Maybe When I am Older -- Profile of a Prolific Flyer

Heather Tolford

Blogmaster Dave: Flyer Heather Tolford has been breaking Flyers Hall of Fame racing records throughout 2018, including her own newly set records. I recently caught up with Heather (though not during a race!) to learn about her running and related experiences. She also talked about her training and racing strategies.  Here's what I learned!

Blogmaster Dave: Heather, I'd love to hear about your years as a star high school and collegiate runner. Tell us about your early years?

SFVTC Girls with Coach Laszlo Tabori

Heather's reply:  My original running mentors were world class marathoners and one really fast miler. From 1974 to the end of 1976, Jacqueline Hansen, Miki Gorman, Sue Kinsey and Leal Ann Rhinehart were training partners every Tuesday and Thursday evening at Valley College in southern California’s San Fernando Valley (SFV) where we endured 2-3 hour workouts under the guidance of the legendary Hungarian, Laszlo Tabori -- the 3^rd man to break four minutes in the mile. Laszlo had convinced my father to let me train with his group during my first year of competing when I was a senior in high school. There was no girls' program at my school and I had crashed the JV boys cross country team in the wake of Title IX. I received the first women’s running scholarship to the University of Oregon and by the spring of 1978 I had set school records for the Duck women in the 3K (9:46), 5K (17:03), and 10K (35:51) .

  

In June of 1978, Fred Lebow brought me to New York to run The Crazy Legs Mini Marathon (10K) and for a special presentation to my former coach, Laszlo Tabori, for his contributions to women’s running. I fell in love with the city. After that, I jumped right into a summer of road racing, including a 1:15 and change at the Bohemia Mining Days Half Marathon in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Oregon Coach Tom Heinonen thought I might have some luck with the marathon so I signed up for the 1978 OTC Marathon in Eugene set for early in the fall. I made my marathon debut, finishing 3^rd for women in 2:46. Unfortunately, that escapade ended my collegiate running career, as illness and injury took their toll in the wake of that effort.

OTC -- 1978

Blogmaster Dave: Heather, you eventually came back to running.  Tell us about that?

Heather's Reply: Fast forward 10 years and I have a 3 year old, and a challenging spouse who had moved us to a tiny town on the Oregon coast the week I turned 30. I panicked and started to run. I dominated the coastal races and started traveling two hours across the mountains to Portland. I took second at the Portland Marathon, 3^rd at Honolulu and ran a string of marathons under 2:45, competing briefly for Saucony, and then Nike’s Oregon International Team. My 2:40.15 marathon PR at Los Angeles in 1991, the closest I got to my goal of breaking 2:40, got me an Olympic qualifying A standard for the 1992 trials in Houston, but I was starting feel worn down in my longer races, and was battling Achilles issues, so after a painful 3-hour Boston Marathon in 1993, I started coaching high school track and had my second daughter in 1995.

Blogmaster Dave: What have you been up to more recently, Heather?  And when did the NY Flyers enter your life? 

Heather's Reply: I continued to teach, coach track, cross country, and gymnastics while raising my two daughters on the rugged northern Oregon coast. When I reunited with my high school sweetheart and moved to New York from Oregon in 2011, I was looking forward to a new life and running and racing in Central Park.

Coach Heather -- With Her District Champs, 2006

I had been running consistently in Oregon before the move and had a lottery entry into the New York Half, but ended up scratching due to a slip on the ice and a torn MCL. A few months later, I started up again, with a full time job teaching gymnastics and some easy runs in Central Park.

I returned to the Mini 10K again in 2014 and New York Flyer, Francine Alfandry introduced herself at the finish line. She encouraged me to join the Flyers and race more frequently. I wasn’t training seriously, but I had ditched my metro card in favor of running to work and back across the island each day. I saved time and money (which I promptly spent on running shoes), and combined with my very physical job, throwing children around the gym, I got into decent shape.

I had picked up a second job working for a coaching service, Coach Up, and added more mileage working with high school kids, and runners of all abilities when I was not at the gym. The bulk of my training was still easy running, with the occasional short, faster paced “late to work” run.

I have been reluctant to do the intense speed interval work that I did when I was younger. I had developed Achilles problems in the 90’s, and when I “retired” in 1993, I had to stop running entirely for nearly a year. I started training as a gymnastics coach for the Tillamook YMCA to supplement track and cross country coaching at the high school there and to my surprise, the lifting, stretching and jumping helped my Achilles issues and I was able to run comfortably again. My gymnastics day job ended up being really good strength and PT work!

I would occasionally jump into a race for fun and fitness, but had no master’s ambitions until I started placing in races competing for the Flyer’s. Approaching 60, I started thinking about trying to have a good 2018 season and added a longish (8-10 mile) run to my weekly commuting on Mondays. I typically run it at 9:50 -10:30 pace per mile, going by feel. This easy run has resulted in a slew of “senior” PR’s this year.

I have had minor injuries over the past few years, trips, falls, getting hit by a bicycle, and bumps and strains from the hazardous job of catching little children as they flip into you, but I have managed to run through most of them. As I write this, I am working on recovery from a bone-bruised knee from a fall navigating a slushy curb during the recent November snow storm. A few days off and exercises to maintain mobility takes care of most issues but I am cautious about committing to an aggressive race schedule during the winter months due to potential hazardous conditions and occasional klutziness on my part.

NYRR Mini 10K -- 2018

Blogmaster Dave: Heather, how would you describe your training regimen? 

Heather's Reply: As of November 25, I have run 2040 miles this year, mostly in the form of 2.5 - 3 mile runs, twice a day commuting to work, 6 days a week. I try to throw in a longer run of 8-10 miles on my way home from work on Mondays when I work half a day. Sometimes on Saturdays and on weekday evenings in the summer, if I have multiple running clients booked, I get extra mileage running them around the park for up to 3 hours. I have not been doing any interval work to speak of myself, but occasionally run at a faster "tempo" pace when I am running late to work. Because running is my main mode of transportation, I only take a day off if I am injured or really sick.

I am in the gym 40 hours per week and spend much of that time stretching with my classes, demonstrating gymnastics drills, moving heavy equipment and lifting kids infant sized to 9 years old. 

When I am coaching runners, I have my athletes use a modified Jack Daniels type plan, but interject specific interval workouts from my experiences with Tabori and the at the University of Oregon. I emphasize the importance of listening to your body and taking easy days really easy. I try to practice what I preach, but skip the fast stuff. I did enough of that when I was young!

Blogmaster Dave: Heather, do you have racing strategies to share with other NY Flyers?

Heather's Reply: Consistency to the point of being a bit OCD helps with my pre race routine. I Iike to eat the same meal the night before a race, a pasta carbonara with turkey bacon (I don't eat red meat) and a glass of red wine. I never imbibed before a race prior to my 1991 marathon PR, so it is a good luck ritual for me.

I wake up at least 2 hours before I have to be at the starting area,have one cup of coffee and a banana or a little yogurt with honey and chew a piece of Run Gum 30 minutes before the race starts (I was a brand ambassador for the company this year). 

I tend to start a race a bit fast to get out of the crowd and then settle into my pace. I am not the greatest uphill runner, but can relax and let it rip on the downhills to make up time. I try to push my races as hard as I can go and often look pretty wobbly at the end. I race at a much faster paster than any of my daily "workouts."

I ended up with a 9+1 this year for guaranteed entry into the 2019 NYC Marathon, but have no marathon plans right now and want to try to improve my mile to 10k times and perhaps try another half marathon next year. Maybe when I am older….

-Heather Tolford 

Coaching Website: https://www.coachup.com/coaches/heathert

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Never Crunchy

Jillian H

Name: Jillian H

Age: 30 years old and still getting carded on a regular basis.

Profession:  Physical Therapist, Memorial Sloan Kettering.

When did I start running?

I fell in love with running in the 4^th grade when I had to run the mile for the PE fitness test. At the age of 10, while wearing a pair of Gap jean overalls and Samba sneakers, I crossed the finish line in 8:22. In 5^th grade I traded in the Samb as for a pair of Nikes and ran the mile in 7:59. By the time I got to high school I decided to hang up my soccer cleats and join the cross country team. Without a doubt it was the best part of my high school experience.

What is on my running playlist?  

Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Wicked (huge theater fan)    

Why I joined the NY Flyers?

Last spring I searched for a club team that offered weekly long runs to help me prepare for my first marathon. Initially, I only planned to join the NY Flyers for the long runs, but after attending a few Thursday night and Saturday morning runs I realized just how much I missed running for a team. The fun and supportive spirit of the Flyers helped me crush multiple personal records that I had set five or more years ago when I was a graduate student at NYU.

Running sneakers: Asics

Pre-race breakfast: Skippy Peanut Butter (never crunchy) on whole wheat bread.

Race nutrition: GU Energy Gel Vanilla Bean      

-Jillian H.

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Saved By Running

Jennifer Ann H

Why do you run? A question that I get almost on a weekly, if not daily, basis. I have been an athlete my whole life. I swam competitively for twelve years, and played field hockey and lacrosse from middle school through college.  Running was always a dreaded cross-training activity for me. "Coach wants us to run TWO MILES for a warm up?!" 

Once school, and therefore competitive sports, ended, reality set in. I needed to do something to keep moving and in shape.  There was running.  Just waiting for me. 

I started small, 5Ks mostly.  I joke with my runner friends now that I was too worried about exhausting all my energy before a 5K to do any sort of warmup.  My, how far I've come.

Really, though, my undying passion for running started when my dad passed away.  Losing a parent or loved one is hard for everyone. He had always been my rock, my biggest supporter. I completely lost my way, and became a person I didn't recognize after he passed.  Someone I wasn't proud of, making really bad life choices. 

Running saved me.  Runners hate hearing the question "what are you running from?" -- because for most, they aren't running from anything!  But I was.  I ran to escape reality, to avoid all of the problems and heartache and sorrow in my life.  

Eventually though, I started to realize, with hesitation, that I'm actually not bad at this running thing.  I had to make a change in my life.  I stopped using running as an escape from the negativity in my life.  Instead, I focused positive energy on the sport, and focused on running myself back to the person I knew, the daughter my father raised and would be proud of.

The 5Ks turned into 10Ks and half marathons.  I slowly got better, faster, stronger.  I'm by no means a top athlete or runner, but with each race my confidence grew.  

The next logical step, of course, was a full 26.2.  On March 9, 2015, I won the lottery. Not the Mega Millions or Powerball, but something way more valuable and priceless.  As I was seated in my orthopedist's office waiting to get a cortisone injection before the New York City Half Marathon, I got a notification on my phone that New York Road Runners charged my credit card for the marathon entry fee.  My life was forever changed. 

Ready to Run!

The marathon training process was literally the most amazing experience of my life.  I signed up for a 20 week training program with New York Road Runners to help me get ready for November 1st.  I followed the program to every last detail.  On August 30, 2015, the program called for me to run  twenty miles. A daunting task to complete on my own.  A seasoned running friend of mine told me about the New York Flyers Three Bridges Run.  I signed up, ran it, and loved every second.  

Flyers Running the Three Bridges Training Run

Thus began my relationship with the Flyers. I joined as a member before the second Three Bridges Run, and haven't looked back.  While somewhat of a newcomer to running, I have yet to meet a more passionate, welcoming group of people anywhere.  I'm convinced I could not have gotten through the rest of training without the Flyers.  To be able to run with and pursue the same goals as so many amazing members, while learning from the more seasoned runners, has proven to be invaluable.  

I come from New Jersey (Bergen County so really not THAT far) to run with the Flyers, but really I'd travel from further to run with this group.  What a great experience it's been, and how far I've come.  I crossed the finish line at the New York City Marathon at 3:52:52, something I couldn't have done without this amazing Group.  

Marathon Complete -- Time to Celebrate :)

My story is not special or unique. I'm just an average person who has dealt with some hardship in their life.  Thankfully, I found running.  

The New York City Marathon is over. Now what?!  For me, the next stop is the Phoenix Marathon in February 2016 (suggestion courtesy of the Future Former Flyers President Doug R) where I'm training in hopes to Boston Qualify for 2017.  Thank You, Flyers, for welcoming this Jersey girl with open arms.  Hope to see your friendly faces in Central Park, and may you all achieve your dreams and goals in the coming year.  

Happy running! 
-Jennifer Ann H

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Flyer Profile: Kettia M

Kettia M

I have been active my whole life. For as long as I can remember, I danced and played sports. I played soccer and danced all 4 years of high school and I always remember how much I hated running and drills before practice. I could never imagine anyone running for fun. 

My gym rat days started in college. I went to college in England where I majored in Fashion Merchandising and where I met my husband who was a design major. Not much interest in playing sports in college but staying fit was not a choice; it was a requirement for a fashion major so I got my first gym membership. After college we roamed around Europe for a couple of years until we no longer could put off getting a real job. 

We moved back home to the states, got married and I spent the next 6 years either pregnant or with a newborn or both. Three children later I knew I had to get really serious about fitness. Then something weird happened. I started to lose weight as if magically. The first 5 or 10 pounds were great, but that quickly turned to 20+ pounds in less than 2 months. I was hitting the gym hard but not that hard. Turned out I had Graves’ disease an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. One of the most common symptoms is rapid weight loss, another is heart palpitations so I had to stop working out and spent the next year yo-yoing between meds until my doctors found just the right dosage to get me healthy again. I had also gotten very weak and out of shape during that time. 

It took some time before I started to feel strong enough to work out again, and when I went back to the gym this time I got on a treadmill –– a machine I used to pretend didn’t exist. I set some goals like run 1 mile without stopping and quickly that became 2 and then 3. I found myself running longer and longer on the treadmill until one day I ran 6 whole miles on the treadmill without stopping. I went home and excitedly told my husband that I just ran 6 miles at the gym and he said "that’s great hon', now you can run a marathon!" To this day I am not sure if he was being sarcastic or if he really thought I could actually run a marathon. But before I knew it I had signed up for my first 10k (the NYRR Mini 10K), my 1^st half marathon, and my 1^st marathon –– the NYC Marathon, which I ran raising money for Team for Kids. The year was 2008. 

NYC Marathon 2009

Somewhere between battling Graves' and having 3 kids under 5 years old in the house, my husband and I started a business. We started a preschool –– purely out of the desperate need to find childcare for our 1 year old at the time. It took off fairly quickly and within 3 years we needed to expand to a 2nd location. I was in the middle of that expansion in 2008 when I decided it would be a good idea to run a marathon. I was super busy and stressed. I was leaving work so late that the only place I felt safe running was at the gym. I remember about a month before the marathon I was running up Cat hill and had to stop and rest at the top and that was only 2 miles into my planned 18-miler that day! I should have stopped the madness right then and there and deferred, but I pressed on. Because I had raised the money, I felt like I owed it to all these people who donated money for me to run. 

So I ran/walked that first marathon in 5:55. Ok, I mostly walked. Most people while in the midst of race misery usually vow never to run another race, but not me. Somewhere around mile 6 I knew two things for sure, the first was that things would get very ugly for me that day and second was that I would sign up immediately for another marathon as soon as I could crawl my way home from the finish line. 

And so began my running journey. “What does it take?” was the t-shirt slogan that year. I slept in that t-shirt many nights the following months and when I didn’t want to get up or go out for a run I just had to look down at my pj shirt and I was good to go. I ran NYC again in 2009 in 4:22 and I never walked once. I was so pumped afterwards that all I wanted to do was run, I started looking for 6am running buddies on the NYRR site and that’s where Flyer Francine A found me (or, I should say, saved me). Because right before she emailed me I had gotten myself a stalker, but that’s another story. She invited me to run with the Flyers 6am group, and the rest as they say is history. Let me just say 6am is such a special group!

With Khris D.P. and Jodie F
At Francine's 50th Birthday Celebration

With College Pal
Cathy Ban

I have been a Flyer now for almost 6 years. I am a better runner because of the Flyers and I am constantly inspired by my teammates, especially the women masters. The support and encouragement from Flyers teammates is like nothing I have ever experienced even in my high school sports days. I have made life-long true friendships here. One of my great joys has been seeing friends take up running because of me. My long time friend Khris D.P. took up running and became a Flyer. I trained her for her first marathon and she has since converted another friend, Tracey A into a runner and Flyer. My little sister took up running and the benefits of running have inspired her to adapt a clean eating and healthy lifestyle. Of course no Flyer profile of mine would be complete without a mention of my Flyer ladies' epic Big Sur Marathon adventure weekend. The pictures tell the story. All the fun of a girls weekend, without the hangover. 

At Big Sur

My running has had its share of highs and lows. Sometimes I am fast. Most times I am slow and other times I am injured. But I keep running because I love it. Otherwise it wouldn't be worth it. I love destination races and I see myself doing much more of that in the future. You get to see the best parts of a city during a race. Running is so much more than PRs and medals and I don't want to get so hung up on goals and numbers that I miss the journey.  

I still sometimes sleep in that shirt from my first marathon because it's a sentimental reminder of how far I have come and the lessons I have learned from running. When I want to give up on a tough run, I still sometime ponder that question. 

So what does it take?

For me it's a ton of patience, hard work and a little help from my Flyers friends. 

-Kettia M

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From Rio to NY -- From Rowing to Running

Luiza S

Since I was a child my parents always had me practice sports. So I went from swimming to volleyball and anything in between.

I loved to play volleyball at school, but at some point I realized that my mates were still growing taller while I got stuck at 5 feet 5, which made me the shortest player in court. I had some advantages though, like a strong service, good vision for the second ball (setter), and the ability to spike with both hands. All these skills became useless after high school.

         

When I started college where I majored in biology, a friend of mine introduced me to rowing. It was a love at first sight. I had a good instructor and was part of an amazing crew. For 14 years straight I practiced rowing, going to Brazilian Nationals and other local regattas.

My Face I Saying "I'm Tired of Rowing!" But Really I Loved It!

But it was when I lived in England in 1999/2000 that I got the most important results. Competing for the Stratford Upon Avon Boat Club with my boatmate Juliet (does it ring a bell, a girl named Juliet in Startford Upon Avon?), my team won the bronze medal at the GB Nationals (lightweight double sculls). I also was able to participate in international regattas while there including racing in Gent, Belgium (another bronze medal, in women’s double sculls!), as well as in Blessington, Ireland and in the UK at the Women’s Henley in Henley-on-Thames.

Rowing at the UK Nationals

In 2005 I moved to NYC with my husband and a 3.5 year old boy (who happened to be my son) while I was pregnant with my daughter-to-be. Without easy opportunities to practice rowing I started working out at the gym. It was not fun, as I like to talk and to be surrounded by people. 

Beautiful Family

Without many friends in NYC, I decided to put my “backyard” into a good use, so I decided to start running in Central Park. I was used to running as a part of my training for rowing, and as far as I can remember I hated it. I was slow and lazy to run –– rowing was so much more fun!

My first running race was in 2006 –– the Adidas Run for the Parks 4-Miler. At that time I had 2 small kids to look after and not so much free time. Before I got a running stroller for my daughter and started training with her while my older one was at preschool, I already had been bitten by the running bug. I skipped the year of 2007 but came back in 2008 with total determination to race more and improve my times.

For some crazy reason (which I cannot quite put my finger on) I signed up for my first marathon, NYC Marathon 2010. It was just then when I realized that I would need to seriously train for it. But where to start? Rely only on online training programs? I was afraid I would not be well prepared to face the challenge of a 26.2 miles. 

I saw a lot of running groups training and racing in Central Park. With so many choices, I had no idea which to choose. Thanks to Google, the NY Flyers was the first club on an endless list that showed up on my computer screen. So in August 2010 I joined this awesome club. I immediately started doing speed work with then NY Flyers Head Coach Toby T and have since made a lot of wonderful NY Flyer friends. 

Accepting the NY Flyers Coach's Award
From Coach Toby T at the Flyers Annual Awards Gala in 2012

From there, I ran my first marathon and countless half marathons. With the help of good friendships and valuable advice, I have raced 3 more marathons so far (4 in total) including the Rio de Janeiro Marathon twice where I PR’d in 2011 at 3:56:02. Yay!

Rio de Janeiro Marathon -- Looks Like I'm in the Lead :)

I believe that variety is a key when training for any sport, so to help me avoid injuries I do cross-training: swimming, weight-lifting, yoga, spinning and of course, the dreaded rowing machine. Wait, that’s a lot for one week with just seven days. Oh, yeah –– I do double training (morning and evening) on some days! As to running, just three sessions a week, or maybe four if training for a marathon.

I’m happy to be a Flyer and to race representing the club. And for someone who always had another sport in mind and never cared much about running, I now can’t imagine myself not running. Thanks Flyers family!

-Luiza S

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NY Flyer Profile -- Steve K

Steve K

Runners, as a breed, look ahead, not behind, especially when in a race (unless of course you count the erstwhile NYRR Backwards Mile). There is always the next mile marker, the top of the hill you are climbing, and the Finish Line. For me, that philosophy was never truer than after one of the shortest, but sweetest walks of my entire life, an out-and-back, between one end of a hospital room and the other.

Six days earlier, on February. 17, 2009, I had somehow fallen down a flight of stairs at a bar. (For those asking, no, I wasn't drunk; I simply was not looking where I was going.) I incurred various injuries, including one to my pelvis that, at first, made it impossible for me to walk, even with assistance...and that issue was actually minor compared to the damage I had done to my right elbow and shoulder, necessitating two surgeries.

So, on this particular Monday, I surprised myself, when, with the aid of my therapist, and a walker, I somehow managed to walk a bit, which, to me, felt like somewhat of a miracle. Filled with emotion, I scratched out a page in my journal about my little triumph, closing by writing:

"I will remember this day as I run my first race back."

There I was, my body broken, but I was looking ahead. I knew I had a very long, and likely arduous road to recovery, but, for me, it was natural to think ahead to returning to the races....whenever that might be.

Thinking of such times reminds me how much running is a part of me, and my love for the sport extends far beyond the numerous races I've run, whether non-competitively, or against a time goal. Some of my most enjoyable runs have been just runs. Late last year, when starting my offseason, I took a short, slow, 2.1-mile run along the woodland trails of Mohonk Mountain House. I climbed a gradual hill, eventually taking me up over 100 feet. My reward for my efforts was beholding the beautiful sight of the distant Catskill Mountains, followed by a dramatic view of the lake far below me. I returned to the inn feeling so happy and relaxed, and rewarded myself with a tuna salad sandwich for lunch. It was one of my best runs of a year that had included four half marathons.

2011 Awards Party -
Frequent Flyer Award

Being a member of the Flyers has enhanced my running, and my life, for 10 years. I count people I have met through the Flyers as some of my best friends. I will never forget how my teammates supported me during my recovery from my accident, and eventual return to running. There have been the group runs, speedwork, etc, but it's much more than that. I've enjoyed numerous social events, including the recent Flyers Annual Awards Gala, as well as often being a Flyers pace-leader in the twice-yearly NYRR Long Training Runs. In addition, I'm proud to say that I have volunteered at the Flyers' PowerGel station at the last nine NYC Marathons.

Now, don't take this personally, but it is my hope this year, that I will not be able to fulfill my customary position because I hope to be running by the station during my first-ever marathon. Even this early in the year, I find myself afflicted with a serious case of NYC Marathon fever, and have often been visualizing my splits for what I hope will be the race of my dreams. Should all go well, I can only imagine how it will feel to run into Central Park during Mile 24...

                                                       

                NYC Marathon Mile 24

I was never much of an athlete when in school. I did have my "one shining moment" scoring something like 20 points in a 3-on-3 basketball game in Phys. Ed, but I was hardly athletic. I can't say for sure what exactly sparked my interest in running outdoors, well into adulthood, in 1998; however, once I started, I was hooked. For a while, I was content to run one or two miles, usually along the esplanade in Carl Shurz Park, but, in 2000, I heard about a race that, as a longtime Mets fan, I could not pass up: the NYRR Run to Home Plate, a 5K that would finish on the playing field at good old Shea Stadium. I would complete this race (unofficially) in 29:17, beating my goal of under-30:00, giving me one my most memorable moments at the Mets' former home.

Little did I realize at the time that I was embarking on a career that has now seen me cross the Finish Line more than 300 times. I fell in love with competing against myself, and the clock, and, in my younger days, enjoyed the thrill of striving for, and maybe even attaining a PR. Early on, as I extended my longest race distance ever from 5 miles to 10K; from 7 miles to 15K and then to the Half-Marathon, I found that, when trained properly, I had the endurance to perform well in these long distance races. I also discovered that I possessed some element of speed, and, raced a mile in 6:32.5 at a track meet, the NYRR Thursday Night at the Races at Van Cortlandt Park on July 3, 2003. That was the good news...the bad news was that I finished last!

I have had good races, bad races, and ones for the blooper reel. I've missed goals by a little (once falling 13 seconds short of a PR in my final race of 2002, the Holiday 4-mile Run), and resoundingly, including the 2007 NYC Half. Thankfully, enjoying a belated birthday dinner that night, which included some vino and banana flambé, that helped soothe my disappointment!

As to my version of the Football Follies...one fine summer morning in 2012, in a 5K, in Riverside Park, I missed the turnaround point, and ended up adding maybe 3/4 mile, giving me a blazing time of 21:59 for "Mile Two." It's a good thing I was not taking this race seriously! Speaking of which, while I love to race, I run many races without a serious goal. Along those lines, I have even been known to go for a run without timing it at all.

2014: Running Just to Run
Along Bridle Path During Joe Klienerman 10K

Now, if I were making a compilation for ESPN'sSportsCenter of my top 10 races, which would be #1? I'll actually nominate not my best performance athletically, but my most thrilling finish: the 2006 Joe Kleinerman 10K, my next-to-last race of the season. In order to achieve my season-long competitive goal, I needed to attain my goal in this race, and then return six days later and do the same in the season finale, the Hot Chocolate 10-miler.

Racing against a goal of under 9:00/mi, I started poorly, and while I gained back some time, found myself maybe 1:06 behind with 1.2 miles to go. My race was in serious trouble, and I felt that my season, even after all the great races I had enjoyed that year, was hanging in the balance.

So, I went for it, and my legs responded. I was, to pardon the pun, flying. When I hit Mile Six (around East 100th Street), I checked my watch, and found that somehow, I had nailed an 8:00 split, and just like that vaulted to within a mere 7 seconds off pace.

Seeing how close I was galvanized me, and I felt perhaps the biggest rush of adrenaline that I've ever experienced in a race. I surged into my finishing kick, throwing caution to the winds. Nothing was going to stop me now. By the time I made the final turn, I knew I had it. Caught up in the moment, I actually yelled out, "Do you believe in miracles...YES!!!"  Exuberant, I crossed the Finish Line in a time of 55:30, 8:57/mi, achieving my goal after all had seemed lost.

I will never be able to win a race, set a world record (unless it's for napping after a race), or qualify for the Olympics. Thinking back to that incredible morning, however, I can't imagine that the rush I experienced is much different from that of our elite athletes. I am grateful that organizations such as NYRR, NYCRUNS, et al, give all of us the opportunity to compete at whatever level matches our capabilities. I still think back to that race, including when I'm on a run, and pass through the homestretch of that 10K.

Fifth Avenue Mile 2011

For the record, in less dramatic fashion, I would nail my goal in the 10-mile season finale (finishing in 9:06/mi), but that race would not have meant as much without my comeback six days earlier. I would celebrate the culmination of this great season with steak at Hacienda de Argentina, making all my efforts even more worthwhile.

Now, what of my first race back from my 2009 tumble down the stairs? It would take me almost a year to actually return to the starting line. It was the 2010 Gridiron 4-miler, and while my time was modest, well over 11:00/mi, nothing was going to wipe the smile off my face.

As I ran on that glorious February morning, I did indeed think back to that first walk in the hospital, and savored the return to the sport that I love.

-Steve K.

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Flyer Profile: Christy J

Christy J

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Christy J

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Flyer Profile: Karen H Pledges to Protect

Karen H

Hi, my name is Karen H and my biggest claim to fame as a Flyer is that I am married to the very speedy Andreas W, who introduced me to the club.  My other claim to fame is that I am constantly injured.

The latest isn’t a running injury, it is a stupidity injury:  I fell down the stairs while talking on the phone with my dad and broke the inner part of my heel in May.  A fragment chipped off, which did not heal, so I will have to have surgery in January.  The good news is that I signed up for the 2014 NY Marathon and hope to recover my surgery in time to get in enough training to be ready to run my first marathon!

Well, what’s a runner to do when she cannot run?  She swims of course.  My home away from home is now Asphalt Green at 90^th and York Avenue.  For those who don’t know, Asphalt Green is home to the only 50-meter Olympic-size swimming pool in Manhattan. It is heaven, and many fellow flyers swim there including Richard B, Deb M and Vida B, so I get to see friends at the pool.  I also swim to music as I invested in a SwimPod, which is a waterproofed iPod with special headphones that clip to my goggles.  This is a great help since unlike with running, you cannot talk to your friends while you swim.

What else is a runner to do?  She becomes more active in the community, of course.  Heidi and Don C, along with Dave K, introduced me to Pledge 2 Protect.  Pledge 2 Protect is a coalition of concerned businesses, non-profits, schools and individuals standing together to oppose construction of the East 91^st Street Marine Transfer Station (MTS).  The MTS would be built next to the Asphalt Green sports complex, and a ramp would be used by hundreds of garbage trucks per day to drive directly past Asphalt Green's outdoor sports field and a children's playground. Asphalt Green is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages and backgrounds achieve health through a lifetime of sports and fitness.

The dump would pose a threat to the adults and children served by Asphalt Green, including the 31,000 children from across the City who rely on Asphalt Green’s fields, playgrounds and programs — approximately 30% of Asphalt Green's programs and services are provided at no charge. In 2012, Asphalt Green provided 165 day camp and Swim for the Future scholarships, and gave 169,409 hours of free programs on campus to assist those in need.  For more information about Asphalt Green, you can click HERE to view their website.

ASPHALT GREEN

Former Mayor Bloomberg included the MTS in the City's Solid Waste Management Plan, and Mayor de Blasio has so far stated his support for it despite the fact that it will threaten the health and safety of residents across Yorkville, East Harlem and the Upper East Side.  The MTS will result in concentrated diesel emissions from as many as 500 deadly garbage trucks per day driving right past the Asphalt Green playground and sports field.  Nearly 2,000 children each year from neighboring Harlem and East Harlem, which have the highest asthma rates in the city, participate in Asphalt Green's programs.

In the event of a flood, the proposed location is in Flood Zone A (the highest flood risk).  Flooding, such as from another disaster such as Superstorm Sand, could result in washing garbage from the MTS into waterways and the neighborhood.

The MTS would not be cost effective — the City's Independent Budget Office (IBO) issued a study that reported that disposal costs in the districts covered by the MTS would increase from $90/ton to $238/ton in the first year after the MTS opens because the costs of the MTS are so much greater than originally expected.  The NYC Department of Sanitation does not dispute the findings in the IBO report.

The dump also will receive trash that contains flammable, poisonous and other hazardous materials such as chemical household cleaning supplies, medical products and used motor oil —  with trucks driving and depositing these dangerous items right next to where children play!!! If the MTS is built and becomes operational, Asphalt Green may have to close due to safety concerns.

Handing Out Flyers for
Pledge 2 Protetct

I have volunteered to be the Fundraising Director for Pledge 2 Protect to assist the organization's on-going efforts to stop the construction of the MTS.  You can click HERE for information about Pledge 2 Protect, including its mission, actions, and what individuals can do to get involved.  We need to raise approximately $1.5 million dollars in order to write position papers and perform environmental studies that may convince Mayor de Blasio and his team that this is a poor use of resources. We also are lobbying his staff and engaging in community activism.  You may have seen a picture of me on Facebook handing out leaflets. Please sign the pledge and donate by clicking HERE.

Now, back to running.  I hope that if my surgery goes well I will be back running with the Flyers 6am group in the spring and also running with my Saturday 7am group as well.  I miss everyone very much and am happy for all the social events where I can see my friends.  And I am looking forward to the Flyers Annual Awards Gala.

Gracie Mansion

As a final thought, Bill de Blasio recently stated that he and his family is moving to Gracie Mansion.  I hope he enjoys the 500 garbage trucks that would pass near his house every day if he goes through with this folly!

-Karen H

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