Three Bridges Run – Behind the Scenes or “Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2”

Linda C

You’ve probably heard about the Flyers’ Three Bridges Run. It’s the Flyers 20-mile long training run that takes runners over three bridges: the Brooklyn Bridge, Pulaski Bridge, and Queensboro Bridge. Bag check is provided, runners are divided into pace groups, and there are pacers and fluid stations. Just how do these runs come together? Well, now that Three Bridges Run #1 is done for this year and we’re gearing up for Three Bridges Run #2, I’m going to give you a brief look into what takes place to make the run happen. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The Flyers holds two Three Bridges Runs and the idea is to plan them at a time that works with most fall marathon training schedules. I don’t know who planned the first Three Bridges Runs for the Flyers (Blogmaster's Note: It was Glen W as confirmed by Lara K), but we’ve built upon those original runs every year. I organized this year’s and last year’s runs and planned the runs on the same weekends as previous years, so September 7^th and October 11^th were chosen as the days for this year’s runs. The dates were run by the Executive Board for good measure and our hosts, the New York Running Company, and then the dates were announced on the Flyers’ website. This year, the Executive Board also discussed and approved an increase in the fee for non-Flyers-members to sign-up for the runs. The Flyers web gurus then set up the sign-up pages for runners and volunteers. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

Once the sign-up pages for the runs were on the Flyers’ website, runners start signing up for the run. A separate volunteer registration webpage was also set up and some of our long-time Flyers members who have volunteered in previous years signed-up to volunteer to staff the fluid stations along the course or to pace. From the time the sign-up pages are set up, I began to almost compulsively check runner and volunteer sign-ups. Then the questions start: Will we have enough pacers? Will we have people to staff the fluid stations???? Does anyone really run a training run at 7:30 minutes/mile pace? Luckily I internalized all these questions or I’d be institutionalized. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2 – and we will need a 7:30 minutes/mile pacer!!!

I still had to tweak the course map!  Since last year’s runs, the New York Running Company’s east side store moved locations a few stores down from the store’s previous location. It should have been fairly easy to adjust last year’s east side course map for the new store location, but that’s when I found I had not saved last year’s east side course map! I had saved the map of the course that started from New York Running Company’s west side store. It should be easy to adjust the map for the different start/stop location, right? Well, not as easy as one would like especially not as easily as I would like. I made adjustments, but then runners wouldn’t cross the Queensboro Bridge until mile 18 – that wasn’t going to work. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The idea is to have the runners cross the Queensboro Bridge at the same mile as they would, if they were running the New York City Marathon, so between Mile 15 and Mile 16. The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was scheduled for the same day as Three Bridges Run #1. I had to check their course and start time to make sure that would not interfere with our runners – it looked like we’d be okay, that run would not start until later. The course map was then set. Ugh, we still needed more pacers. I sent e-mails to all the Flyers signed up to run the race pleading for volunteers to pace. The e-mail helped to generate more volunteers, but we still needed more pacers. We needed at least one, but ideally at least 4 pacers, for each pace group. My fingers were crossed for more volunteers. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The run was getting closer, and then it happened… Ed A who usually volunteers to coordinate the fluid stations was not going to be available for Three Bridges Run #1!!! Uh-oh, I needed to find someone to step in to that position. That someone needed to be able to drive to help set up and tear down each fluid station and deliver the water, Gatorade, and energy gels to each fluid station. Theoretically, I could do it (get someone else at the store to help with the sign-in and baggage check), but I’ve driven only once since I’ve gotten my driver’s license. Yes, it’s been over 10 years, but I don’t drive and taking the subway and city buses to the fluid stations wasn’t going to work.  Maybe it was the long-run god or Pheidippides, but Richard B volunteered to coordinate the fluid stations!  Richard got to work and quickly moved fluid station volunteers around to make sure we had volunteers for each of the three locations (in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens). And, we still needed more pacers. I then started sending e-mails to Flyers signed up for specific paces for which we still needed pacers. That helped and we got more volunteers. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

As the run approached, I sent e-mails to runners and pacers with information they would need for the day of the run. I also had to field questions for runners. The weekend before the run, I ordered water and Gatorade to be delivered to the New York Running Company. Implementing some suggestions from last year, I asked Naomi R to help come up with a navigational pointers sheet for the pacers, which I printed to hand-out to the pacers on the day of the run, and I printed out back-bibs for the pacers, so that they could easily be identified. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

We still needed more pacers and I started getting e-mails from pacers who had to pull-out due to injury or work commitments. More e-mails to Flyers signed up for the run with pleas to please volunteer to pace. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The night before the run, more e-mails to pacers with last minute information…. Uh-oh, I got a reply from David F (a Flyers member and one of the pacers) – the Century Bike Tour was also going to be tomorrow! Argh! What’s their course? I was madly Google-ing and reading their website, reviewing Map My Ride course maps– 100 miles with two start locations and some overlap with the Flyers’ Three Bridges Run course. Okay, no course adjustments needed, but the pacers and fluid station volunteers needed to know – more e-mails. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The day of the run, I arrived at the New York Running Company’s east side store at 6AM. The store was open and Richard B was already there loading up the van with Gatorade. Andrea M, who was helping out with the sign-in and baggage check, soon arrived and we set-up for the runners. The runners and pacers started to file into the store signing in and checking their bags. Every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30, we sent waves of runners out and on their way. All the pacers made it and soon it was 7:30 and the last of the runners were off. We set out the water for the runners’ return and Andrea and I left the store to return later around 9:15, when we could expect the first of the runners to return to the store. Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

The runners and volunteers soon returned to the store and the New York Running Company had purchased some post-run snacks (mini cupcakes and KIND bars) and coffee for the returning runners. It was great to hear what all the runners and volunteers had to say. There were some suggestions for course adjustments and reports on the fluid stations (some ran out of water – sorry about that!). All the runners and volunteers seemed to have had a good time. The New York Running Company gave all the runners a discount for the day and it was a long morning (especially for the weekend), but it all seemed worth it. The run was successful and it was all due to our great team members who volunteered to help make the run come together. I hope you join us on the Three Bridges Run #2 on October 11^th and  Please volunteer for Three Bridges Run #2.

Blogmaster's Note: Rumor has it that volunteers are needed for Three Bridges Run #2.  To sign up to volunteer, please click HERE :)

 -Linda C