Sunday, December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas - 2016!


Merry Christmas Everyone!

No white Christmas this year (a week ago, a different story).  Can't believe how quickly 2016 has flown by.  Not just the year itself, but seems like Thanksgiving was only a couple of weeks ago!  As for today, after a few miles this morning, will opens presents, cook, have Christmas dinner when my brother and his family arrive, open a few more presents, and enjoy the holiday spirit!  I hope your Christmas will be just as enjoyable!

All the best :D

Friday, December 23, 2016

Happy Festivus - 2016


Happy Festivus!

Festivus is undoubtedly my favorite make believe holiday.  While I don't air grievances, or perform any particular feats of strength... I love giving a shout out to yet another amazing bit from Seinfeld (still ever so relevant after long since leaving the air)!  It's an especially well placed one at that - in between the winter solstice and Christmas :D

Happy Festivus!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Happy Winter Solstice - 2016


Happy Solstice!  It's that time of year again :D

Winter officially arrived here in NYC a couple of hours ago (5:44 AM EST, to be precise).  But, unofficially, some snow swept in on Saturday - and the temperatures dropped even lower or the next few day (in the teens when I woke up yesterday).  Ironically, this first day of winter will be a lot warmer than yesterday - heading, as some forecasts predict, into the 40's this afternoon!

Temperatures aside, what I'm very happy about is the return of ever increasing daylight hours!

Happy Winter Solstice Everyone!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

2016 NYRR Ted Corbitt 15k: Race Photos & Results


Yesterday was a bit chilly - cold enough to finally put on running tights for the Ted Corbitt 15k in Central Park!   The 15k was the last club points race of the year.  It was also my 10th NYRR race of the year (having completed my 9+1 with at the NYCM last month). 

At the start, Gary Corbitt, Ted Corbitt's son said a few words before we set off on the 15k named in honor of his dad!  I didn't run it last year - the last time I lined up for this race was in 2014.  As for my performance, I ran a 1:12:31 (exactly 10 seconds slower than my 2014 finish). 

Afterwards, we headed up to the Bronx and met at the Rambling House for our annual Taconic get together.  Instead of beer - my go to drink was an Irish Coffee (or two)!  Given the cold, and that I was still pretty much frozen from the race, it was the perfect rehydration :D

Here are the official results from NYRR.








Friday, December 9, 2016

2016 NYRR Ted Corbitt 15k: Packet Pickup


Picked up my shirt and race bib for the Ted Corbitt 15k at the NYRR this afternoon.  I also got a preview of some of the course as I walked over to the east side via Central Park to catch the train home!  This will be NYRR race number 10 for me (and the final club points race of the year).  Doubt that I'll score for the team tomorrow - but looking forward to seeing my fellow Taconics!

As always, if you're at this one, say hello!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Today is the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor


That iconic quote, taken from FDR's address to a joint session of Congress the following day, December 8, 1941, say it all.

Never Forget.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

2016 Taconic Road Runners Team and Couples Relays: Race Photos & Results


This was the second year in a row that the two Taconic Relay races were combined and held on one day - instead of over the two day weekend.  One interesting observation, the Couples Relay course is definitely a LOT shorter than the original layout.  We suspected as much last year - but this time I mapped it w/Strava and the course measured 1.4 miles!  Wow - I had suspected it would come in at 1.8 miles (which would still have been shorter than the 2+ miles the older course)!

Well that only meant we could get to the pancakes and bacon (and beer!) a little sooner :D  Although the shorter distance did not apply to the Team Relays.  In any event, this really isn't about precise distance as much is it about socializing and having some holiday fun!

Here are the official results from Taconic Road Runners.





Saturday, December 3, 2016

December 2016 Race Schedule


Hard to believe that 2016 is coming to a close!  Has the year really flown by that quickly?  Since it's December, the answer must be yes :O

I only have a few short races planned for this month - and, maybe, one long race.  Tomorrow is the Taconic Road Runner Relay Races (and post-races pancake breakfast)!  That's something I always look forward to running/and refueling at post-race!

The following weekend is a FA 50k, with a shorter, 30k option.  I will probably opt for the 30k distance.  It's actually, twice the 15k distance I wanted to run (at the Ted Corbitt 15k - which has, unfortunately, sold out) - but still a great event (socially too).

The following weekend is the Holiday Run for Toys in Fairfield.  It's typically my last race of the year.  But this year there may be one in Rockland County, on New Years Eve.  That is one I may do, just to put a running twist on year-end :D

Here's how it looks so far:

12/4 - Taconic Relay Races
12/11 - BUS Trail Mix-up FA 50k/30k
12/18 - Holiday Run for Toys 5k
12/31 - Snowflake 5k

As always, if you're at any of these - say Hello!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving - 2016!


Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It's that time of year again - when family and food dominate our daily activities :D

No race for me this morning.  Instead, a 10.5 mile run around the neighborhood to create a calorie deficit for all the food I would consume when the family gathered around the dinner table for turkey!

Not sure the 10 miles came anywhere close to matching the calories that went in - but then there's always tomorrow (and the day after) to equal things out :D

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Beaujolais Nouveau 2016 :D


I love the third Thursday in November because the brand new bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau are released here in the United States (thanks to the wonders of air delivery).  I picked up two bottles on the way home from work today - although haven't opened one yet.  That will be for tomorrow night (Friday).

Last year I found a great little wine shop downtown and bought a pair of the new releases in the City.  I may go back there and see what he has available (and it's always a great idea to support the small mom & pop shops - of any stripe, really).

Cheers to everyone who tried some of the 2016 releases today!

Saturday, November 12, 2016

2016 New York City Marathon Race Report



The 2016 NYC Marathon is in the books!  By the numbers, it was my 14th consecutive NYC Marathon!  It also capped off my 9+1 requirements for guaranteed entry for the 2017 edition - so, God willing, I'll be back next November for #15 (it is my all time favorite race after all) :D

As for the race itself, after running a 4:10 last year and the year before that one (2015 and 2014), I got something of a groove back and came in below 4 hours, with a solid 3:57:42 finish.  It was all the more satisfying because for the 3 year in a row I started off the race with a relatively poor base, averaging just 40 training miles a week during September and October. 

I did run 4 half marathons during those 2 months and one long run of 15.5 miles.  But that's far from an optimal training plan.  For the second year in row I just could not get in the runs during the work week, leaving me with Saturday and Sunday to log 20-25 miles.  It's  not for a lack of running motivation, but rather a more onerous teaching schedule.

The summer was a different story, which included a pair of 250 mile months back in June and July.  The base was there, just not close by - haha.  It was a good deal muscle memory that got me over the course.  I say that somewhat seriously because while I expected to hit the proverbial wall, it never happened!  I did slow down over the last 5 miles but I didn't need any walking breaks.

As for the nitty-gritty of the race itself, I ran a 1:56 first half and a 2:01 second half.  I can't help but smile as I write that because our minds love to play tricks on us.  Running up First Avenue I was harboring the completely humorous illusion that I could run a negative split (and win a free pair of running shoes from Strava - haha).  While half my brain clearly understood the simple math of pace, the other, more idealistic, part of my brain refused to engage reality :D

I will say that, despite not having a real chance of running a sub 3:52 that day, the goal of running a negative split did pull me along "fast" enough to run a decent sub-4 hour finish.  For that I'm very grateful that half of my brain (or maybe it was really my heart) held out for the negative split!  That said, next year, after number 15 is in the books, I'd like to summarize the lot of them (3:20 to 4:10).

A couple of race observations - this year I was in the green corral and began the race on the lower level of the bridge.  Not my favorite place to begin, but as my friend Eric pointed out on the bus ride to Staten Island, it meant a smaller hill to cross!  That did make me smile (and, despite the oft-repeated urban legend, no umbrellas were needed crossing the lower level).

On the Brooklyn side (and easily this Brooklyn boy's favorite stretch of my favorite race) I looked forward to seeing my mom at Bay Ridge Parkway and Fourth Avenue.  She is my number one fan on the course - having spectated at almost all (seriously) of the 14 I've run.  I think she's only missed 1 (but no more than 2) of my races.  God bless all moms out there.  They are amazing!

Also on the Brooklyn stretch (along 4th Avenue) - one of the all time worst race moments of all-time!  I pulled off to use a porta-John, waiting patiently for the one in front of me to open up.  Another guy was pacing impatiently up and down the other 5+ occupied ones.  "My" porta-John opened up and as I got in he grabbed the door and said menacingly, "I got this one!"  Part of my was about to laugh in his face, but I ignored him and turned to do my business.  Amazingly!  And I will say this again - Amazingly - he pulled open the door and screamed for me to get out!  In one of the only times I ever directed an expletive at someone (other than a car driver) during a race I growled back at him "Get the f*ck out of here!"  Despite my partial immodesty, I was ready to punch him in the face (forget the laugh).  Luckily, for him - another one opened off and he ran over to it. 

The silver lining here, if any, was my adrenaline level shot thru there roof.  So I had no trouble flying down 4th Avenue after that sideshow.  I wonder if he would have been as threatening if he hadn't been twice my size?  Or maybe it was the desperate urge to relieve himself that caused the scene.  Be that as it may, it left a bad taste in my mouth for a couple of miles.  By mile 8 it was old news.

Running the remainder of the race was completely uneventful.  I just kept my focus of keeping it together mile by mile.  I love crossing the bridges (hills they may be) - so I looked forward to them.  Even so, my lowest point (mentally) is crossing the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan.  That sounds crazy, considering the wall of sound that awaits at the Manhattan side, but the typically windy and seemingly endless stretch never fails to get to me.

First Avenue itself, however, is another story.  I love this stretch - even though it's also mentally challenging as we get closer to the Willis Avenue Bridge.  This time around I felt pretty strong during 1st Avenue and over into the Bronx.  I had eaten an Expresso Luv Gu as I came into Manhattan and had a Tangerine PowerGel up at the mile 18 station (2x caffeine) - so I was very alert.  The caffeine did it's magic and I was fine for the rest of the distance.  I had another Expresso Luv Gu tucked into a compression sleeve, but never needed it.

As I mentioned, even though I slowed down in those last 5 or so miles, it didn't seem that way until I reached the Park.  In fact, it wasn't until mile 25 that I felt the wheels coming off the bus.  I was on the edge of 4 hours - and would only come in under 4 if I kept running.  I could have walked it, but that would have kissed a sub-4 goodbye (although I probably would have finished sub-4:10, ahead of my prior two finishes).  Thankfully I managed to keep it together :D

And, as always, regardless of the actual race, the toughest part of the day was the dreaded walk to the baggage bus!  Do I exaggerate - yes, but it is a dreadfully long trek to get to my dry clothes!  One great new thing this year was having the Tour buses parked on Central Park West, just north of the Family Reunion Area.  That was simply fantastic - as contrasted with the walk down to Lincoln Center where our buses were parked in years past!

Well, that's the story for 2016!


Monday, November 7, 2016

2016 New York City Marathon: Race Photos & Results


What a great day to run... a marathon!  It was exactly 15 degrees warmer (53) when I woke up Sunday morning than it was at the start of my Saturday (38).  Even so, I somehow managed to run the race a bit overdressed.  But I'll write up a short race report and cover all the details tomorrow.

The short version - I finished my 14th consecutive NYC Marathon!  The 3:57:42 was 13 minutes faster than my 2015 and 2014 finishes (my slowest NYC finishes).  It also wrapped up my 9+1 requirements for guaranteed entry in the 2017 edition - big, big smile :D

Congrats to everyone who finished yesterday!  Race report to follow.

Here are the official race results from NYRR.








Thursday, November 3, 2016

2016 NYC Marathon Expo at the Javits Center


This morning headed over to the Javits Center to pick up my stuff for the Marathon!  I'm lining up in the last Green Corral of the first wave - which means running on the lower level of the bridge.  Haven't started off the race on the lower level in a few years :O

This will by my 14th consecutive NYC Marathon.  It will also be my 9th NYRR race of 2016, which gives me guaranteed entry for the 2017 edition - and, hopefully, sets me up for my 15th one!

Good luck to everyone running!






Wednesday, November 2, 2016

November 2016 Race Schedule


My race schedule for November will have a start and finish - but something of an undecided middle!  It kicks off, as all my Novembers seem to, with the NYC Marathon (which, as in most of the previous years will by my final 9+1 race for guaranteed entry for the 2017 edition).  It ends with a Thanksgiving day race and post-Thanksgiving day weekend volunteering gig.  But between the Marathon and Thanksgiving are two weekends that I haven't really worked out yet.

If, as in years past, the post-NYC Marathon weekend will be a half marathon.  The following weekend, pre-Thanksgiving, I'd like to run long (as in an ultra).  But I haven't figured out which races to run yet....  I'll update this post in a few days, with that info.

As for the givens, here's how it looks so far:

11/6 - NYC Marathon
11/24 - Gateway Gobbler, 6M
11/26 - Greenwich Turkey Trot 5k (Volunteer)

As always, if you're at any of them - say hello!

Monday, October 31, 2016

NYC Marathon Pint Glass to kick off Marathon Week!


What a great way to kick-off the countdown to the 2016 NYC Marathon - with a great pint glass courtesy of the NYRR!  I headed up to the Marathon Pavilion in Central Park this afternoon for the free pint glass giveaway.  Thank you NYRR!

Next up, the trip to Javits Center for the Expo on Thursday :D

Sunday, October 30, 2016

2016 Weston Reservoir Run Half Marathon: Race Photos & Results


What a perfect weather day to run!  It was easily 10 degrees warmer than yesterday (and 20 degrees warmer than Friday)!  This was the 5th edition of the Weston Reservoir Run (and the third and final race of the Fairfield County Half  Marathon series).  I ran the original course back in 2012 - a week before the actual race - with Don and Emmy (I think it conflicted with the NYC Marathon that year).  Today was my first time running the actual race.

The slightly reconfigured layout lost none of its hilly character.  Of the three races in the Half Marathon Series, this was my slowest at 1:45:05 (8:03 pace).  I was almost 4 minutes off my times at the Norwalk and Ridgefield Half Marathons.  Even if I hadn't walked a bit during mile 10, I doubt that I would have finished under 1:43.  Still the course was fantastic - one BIG scenic loop (especially the stretch along the reservoir proper)!

I may put together a brief summary of all three races in the Half Marathon Series (and post a picture of the commemorative shirt when I get it).  But this one was perhaps the most challenging of the three courses :O

Next up, the NYC Marathon!

Here are the official race results.










Sunday, October 2, 2016

2016 Ridgefield Half Marathon: Race Photos & Results


It was a dreary morning to run the 40th anniversary edition of the Ridgefield Half Marathon (not just gray skies, but a light mist/drizzle as we waited for the race to start).  Some might find those bordering on optimal running conditions - maybe in my glory days (haha) - but I could have stood for a little sunlight :D

As it worked out, I actually ran my fastest Ridgefield Half!  My 1:41:25 was almost a minute faster than my 2011 finish (1:42:15) and a solid 2 minutes faster than my 2012 finish (1:43:24)!  So the last thing I should do is pan the weather!

Ridgefield was also the second race in the trio that makes up the "Fairfield County Half Marathon Series" - which concluded with the Reservoir Run at the end of the month.  Speaking of trios, this was my 3rd straight weekend of Half Marathons - Norwalk and Paine to Pain preceded this one.  It will also be my last until the end of the month :D

Here are the official race results.  And thanks to Tony for letting me swipe a couple of his photos!