Flyers Food Drive Fundraiser

The holiday season is normally a time for celebration, but joy is in short supply for the approximately 3 million New Yorkers – including senior citizens, low-income families, single mothers, and the working poor – who experience difficulty affording the most basic necessities for survival.

WHAT IS THE FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY

The Food Bank for New York City is New York's largest non-profit hunger relief agency in New York.  It serves communities in all five boroughs, supplying shelters and food assistance organizations throughout the city.

In addition to procuring and distributing food, the Food Bank for New York City also sponsors a variety of programs on nutrition education, teaching basic cooking skills, and promoting healthy food choices and increasing the availability of fresh, healthy ingredients in neighborhoods that are underserved by traditional grocery stores and supermarkets. The Food Bank for New York City also works with community-based organizations to increase the availability of food stamps, and with low-income individuals and families to file income taxes.

WHAT IS THE NY FLYERS FOOD DRIVE FUNDRAISER?

Since 2008, the Flyers have raised money for the Food Bank for New York City during the holiday season through the New York Flyers Food Drive Fundraiser.  While we've never tracked exact numbers each year, this drive, which normally kicks off in mid-November and runs through mid-December, has successfully raised more than $10,000 total in its four consecutive years.  This year our target is $3,000 total, and as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we have raised a smidgen below 50% of our goal to date.  All donations are fully tax-deductible!

WHY IS THERE A NY FLYERS FOOD DRIVE FUNDRAISER?

There are a great many worthwhile charitable organizations supporting a vast array of causes in New York City.  The Flyers chose to support the Food Bank for New York City both because of its mission to address the most basic of human needs in our own community, and because the Food Bank for New York City scores extremely high marks with watchdog agencies like Charity Navigator, which assess non-profits' organizational transparency and efficiency of donation use.

While the Food Bank for New York City plays a key role in acquiring and distributing food to a broad base of immediate-relief organizations, it encourages its supporters to focus on monetary contributions rather than direct food donations.  This is because the Food Bank for New York City is able to leverage relationships with wholesalers and other suppliers to buy large quantities of food (including fresh produce) at prices that are vastly lower than retail.

In addition, by not using its limited resources for picking up and transporting individual food donations to its warehouses for redistribution, the Food Bank for New York City also can focus on efficiency in distributing the larger quantities of food it has acquired through its supply network.  Each dollar donated to the Food Bank for New York City provides five meals to help alleviate hunger, and 96 cents of every dollar donated go directly to hunger relief.  As a result, even small donations make a significant impact.

VOLUNTEERISM

In 2012, the Food Bank for New York City was directly involved in Hurricane Sandy relief to assist individuals and families hard-hit by the storm, and to provide volunteer relief services. A dedicated volunteer program continues in which volunteers can provide services including meal preparation, food repackaging, and working at relief centers throughout the city.  800 volunteers are needed every week!

Click here for more information on the 2014 Flyer Food Drive Fundraiser and to donate. Additional information is posted on the Food Bank for New York City's website.

The 2014 Flyer Food Drive Fundraiser runs through December 19th.  As the year draws to a close, please consider including this worthy cause in your annual giving.

-Dana M.

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Flyers Food Drive Fundraiser

The holiday season is normally a time for celebration, but joy is in short supply for the approximately 3 million New Yorkers – including senior citizens, low-income families, single mothers, and the working poor – who experience difficulty affording the most basic necessities for survival.

WHAT IS THE FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY

The Food Bank for New York City is New York's largest non-profit hunger relief agency in New York.  It serves communities in all five boroughs, supplying shelters and food assistance organizations throughout the city.

In addition to procuring and distributing food, the Food Bank for New York City also sponsors a variety of programs on nutrition education, teaching basic cooking skills, and promoting healthy food choices and increasing the availability of fresh, healthy ingredients in neighborhoods that are underserved by traditional grocery stores and supermarkets. The Food Bank for New York City also works with community-based organizations to increase the availability of food stamps, and with low-income individuals and families to file income taxes.

WHAT IS THE NY FLYERS FOOD DRIVE FUNDRAISER?

Since 2008, the Flyers have raised money for the Food Bank for New York City during the holiday season through the New York Flyers Food Drive Fundraiser.  While we've never tracked exact numbers each year, this drive, which normally kicks off in mid-November and runs through mid-December, has successfully raised more than $10,000 total in its four consecutive years.  This year our target is $3,000 total, and as the drive approaches its halfway mark, we have raised a smidgen above 50% of our goal to date.  All donations are fully tax-deductible!

WHY IS THERE A NY FLYERS FOOD DRIVE FUNDRAISER?

There are a great many worthwhile charitable organizations supporting a vast array of causes in New York City.  The Flyers chose to support the Food Bank for New York City both because of its mission to address the most basic of human needs in our own community, and because the Food Bank for New York City scores extremely high marks with watchdog agencies like Charity Navigator, which assess non-profits' organizational transparency and efficiency of donation use.

While the Food Bank for New York City plays a key role in acquiring and distributing food to a broad base of immediate-relief organizations, it encourages its supporters to focus on monetary contributions rather than direct food donations.  This is because the Food Bank for New York City is able to leverage relationships with wholesalers and other suppliers to buy large quantities of food (including fresh produce) at prices that are vastly lower than retail.

In addition, by not using its limited resources for picking up and transporting individual food donations to its warehouses for redistribution, the Food Bank for New York City also can focus on efficiency in distributing the larger quantities of food it has acquired through its supply network.  Each dollar donated to the Food Bank for New York City provides five meals to help alleviate hunger, and 96 cents of every dollar donated go directly to hunger relief.  As a result, even small donations make a significant impact.

THE FOOD BANK AND HURRICANE SANDY

This year, the Food Bank for New York City is also direcly involved in Hurricane Sandy relief.  In addition to leveraging donations from our own fundraiser and others like it to assist individuals and families hard-hit by he recent storm, The Food Bank for New York City is also running both a dedicated emergency response fundraiser and a dedicated volunteer program in which volunteers can aid the relief effort through meal preparation, food repackaging, and working at several different relief centers throughout the city.

Click here for more information on the 2012 Flyer Food Drive Fundraiser and to donate. Additional information is posted on the Food Bank for New York City's website.

The 2014 Flyer Food Drive Fundraiser runs through December 19th.  As the year draws to a close, please consider including this worthy cause in your annual giving.

-Dana M.

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Flyers MTP: Worth Every Cent!

Dana M Reports on MTP

I've heard great things about the Flyers' Marathon Training Program (MTP) since it began last year, and it didn't seem like any coincidence that so many people I know who participated in the initial sessions suddenly got a lot faster and started hitting hefty PR's. I had already felt for some time that while I've continued to improve my marathon times on my own over the years, I had just about reached the limit of what I can achieve on my own. After seeing what the Marathon Training Program did for so many other people, when the program rolled around again this summer, signing up was a no-brainer.

The Summer/Fall 2012 MTP session offers twenty coached sessions and individual one-on-one coaching for $299. The coached sessions, led by Head Coach Todd W — and supported by Assistant Coaches Evelyn K, Kari S, Neal P, Rob B, Marianna B, and Joe Y — are divided by group, with pace targets and distance assigned for each group individually.

MTPers Charge Up Hill

The coaches made initial group assignments based on prior knowledge of the participants where applicable, along with information supplied in participant surveys conducted before the MTP began.  It's easy to move from one group to another in order to find the most appropriate fit for overall speed and fitness level.

And Jog Back Down for Next
Hill Repeat

The workouts include 600 to 800 meter intervals, 100 to 200 meter sprints, hill repeats, VO2 max and more. Workouts for the rest of the week set between each runner and his or her coach on an individual basis.

 

It's easy to see that the coaches keep closely in touch with each other so that they work together as a team.  Todd also makes a point to explain the objective of each workout and addresses questions and concerns with the group as a whole during each session.

Coach Todd Providing Pre-Workout Instructions

Workouts are scheduled every Wednesday evening, cancelled only by lightning, and there's a full calendar of coached long runs during the weekend throughout the summer and early fall training season.

While the Marathon Training Program sounded like a bargain from the beginning, it's easily exceeded all my expectations, and much of that is due to the really outstanding coaching advice and support from Coach Evelyn. From the beginning, Evelyn listened carefully to what I had to say about my goals and running history, and made a point of incorporating strength training (a priority for me) into my plan.

Coach Evelyn (right) at MTP Long-Run Advises Katie H

While I made it to the first workout, during which I was truly humbled by sprints of just 100 and 200 meters, my summer travel schedule resulted in missing the next three sessions. Evelyn worked closely with me while I was away to make sure that I had workouts that were appropriate for the available terrain (many hills) and my schedule, and I got through those three weeks without falling behind the rest of my group.

The best part about coming back to the workouts after being away was the opportunity to run with a big group of fellow Flyers who believe in working hard, having fun, and encouraging each other as much as possible. There's a huge difference between running speed workouts with a group and doing it alone, and I'd pick doing it with a group every time.  As the program progressed, I found that both my speed and endurance were increasing, and it was easy to see that most other participants were experiencing similar benefits.

MTPer Rachele A Strikes a Steel-Armed Pose 

Thanks to Evelyn's encouragement and persistence, I also started doing something that I really despise: regular stretching. To my surprise, although the changes are incremental (because it's hard to undo thirty years of running without stretching overnight), my flexibility has noticeably increased. More importantly, however, when I started experiencing increasingly severe pain that eventually impacted my ability to complete long runs, Evelyn talked me out of ignoring it and into scheduling an appointment with a sports medicine specialist.

The outcome of that appointment was that I was diagnosed with a moderately severe injury, so I'm benched from running for a minimum of four weeks and a fall marathon is off the calendar. As soon as I emailed the bad news to Evelyn, she jumped right in with questions and ideas about how I can cross-train to maintain my fitness level and still fit into my pants during the longest running hiatus I've had in at least fifteen years. While I'm a little anxious about what the next few weeks without running will bring, without Evelyn's encouragement and willingness to draw up a battle plan, I'd feel a lot more lost.

While a fall marathon isn't going to happen for me this time around, I still think the Marathon Training Program is worth every cent and then some.


MTPers Head Off on Long Training Run



Taking a Much Needed Water Break

I haven't heard yet whether there's a winter session on the calendar, but I hope there is: with Boston and New Jersey on the calendar for 2013, I'll be the first one to sign up and do it all over again.

-Dana M

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Ragnar's Riches -- Flyers Find Fortunes in Friendships at the Ragnar Wasatch Relay Race

From Thursday, June 16, through Sunday, June 19, a hardy crew of Flyers plus a couple of friends and relatives who have since joined the Flyer family adopted Viking names and costume and descended upon Park City, Utah, for the Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay, a 192-mile high-altitude slog through Western fields and mountains in pursuit of the ultimate triumph: A heavy silver medal that also functions as a bottle opener. Beset by illness and injury from start to finish, both teams nevertheless survived and triumphed, having fun and building friendships along the way.



Flyers Ragnar Relay Team Members

In their own words, this is part of their story....

The Cast
Flyer Vikings Team 1:

Alan G., Captain (Odin)
Meg B. (Gna)
Sungwon H. (Freya)
Lisa J. (Lofn)
Adam J. (Noorns)
Joe J. (Tyr)
Deb M. (Vor)
Charlotte N. (Huldra)
Ray S. (Frey)
Francisco R. (Vidar)

Flyer Vikings Team 2:

Heather M., Captain (Gefjon)
Jon B. (Loki)
Will D. (Mani)
Eric F. (Aegir)
Ami I. (Frigga)
Leslie L. (Eir)
Stephanie L. (Sjofn)
Alisa N. (Sif)
Dana M. (Nanna)
Jocelyn T. (Nerthus)
Glen W. (Heimdol)

The Adventure Begins (by Sjofn)

Sjofn Strikes a Pose

“You and 11 of your closest friends running 200(ish) miles, day and night, relay-style, through some of the most scenic terrain North America could muster. Add in crazy runners, inside jokes and a mild case of sleep deprivation. The result? Some call it a slumber party without sleep, pillows or deodorant. We call it a Ragnar Relay.”

Despite the description I read on the Ragnar Relay website, I still did not know what to expect. Not only would Ragnar Wasatch Back be my first relay, but, although I had joined the Flyers last year, I could sadly count the number of times I’d participated in a group run on two hands.

I nervously sipped my coffee and sluggishly rolled my carry-on to the gate designated on my boarding pass at JFK Airport, unsure of who I’d meet and whether they’d like me. My nerves were assuaged when I was immediately received with a group of smiling faces – Alisa N., Jocelyn T. (a friendly face I remember from one of the group runs), Joe J., Sungwon H. (the really fast girl I’ve seen in cool Boston tights at races), Ami I. and Deb M. (another fast woman I admired and had just read about in a recent Flyers newsletter).

A group of Flyers that had flown in on another flight greeted us with more smiles, handshakes and hugs at Salt Lake City – Lisa J., Meg B., Alan G., and Jon B. – and once we made our way to grab lunch at In-N- Out Burger, home of my favorite burgers and fries on the West Coast, I knew we’d get along just fine!

The house was immensely bigger than I could have imagined. In fact, it was the largest house I’d ever set foot in. It was high-ceilinged, equipped with a pool table, hot tub and patio that wrapped around the entire house, and, best of all, offered a magnificent view of the snow-covered Wasatch! I was fortunate to have arrived at the house with the first group of arrivals, as we immediately surveyed it and deliberated on who would sleep where. We concluded that it’d be best if the men slept in the basement on the bunk beds, singles and even on the pool table, and the women and couples shared doubles on the first and second floors.

A handful of us decided to make a quick trip to Wal-Mart for water, Gatorade and sleeping bags, and to Whole Foods for groceries afterward. However, what was supposed to be a quick stop turned into a nearly 3-hour-long excursion! Francisco R., our head chef for the weekend (and Jack-of-all-trades!), dictated what needed to be purchased for dinner, while the rest of us fetched the items as well as anything else we thought we may need in our vans (from Clif bars to bananas to 5-Hour Energy drinks).

Francisco nearly single-handedly prepared a delicious dinner that comprised of salad, garlic bread, sautéed shrimp, chicken in tomato sauce and pasta. He responded that he didn’t need help when a few people offered it, silently prepping the ingredients on his own, until Sungwon insisted on helping and jumped in as his sous chef! We gobbled down the food, and paired it with the excellent wines that a few people had picked up on a liquor run.

What followed after dinner was like nothing I’d ever experienced. Perhaps it was because it was the first time I’d received a name other than the one my parents chose for me when I was born (I have no middle name), and perhaps I could better relate if I were baptized (I was raised Buddhist). Veteran Ragnar relayers sat at the front of the room, facing the rest of us, as Alan, a Co-Captain and fellow veteran, called each novice relayer to stand, and provided them with a Norse name and the name’s meaning. Each novice was, then, anointed by each veteran with beer, and received their very own special Viking singlet with their new name printed on the back. After the naming ceremony, each person was handed a Viking hat, and selected a Viking skirt or dress of their liking, which were designed and hand sewn by Ami. Each person also had an opportunity to test out the exquisite Viking hand-puppet dragons made by Lisa!

I was delighted to have met a great group of people and excited about the relay but unsure of what to expect as we packed our four vans with heaps of running clothes, sleeping bags and food to last us for over 24 hours, decorated each van with terms such as “The Flying Vikings” or “The Viking Flyers,” Viking-related drawings and our Norse names, and made our way to check in our two teams.

Highlights of My Race Experience

• Honey Buckets! The cleanest, most fragrant port-a-potties I’ve ever used, they quickly became a favorite destination. Eating around the clock seemed to do something crazy to our systems, and it didn’t take long before we were comparing the number of times we were paying visits to the Honey Buckets during the relay. I, myself, realized that I had to go badly less than a mile into leg 2, and ran all the way to a Honey Bucket, bypassing most of my teammates’ high-fives.

• Snow! Ragnar Relay had to hire snowplows to remove the remaining 8 feet of snow off of the road leading into Wasatch Mountain State park so that the runners could pass. It was beautiful to see the spring aspens with their lime green leaves against the white snow and blue sky.

• Camaraderie! We huddled together outside in the frigid cold in the middle of the night as we waited for incoming teammates at exchanges, provided our runners with water and fuel every 5 minutes if it was a particularly challenging leg, and waited for teammates by the Honey Buckets with coffee in hand on early morning runs. We shared sleeping bags, PB&J sandwiches and Body Glide. We cried, hollered and laughed together. The best part of the entire experience was undeniably the friendships we built and strengthened.

Clipboards and Checklists (By Odin)

As one of the organizers of the event, the first highlight for me is kind of broad and all encompassing. It occurred on Thursday, June 16th throughout the day. It started on 81st and West End Avenue when Lisa (Lofn) picked up Meg (Gna) and me (Odin) in a private car service and we made our way to our 7:10 a.m. flight out of Newark Airport. This highlight continued with my receiving texts from Ami (Frigga) and Sungwon (Freya) that their "parallel" flight out of JFK at 7:00 had arrived and the exclamation point on this was spotting the lot of them (Frigga, Alisa (Sif), Deb (Vor), Freya, Joe (Tyr), Stephanie (Sjofn) and Jocelyn (Nerthus) in the terminal by the baggage claim area. This highlight continued as we hit the Avis area and discovered Francisco (Vidar) waiting for us.

At that point, given that we still had others arriving a bit later, we got directions to....In and Out Burger in Salt Lake...and the highlight continued with a 4 x 4, animal fries and a vanilla shake...

The first highlight resumed at the Avis counter with the discovery of Charlotte (Huldra), who had previously been scoping out the great State of Utah for 10 days and Dana (Nanna), who overcame the Viking flu to join us in Wasatch country...seeing Nanna there was a particular highlight as it meant so much to all of us that she made the effort to fight through her malaise to be there...it was a Viking family defining moment for big daddy Odin...;-).

Not long after, the start of the adventure continued with the arrival of Heather (Gefjon), Glen (Heimdol) and Eric (Aegir). In the course of things, Jon (Loki) swung by in his Uncle Willy's car to pick up Nerthus for lunch. About that time, we learned that Ray (Frey) had missed his NY flight to SLC, but we heard that he'd connected with a flight to Minnesota and was then onboard to a mini-SLC flight to arrive at 4 p.m. So, we got Avis Viking ships rented by Sif, Heimdol and myself and off that crew (with Vidar, my co-pilot, taking our van) went to do some shopping and go to our house at the top of Iron Mountain. Adam (Noorns) had arrived from Northern California and immediately established his Viking creds with Magellan GPSs for each van and by sticking around to wait for Frey, Leslie (Eir) and Willy (Mani) to complete the arrivals. The highlight was completed once everyone was safely accounted for and at the Viking Mansion on the Mountain.

The next highlight was seeing and being amongst everyone and feeling the excitement as the Ragnar NY Vikings led a baptismal ceremony anointing our new brother and sister Vikings into the fold. Folks put on the Vikingwear so generously created by Frigga with really cool fabric provided by Gefjon. Some wore the dragon handpuppets creatively fashioned by Lofn. Almost all drank beer while watching their fellow Vikings baptized by Frey and Sif with, what else, beer! The Viking family grew exponentially and the bonds forming were palpable....

My last favorite memory encompasses a few high points from the race. While I cannot mention all of them, I also cannot just pinpoint just one. The first high point has to do with Freya and Tyr...this Viking couple has it going on and their love and concern for each other, expressed in various ways, was a heartwarming respite from our adrenaline-fueled pillaging of small Utah communities. As Tyr at first had issues acclimating to the altitude, Freya kept an eagle eye on him...added to this highlight was Tyr's inner strength in figuring out how to cope and then banging out his best run over the hardest leg, 7.7 miles of rolling, climbing hills and nailing 23 road kills. His better half, Freya, turned an ankle while running a blistering sub-8 pace in the dark. She willed herself to run, taped up, during her last leg, as Tyr made sure she was really ok to give it a go and she, the Road Kill Queen of The Viking Flyers, flattened numerous additional RKs in running just over an 8 minute pace on a balky wheel (though you'd a never known it from watching her).

The second high point was Vor's incredible consistency. It didn't matter if it was the heat of day or the dark chill of night, this Viking Queen is relentless...she started this race for us and set the tone for our van with steadiness from uphills to flats to downhills. For me, this peaked during her 8+ mile downhill run from Snowbasin Ski Resort...when she finished, she was extra excited, exclaiming to us "I ran through snow up at the top of the leg!!!"...Vor's enthusiasm and refusal to be slowed down revealed her physical and mental strength as an athlete...it left me all the more impressed than I already had been.

And the last, but not least, part of this highlight is my son, Vidar, our new Viking, yet veteran of many battles. Vidar tackled the swirling dustbowl uphill of Avon Pass. He ran 7.4 miles up a ridiculously steep incline that was all dirt....team's vans had to pass him, kicking up dirt and leaving him with the Avon Hack, a cough that I understand well from running down the backside of the Pass on the next leg. This was coupled with the fact that Vidar was suffering from some Achilles tendonitis that flared during a recent race in Espana. Yet, this did not stop him from passing many folks along Avon Pass and literally leaving them in the dust! For the rest of the race, Vidar had a noticeable limp when he was not running, but would not sit one out. He insisted on taking his legs and getting them done, and that he did...not to mention that he knocked off numerous road kills of his own on each leg. Vidar seemed to have the answer or extra item to solve many of our issues...he was a priceless member of our Viking ship.

And that was the true highlight of this adventure, I would say, from Viking ship to ship...there was a sense of responsibility to one another, a team spirit, a true spirit of family. It was an honor to share the experience with everyone there...Skol!!!

We Do It Better When We Do It Together (by Lofn)

The 12th leg was tough, but the ending surreal. It ended on top of a mountain at a ski lodge just outside Salt Lake City. It was dark out and all my teammates were there waiting for me and cheering me on when I arrived to hand off the baton to Deb M.

I lucked out because I got to run the last leg of the roughly 200 mile relay. During the last quarter mile leading up to the finish at a football stadium, I could hear the crowds screaming! As I approached the stadium track, my team jumped in to cross the finish line with me. Simply awesome!

Finally, there’s nothing like an old school "heart of America" pancake breakfast.

Howling at the Moon (by Vor)

My first reaction: Utah is breathtaking. Do we have to run this relay? So I was given the honor of leg #1. It was exciting to start for the team although felt I had to set the pace. After throwing my Viking hat to the crowd, I was off. The high altitude then the hills literally took my breath away. I would gaze at the beautiful landscape and focus.

A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words (or More!)

My second leg came up quickly, #4 the extra leg I was taking for the team. I still struggled with the altitude but was adjusting. By leg #13, my night leg at about 10pm, I got into a rhythm and comfortable stride. It didn't hurt that 6 of the 8 miles were a major descent. But it started with a steady climb up the mountain at Snow Basin Resort through 3 inches of snow (very cool!) until heading out onto the road for my steady decline. With my headlamp tightly on my head, flashlight in one hand and water in the other (it was a no-support leg!), I looked up to see a full moon and stars shining bright. Exhilarating. Only one more leg to go in the morning...

I have to say one of the highlights were the Honey Buckets! This is UT's version of our Porta-Potty. I was amazed how fresh and clean they kept them. It was actually a pleasure to visit. Every time Joe was missing we knew where he was : ) NYRR take note!

Honey Buckets bring smiles to Vor, Vidar Freya and Odin :)

Lastly and most importantly, I was so impressed by how everyone really pulled together as a team despite illnesses and injuries. Not only were we down 3 people to start with, leading to many people picking up extra legs, but my van alone had many injuries during the course of the relay and still carried on strong. Through altitude sickness, sprained ankle and other ailments we still managed to persevere! And achieve a total of 132 roadkill I might add. Truly, teamwork at its best. This is my third relay and you really do see everyone, friends or new acquaintances, work together in a unique team bonding experience. Also a special shout out to our captains who successfully managed 21 people through leaks, flats, and 192 miles of fun and at times, pain and anguish.

Oh and by the way – Wal-Mart ROCKS! Not only were we able to get all of our food and beverages there at a low-low price, but I also got myself a souvenir - a $9.99 sleeping bag. Well worth the 2 hours of sleep.

Mountain Man (by Heimdol)

The Ragnar Relay started in 2004, and Leg 34 (otherwise known as the “Ragnar” leg) is its signature leg.  This leg, like the race, is named after a man who is endowed with great courage and strength. A road sign at the bottom says it all “Rough Steep Winding Road.” The leg begins at 7,233 feet and climbs.

ANOTHER 1,711 feet to Guardsman Pass. This is a brutal but gorgeous four mile run, over a dirt and paved road connecting the Heber Valley to Park City. According to some website accounts, it is an 18% grade. This was my third leg and occurred about 20 hours into the race. By this point, I was tired and hungry and couldn’t wait to finish. This snow covered mountain was all the separated me and the rest of my team from the finish line in Park City.

As I climbed (notice I didn’t use the word run) the crystal clear mountain air got thinner and colder. It was hard to decipher which hurt more – my burning legs or my lungs which were struggling to process as much oxygen as possible. When I reached the top, I was greeted with awesome white birch trees, spectacular views, and three foot snow mounds on the side of the road. On the other side of the mountain was the Heavenly Valley Ski Resort and all its trails. Indeed, I had climbed a mountain.

Forging New Friendships (by Mani)

It was a great experience relay-running 192 miles through the back country of Utah on the east side of the Wasatch mountains.

The best part was the team – a 12-person relay and all the runners were from the New York Flyers running club from NYC. Jon B., my nephew, invited me to join in (a big thanks to Jon!). It was a great team and all strong runners.

I was in Van 1 of Team 1 and we finished in 27 hours 53 min. Leslie L. ran along with me on my first leg (back to back with his first leg) and then I ran my next two legs Friday night and Saturday morning.

There is nothing like running at 1:00 a.m. under a full moon through the Ogden Valley while listening to Les Mis on my iPod. Sucking Marrow defined!

As a van we had 180 “road kills," 1 flat tire, too many Clif bars, not enough water, no drama and a ton of fun!

Thanks, Team.

From Heaven to Hell and Back Out the Other Side (by Gefjon)

Midday Thursday: GRACEFUL GREETING

My first glimpse of the majestic snow-capped mountains surrounding the city of Salt Lake arrested me in a gaped-mouth sort of way. Throughout the drive to Park City and wherever I turned throughout the trip, I would face these awesome white tipped mounds and marvel at the natural beauty of this marvelous state.

8:00 pm-ish Friday evening: HELL

At my first chance of the day to get to run, clad in a silly Viking hat and unlit headlamp (as yet unneeded), I charged forth along the flat terrain for a short time. A very short time. The charging came to an abrupt and startling lumber as I began my 3.2 mile ascent up a very steep incline with a 986' elevation gain. Besides this tough climb up Trapper's Loop, I realized I was not yet acclimated to the thinness of the air at just under 6000 feet. Leg 11 was billed as "Very Hard", but I think we all agreed that Ragnar Wasatch under estimated the leg descriptions. This was "VERY F--ing HARD!" It also allowed partial to no van support, which was actually a good thing as I really didn't want to see anyone during my climbing misery! (Although I won't lie, it WAS great to hear the honks of Van 1 quickly riding by). This was by far my worst 5K ever and I felt like I let the team down because I had to walk at times and lost some of the gains we had made with the earlier legs. Sobering and humbling for sure, but at least I was finally moving after a full day of waiting for our (Van 2's) race to begin!

3:00 am Saturday morning, cold and dark: VAN CAMPING

Reclined minivan seats, 4 covered shivering bodies in various states of repose, none of them deep. One camper outside in the cold. Elbow to van-elbow in a jam-packed parking lot, hundreds of tired runners attempted vehicular sleep under a star filled night sky, dimmed parking lights and nary a Honey Bucket in sight. We had about 45 minutes before we were due at the next exchange to meet Van 1 and start our new set of legs... So this is what relay running is all about!

5:50 am Saturday morning - GOOD MORNING UTAH!

Now came crisp, cool dawn redemption! My next leg, #23, was by far, my favorite. Up and running even before the fishermen cast their lines, I was zipping along at a brisk pace on a delightful expanse of road. With a wide lake stretching along the left, my right side was flanked by small mountains covered with wildflowers and live horses. I picked up the pace, happy that my body felt strong, and I started to pick off some road kill. I earned 15 and with each passing "kill," I gained energy and confidence. This 5.5 mile leg was billed (thankfully) as "Moderate" and also had no van support. I didn't need any and was grateful for the tranquility and silence of the road. I ran and watched the fishermen as they drove up and approached beautiful Rockport Lake. They had their mission and I had mine. Two fast guys passed me early on, so net gain road kill was lucky 13! My much improved pace was just over 8 minutes. I was stoked! It was so much more satisfying this time to have made a stronger contribution to my fellow Flying Viking mates.

2:00 pm-ish Saturday afternoon: BIRCHES

Excited to begin my 3rd and last run of Ragnar Wasatch, #35, billed as a "Very Hard" and non-van supported leg which began at the top of Wasatch Mountain State Park. Before I started, we drove the long slow steep climb up this crazy ass mountain (which Glen ran!) and with each rising foot in elevation, the scenery became more poetic. The snow deepened and grew tall around us as we drove to the 8898' summit. The tall white birch trees competed with, yet dominated the not-quite pristine snow drifts with their outrageous grace. Adrenaline and heart rates slowed amidst their beauty. Even Robert Frost would have been inspired in the presence of these birch trees, as was each one of us. So it was at this juncture that I completely switched gears - donned my camouflage hat, rock-filled iPod and tore down the severe downhill of my 7.3 mile leg into Deer Valley. Earning 17 road kill and discovering that I can actually fly downhill much better than I can climb, I raced to the transition to hand off the relay bracelet to the awaiting Stephanie who would bring us all home in the final leg.

Sunday postlude: TEAMWORK

Tire changing, brewery celebrating, picture taking and relaxed traveling made up the rest of our time in Utah. All throughout I could see us coming together to support and cheer each other in our race efforts, but when crisis struck in the form of sagging ceiling leaks, last minute change in accommodations, and a flat tire just before our rental contract was about to expire, that's when I saw the team really pull together. I’m grateful to have been part of the journey with this great group of people.

Blogged by: Stephanie L, Alan G, Lisa J, Deb M, Glen W, Will D, Heather M (and compiled by Dana M)

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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.

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The art of the taper

Dana M.

For Flyers running October marathons, tapering is either in progress or just around the corner. In theory, tapering sounds easy; after all, what’s simpler than just running less?

Unfortunately, I don’t find tapering to be that easy. Instead, my experience generally revolves around my body going wackadoodle for the three weeks between my last long run and marathon day.  With another taper in progress, I'm working against a predefined game plan to overcome some of my less endearing tapering moments.  Here are a few problems I normally experience, plus a few solution ideas that I'm trying this time around.  I hope they work, and I hope you'll find them helpful as well:

Starvation corner
At the best of times, I hardly have what could be termed a delicate appetite.  In the last few weeks before a marathon, however, I'm hungry All. The. Time.  It's not just normal hunger that signals that it's time for a meal, either:  It's ravenous, gnawing hunger pains that actually make me nauseous.  (Sadly, this particular nausea does nothing to depress my appetite.)

My first instinct during these moments is to attack simple carbs, the more, the better.  While the glycemic euphoria is great in the short term, with this approach I generally end up feeling worse and even gaining weight as the marathon draws near.  This time, I've filled my refrigerator with protein-rich foods, including chicken and turkey, eggs, nuts, peanut butter and low-fat cheese, and I'm using those as my main go-to foods.

If you see me scoffing a candy bar during this time, though?

Don't judge.

Sleeplessness

Rest up.

In another one of life's badass little ironies, right during the period in which I should be getting at least eight hours of sleep per night and more if I can, I'm often awake until the wee hours of the morning.  I'm sure there's a major psychological component to my tapering insomnia, and truthfully I know full well that hydrating with coffee doesn't help.  I think there's a physiological aspect beyond excessive caffeine, though, and that's mostly because part of what keeps me awake is that my legs feel jumpy.

According to Runner's World, the aches, pains, and jumpiness that come out of nowhere during tapering represent the body's efforts to heal itself and rebuild damaged tissue, so the leg issues that keep me awake are actually working to my benefit.  This time around, I'm trying to remember that.  I'm also working to combat the sleeplessness through restful practices like extra (but not strenuous) yoga, hot baths with mineral salts, and as much internet TV as my brain can handle.

The urge to surge

Let's face it, tapering feels like slacking. I'm a relatively high-mileage runner when I'm actively training for a marathon, and the prospect of that mileage dwindling for three weeks in a row is scary because I'm worried that I'll lose my edge.  In reality, taking the time to let the body rebuild and rejuvenate itself is the best thing a marathoner can do to increase the likelihood of a superior performance.  I'm tackling this mental block this year with a more detailed tapering schedule than I've used in the past.

Should you hear me muttering about doing more than what I have on the schedule, please tell me I'm stupid and otherwise talk me down. That'd be great.

That's my playbook for surviving the last few weeks before my fall marathon.  What other tapering tips do you recommend? - Dana M.

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