Queens Half Marathon Sept. 14, 2008

Queens, NY. Home of the Mets (choke, cough) and... other things, I guess. I'll admit I don't know much about Queens, but that's one of the great things about this 5 borough challenge. I will see parts of NYC I would never see otherwise. And I did.
First of all, I had to wake up at 3:30am to get in my ice coffee and pre-race ritual done so I could make the bus at 89th and 5th by 4:30am. I arrived, before dawn, at MacNeill Park in College Point, Queens around 5:30am. The park was already strewn with runners stretching, sleeping, or reading by the light of the streetlights. The race started at 7, quite humid but overcast. The start was pretty congested and I couldn't really get going until after the second mile. Lots of hills and turns on this course. And, WOW, there are some VERY impressive houses in Queens....like, MANSIONS. In Queens!!! Who'd a thunk it?
I felt great up until somewhere between mile 10 and 11. Then, bad things started to happen. My legs felt great, but I just felt exhausted, low energy. The powergels and gatorade weren't helping, in fact I think I was feeling weighed down by it all.
I had set 2:15 as my goal, but I felt so good, I had been actually shooting for 2 hrs. After 10 miles, I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to break 2 hrs today. Too hot. So I took a couple of walking/stretching breaks. I finished hard and then stopped too soon. There was a water spray at the finish, which was nice. But, when I actually stopped, I got very dizzy and grabbed a tree for support. I was ushered into the medical tent (my first time!!!) where they got my feet elevated and gave me a salt packet (gross). I was fine after a few minutes, no nausea or anything. Shaky legs for a few minutes, that's all. A French toast bagel (ooooo!!) and an apple from the volunteers before I went to pick up my bag. I was grateful for the change of clothes and the bus back to within 5 blocks of my apartment.
Queens was fun, even though it was far from my best. I'm glad it's over, though.
One more race in NYC this year. When I finish the Staten Island, I will have completed my requirements for guaranteed entry into the NY Marathon 2009. Then it's on to the Philadelphia Marathon.

Racing miles to date: 71.4
Next race: Staten Island Half-Marathon 10/14/08

Prepping for Philly!!!

So, the plan has changed and I'm now registered for the Philadelphia Marathon on Nov 23. I decided to follow through on my "100 miles" commitment despite not getting into the NIKE Half. That meant I needed to add a long race. My parents and sister live just outside Philly so I can wrap up the running season and tack on the Thanksgiving family-time in the same week.
SO, I've got the Queens Half on Sept 14, the Shaolin :) on Oct 12 and the Philly Full Mary on Nov 23.
Training is on schedule, clicking right along. I haven't raced since the Brooklyn Half and I'm pretty anxious for that "race weekend" feeling, especially after the Olympics hoopla.

To remember: stretch, water, shoulders/elbows back and down, consistent pace.

See you in Queens!!!

Running miles to date: 58.3
Next race: Queens Half-Marathon 9/14/08

Healthy Kidney 10K and Japan Day 4M

Ok, here's the thing.
I found out that I hadn't gotten into the NIKE Half-Marathon (lottery system) which totally bummed me out. It was the only race I ran last year except for the marathon and I loved it!! It was so much fun! But no such luck this year. So I've come up with an alternative plan. More on that later...

In my quest for guaranteed entry into the NY Marathon 2009, the omission of the NIKE Half-Marathon means I have to come up with a replacement race. I live two blocks from Central Park, so I figured I'd just knock out one of the races run there. Easy schmeezy.

The Healthy Kidney 10k was on May 17. Starting and ending right near Tavern on the Green on the west side, site of the NY Marathon finish. I took it easy since I wasn't really in running shape (slackin' off) and feeling a little groggy. 1:05:32. Just ran this like a lap around the park with a group.

Japan Day seemed almost imperative. I work for a Japanese company (Yamaha) and it's a four-mile race in my backyard. No brainer. There were taiko drummers at the start (which was at the entrance to the park near my apartment), women running in geisha outfits, lots of after-race food, which I didn't expect. This was a fun little race I'll do again. 36:12.

Yesterday, I went to cheer on the NIKE Half Marathon participants. I entered the park at 102nd st, so the runners coming towards me had just finished the gnarliest part of the race, the Harlem Hill. I was right at the 5 mile marker. There were only a couple of other people there. I got some good pics and felt like an injured athlete, cheering on his teammates in the big game, even though I'm fine, just couldn't get into the race.

Running miles to date: 58.3
Next race: Queens Half-Marathon 9/14/08

Brooklyn Half-Marathon May 3, 2008

Brooklyn Half-Marathon

May 3, 2008

1:53:58

I had two race free months to prep for this one, and I wanted to set a pr under 2 hours. I read up on the course and it looked like it would be very fast until the last couple of miles. It starts in Coney Island and ends in Prospect Park. Many of the online discussion boards described this one as their favorite and, so far, I agree. While the end WAS tough (HR peaked at 112%), I DESTROYED my goal and had fun doing it. I felt great afterward, if a little spent.

NYRR had yellow school buses to take people to the start, BUT you had to buy a ticket ($5) in advance. I went ahead and got one when I registered, just in case, and I was glad I did. The subway to Coney Island takes FOREVER and the bus tickets sold out weeks before the race. When I picked mine up, I was told to “guard it with my life.” Sure enough, there were people offering up to $20 on the morning of the race for bus tickets. Crazy.

Being on a yellow school bus made me feel like some kind of aging giant, young enough to remember my own bus rides to school but old (and tall) enough to be pretty uncomfortable.

We arrived at the Coney Island boardwalk about an hour before the start, so I went down to the beach to stretch and listen to the ipod until time to check the bag. I went through the pre-race routine, hit the bathroom, threw the bag onto the bus for the trip to the finish line, and took my place at the start.

NYRR is now doing color-coded starting corrals based on your estimated pace. If you’ve run NYRR races before, they use your fastest race over a mile to color-code you. I was in the pink corral which I took to be a little emasculating; all the more reason to pick up my pace in this race so I’m not pink for the next race.

The boardwalk was a little treacherous. I knew to be careful, but it was nerve-wracking to see people wipe out at the beginning of the race. I just tried to focus on my self and stay alert and out of people’s way. When we finally got on the road, Ocean Parkway, it was smooth running all the way to the park.

I was feeling great about my pace, but I knew that the real test hadn’t even started. I don’t know this park very well, so I realized that I didn’t know how many hills I was really supposed to anticipate. My lungs were burning through my chest and I ran with my arms up for a little while. I couldn’t stop and walk now or I was sure I’d miss my goal. The park just wouldn’t end. The last mile and a half was within the loop of the park we had just ran, and I was thinking, “Sheesh!! How much more could there be??!?!?”

When I saw the 13-mile marker, I looked at my watch and I could see I was going to beat my goal pretty easily, so I coasted in, high-fiving the spectators. 1:53:58

I got my bag and changed my shirt. Had a bagel and an apple from NYRR and Sue and Kit met me at the finish area. I had beat my goal by over 6 minutes and I knew I could do better with an easier finish.

Chocolate chip waffles and a well-earned nap.

2008 miles to date = 48.3

Al Gordon Snowflake Run - Feb 23

Probably my easiest race because I slept through it. New York Road Runners decided that, due to icy conditions, that this race would be redesignated as a "fun run." This meant that it would be untimed but it would still count towards the 9 race minimum I needed to gain automatic entry to the NY Marathon 2009. SWEET!!! Of course, I could have still run it, but 4 miles at noon is better than 4 miles at 8am in February, so I slept in a ran later in the day.

COUNT IT!!!

2008 miles to date - 35.2

Bronx Half-Marathon - Feb 10, 2008

Below is the story of the Bronx half marathon from Feb 10. I've become lazy at posting, so I'm going to post a bunch of things all at once now. Enjoy...

Feb 10, 2008

The Bronx Half Marathon (2:14:49)

It’s cold, wet but not raining, biting winds invite you to stay in bed instead of running 13.1 miles.

Alas, I am committed. I’m up. I’m running another half-marathon.

I’m wearing 2 shirts, a fleece pullover, a windbreaker, 2 pairs of underwear, running tights, and windproof pants. I brought 2 pairs of gloves, a head-n-neck warmer, skullcap, and ear warmies. I am prepared.

Today, we travel to the Bronx. The “Boogie-Down,” as it is known. Today, almost 4,000 runners have come to run through some of the least scenic parts of New York City. How many “unisex hair braiding and salon” businesses can you cram onto one thoroughfare?

Anyway, I was generously driven to the starting line by Loretta, a friend of Sue’s father. I figured a ride from a nun beats out the 4 train any day. And, hey, a nun…. I needed all the help I could get.

The race began easily enough. I’d taken it pretty easy this week since I’d just run a half marathon two weeks prior. Maybe I took it too easy.

Weird. I expected all the cars to be gone, “No Parking” on the day of the race, but this was not the case. Only the area around the start/finish line was carless.

I started out at the back of the pack, but still found myself running ahead of my pace. I started flagging around mile 8 again, same as last time. Low energy, high heart rate. I found myself walking a couple of times just to let my heart rate go down.

There was a headwind for two solid miles of Grand Concourse. That was the 8-10 mile area of the race. Reports indicate a 20 mph wind with gusts up to 29 mph. Rough…

This course had a lot of “doubling back,” so I was running the same roads more than once. Not the most scenic views of the Bronx, but at least I’ve seen parts of the city I’ve never seen, and that’s part of the adventure.

After the finish (2:14:49), I changed into some dry clothes and headed out.

The subway ride home was even a little adventure. I was seated and a woman asked me to slide over and make some room. No problem. But as she sat down, she CRUSHED my toes with her huge, fat feet. I winced and she apologized immediately. BUT, the douchebag she was with proceeded to yell at me because he though I was wincing at having to move over. She told him she had stepped on me and he shut up, WITHOUT APOLOGIZING TO ME. “Um, I just ran 13 miles, so it hurts when people step on my feet.” He acted like he didn’t even hear me, like I suddenly didn’t exist. Dick.

Manhattan Half-Marathon

Good morning to you, Manhattan Half-Marathon.



It is January 27, 2008. 30 degrees outside and I'm about to run 13.1 miles in Central Park.


Simply put, I do not feel up to it.


The morning greets me with a dull, thudding pain in my back. I'm trying to avoid taking ibuprofen by the handful like I did around the marathon. Sooooo, I've been waking up sore everyday, like... retired football player sore. This was not going to help.


The donning of appropriate winter running gear took place with apprehension.


2 pairs of underwear, windproof pants, heavy socks, moisture-wicking shirt, cotton t-shirt, fleece pull-over, windproof jacket, head/neck/face "gator," skullcap, wrap-around ear warmy, gloves, runnin' shoes.


This was to be my longest run since the marathon back in November.


I loaded up the iPod shuffle with a good playlist (Foo Fighters, Beck, NIN, Metallica, Primus).


The start was a short jog from my apartment, perfect warm-up distance.


The park was bumpin', y'all! Music, thousands of people including spectators with signs.


The horn goes off and I cross the start at 8:35am.


I felt great until about mile 8. The toughest hills were, by that point, out of the way. But my body began to rebel.


Rick's Body: What?!? Five more miles?!? Fuggedit, pal. I'm cold, wet and tired. Time to go home.

Rick's mind: I am a warrior. Too tough to kill.

Rick's Body: You're an idiot. Who do you think you are? No way can you do this.

Rick's mind: I am stronger than my body.

Rick's body: That doesn't even make sense. You're a babbling idiot trying to take your mind off the pain you're inflicting on yourself.

Rick's mind: Shut up...am not!

Rick's Body: Idiot.

My body was mad at me.

I actually questioned whether I would finish. I took a walk break, surrendering to my goal of 2:15. I'd be glad to finish under 2:30 at this point.


My fancy, moisture-wicking fabrics were simply wet rags at this point. I was getting colder and colder, which made me run faster, which made me sweat more, which made me colder.


Sue and Coach Parker met me at the finish. Well, what was left of me.


4996 finishers. I finished in 2:19:03.



Lesson of the race: Just because you ran a marathon a few months ago doesn't mean that a half-marathon in Central Park will be a piece of cake. It's still thirteen miles of hills.



I will: eat better, hydrate more regularly, stretch more regularly, get more sleep.

My pictures.

Can you feel it? I did.

2008 racing miles to date: 18.1

Next race: February 10 Bronx Half-Marathon