply switch-backed down to Riverside Drive ("Riverside Drive, way up here?" Yes, an old disconnected section that predates the highway). Then it was east to Broadway (remember Broadway?) and south for a few blocks. Suddenly I noticed the pack in front of us had disappeared. We crossed Arden Street and there on the sidewalk was that much anticipated direction, ON IN! 

Slideshow  

I've put together slideshow that shows a few of the landmarks we passed on the run. The photos were from previous runs in the area — sorry, I didn't take my camera on New Year's Day.

ON, IN! 

We entered a small Irish bar on upper Broadway, The Irish Brigade Pub, (known to the locals as the best dive bar in Washington Heights) and the rest of our group trickled in and joined the crowd recovering from the run (re-hydrating — but of course!)  

But wait a minute, what ever happened to the eagles? They went their own way after only a few blocks and we hadn't seen them since. The volunteer at the Bloody Mary station said they hadn't gotten there yet, and all of us chickens beat them to the "ON IN". Usually they are the faster runners and even though they run longer, they often, so I'm told, beat the slower chickens to the finish. Maybe they all got lost and they're still out there. I guess we'll never know. 

Unfortunately, Susan and I both had commitments, and couldn't stay for what would probably turn out to be the central activity of the hash — I think the time they would spend at the bar was longer than the time spent running the hash. But we didn't just go home — we took a short cut and jogged back to Coogan's for just one beer (each). We both agreed this was just a terrific way to start the New Year. But if we ever do a hash again, we'll have to plan to stay after the run for the "full monty."

Papa Bear

This post is adapted from a report on Papa Bear's web site: Beyond Central Park: A New Year's Day Hash

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