Battered & Bloodied: Steve's Throwback to BROOKLYN HALF-MARATHON 2008

STEVE KAIRYS 2017

Prologue

Less than two miles into the 2008 Brooklyn Half-Marathon, my race hung by a hairbreadth. I found myself prone on the Coney Island boardwalk, having incurred multiple injuries. Would I have to drop out of a race for the first time in over 170 starts?

Not if I had anything to say about it.

Battered and bloodied, I tried to get up…

Mile 0: History Lesson

In 2008, The Brooklyn Half was not this major party with more than 25K runners, finishing at Coney Island. It was a smaller race (5,839 finishers) that, for the final time, started there, and challenged runners by concluding in hilly Prospect Park. 🏔

(Map from usatf.org.)

Mile 1: Want a Hot Dog?

On this cloudy, cool morning, the race began on the boardwalk, with the ocean to my left.🌊 My goal: under-10:00/mi. I passed the shuttered eateries (such as Nathan’s). Thanks to a restroom stop, my split was 10:33.

Mile 2: SPLAT!

Shortly after the turnaround, I stumbled, and apprehension swelled as the boardwalk rose up to meet me. I connected five body parts with the boardwalk: knees, hands, and what I thought was a bone on the left side of my chest.

I stood, tried to run…and I could! Still, I had emerged from this tumble with significant damage. While not bleeding, both knees were scraped: the right, barely; the left, however, sported an ugly red blotch. My hands briefly felt a bit sore, but inspecting them showed no damage. Of greater concern, however, might have been my chest or ribs. Now and then, I’d feel a twinge.

I defiantly stated to one of the concerned runners that after putting in two 10-milers, I wasn’t going to let a little tumble stop me. I was going to run competitively as if I had never fallen. I think this incident increased my determination. 

Split: 10:06, Net: 20:40, Deficit  0:40

Mile 3: Goodbye, Boardwalk

Around mile 2.8, the race mercifully left the boardwalk and descended onto city streets. Soon, we took a right onto Surf Avenue and before long, I hit the Mile 3 marker in an estimated time of 9:50.

Miles 4 - 9; Ocean Parkway to Prospect Park

The race proceeded north on almost-flat Ocean Parkway. Now and then, I’d draw on the company of my fellow runners with whom I would share my story about how lucky I was to still be in this race.

I settled into a nice rhythm, most of my miles under-10:00, and took the lead on my goal pace by Mile 5. While I wanted to accumulate a time cushion before the dreaded Mile 11 hill in Prospect Park, I needed to save something. The race was going by pretty quickly, a testament to the good day I was enjoying. What injuries? Adrenaline and determination were getting me through the half-marathon.

Eventually, I ran up an exit ramp and soon entered the park near Mile 9 with a comfortable lead.

Net: 1:28:41, Lead: 1:19

Mile 10: Gobble, Gobble

Now, around a 10:19 pace would attain my goal. I soon would pass landmarks I recognized from the Turkey Trot; however, my planned post-race dinner was steak. I gained another 10 seconds by Mile 10, body still feeling good.

Split: 9:50, Net: 1:38:31, Lead: 1:29

Mile 11: That Looming Hill

Shortly thereafter, on East Drive, the hill appeared. The slope is significant and lengthy. I met the challenge head-on. Finally, on West Drive, I would reach Mile 11. Relieved, I checked my watch.

I had conquered The Hill in 9:44 for Mile Eleven. About nine miles earlier, I could’ve taken a DNF. Now, I stood just 2.1 miles from a triumphant finish.

Split: 9:44, Net: 1:48:15, Lead: 1:45

Miles 12 - 13.1 – Hanging On

My injuries were still holding up. At Mile 12, I lead by 1:49. I could taste it.

I was tiring though, and challenged by the long, gradual uphill on Wellhouse/Hill Drive. I had defeated that big hill, but now, the course walloped me with the back end of a one-two punch. I refused to give in, looking, looking, looking for the end of this road. Would that intersection ever appear?

Mercifully, it did, and I returned to East Drive. Shortly thereafter, I made the final turn, onto Center Drive. Somewhere along this road came one more short, slight uphill. Finally, I spotted the Mile 13 marker, hitting it in 10:00. I still led by 1:49. My battered body had nothing left for a finishing sprint, but I had fully earned the right not to kick. I would cross that Finish Line, and secure my first competitive triumph in over ten months.

I had started adversity in the race, turning a fall that could have ruined my race into victory. 

Split   1:01;  Net:  2:09:11 (Pace: 9:52/mi)

Miles 14 - 15: Celebration! Celebration!

Now, my body could allow itself to feel beaten up. My left knee started hurting, all I needed when I had to climb the steps of the baggage bus.🚌

Still, I reveled in my achievement and enjoyed the generous post-race team brunch hosted by New York Flyer couple Sara and Gary Heard, including a bagel, meatballs, and quiche.🥯 As my rib injury pained me when I coughed, I remarked that I hoped that no one would tell me any jokes so that I did not have to laugh. The fabric of my post-race sweatpants rubbed uncomfortably against  my knee. After the gathering, fellow Flyer Ed Altman saved me from a taxing subway ride home by driving me back to Manhattan. Thank you, Ed! I’ve met so many wonderful people through the Flyers.

By evening, it hurt to get in and out of bed. It didn’t matter. Especially during my celebration dinner. Nothing like steak and plentiful wine🍷🍷🍷to ease the pain after one of my proudest races.

-Steve Kairys

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New Member Profile: Meet "Fast" Albert, Mystery Flyer

Albert Pedemonte

A Q&A with Co-Blog Manager Melissa

 

The Flyers has a new, talented teammate! 

Just last weekend, while The Blog Team was editing and formatting Francesco’s race report for the Brooklyn Half Marathon, the first-place 🏆 finisher for the men (and the team) caught our eye for a couple of reasons. First, his finish time was an astounding 1:18:26, a 5:59 minute mile; also, none of us (Dave, Francesco, nor myself) had ever heard of this fellow NY Flyer, Albert Pedemonte. So, after a little investigation, I found our mystery fast Flyer, and he graciously answered some questions for a brief interview.

 

Melissa: Hi, Albert! Nice to “meet” you. Congratulations on your incredible Brooklyn Half performance! Have you been running your entire life?

 

Albert: Hi! My background is in cycling, so running was always part of my off-season winter training.

 

Melissa: Oh, are you a professional cyclist?

 

Albert: I wish I was a pro-cyclist! No, cycling is my hobby and my passion. I wasn’t a “pro” but I used to race in some serious competitions at the regional and national levels, both road racing and mountain biking.

 

A cycloross race 2007

Melissa: Where are you from?

 

Albert: I am from a small town north of Barcelona. In Spain, cycling is very competitive, so you had to train hard if you didn’t want to get dropped.

 

Melissa: Wow! Ok, back to running.  You just run on the off-season of cycling and yet you are so speedy?

 

Turkey trot 2019

Albert: I guess I was kind of fast from day one because I was in good shape from cycling. In 2006, when I knew that I was moving to New York City, I thought that it would be cool to run the NYC Marathon. I did a couple of half marathons in Barcelona to get the qualifying time for guaranteed entry. 

 

Melissa: How did it go with the NYC Marathon?

 

Albert: I had two goals: Do it under three hours and beat Lance Armstrong. I achieved both! 

 

After the marathon, I stopped running and went back to cycling for a couple of years. Then I had my children: my son, Pol, and soon after, my daughter, Mia.

 

Then, for the next 10 years, I did some running and some cycling but no races and nothing regular.

 

Melissa: When did you start running more consistently?

 

Albert: At the end of 2018 is when I started running more regularly, and I registered for a NYRR10K race. I didn’t do as well as I was expecting and that motivated me to train more. Since then, I have been pretty consistent with my running.

 

Melissa: When you say consistent, how often do you run and what’s your mileage per week?

 

Albert: I average four or five days a week. I would like to do six, but there is always something that comes up, either working late or family obligations. I run the most when I’m training for a marathon, and I get up to 50 or 55 miles a week. When I’m not marathon training, I run 30 to 40 miles a week.

 

Melissa: Do you do any cross-training?

 

Albert: I don’t do any specific cross-training, but I do still cycle quite a bit in the summer. I also have a physical job. I am a cabinet maker, so I am pretty active all day. I guess that can count as cross-training.

 

Melissa: Do you have a favorite race distance? Any marathons coming up soon?

 

Albert: If I have to choose a distance, I will say half marathon. I can almost keep the same pace for a half as I run for a 10K. When I run a full marathon, my pace gets a lot slower.

 

I only did three marathons: NYC twice, 2006 and 2022; and last April, I ran the Jersey City Marathon where I had my PR 2:54:27. I will run NYC again this year (I need a NY Flyers singlet!), and I plan on running Boston in 2024. 🦄

 

Melissa: How did you find the NY Flyers?

 

Albert: I am a good friend of Adolfo Ferrando. We run together pretty often on weekends. He and his wife, Teresa, are very proud Flyers, so I am now too! 

 

Melissa: It was so nice chatting with you, Albert! Do you attend the Flyers group runs or events?

 

Albert: The Three Bridges is the only run that I did so far with the group when I was training for the NYC marathon. Hopefully, I can do some more soon and meet more Flyers, too.

 

 

Brooklyn Half Marathon Mystery solved! Be on the lookout for "Fast Albert!" Just don’t blink … you might miss him! 👀

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Flyers Volunteer in Central Park: Giving back. Getting more…

HEATHER MARCELLIS

In 2004, a group of eager Flyer members volunteered their time to “dig in the dirt” alongside the Central Park Conservancy for the very first time.🌳 This outing became a perennial favorite for the club and, Covid aside, has continued to this day. 

FLYERS VOLUNTEERING IN 2012

IN THE RAIN IN 2016

WITH CONSERVANCY'S CHRIS McDUFF

We reconvened this May - across from Tavern on the Green - to clear the cobblestones of unwanted weeds and greens.🍀 Chris McDuff, our enthusiastic leader from the Conservancy, likened the gardening activity to dental floss for the cobblestones.🦷 After a couple of hours of pruning with crack weeders, dandelion weeders, trowels, bags, and brooms, we could stand back and admire our work.

Besides the fresh air, the smell of cut grass, rich soil, sweet blossoms and flowering trees, one of the best parts of volunteering in Central Park is the not-so-instant, yet oh-so-satisfying gratification of seeing the fruits of your labor after the toil.

Over the years, the Conservancy has changed the hours, changed their personnel, registration and vetting process of its volunteer days, but what has remained the same in nearly 19 years of working in our beloved 843-acre “backyard” is the great feeling of a job well done and experiencing first hand just how much a difference a group of hard working individuals can make.

This urban green space boasts endless activities for the garden enthusiast. Our club alone has raked and bagged leaves, weeded endless flower beds, fence lines, fields and now cobblestones, painted park benches, and planted daffodil bulbs - to name a few of the jobs we’ve held. 

My all-time favorite was the day we filled potholes in the bridle path along the reservoir. For this, they gave us heavy pick axes to swing! Not at all easy. We used the axes to carve out larger holes, which we then filled. This was definitely the most vigorous of all our assignments (and that’s saying something for very fit runners) but our crew loved the challenge.  We also loved fixing that well trodden spot because we ran those bridle paths often and cursed the potholes that threatened to capture and contort our sacred ankles. Now, to now provide the cure (in part) to this hazard, was immensely gratifying.  The pictures were a hoot.

The history of the Flyers association with the Central Park Conservancy officially began during Gabi Diblasi’s presidency. I was Vice President at the time and took on the charge of organizing the events. To help reward the hard working volunteers, I started bringing cookies to the events.🍪 In 2010, I was blessed to receive a fabulous co-chair to help out. Dave Kleckner, whose enthusiasm has never waned in 13 years, is the true driver of these events today. Dave handles all the communication and advertising for our members and does most of the outreach to the Conservancy now, too. I still worm my way in for the love and nostalgia. and the cookie oven is still going, but full kudos to Dave who’s kept the event alive the last few years.  

2004 Volunteers
Heather Marcellis, Jim Nichols, Lloyd Hoo, Lara Kail, John Ward, Janet Hanson

And to all of the many volunteers (shout out to Richard Brounstein for being one of the most steadfast and loyal), thank you for your time, energy and enthusiasm. It is the members who take time out from their busy (and short) weekends to help nurture and maintain the greatest park in the world! 🌳🌲🌳

Please come join us for the next one!

-Heather Marcellis

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15 Years to Boston -- Worth the Wait!

Stephanie Tang

 

Some people qualify for the Boston Marathon on their first attempt, but, for others, it can take years. I qualified for Boston on my 25th marathon, 10 years into my marathon journey and 7 years after my first BQ attempt!  It took another 5 years after my first BQ to finally toe the line this past April 😊

Bib Pick Up Before the 2016 NYC Marathon
At 36 Weeks Pregnant 👶

I ran my first marathon, the 2008 Potomac River Marathon, in 5:25:17. I was the second to last finisher, and my husband Ray walked me into the finish during the last 10K. I had only run a half marathon distance as part of my training, and the race was painful, to say the least! Still, I was hooked. The oxytocin released on my runs and higher highs when I conquered goal races replaced my former addiction to smoking cigarettes.

Reuniting with the Family after the 2019 NYC Marathon

Three years later, I had shaved more than 1 hour and 30 minutes off my marathon time and felt ready to attempt a 3:40 goal at the 2011 Chicago Marathon. I missed the mark by 4 minutes, and the BAA announced that BQ times would be made 5 minutes faster the following year, making a BQ feel even more like chasing an imaginary unicorn 🦄

In 2011, I opened a yoga studio, Sacred Sounds Yoga. I turned to distance running as my “moving meditation,” helping to lessen any feelings of stress and anxiety while keeping me sane. After Ray and I had two children in 2014 and 2016, my entire social life was centered around running, the only time I spent interacting with adults sans children outside of work. Through growing the business, moves, pregnancy, breastfeeding and sleep regressions, I ran.

I started training with Coach Brian Rosetti and the Flyers Marathon Training Program (MTP) the year Brian took on the role of Head Coach with the NY Flyers in 2013, but it wasn’t until after the births of my children that I was able to train consistently. I strongly believe in the VDOT method that Brian employs in his coaching and noticed that I continued to see improvements in my time with every season. In late 2018, I finally achieved my first BQ at the Clarence DeMar Marathon in 3:32:06, a 9:35 PR!

I was set to run Boston in 2020, but the world had other plans - COVID.

I was also set to run last year, but this time it was my body that had other plans - I tested positive for COVID the Friday before the race 😢 Six weeks after COVID, I hurriedly signed up for the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, MI, and ran a PR of 3:25:48!

TCTC Bayshore Marathon 2022

This past year brought more changes, as I graduated from accelerated nursing school, and started working night shifts as a labor and delivery nurse. Despite the lack of sleep and training, I was excited to finally run the Boston Marathon, with Ray, my children and parents cheering me on. We celebrated with friends from NYC and where I now live in Westport, CT, and reunited with some of my father’s family after 15 years!

Family Cheering Squad at Mile 17 😍

Race day looked promising for runners, though not so for my family and other spectators, as it was cloudy and the forecast was for rain. I planned to hold back my pace for the first 16 miles, which I was aware was mostly downhill, and then reassess whether I could continue the pace or pick it up at that point. However, as with others, I got swept into the excitement, and ran 15 seconds per mile faster than I had intended for miles 1 through 16, and then struggled over the hills, finishing with a big positive split.

Family Reunion Dim Sum Lunch

Flyers Pre-Race Indian Food Dinner

Despite the race pace challenges, I was moved to tears as I high fived the Wellesley College girls through the scream tunnel, overwhelmed with gratitude at the opportunity to run such an historic race, one in which women only became allowed to run starting in 1972. I gave big hugs and kisses to my family at miles 17 and 25, as they stood out in the pouring rain, cheering me and others on with fervor. I grinned as I caught sight of the infamous Citgo sign, and as we made the right on Hereford and left on Boylston before the finish line.

I finally finished the Boston Marathon 15 years after my marathon journey started. I would not have changed a thing. As one journey ends, another begins.

-Stephanie Tang

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