Give Me MORE
 |
| Francine A |
THE EARLY DAYS
In the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the NYRRC held the Women’s
Half each fall to prepare local women for the NYC Marathon. Typically 600-800 women ran. If any men protested, they were directed to
the Staten Island Half, a few weeks after the Women’s Half.
The Women’s Half was a no-frills event. It was a tough race for tough women. There were no flowers or jewelry at the
finish line. We got a cup of water and
perhaps a banana. The race shirts were
cotton and sized for men.
Flyer men served as the Women’s Half race timers. The men would wait for the race start in the
back of a pick-up truck. When the horn
blew, the Flyer men would start their watches, and the truck would deposit them
at the mile markers around the Park. As
the women ran by, Flyer men would yell out the elapsed time and per-mile pace. In those pre-Garmin days, the only way to
calculate your pace was to do the math in your head. It was a blessing to hear Tim D call out, “Mile 8! 1:07:20! 8:25 pace!”
John W always positioned himself in a beach chair at the top
of Harlem Hill, near the Mile 4 / Mile 10 sign.
 |
| Tim D and David L keep time at Mile 2/Mile 8 |
As the popularity of the NYC Marathon grew, the NYRRC
realized that men, too, should have a chance to run a half-marathon in the Park
in October. Grete’s Great Gallop became
a co-ed event. The Women’s Half fell by
the wayside. For the first time, there
was no women’s race anywhere in the U.S. that was longer than a
10-K.
 |
| Flanked by Monika G and Laura L Sporting Their Protest T-shirts |
The NYRRC took notice. In 1999, after a 2-year hiatus, the NYRRC reinstated
the Women’s Half.
Some years, there were sponsors: Child Magazine, Allure Magazine. Other years, it was simply the Women’s Half.
Some years, there were sponsors: Child Magazine, Allure Magazine. Other years, it was simply the Women’s Half.
HERE COMES MORE
In 2004, along came MORE Magazine. MORE’s tag line was, “The best selling magazine
for women over 40.” (The tagline is now
“for women of style and substance.”) MORE created an event just for women masters
runners.
The MORE Marathon
was the country’s first and only marathon for women over 40. That first year, the course was four loops of
Central Park .
Talk about a tough race for tough women! The marathon course was later modified to 5+
times around the lower 5-mile loop. Flyer Julie G ran the MORE Marathon 4 years in a row. Former Flyer Judith Tripp ran it in
3:52 at age 59.
In addition to the MORE Marathon ,
MORE offered a Half Marathon for women.
In the beginning, the MORE Half Marathon was a two-woman team
challenge. At least one teammate had to
be 40 or older. Teams earned age group
awards based on their combined age.
MORE and the Women’s Half co-existed for several
years. MORE targeted women over 40.
The Women’s Half was open to all women.
When MORE teamed with its sister publication, Fitness Magazine, MORE
dropped its focus on masters runners.
MORE eliminated the two-person
relay and opened registration to the MORE Half to all women.
In 2005, the Flyers earned the award for the highest
number of local participants. I was
pregnant with twins that year. As I walked
the loop opposite the runners, I called out, “Looking good!” The runners
shouted back, “You too, mama!” Even
today, MORE runners recognize me from the 2005 race and ask after my family.
Flyers played a key volunteer role in MORE. For several years, Flyers manned a water
table on East Drive
near the 102nd Street
Traverse. Needless to say, it was the
BEST water table.
 |
| John W and Scott S at the MORE water table |
Race day in 2009 turned out to be unseasonably hot. The
race organizers cancelled the MORE Marathon ,
and encouraged women to treat the Half as a fun run. The MORE Marathon
was never revived.
In 2012, Flyer women decided to “run like girls” in
skirts and lipstick. Despite our dainty
attire, the Flyer women outran every other team but one. Many Flyers set PR’s
that day. One Flyer, Shevaun T,
smashed a 17-year PR and topped her age group.
 |
| Speedy Flyer Runners Strike a Pose with Their Medals: Lisa M, Karen H, Shevaun T and Louise C |
 |
| Jodie F Paces 9-Minute Milers at MORE 2011 |
When the Women’s Half movement threatened to die on the vine, the Flyers kept it alive. Today, Women’s Half Marathons flourish all over the world. Go Flyers!
- Francine A
Blogmaster's Note: At the date of this posting, the April 14, 2013 MORE Half is NOT yet sold out.
Read more...
Blogmaster's Note: At the date of this posting, the April 14, 2013 MORE Half is NOT yet sold out.
