Flyers Volunteer After Hurricane Sandy

Stephanie P

Many, many Flyers were out helping our community this past weekend after Hurricane Sandy devastated so many of our local neighborhoods. The question, “How can we help?” was answered in many different ways.  

THE ROCKAWAYS

On Saturday, Sondra M, Matt M, Alan G, Stephanie P and Louie R drove out to the Rockaways to help a friends’ family clean out their storm ravaged home.  Their basement was filled with water, sand and muck to the ceiling before it was drained.  Using a bucket brigade, the balance of the sand was removed from the basement and carted out to the curb and the beach.  The carpeting and its padding was pulled up and, dripping wet, discarded before the washer, dryer and refrigerator were navigated up the stairs and out to the curb.   

In addition to cleaning out the ravaged basement, family and friends shoveled the mountain of sand off the pathway in front of the homes, filling buckets and wheel barrows and carting it to the beach area.  Occasionally, we would find personal photographs and other items, including ages old baseball cards that had been swept out of the homes on the block.  Matt M found someone’s wallet, intact with money in it and got it to someone to return it.  One neighbor with a beachfront home got help clearing a path through what was about four feet of sand to his storage shed so that he could clean it out and make room to store salvageable furniture and items from his otherwise demolished home.  Chainsaws were in action cutting through wood to break down what were once fences and porches so that they could be carted off.

This home was one of the lucky ones, as it was across a walkway and behind the beach front homes and will not need to be demolished.  The beach front homes were largely demolished by Sandy and will have to be rebuilt from the basements up.  Here are just a few examples to help describe the degree of damage: one beach front home’s living room was ravaged and contained a significant section of what had been the boardwalk;  the concrete walls that were installed as barriers to the tidal waters had been tossed around like they were made of plywood.  Another home’s foundation had collapsed leaving it tilted into the ground at an absurd angle.  And in an ironic pose was a surfboard that was leaning up against the front door of a condemned home that had succumbed to Sandy’s fury.

A block away, on Beach 130^th Street, we learned that numerous homes had caught fire and been burned to the ground.  One of those homes was the subject of an article in the Daily News on November 5^th, in which the owner, a firefighter, and his son, donning scuba wetsuits as flood waters rose to precarious levels.  The man strapped his 80 year old mother to a surfboard and floated her to safety at a home that was somewhat less impacted than theirs. 

Louie R Wheel-Barrowing Sand
In Staten Island

Sondra M Readying Items
For Trash Removal in the Rockaways

FLYERS SERVE STATEN ISLAND

Our own El Jefe, President Siggy T and Alan G organized volunteering on Staten Island on Sunday.  Flyers Leslie L,  Meg B, Elle G, Stephanie P, Debbie P,  Louie R, Kevin M, Howard C,  Janna G, Nick J, Sungwon H and others (I am sure I am forgetting many names, my apologies) made their way in several cars to Staten Island to hand out relief supplies and help with the cleanup.   Everyone met at the FEMA staging site on Father Capodano Blvd. just a short distance from the Verrazano Bridge/NYC Marathon starting line and added some FEMA supplied items to the donations they’d brought with them. 

This area got hit hard by the storm as the neighborhoods that parallel the Midland Beach, New Dorp Beach and others are downhill from the beach area.  The storm surge sent waters flying down the streets and into people’s homes, flooding basements and ruining much of their belongings.  Trees were uprooted, power lines were down, cars and homes were damaged, if not totaled.  The homeowners were and continue to be, as this is written, without power and heat.

Before heading out, several of us loaded relief supplies onto a NYC bus that was going out into the community to bring aid items to the residents.   When we took to the streets, Nick J and Howard C drove around the Midland beach area with batteries, garbage bags, wipes, drinks and emergency meal packs.  They crisscrossed the neighborhood looking for houses that had people in them.  The individuals who were attending to their homes were working really hard to clean up their places.  Sadly, they seemed to be throwing out just about everything.  It was encouraging to see how determined they were to clean up, fix up and rebuild as quickly as possible.   D batteries and garbage bags were very popular requests.  There was a police officer who was directing traffic who saw that we had batteries and was so pleased when we gave him a couple of D batteries for his equipment.  Others were shocked that we had "D" batteries to give out, as one guy said, "Wow!  These things are like GOLD around here...". 

With the nights longer now and the power still out in many areas, there is a high demand for battery power for lanterns and flashlights. The variety of materials was well received because so much was needed and people were VERY appreciative of the items, like Gatorade, paper towels, toilet paper, granola bars and blankets. There was also the couple who thought the emergency meal pack food (provide by FEMA) was very delicious and were so pleased when they asked for a couple of more and we happily obliged. There also were a fair number of people who declined the things we were offering, stating we should give it to others, who were more in need. It was very encouraging to see neighbors looking out for each other.  

Howard C with Other Volunteers on SI

Trunk Full O' Supplies

Donated Clothes (Including Winter Race Shirts!)

Alan G, Stephanie P, Debbie P, Louie R and Leslie L volunteered at the FEMA site in Staten Island and assisted a family with the removal of some large furniture from the damaged lower level of their home.   Louie R used his engineering expertise to help in carefully removing a sliding door so the furniture could be carted out of the house and to the curb.  However, people reported needing more physical labor rather than the supplies we had overflowing in Alan G’s Flyermobile.  Louie R noted that he had heard that parts of Canarsie had been hit pretty hard, but were being overlooked in the relief effort.  So, they then proceeded to drive to Canarsie, in Brooklyn, where it turned out the waters had overflowed from a nature preserve and flooded homes in the vicinity.  This group supplemented an American Red Cross vehicle by distributing meals, clothing and other supplies to those without power, and whose homes were severely damaged by flooding.

Louie R, Alan G and Leslie L with Grateful Recipients

OTHER FLYERS GROUPS TAKE ACTION

Other Flyers showed the Flyer spirit, too.  A group, including Jon B, Deb M, Anne H, Lindsay M and Jocelyn T,  joined Dr. Jordan Metzl and thousands of others to run through the area with backpacks full of supplies to hand out in Staten Island.  Paul and Cassie N did the same with another group, covering 18 miles in the process of running with supplies to the Beach Channel area of Queens.  Nick J, Betsy P, Sungwon H, Amy S and others either volunteered at or brought supplies to distribution centers throughout the city   And, on Sunday, Claudia O was with Sondra M and Matt M on Long Island helping two families clean out their water-damaged homes, while also providing needed supplies and moral support. 

A common thread that appeared in the communities the Flyers visited was the resilience of the local folks.  Though surrounded by utter devastation, people were working hard to get their homes back in order.  Neighbors were out helping neighbors.  Families and friends traveled some distance to help their family members and friends who were stricken hard by the storm.  And the locals showed a stiff upper lip and even a dose of humor; and their heartfelt gratitude.  Yet, it is clear that more help is needed as the days have now become shorter and the weather colder.  Hopefully, power and heat will be restored in short order to the neighborhoods where it is still off, but people still need help.  So, let’s count our lucky stars and do our part to keep it coming as best we can!

-Stephanie P

Blogmaster's Note: And the disaster relief efforts continue.  Several Flyers donated goods and volunteered their time on Tuesday in SI (Adam M, Dana M, and Stephanie T -- along with Stephanie's Mom and Mom's students! -- with other volunteers) and me on Lower East Side.  Last weekend, Glen W went out to Long Island to help his Mom, whose home was damaged.  This weekend, a group of Flyers is heading out to SI on Sunday as part of a group organized by JackRabbit Sports, and Stephanie T and Sungwon H are heading out to provide disaster relief assistance tomorrow (11/10).  And many (or quite possibly all) Flyers, whether or not mentioned here, have been and/or will continue to be involved in the relief effort by giving of their time and/or money.  Follow Flyers Facebook for more info to get involved or to recruit others (or use Flyer Forums on the Flyers website).

Of course, suffering in NYC sadly pre-dates Hurricane Sandy and will continue after the relief efforts are deemed completed.  And, of course, the NY Flyers and its membership will continue to demonstrate civic responsibility to help improve our world.  Next week, a group of Flyers will help heal Central Park at the next  Central Park Clean-Up Day, a program that Heather M has spearheaded for many years.  Last week, Flyers donated more than 40 pairs of used running shoes at the Pre-Marathon Pasta Dinner to Soles4Souls that will help folks in need.  It's not too late, too, to contribute to the NY Flyers Giveback (just click here) led by Glen W in support of the NYRR Holiday Sneaker Drive As the work goes on.......  -Dave K.

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Burning Up in Boston



Stephanie P

Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is a “dream come true” for most endurance runners. For the Flyers first-timers at this year's marathon, (Flyers Elle G, Lara K., Heather M, Stephanie P, Paul N., Sean J., and others), this was no exception.

Our Boston debuts at this year’s 116th running of the historical race was one not to be forgotten. Billed as the second hottest Boston on record, with the thermometer reaching into the upper 80s for most of the race, the Boston Globe described it as “a day when even the breeze felt like a blast from a hair dryer” - but more about that later (and click here for Boston Globe article).

The Boston experience begins with the many long, hill and tempo runs during our New York winter, culminating in an early spring taper. Many of us boarded the early morning Saturday train, bus or plane to Boston anticipating a challenging race, and we were still somewhat optimistic, given the energy that we had bottled up from the taper. When we arrived in sunny Boston, the buzz in the air was electric – that city knows how to put on a marathon. Everywhere you walk in the city, you can see the preparation for the race. Banners are on the light posts, roads are being barricaded and closed off, press trucks and spectator stands surround the finish line area on Boylston Street, even race day itself is held on an official state holiday, Patriot’s Day. In the streets we saw runners with smiles on their faces, happy to have made it this far, without the trepidation that will soon sink in as the Boston Athletic Organization (BAA) begins sending out their “weather advisory” e-mails.



The first email was sent out on Friday, warning of “higher than normal temperatures on the course.” By the time we arrived in Beantown on Saturday the emails were sounding more ominous…"the BAA is closely monitoring the situation…projected to be quite warm.” OK, you think, that’s not too bad, we can handle this. So, we checked into our hotels, and headed to the Expo, held at the Seaport World Trade Center. The Expo center is probably a similar size to the NYC Marathon Expo.

As you enter, the first thing that you do is pick up your bib, arranged by bib number, then pick up your race bag and shirt. As we picked up our packets we noticed flyers that had been posted, containing an unprecedented message from the BAA, allowing runners who did not feel prepared to run in the heat to defer their entry for a year. Despite the warnings and the flyers, the runners at the expo did not appear concerned, as folks spent time shopping for official Boston Adidas apparel, browsing the booths and watching a video of the course that depicted the terrain, mile-by-mile.

Heather M and Lara K at the Expo

On Saturday evening, I, Heather M, Deb M, Janis E and a few friends headed to the North End for a delicious Italian meal, after which we walked the historical neighborhood, Boston’s version of “Little Italy”. We waited in line at Mike’s Pastries for home made, cannolis and Boston’s own special cream puff, the “lobster claw,” an enormous pastry filled with fresh whipped cream. I am pretty sure than even a Boston marathon would not burn off the calories from the claw. This did not deter the throngs of tourists and locals that lined up for these tasty treats.


Mike's Pastries -- Yum!

Sunday morning turned out to be another beautiful, clear day. As many of us went out for a casual jog along the Charles River esplanade, passing the band-shell that is home to the famous Boston Pops, we did notice that it was warmer than usual for 9am on an early spring morning. I started thinking, what will it be like on Monday when the forecast was for higher temperatures and the first wave of amateur runners was not scheduled to start running until 10am?

After our morning jogs, many of us walked the finish line, took photos and soaked in the marathon energy that was everywhere in the City. The sneaker store near the finish line was jammed packed with runners (many of them, like myself, were buying new sneakers or Boston garb. Note to Flyers – always check your shoes before you leave home…I got to Boston with two right shoes, and had to buy new shoes two days before the race!).

On Sunday evening, the annual Flyer pasta dinner, which was expertly organized by Lara K, was held at Papa Razzi, a venue located on one of the most popular streets in Boston -- Newbury St in Boston's Back Bay. Similar to SoHo on a beautiful weekend day, it was crowded, but happening.

Charlotte, Janet, Nina, Janine, Elizabeth, Lara, Deb and Heather
at Flyers Pre-Race Dinner

About 15 Flyers attended the carbo-loading fest and the conversation definitely included discussion about most ominous email that the BAA sent out around 5pm that night. This email strongly discouraged running, there is no other way to say it. “Only the fittest runners should consider participating”, as well as “Do NOT assume that any experience you have in running a cooler marathon will be a reliable guide in making the decision in whether to participate or defer.” Regardless of these warnings, only 427 runners took the option to defer to 2013.

On Monday morning, runners had various options to get to the starting line in Hopkinton, which is located 26 miles west of Boston. The official way to travel to the start is via the yellow school buses that are provided by the BAA and leave from Boston Common. Several Flyers (Elizabeth A, Janine S, Nina P, Heather M, Stephanie P, Amanda R) , thanks to Dave K’s connections, paid for the privilege to take a charter bus, organized by a Chicago running club. This chartered bus had comfy seats and most importantly, an on-board bathroom. We were able to stay on the bus once we arrived in Hopkinton, until it was time to check our bags and walk to the Athletes' Village and then the starting corrals.

The starting area is located at a high school in Hopkinton, and there is definitely a party atmosphere in the Athletes' Village. The runners are arranged into three waves and colors (Wave 1: Red, Wave 2: White, Wave 3: Blue), based on qualifying time. The school buses are converted to baggage drop off buses for the athletes, there is lively music playing, a “DJ” is on a microphone interviewing runners and providing fun words of encouragement. Even though the sun was beating down on us at 9:30 in the morning, the runners were in a festive mood.

At the Athletes' Village

Several of us started in Wave 3 at 10:40am; the first six miles that pass from Hopkinton to Ashland to Framingham are relatively easy most years, however this year, the heat made it very uncomfortable from the start. It was not a year to set a PR, but one to enjoy the atmosphere and focus on finishing. The New England citizens were amazing -- there is a small-town feel as you pass through the communities west of Boston. Many locals take advantage of Marathon Monday to sit outside and cheer on the runners. They passed out ice, dumped water on us, sprayed us with their hoses, and handed out oranges, licorice, wet rags, bananas and anything else that would help the runners. As a Wave 3 runner, I felt like I got full support along the entire course and am very grateful for their hospitality. At one point, the first challenging hill at mile 16, I stopped for some water, and walked a bit, only to have one local call out my name that was written on my arm “Hey Steph, get going”, which was enough to propel me up the hill and onward to the Flyer cheering station just pass the 17 mile marker.

A Welcome Sight to Say the Least After Mile 17!

One of the key motivating factors that most of the Flyer runners to the 17 mile point was knowing the support that was waiting for us there. For 17 years now, Flyer Ed A has organized a cheering station (where this year, appropriately enough, they handed out ice), with Flyers who travel all the way to Boston to both spectate and support their fellow Flyer runners. A big thanks goes out to Ed A, Sungwon H, Alan G, Kenny H, Charlotte N, Sondra and Matt M, Deb M (and her friend and friend's kids!), Megan T, Janet H, Scott C, Lloyd H for making the trip this year.  Julie C also was there to spectate and cheer at a different spot along the course. 


Kenny H and Charlotte N
Strike a Pose Then Get Back to Work
At the Cheering Station

Ed's friends Martha and Jay host the Flyers cheering group every year.  They provide food and drink, and this year Jay made two trips to the store to bring back about 20 bags of ice to provide to the very grateful runners.

Many of these Flyers also did double-duty, running alongside Flyers through the famous Newton hills from miles 17-22, including the well-named Heartbreak Hill, the last of the Newton hills located between miles 20 and 21. Once you crest this final hill, you may be in the home stretch, but there are a few rolling hills still in front of you.

A sign that the end is near appears around mile 24, when you glimpse the famous CITGO sign for the first time as you enter the city of Boston. One final incline remains and then you make the famous right onto Hereford Street and left onto Boylston Street, where you can see the finish line about a quarter mile in the distance. Never have I been so happy to see a finish line, as the heat had certainly taken its toll over the previous four hours on the course.

As the runners moved through the finish line area and receive a medal, each runner was greeted by many friendly volunteers who asked if assistance was needed and were there to provide it. More than 2100 runners were treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion by the medical staff, and more than 150 runners were sent to local hospitals including 10 runners who were in critical condition at some point.

Amazingly enough, after all of that effort, approximately 20 Flyers attended the post-race party held at the Westin. We shared our war stories, of which there were many. Although we all ran slower than if not for the heat, there still were many speedy Flyer finish times.  Emotions included happiness, relief and a sense of accomplishment as this race day was as challenging as they come.

Post-Race Hydrating and Sharing Race Stories

As a first-timer, I found the Boston course to be difficult, and I think it would have been so even on a perfect weather day, as the rolling hills are relentless and the Newton hills are challenging so late in the race. In addition, there is a desire to excel on this famed course, which will push your body to its limits.


Deb M, Heather M, Sondra M, Stephanie P


In the end, 21,554 runners (including 38 Flyers) completed the 2012 marathon (dubbed the "Boston Saunathon" by Elle G!). 3749 (14% of the marathon registrants) did not pick up their packets, which was nearly twice the normal “no-show” rate. 427 marathon registants decided to defer to 2013. 96% of the runners that started the race, finished, compared with 98% for prior years.

For Boston newbies like me, I will wear my orange official jacket (appropriate color, given the heat), with pride, and my Boston medal will definitely mean more to me than many of my prior races, which, although had faster times, were not earned with the same level of perseverance, guts and pain that were a rite of passage on the Massachusetts roads on this brutally hot April 16th.

-Stephanie P.

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Happy Holiday Wishes

Stephanie P

The Flyers Social Committee finished 2011 with the annual Flyer’s holiday party on December 10th. (An auspicious date as it also happened to be the annual Santacon in NYC, but more about that later). The committee (Julie W, Sondra M, Stephanie P, Claudia O and Jennifer B) starting planning this event back in July (ok – it wasn’t all work; we met for a few happy hours after work on Fridays and planned while we sipped refreshing summer drinks).

Jennifer B, Sondra M, Stephanie P, Julie W, Claudia O

Our first challenge was to find a space big enough for Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, as well as a bunch of Flyers. Julie W suggested The Rockefeller University Faculty Club on York Ave and 66th Street. The Rockefeller University is a world-renowned center for research and graduate education in the biomedical sciences, chemistry, bioinformatics and physics. Founded in 1901 by John D. Rockefeller, the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research was the country’s first institution devoted exclusively to biomedical research.

The club was perfect, it was large, had a regulation-sized pool table, lounge-like couches and chairs that were dispersed among the large space, as well as a stereo and bartenders!  Decorations setup by Claudia O and Sondra M put the room in a festive mood, and there was plenty of food, catered by FIGO New York. Drinks were supplied by the Rockefeller University, along with friendly bartenders. There was so much food that Flyers President Glen W was walking around with takeaway boxes for everyone to take the extra food home at the end of the evening. (I enjoyed more than a few brownies this week, thank you Flyers!)



Jennifer C, Dana M, Alex B, Urs W, Lori W, David D, Maria D

More than 115 Flyers attended the party. The 7-10 pm event went by very quickly, as Flyers entertained each other by discussing their fall marathon feats, setting targets for their winter races, and just hanging out, playing pool and relaxing. At one point during the evening, name tags were exchanged, and someone (no names mentioned Alan G) turned a bit schizophrenic.

Flyer Schizophrenic

Most of the group stayed past last call and as everyone left, they took home their holiday gift from the Flyers: a Flyers holiday mug for all seasons (don’t worry if you didn’t get one, there will be more given out at the Gala in February). 


MUGS!

But the party didn’t end at the Rockefeller Club.  More than a few Flyers took the party to O’Flanagans on 1^st Avenue and toasted in the holiday with a few Santas from the 2011 Santacon. If you want to know how late they stayed, you may want to contact Bob C, Lara K or Alan G.

Heather M, Christine L, Anne H, Drew G

Happy holidays everyone!

-Stephanie P.

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World Marathon Major - The Berlin Marathon

Stephanie P

If you decide to run just one international marathon in your life, I highly recommend the Berlin Marathon. I was joined by Flyers Sondra M and Claudia O as we three departed NYC on Thursday, Sept 22nd for the Sunday September 25th marathon. With a positive weather forecast (sun, not too warm, low humidity!), we were encouraged. We were a bit worried about the potential crowds and getting around in a strange city. Our worries, however, were soon forgotten as we got acquainted with Berlin.

We arrived Friday with several other running friends from NYRR's Team for Kids who also were running the marathon. We had booked apartments to stay in the “Mitte” (Central) section of Berlin, in the former East Berlin district. Our neighborhood was a bit like Soho, lots of unique shops, restaurants and a friendly, hip vibe – so far so good, except for the five story walk-up that CO and I were sharing. (we were not looking forward to that climb post marathon!).

Marathon weekend kicked off on Friday when we took the U-Bahn (Berlin’s Subway system) to the Marathon expo – which was held at an old airstrip, converted into Exposition. The Marathon is sponsored by Adidas (and also multiple beer companies based on the refreshments served at the Expo) and the expo was very lively. At the Asics booth German dancers performed a dance routine on treadmills (they were very good!) and the German’s organizational talent made getting our bibs and other gear no problem.

We also got to meet Kathrine Switzer (the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon) at the Expo, as she was promoting her book Marathon Woman, which had just been translated into German. When we told her we were from the NY Flyers, she recognized the club, and was very friendly to us. She signed our race bibs (upside down – to give us some inspiration at mile 20 she told us!) and took a photo with us.

Stephanie P, Katherine Switzer, Claudia O, Sondra M

We awoke Saturday morning to more clear blue skies looking forward to attending the free “Breakfast Run” sponsored by the Marathon for all runners. The 6k run starts at Charlottenberg Palace, (the largest palace in Berlin and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family), and finishes at the Olympic Stadium. (The current Olympiastadion was originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympics in the southern part of the Reichssportfeld (today Olympiapark Berlin). During World War II, the area suffered little damage.)

Runners Dressed Up at the 6K Fun Run on the Morning Before Marathon Day

About 10,000 runners participated in the fun run and we finished with a run into the stadium and onto the actual track, so much fun! Runners are encouraged to wear their country’s colors, or display their traditions via costume. There were many Danish and Dutch sporting red and orange costumes respectively, and we saw several Japanese runners decked out as “sushi rangers” enjoying the casual, 6k jog. We were then provided with a German breakfast and still had plenty of time left in the day to check out the starting line and then relax before the big day.

The Marathon itself was held on Sunday, September 25th. The race starts at 9am, very close to the Brandenburg Gate. (It is the only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building. The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which formerly led directly to the city palace of the Prussian monarchs. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. The Berlin Wall used to stand here between East and West. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002).

Brandenburg Gate

We were lucky and had another beautiful morning. We took the U-Bahn to within a few short blocks from the start, and the race organizers had everything clearly marked. Because the race finishes very close to the start, you are able to drop your bags off and pick them up in the same spot, in the Tiergarten Park in Berlin. Instead of “New York, New York” our race kicked off to the sounds of “Bolero”, and a few thousand red balloons that entered the air. For a large race, the start was very well organized and it did not take much time to get to the starting mats. (There are no waves in the Berlin marathon even though over 30,000 runners finished).


Sondra M, Claudi O, and Stephanie P Looking Sharp in Their Racing Bibs

The course is flat (the men’s world record was broken that day) and all kinds of live music are played along the route, at more than 60 locations on the course. The 70-metre tall victory column (Siegessaule) is the first Berlin landmark along the course, all runners circle it at the half kilometer mark. The Bundes bank and the Reichstag are passed at 6km. The course passed along the famous boulevard Kurfurstenadamn where many spectators lined the course at 34km. From 1981 to 2001 the finish was on the Kurfurstendamm. (prior to German reunification the entire Marathon was run within the confines of what was then West Berlin). The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is at 35km and is one of the most important landmarks in Berlin. Destroyed in World War II, the church partially stands in ruins as a memorial.

Because the race is in Europe, there are some differences in how the marathon is executed. First, the markers are in kilometers, so for those of us who have trained in miles, you should either run with a GPS watch, or learn how to convert km to miles in your head, or just run for the fun of it. Also, at the water stops you have a choice of water, Powerade (not Gatorade), tea and fruit! It’s a good idea to bring your own Gatorade, if that is what you like, as you cannot easily find it in the stores in Berlin. The finish area was well organized, with a separate area for the runners where you get your baggage, a lunch bag, medical attention if you need it, and, oh yes, this being Oktoberfest, pints of non-alcoholic German Beer! (it was very good). Outside of the runners-only area there is a family reunion area, and then a small version of Oktoberfest to facilitate the runners’ post-marathon celebration. There is also a free post-marathon party held in the evening at one of the larger hotels in Berlin.

Another wonderful thing about running in Berlin is that afterwards you can stay and celebrate in this beautiful historic city, or jump on a train, or hop a short plane ride to one many of the Capitals of Europe. Flyer Claudia O headed to Brussels and Paris after the marathon, and myself and Sondra M and her husband spent a few days sightseeing in Berlin before we headed south to Munich for some Bavarian hospitality at the world famous Oktoberfest.


Sondra M and Stephanie P Sporting Marathon Medals
and
Big Mugs of, er um, Milk
During Post-Race Celebration

If you are looking for a flat, fast course (we three Flyers all set PRs in Berlin that day), in a historic, cool city with fun, friendly locals, head to Berlin, you will not be disappointed. The 40th anniversary will be held in two years, 2013, so start planning now.

-Stephanie P

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Flyers Scavenge in Central Park on a Beautiful Summer’s Day

Blogger Stephanie P Forgets it's July!

No, we didn’t get lost and miss the finish line…you might be asking, what were those Flyers doing running around Central Park after the Central Park Conservancy Run for Central Park (click on this link for Flyers race results) last Saturday? What, am I not making sense? Then you missed the fun this past Saturday, when 20 of your fellow Flyers could not get enough at the 4-mile race and decided to pair their running skills with their knowledge of Central Park.

So, you are probably asking, what was this Flyers Scavenger Hunt all about? Heather M was our leader who organized the event. Her team was responsible for coming up with the clues that were given to each team. It all started around 9:30 a.m. after the 4-mile race. Heather broke us up into teams of 2-3 Flyers. Each team received ten clues before we were set off on our way. The winner would be the first team to return to the designated post-scavenging picnic spot after using the clues to find all of the hidden items. We weren’t doing this for only the fun of it; oh no, we were told there would be prizes for the top three teams. (C’mon, it's not like we have any shortage of competition among Flyers!)

Heather M Discusses Rules with Ed A

Each team started at a different clue number and was instructed to go in order thru all ten clues. One clue was a “wild card,” and we were told we would figure that out quickly. Central Park encompasses 843 acres, and thank you Heather and team for not making us hunt thru all 843 acres! The clue locations ranged from the Amory South, to the Met at the North end, with the Falconer statue, William Shakespeare and the Bandshell as some of the destination spots.

One of the “easier” clues was to find the “place that running coaches like and runners generally dread…” with a reference to a cat (that would be Cat Hill!). Another clue was “a place where ABC Good Morning sometimes films” (Summer Stage). Once you figured the “spot” you had to find the trinket left there and put it in your scavenger collection. (These would be inspected by Heather at the finish to determine the winner!)

At Cat Hill, we were told by Julie W, “Sorry, you have to do a hill repeat first!” So, we had to turn around, run down to the Boathouse and back up the hill and only then were we rewarded with our booty – this time rock candy.

Julie W, relaxing, while sweetly commanding Cat Hill Repeats!

One of the more difficult clues had to do with the Met - did you know it was once a deer park? Well, many of the Flyers that day didn’t either as it stumped a lot of us! This contest challenged our Central Park knowledge and navigational skills! Teams worked together to get to the spot, and then find the trinket. At the Falconer statue, it took us a while to realize that the prize (a fake bird feather) was actually at the top of the base of the statue, which required a little trail climbing in addition to our running; we burned a lot of calories that morning!

The other items that we had to collect along the way were:

1. At the Arsenal...toy soldier

2. Poet’s Walk..Silent Willy (William Shakespeare statue)...heart ornament

3. Summer Stage...a star

4. The Bandshell...jazz beads

5. The Falconer statue...a feather

6. Loeb Boathouse...beer cooler

7. Cat Hill (repeats!)...rock candy

8. Cleopatra's Needle...buttons

9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art...had to bring back a museum bulletin, button or other identifying item

10. Wild Card: Hot Dog Cart...had to bring back sauerkraut

Some of the Scavenged Items

We did get a few stares from tourists as we ran (yes literally) around the park collecting our trinkets. And when we went to collect the “wild card” (we were given a baggie and instructed to bring back sauerkraut), my team was told by the first hot dog vendor that we went to that they didn’t have any! Hey, what’s up with that? So we ended up finding sauerkraut at The Boathouse restaurant.

It took the winners TEAM PINK (Sondra M, David B and yours truly) about an hour to complete the challenge, but we weren’t done yet. We were then given chalk by Heather and we had to produce some sidewalk art for her (a la James De La Vega) to claim our prize, three JackRabbit $20 gift cards.

"On the hunt" - Triumphant Teammates Sondra M and David B

The other winning teams:

Blue: Lara K, Celia K, Bob C - 2nd place. - Flyer s/s shirts

Purple: Shira Z, Rob A, and Justine A - 3rd place - $10 Starbucks cards

Trivia Winners - Steve K and Ed A - Flyer shirts

No specific prizes (beyond a magnificent free lunch!):

Red: Richard G and Victoria S (short one team member (Kudos to them as they DID get Museum question correct which was admittedly obscure!)

Orange: Ed A, Loredana D, Steve K

Green: Eric F, Sabrina G, Michael and Bo K- (also got Met question right).

As we all were famished after all the fun in the sun, Heather and team had prepared a picnic for us. There were delicious hand-made assorted sandwiches with lemonade, and there were even generous friends from Brazil who came bearing delicious Sprinkles cupcakes! Many Flyers came to hang out, with their friends, dogs, and babies -- and a good time was had by all.

Scavenger Hunt Picnic

Special thanks to the volunteers who put on this fun event!

Deb M (“great sandwiches”), Julie W (“the Queen of Cat Hill”) , Janet H (“clue planter”), Jens Hewerer (“picnic helper”), Scott S (aka the “brain trust”), Donna R (“picnic logistics”), Murat B (“picnic supplies” and his dog Papiko, Richard G, Richard B, and Dana M (“shameless promotion and advertising”).

-Stephanie P

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