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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Give Me MORE

Francine A

The MORE Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half-Marathon is around the corner!   Once again, the Flyers will play a key role.

THE EARLY DAYS

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the NYRRC held the Women’s Half each fall to prepare local women for the NYC Marathon.   Typically 600-800 women ran.  If any men protested, they were directed to the Staten Island Half, a few weeks after the Women’s Half.   

The Women’s Half was a no-frills event.  It was a tough race for tough women.   There were no flowers or jewelry at the finish line.  We got a cup of water and perhaps a banana.   The race shirts were cotton and sized for men.

Flyer men served as the Women’s Half race timers.  The men would wait for the race start in the back of a pick-up truck.  When the horn blew, the Flyer men would start their watches, and the truck would deposit them at the mile markers around the Park.  As the women ran by, Flyer men would yell out the elapsed time and per-mile pace.  In those pre-Garmin days, the only way to calculate your pace was to do the math in your head.  It was a blessing to hear Tim D call out, “Mile 8!  1:07:20!  8:25 pace!”  John W always positioned himself in a beach chair at the top of Harlem Hill, near the Mile 4 / Mile 10 sign.

Tim D and David L keep time at Mile 2/Mile 8

In 1995, the Women’s Half was renamed Grete’s Great Gallop.  The post-race party featured Norwegian smoked salmon and Grete Waitz. 

POPULARITY AND PROTESTS 

As the popularity of the NYC Marathon grew, the NYRRC realized that men, too, should have a chance to run a half-marathon in the Park in October.  Grete’s Great Gallop became a co-ed event.  The Women’s Half fell by the wayside.  For the first time, there was no women’s race anywhere in the U.S. that was longer than a 10-K. 

Flanked by Monika G and Laura L
Sporting Their Protest T-shirts

Flyer women protested.  We sported white T-shirts with a women’s sign and the fraction ½. 

The NYRRC took notice.  In 1999, after a 2-year hiatus, the NYRRC reinstated the Women’s Half.

Some years, there were sponsors: Child Magazine, Allure Magazine.  Other years, it was simply the Women’s Half.

HERE COMES MORE

In 2004, along came MORE Magazine.  MORE’s tag line was, “The best selling magazine for women over 40.”  (The tagline is now “for women of style and substance.”)   MORE created an event just for women masters runners.

The MORE Marathon was the country’s first and only marathon for women over 40.  That first year, the course was four loops of Central Park.  Talk about a tough race for tough women!   The marathon course was later modified to 5+ times around the lower 5-mile loop. Flyer Julie G ran the MORE Marathon 4 years in a row.  Former Flyer Judith Tripp ran it in 3:52 at age 59. 

In addition to the MORE Marathon, MORE offered a Half Marathon for women.  In the beginning, the MORE Half Marathon was a two-woman team challenge.  At least one teammate had to be 40 or older.  Teams earned age group awards based on their combined age.

MORE and the Women’s Half co-existed for several years.    MORE targeted women over 40. The Women’s Half was open to all women.  When MORE teamed with its sister publication, Fitness Magazine, MORE dropped its focus on masters runners.  MORE eliminated the two-person relay and opened registration to the MORE Half to all women.

In 2005, the Flyers earned the award for the highest number of local participants.  I was pregnant with twins that year.  As I walked the loop opposite the runners, I called out, “Looking good!” The runners shouted back, “You too, mama!”   Even today, MORE runners recognize me from the 2005 race and ask after my family.

Flyers played a key volunteer role in MORE.  For several years, Flyers manned a water table on East Drive near the 102^nd Street Traverse.  Needless to say, it was the BEST water table. 

John W and Scott S at the MORE water table

As races around the US added pace leaders, MORE joined the trend.  The Flyer women became the official pace leaders of the MORE Marathon and Half Marathon.  Carrying balloons and pace signs, Flyer women led thousands of runners around the Park.  We were proud to help our fellow women runners achieve their time goals. 

Race day in 2009 turned out to be unseasonably hot. The race organizers cancelled the MORE Marathon, and encouraged women to treat the Half as a fun run.  The MORE Marathon was never revived.  

RUN LIKE GIRLS

In 2012, Flyer women decided to “run like girls” in skirts and lipstick.  Despite our dainty attire, the Flyer women outran every other team but one. Many Flyers set PR’s that day.  One Flyer, Shevaun T, smashed a 17-year PR and topped her age group. 

Speedy Flyer Runners Strike a Pose with Their Medals:
Lisa M, Karen H, Shevaun T and Louise C

Jodie F Paces
9-Minute Milers
at MORE 2011

The Flyers have been integral to the success of the Women’s Half.  Our enthusiasm as runners and volunteers has never flagged.

When the Women’s Half movement threatened to die on the vine, the Flyers kept it alive.  Today, Women’s Half Marathons flourish all over the world.   Go Flyers!

- Francine A  

Blogmaster's Note: At the date of this posting, the April 14, 2013 MORE Half is NOT yet sold out.

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Flyers Go Clubbing

Francine A

The NYRR Club Night 2012 took place on a Thursday night, March 1, at the Hard Rock Cafe. This annual event is the NYRR's answer to the Oscars. Fifty dollars gets you a light dinner buffet, two drinks of your choice (plus a cash bar), and dancing.

Of course, the highlight of the event is the awards. Like the at the Flyers Annual Awards Gala, the NYRR honors the top runners in each age group, as well as the top teams, Achilles athletes, ultrarunners, and other achivements.


Christine M. with her Medal
and Flyer Prez Siggy T



Color Coordinate Flyers
Nina P-T, Andrea K, Lara K, Anne H










With over 60,000 NYRR members, a nomination by the NYRR is a high honor. Christine M of the Flyers was honored for the second year in a row in the 45-49 category. The Flyer women's veterans team placed second in the city, and the Flyer women's masters team placed third. Each time, the strong, fit, gorgeous Flyer women took to the stage to accept their awards and pose for photos.

Andrea K Learns Some Moves
from 80+ Award Winner Leo Schohaut

More than 25 Flyers turned out to dance, drink, and cheer on our fellow runners. After the awards, the men's 80+ award winner, Leo Schonhaut, danced up a storm with the Flyers.
 
-Francine A.

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Yonkers!

Francine A.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of my first marathon. While I’m no Marathon Maniac, I’ve run my share, both here and abroad. But I had never run the out-of-town marathon which is closest to home: the Yonkers Marathon, established 1907. This year, just for fun, I did it.

What a hidden jewel! It reminded me of the races I ran in the early years, when running was still a local affair. The baggage and registration signs were hand-painted. You could register up to a half-hour before the start. Someone played the Theme from Rocky on a boombox at the start. There was no National Anthem and no starting gun or horn. A guy told us to go, and off we went. The Half was one loop, and the Full was two.

There were hills, sure, but nothing we hadn’t seen before. Boy Scouts handed out water and Gatorade. Smiling traffic cops stopped the cars for each runner. The roads were not closed, but they weren’t busy, and the shoulder was generous. There were no medical tents. However, the townspeople were so encouraging that I’m sure any one of them would have fetched me anything I needed, whether a band-aid or an ambulance. The mile markers were tacked up to the light poles. There was no course nutrition, so runners shared their extra gels with one another. One guy was offering cups of flat Coke. I hadn’t seen flat Coke on a marathon course since the first Bush administration.

After the run, finishers lounged at an outdoor bar by the Hudson. I greeted runners that I’d seen around races for years. Nearly a dozen Flyers turned out for either the Half or the Full. A total of 140 men and 37 women finished the Marathon, and a few hundred more did the Half. Many were using Yonkers as a long training run for New York.

The Yonkers Marathon wasn’t always so casual. For much of the 20th century, Yonkers and Boston served as the de facto U.S. Olympic Trials. John J. Kelley ("The Younger"), the legendary Boston Marathon champion who died last month, holds the Yonkers course record of 2:20:13 among his eight consecutive victories at Yonkers. Gary Muhrcke won Yonkers before he won the inaugural NYC Marathon.

In the early years, the last miles were run on the former Empire City Track (now Yonkers Raceway). In 1908, the race drew 20,000 spectators. In 1909, the race was cancelled when police, patrolling the Empire City Track on horseback, refused to make way for the runners.

Today, Yonkers is known as the Marathoner’s Marathon. I can’t believe it took me 20 years to discover it.

- Francine A.

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