The final two races...
I didn't attend these races, but I wanted to make sure they were chronicled as they represent the final qualifying races for Shirley and Mel. The Hot Chocolate 15K was held on December 1, and Kathy, Shirley and Mel traveled down together to run the race, and even squeezed in some Christmas shopping at the Woodbury Commons on the way back. This was Shirley's 9th and final race.
Mel still had one race to go, and she persuaded her husband to take her on a little vacation to the city, just the two of them, for the Joe Kleinerman 10K on December 9. We anxiously checked the NYRR website that Sunday to make sure that she actually did it...and she did! Six of us had successfully completed the required 9 qualifying races for the 2008 New York City Marathon!! We were in!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Poland Springs Marathon Kickoff: October 28, 2007
This would be the 9th race for me and three others in the group. Six of us were racing this weekend: me, Kathy, Mary, Alka, Shirley and Mel. We all drove down together in my car and stayed again at the Beacon Hotel. As we drove down, I reflected back over the past year and all that we had done, as well as all the things we had talked of doing during our trips to New York but had not yet done. The time had really flown by, and this would be the 9th and final trip to NYC in 2007 for some of us.
In our usual style, we packed it in. After checking into the hotel, we had lunch at the Citrus Bar and Grill (which we liked) near the hotel. Then we headed down to Times Square to get some play tickets at the TKTS booth. The line was a mile long, so we headed into the Marriott Marquis to wait for the line to shorten. We discovered the Broadway Lounge which had a wall of windows with a view of the Times Square circus below. We relaxed and enjoyed the ambience and felt very fortunate. As predicted the TKTS line had shortened considerably by the time we queued up, and we snagged the tickets we wanted. After the play, we tried to get into Carmine's at Times Square for dinner, but it was absolutely packed. We took the subway up to Carmine's on the Upper West Side. It too was packed with a long wait. We finally settled on a small Thai restaurant, the Lemongrass Grill, near the subway station, and enjoyed some good food and Thai beer. For once, Mel was unable to order her usual chicken caesar salad, and was forced to try something new, which she liked!
We slept well at the Beacon which had become so familiar and comfortable. The next morning, as Mary and Kathy slipped away to get their Starbucks fix, the rest of us relaxed, sipping hotel coffee and attaching our bibs and Champion Chips. As we emerged from the warmth of the hotel, the cool air chilled us. We walked quickly to the race start and seeded ourselves in the lineup. They had already set up the bleachers for the New York Marathon which would be held just 7 days later, and we all got a chill thinking about how cool it was to be running this part of the course today, and what it would be like running the entire course next year. All of us ran well...for me it was one of my fastest times ever. I had been training using the FIRST program, and it really made a huge difference. We all finished the race, and for me, Kathy, Alka, and Mary, we had accomplished our goal of running the 9 qualifying NYRR races so that we would be eligible for guaranteed entry into the 2008 New York City Marathon!! Shirley still had one more race to do, and Mel had two, so the goal was still well within their reach.
We celebrated on our way out of town by having brunch at Sylvia's in Harlem, which was a real treat.
In our usual style, we packed it in. After checking into the hotel, we had lunch at the Citrus Bar and Grill (which we liked) near the hotel. Then we headed down to Times Square to get some play tickets at the TKTS booth. The line was a mile long, so we headed into the Marriott Marquis to wait for the line to shorten. We discovered the Broadway Lounge which had a wall of windows with a view of the Times Square circus below. We relaxed and enjoyed the ambience and felt very fortunate. As predicted the TKTS line had shortened considerably by the time we queued up, and we snagged the tickets we wanted. After the play, we tried to get into Carmine's at Times Square for dinner, but it was absolutely packed. We took the subway up to Carmine's on the Upper West Side. It too was packed with a long wait. We finally settled on a small Thai restaurant, the Lemongrass Grill, near the subway station, and enjoyed some good food and Thai beer. For once, Mel was unable to order her usual chicken caesar salad, and was forced to try something new, which she liked!
We slept well at the Beacon which had become so familiar and comfortable. The next morning, as Mary and Kathy slipped away to get their Starbucks fix, the rest of us relaxed, sipping hotel coffee and attaching our bibs and Champion Chips. As we emerged from the warmth of the hotel, the cool air chilled us. We walked quickly to the race start and seeded ourselves in the lineup. They had already set up the bleachers for the New York Marathon which would be held just 7 days later, and we all got a chill thinking about how cool it was to be running this part of the course today, and what it would be like running the entire course next year. All of us ran well...for me it was one of my fastest times ever. I had been training using the FIRST program, and it really made a huge difference. We all finished the race, and for me, Kathy, Alka, and Mary, we had accomplished our goal of running the 9 qualifying NYRR races so that we would be eligible for guaranteed entry into the 2008 New York City Marathon!! Shirley still had one more race to do, and Mel had two, so the goal was still well within their reach.
We celebrated on our way out of town by having brunch at Sylvia's in Harlem, which was a real treat.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Nearing the end...
Nine of us started this great adventure to do nine NYRR races in 2007.
I am sorry to say that 3 in our group will not be able to complete the 9 races, but are going to hope for the best in the 2008 lottery (Nancy, Lauren, Brooke). Even though she won't get nine races in 2007, Nancy is still running a number of the fall NYRR races just for the fun of it. We all hope that Nancy, Lauren, and Brooke make it into the marathon so we can all race together as we originally planned.
That leaves 6 who are working to complete the nine races in 2007. Four of us plan to finish the nine races with the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff on October 28. Mel and Shirley have a couple of additional races to do...I'm trying to talk them into doing two races between now and Oct 28 so that we can all finish together. However, if they can't there are still some good races in December, and that gives us a good excuse to go to New York again for a celebratory 10th race!
I am sorry to say that 3 in our group will not be able to complete the 9 races, but are going to hope for the best in the 2008 lottery (Nancy, Lauren, Brooke). Even though she won't get nine races in 2007, Nancy is still running a number of the fall NYRR races just for the fun of it. We all hope that Nancy, Lauren, and Brooke make it into the marathon so we can all race together as we originally planned.
That leaves 6 who are working to complete the nine races in 2007. Four of us plan to finish the nine races with the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff on October 28. Mel and Shirley have a couple of additional races to do...I'm trying to talk them into doing two races between now and Oct 28 so that we can all finish together. However, if they can't there are still some good races in December, and that gives us a good excuse to go to New York again for a celebratory 10th race!
Labrecque Classic 5K: Sep 16, 2007
Kathy, Mary, Mel, Shirley, Nancy, Alka, LyleKathy and Nancy are holding their awards for placing in their age groups.
Women on the Run Win Washington
We decided to do something a little different this time and take in a NYRR race in Washington DC. We drove down in two cars and stayed the first night with Mary's friend, Pam, in Brunswick MD. We had a blast and her hospitality was wonderful. We drove into the city Saturday morning, dropped our cars and baggage at the Marriott Key Bridge, and then rented bicycles in Rosslyn. We crossed the Potomac and had lunch outdoors along the waterfront. We then hit the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, the Mall, and the Capitol before heading back to Rosslyn. They were having a big anti-war protest at the Capitol, and there were helicopters, police cars, and mounted police everywhere. We took a bike trail on the Arlington side of the Potomac which was very pleasant. We stopped to watch two bald eagles which were gliding in circles above the Potomac in front of the Lincoln Memorial. What an awesome sight. We later had dinner at the Peacock Cafe in Georgetown, which was a nice walk from our hotel.
Race morning, we took cabs to the start at Freedom Plaza (it was too early for the Metro) and picked up our packets. It was cool, with a bright rising sun. We found a warm sunny spot to hang out while we waited and chatted with other runners. There weren't nearly as many racers as we expected. In fact someone commented, "This is like an Ogdensburg race!" It was a welcome change to not be in a crowd of thousands.
The streets of Washington were deserted. What a contrast to the previous afternoon when we we dodging people and cars everywhere on our bicycles. We were very touched as we stood on Pennsylvania Avenue at the race start, with the Capitol ahead of us, American flags rippling on either side of us and listened to the National Anthem sung by an opera singer. It was beautiful.
And then we were off. It was a relatively flat course. Up Pennsylvania Ave. to the Capitol, then past the Capitol, a small loop just beyond the Capitol, and then we retraced our steps. Although an out and back course can be uninteresting, its fun to be able to see the race leaders as they head back for the finish.
We found each other easily after the race and sat on the curb of Pennsylvania Ave eating our bagels and enjoying the good vibes. Kathy went to check the posted times---and came back screaming in disbelief---she had come in second for her age group with a time of 26:58! We did some checking and found that Nancy had come in third for her age group! Congratulations Kathy and Nancy!!
We posed for the above photo, with the winners holding their awards before finding the Metro station and heading back.
It was a beautiful weekend, great race, lots of fun.
NYC Half Marathon: Aug 5, 2007
Before the NYC HM: Nancy, Kathy, Brooke, Lauren, Mary, Alka, Lyle, Mel
Eight of us decided to enter the lottery for the NYC Half Marathon. I figured we wouldn't all get in, but it would be an awesome race for those that did. I could hardly believe my eyes as I checked the website the evening of the lottery--all eight of us had won the lottery!
We left in the dark Saturday morning and pulled into our Financial District hotel around noon. It was a warm sunny day, and the Hudson River was beautiful. We made a beeline for the subway to take us up to Niketown for the packet pickup. Afterwards, Lauren was on mission for some Tiffany's jewelry, so we stopped in there for awhile. I couldn't believe how crowded the place was. The elevator operator was a real comedian--the elevator ride is not to be missed.
We then made our way down to Little Italy via foot and bus. Mulberry street was closed to traffic and it was a wonderful festival-like atmosphere with outdoor dining, people everywhere, and a beautiful summer evening. We dined on the patio at Da Nico and enjoyed the Italian food and the attentiveness of our multiple Italian waiters. On the way back to the hotel, we couldn't resist checking out the "back room" of one of the shops on the edge of Chinatown. The back room is an interesting concept that I hadn't experienced before. By the time we got back to the hotel, I was totally wasted and went straight to bed, as we had a very early start the next morning.
We got cabs at 6 am to take us up to the race start on the west side of Central Park. It was still dark and the sun was just coming up. After taking a picture and visiting the portapotty it didn't seem like we had to wait too long for the 7 am start.
And then we were off! A lap around Central Park first, with which we were now quite familiar. It was cool, shady and pleasant. Somewhere along that loop a guy yelled, "Enjoy it now because mile 11 is going to suck!!" My favorite part of the whole race was turning out of Central Park and onto 7th Avenue. What a thrill running down 7th Avenue! I loved it. I just tried to enjoy the moment and take it all in. The run down 7th Avenue and then 42nd street seemed like a breeze. Then we entered the West Side Highway. It seemed like it would never end. I wouldn't say that mile 11 "sucked" but I was certainly ready to be done with this race by that time. That section of the race was hot and sunny. Fortunately the day was relatively cool for an August day in Manhattan. I drank LOTS of water along the way and did just fine. As usual I was so happy to see that finish line. They were out of the wet towels by the time I crossed the finish line--I could have really used one of those! My comrades were no where in sight, so I enjoyed some of the post-race festivities on my own. I was offered a free Jamba Juice which was delicious and watched the awards ceremony in Battery Park before heading back to the hotel for a shower.
We topped the day off with a departure via the George Washington Bridge (the top level of course) and lunch at California Pizza Kitchen in Paramus, NJ.
After the race we learned that Mary took 19th place for her age group with a time of 2:10:06. Very impressive considering the field she was competing against. Congratulations Mary!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Family Day
New York Mini 10K
June 9, 2007
Racers: Mary, Lyle
I persuaded my husband, Mike, to accompany me on a trip into the city, promising him a day at the American Museum of Natural History, including the Hayden Planetarium. Our plan was to stay Friday and Saturday nights in Tarrytown. We would take the train into the city early Saturday morning, he would hang out in Central Park while I ran the race, and then we would go together to the museum. Mary had planned a trip to the city with her family as well, and was staying at a nearby Tarrytown hotel. Mary’s family’s ultimate destination, however, would be the Yankees game Saturday afternoon.
Mike and I picked up Mary at her hotel at 6:05 am, and we caught the 6:39 am train from Tarrytown to Grand Central Terminal. ($14.50 each roundtrip, offpeak, with free weekend parking at the Tarrytown station). We arrived at Grand Central about 40 minutes later, and were awestruck as we entered the cavernous main lobby. There were cyclists with their bikes all over the place--must have been on their way to a race or ride somewhere.
We headed out to 42nd street to catch the #104 bus which would take us pretty close to the race packet pickup and start. Since we started this project this was the first time I had taken the bus, and it was a nice alternative to the subway as you get to see a lot more. We arrived in plenty of time, got our bibs, Champion chips and t-shirts. Mike took our "before" picture, and then he was off to find coffee and a comfortable place to relax while he waited. At that point, the sky was overcast and we had felt a few drops of rain. The humidity was high but there was a slight breeze, and the temperature was in the 70s. Mary and I walked along Central Park West warming up and waiting for the race to start. We were both wearing our Women on the Run shirts, and a man holding a large camera asked if we were part of a NYRR team or club. We were sorry to say that we weren’t. He encouraged us to register our group as an NYRR club, despite our disclosure that we are very loosely organized.
As the runners started lining up, I decided that since I was going to be taking it easy (walking half the first half, running the second) due to an injury, that I would go up front and watch the elite runners take off at the start, and then head to the back of the pack. It was really a thrill to be up front and to see the elite women lined up across the front line, including Jelena Prokopcuka. I remember watching her win the NYC Marathon last November. I had recently read Kathrine Switzer’s book, Marathon Woman, which describes the birth of the New York Mini as the first all woman race back in 1972. And here we are 36 years later. Kathrine Switzer was also there to give words of encouragement. I felt like I was really part of something great to be here with these elite women runners, and especially those who had created the history of women’s running.
I then had a little comic relief. A wiry middle-aged man was standing next to me on the sideline of the race start, wearing shorts and a running singlet. He had that gruff New York City way of talking that I love. He was really excited, cheering and yelling “hey it’s the greatest race in the world!!” I was getting excited too. As we watched the elite runners together, I turned to him and said, “this is great… but as soon as the race starts, I’m going to go jump in at the back.” I was a little puzzled when he replied, “I am too!”
And then they were off. I headed back to find my place with the walkers. It was nice going down Central Park West. I admired the American Museum of History on my left, and looked forward to spending my afternoon there. As I walked quickly down the street, the day was heating up and the sun had come out. I wanted to run so badly, but I was following doctor’s orders and limiting my running mileage. I couldn’t wait until the halfway point when I could let go and run the rest of the way. That last half of the race was HOT. I had a cup of water or Gatorade at each stop, and pushed myself along. I distracted myself by looking for the Central Park landmarks that have become so familiar to me over the past 6 months. Since I ran the last half, I found myself passing a number of women at the back of the pack. Some seemed to be struggling and I was inspired by their determination to keep on going.
I was glad to see that finish line! My husband was standing there cheering me as I crossed the line. Mary had finished way ahead of me, and we posed for an “after” picture together looking flushed, sweaty and very happy. For once we had the luxury of staying afterwards for the awards ceremony since we didn’t have to rush back home, and that was a treat.
Then, Mary was off to meet her family at Yankee Stadium, and Mike and I headed to the Museum of Natural History. The sun was shining and we enjoyed the rest of this perfect spring day.
I persuaded my husband, Mike, to accompany me on a trip into the city, promising him a day at the American Museum of Natural History, including the Hayden Planetarium. Our plan was to stay Friday and Saturday nights in Tarrytown. We would take the train into the city early Saturday morning, he would hang out in Central Park while I ran the race, and then we would go together to the museum. Mary had planned a trip to the city with her family as well, and was staying at a nearby Tarrytown hotel. Mary’s family’s ultimate destination, however, would be the Yankees game Saturday afternoon.
Mike and I picked up Mary at her hotel at 6:05 am, and we caught the 6:39 am train from Tarrytown to Grand Central Terminal. ($14.50 each roundtrip, offpeak, with free weekend parking at the Tarrytown station). We arrived at Grand Central about 40 minutes later, and were awestruck as we entered the cavernous main lobby. There were cyclists with their bikes all over the place--must have been on their way to a race or ride somewhere.
We headed out to 42nd street to catch the #104 bus which would take us pretty close to the race packet pickup and start. Since we started this project this was the first time I had taken the bus, and it was a nice alternative to the subway as you get to see a lot more. We arrived in plenty of time, got our bibs, Champion chips and t-shirts. Mike took our "before" picture, and then he was off to find coffee and a comfortable place to relax while he waited. At that point, the sky was overcast and we had felt a few drops of rain. The humidity was high but there was a slight breeze, and the temperature was in the 70s. Mary and I walked along Central Park West warming up and waiting for the race to start. We were both wearing our Women on the Run shirts, and a man holding a large camera asked if we were part of a NYRR team or club. We were sorry to say that we weren’t. He encouraged us to register our group as an NYRR club, despite our disclosure that we are very loosely organized.
As the runners started lining up, I decided that since I was going to be taking it easy (walking half the first half, running the second) due to an injury, that I would go up front and watch the elite runners take off at the start, and then head to the back of the pack. It was really a thrill to be up front and to see the elite women lined up across the front line, including Jelena Prokopcuka. I remember watching her win the NYC Marathon last November. I had recently read Kathrine Switzer’s book, Marathon Woman, which describes the birth of the New York Mini as the first all woman race back in 1972. And here we are 36 years later. Kathrine Switzer was also there to give words of encouragement. I felt like I was really part of something great to be here with these elite women runners, and especially those who had created the history of women’s running.
I then had a little comic relief. A wiry middle-aged man was standing next to me on the sideline of the race start, wearing shorts and a running singlet. He had that gruff New York City way of talking that I love. He was really excited, cheering and yelling “hey it’s the greatest race in the world!!” I was getting excited too. As we watched the elite runners together, I turned to him and said, “this is great… but as soon as the race starts, I’m going to go jump in at the back.” I was a little puzzled when he replied, “I am too!”
And then they were off. I headed back to find my place with the walkers. It was nice going down Central Park West. I admired the American Museum of History on my left, and looked forward to spending my afternoon there. As I walked quickly down the street, the day was heating up and the sun had come out. I wanted to run so badly, but I was following doctor’s orders and limiting my running mileage. I couldn’t wait until the halfway point when I could let go and run the rest of the way. That last half of the race was HOT. I had a cup of water or Gatorade at each stop, and pushed myself along. I distracted myself by looking for the Central Park landmarks that have become so familiar to me over the past 6 months. Since I ran the last half, I found myself passing a number of women at the back of the pack. Some seemed to be struggling and I was inspired by their determination to keep on going.
I was glad to see that finish line! My husband was standing there cheering me as I crossed the line. Mary had finished way ahead of me, and we posed for an “after” picture together looking flushed, sweaty and very happy. For once we had the luxury of staying afterwards for the awards ceremony since we didn’t have to rush back home, and that was a treat.
Then, Mary was off to meet her family at Yankee Stadium, and Mike and I headed to the Museum of Natural History. The sun was shining and we enjoyed the rest of this perfect spring day.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
You must be 21...
May 19, 2007: Healthy Kidney 10K
Racers: Lyle, Mary, Kathy, Mel, Shirley
This was a whirlwind trip. We left at 4 pm on Friday afternoon, had dinner at a service plaza along the thruway (yum!) and arrived at our hotel in Tarrytown about 11:30 pm. It was Mary’s birthday, so a small celebration was in order before we retired.
The first thing we noticed as we walked in the door of the hotel was the front desk clerk—an overweight middle-aged man with a really bad toupee. He had on a very short tie. Mel asked him where the closest lounge was. The man explained where it was, but added the following caution, “But in New York State you must be 21 to drink.” He was dead serious. He wasn’t joking. You should have seen Mel trying to convince him that she was in fact over 21. Had we entered the twilight zone? A young man standing nearby who witnessed the whole thing had quite a chuckle.
After we stowed our luggage in the room, we headed out for the birthday celebration. As we walked through the hotel lobby, we got last minute directions from the clerk. He gave us good, detailed directions, and then added, “But you must be 21 to drink.” As we exited the hotel we almost busted a gut laughing. All 5 of us are old enough to be grandmothers.
The sports bar we went to was obviously a local hangout and it was perfect. I’m sure we looked like we were “from away.” Mel was quite a sight-- dressed in a hot pink velour lounge outfit, carrying a sparkly silver purse. The rest of us looked normal. We had a good time and when we returned to the hotel, we couldn’t help but toy with the clerk. As we walked in, Kathy said “they served us and we aren’t even 21!” The clerk peered over his reading glasses staring at us in disbelief.
By the time we got to bed it was 2:30 am. We needed to get up at 6 am, and we did. It looked like it was going to rain. But by the time the race started the sun was shining. I walked this race, as I had been experiencing a pain in my left thigh for a couple of weeks and the doctor thought it might be a stress fracture. I was scheduled to have a nuclear bone scan on Monday. So I followed doctor’s orders and walked the entire 10K. Walking fast is hard. I almost came in dead last. But the cool thing is that as I crossed the finish line the rest of the gang was there to meet me, and one of the photographers took a group picture under the banner. This was also the first race in which all of us wore our “Women on the Run” singlets.
We hurried back to Tarrytown, got our showers, and then had a wonderful lunch under the Tappan Zee Bridge at a great little place called Sunset Cove. What a contrast to the thruway service plaza meal!
Then we piled in the car and headed home again. Five down, four to go!
Racers: Lyle, Mary, Kathy, Mel, Shirley
This was a whirlwind trip. We left at 4 pm on Friday afternoon, had dinner at a service plaza along the thruway (yum!) and arrived at our hotel in Tarrytown about 11:30 pm. It was Mary’s birthday, so a small celebration was in order before we retired.
The first thing we noticed as we walked in the door of the hotel was the front desk clerk—an overweight middle-aged man with a really bad toupee. He had on a very short tie. Mel asked him where the closest lounge was. The man explained where it was, but added the following caution, “But in New York State you must be 21 to drink.” He was dead serious. He wasn’t joking. You should have seen Mel trying to convince him that she was in fact over 21. Had we entered the twilight zone? A young man standing nearby who witnessed the whole thing had quite a chuckle.
After we stowed our luggage in the room, we headed out for the birthday celebration. As we walked through the hotel lobby, we got last minute directions from the clerk. He gave us good, detailed directions, and then added, “But you must be 21 to drink.” As we exited the hotel we almost busted a gut laughing. All 5 of us are old enough to be grandmothers.
The sports bar we went to was obviously a local hangout and it was perfect. I’m sure we looked like we were “from away.” Mel was quite a sight-- dressed in a hot pink velour lounge outfit, carrying a sparkly silver purse. The rest of us looked normal. We had a good time and when we returned to the hotel, we couldn’t help but toy with the clerk. As we walked in, Kathy said “they served us and we aren’t even 21!” The clerk peered over his reading glasses staring at us in disbelief.
By the time we got to bed it was 2:30 am. We needed to get up at 6 am, and we did. It looked like it was going to rain. But by the time the race started the sun was shining. I walked this race, as I had been experiencing a pain in my left thigh for a couple of weeks and the doctor thought it might be a stress fracture. I was scheduled to have a nuclear bone scan on Monday. So I followed doctor’s orders and walked the entire 10K. Walking fast is hard. I almost came in dead last. But the cool thing is that as I crossed the finish line the rest of the gang was there to meet me, and one of the photographers took a group picture under the banner. This was also the first race in which all of us wore our “Women on the Run” singlets.
We hurried back to Tarrytown, got our showers, and then had a wonderful lunch under the Tappan Zee Bridge at a great little place called Sunset Cove. What a contrast to the thruway service plaza meal!
Then we piled in the car and headed home again. Five down, four to go!
A Mother's Day to Remember
May 13, 2007: New York Junior League Mothers Day Run
Racers: Mel, Kathy, Mary, Lyle, Alka, and Shirley at Tom's Diner after the race
I wasn’t sure if I could get a good size group to join me on a trip to New York on Mothers Day weekend, however there were 6 of us for this trip. It was a beautiful weekend. I drove down, my SUV packed to the gills with people and luggage. We drove down the usual way, coming in to the city via I-87, taking the Sawmill Parkway to Henry Hudson Parkway, 79th street exit down to Broadway and then to (where else?) the Beacon Hotel. We’ve got this down to a science. We did a few laps around the block before deciding that no on-street parking places were to be had, and then went into a parking garage. We checked into the Beacon and were walking to lunch by 1 pm. Our lunch destination this day would be Isabella’s near the Museum of Natural History. What a great spot that was! We got a table outside, had wonderful food, drink, and conversation. The free hats they passed out to us were a big hit. The next item on the itinerary was to pick up our race packets. After losing one of our members in an Arts and Crafts fair for 30 minutes, we finally made our way to the packet pickup.
Racers: Mel, Kathy, Mary, Lyle, Alka, and Shirley at Tom's Diner after the race
I wasn’t sure if I could get a good size group to join me on a trip to New York on Mothers Day weekend, however there were 6 of us for this trip. It was a beautiful weekend. I drove down, my SUV packed to the gills with people and luggage. We drove down the usual way, coming in to the city via I-87, taking the Sawmill Parkway to Henry Hudson Parkway, 79th street exit down to Broadway and then to (where else?) the Beacon Hotel. We’ve got this down to a science. We did a few laps around the block before deciding that no on-street parking places were to be had, and then went into a parking garage. We checked into the Beacon and were walking to lunch by 1 pm. Our lunch destination this day would be Isabella’s near the Museum of Natural History. What a great spot that was! We got a table outside, had wonderful food, drink, and conversation. The free hats they passed out to us were a big hit. The next item on the itinerary was to pick up our race packets. After losing one of our members in an Arts and Crafts fair for 30 minutes, we finally made our way to the packet pickup.
On to the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Not for the art, but for the Rooftop Café for drinks. Mary found this spot in her New York travel guide. What a great spot this was. Up on the roof. The New York skyline! A gorgeous spring day! Who could ask for more? When we finally got back to the hotel that evening, I was exhausted. The group was talking about going out for a burger, and all I could think about was crawling into bed. I went to bed, and they went for burgers.
The next morning I felt pretty good. It was sunny, but relatively cool (in the 50’s). Mary and Shirley ran the 4 mile race and the rest of us went for the 10 mile race an hour later. I decided (for the first time) to race with my Ipod. I sometimes use it when I’m just out running and I’m definitely not dependent on it. I thought the music might motivate me to run stronger, especially given the length of the race. I did find that I enjoyed having it.
I ran a good race (for me). I’m not a fast runner. Ten miles is not a common race distance, so the only thing that comes close for comparison is the Utica Boilermaker (15K) which I did in 2004 and 2006. Of course the Boilermaker is hilly and hot, and a little shorter, but I took a whole minute off of my Boilermaker pace. I was very encouraged by this, feeling like my training was starting to pay off. Mary and Shirley hung out after their race, and I was really surprised to see them cheering me on as I passed the Boathouse on one of the loops around the park.
I love picking out all of the landmarks as I circle through the park. This time, I noticed for the first time the Marionette Theater, which looked like something from a German fairly tale. As I crested one hill, there was a man who looked like an old running coach, who was giving each of us pointers on our running form. And then I saw again a tall nice-looking African American man I had seen during the More Half Marathon (doing the same thing), who ran the course in reverse facing us, clapping and encouraging all of us. It was nice running the course counterclockwise this time. It was also a nice change to do those northern hills from the other direction.
After showers at the hotel, drove up near Columbia University with a plan to have lunch at the Seinfeld spot, Tom’s Diner. We saw lots of Columbia grads in their caps and gowns. We circled around the block a few times, looking for a spot to park. We had just given up when we came upon one. You would have thought we had just won the lottery. My parallel parking skills have atrophied over the years since I rarely need to do it anymore. And I’ll tell you, these Manhattan parking spots are tight. Kathy suddenly shouts out, I’ll park it for you! So I stop, jump out and she jumps out and gets in the driver’s seat. I thought for sure the driver behind us was going to start honking, but I didn’t care (they didn’t honk…they must have been from out of town). I’m sure I could have parked it, but why put myself through that anxiety if someone else is willing to take it on? Kathy did a great job. We had a great diner lunch, and then walked through St. John the Divine Cathedral which was just a block away. That place was awesome. I was so glad we stopped in. It was definitely worth the time.
Then we headed home. Another great weekend and another race under our belts.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Half Marathon Women
March 25, 2007: More Half Marathon
Racers: Lyle, Kathy, Alka, Mary (missing from picture: Lauren, Brooke)
We made our reservation at the Beacon Hotel. Kathy would drive this time, and Mary would navigate. The plan was to leave at 5 am Saturday. We arrived in the city around lunch time, left our luggage at the hotel, and headed down to the Expo to get our packets. I met Kathrine Switzer and chatted with her for a few minutes. She was autographing her new book, Marathon Woman, and I bought one. We all had our bone densities screened at the expo, and compared our T scores. After lunch at a great little spot near the expo we returned to the hotel, dropped off the packets and rested briefly before heading over to the Pasta Party at the Tavern on the Green.
I always wanted to check out the Tavern on the Green, as I had never been there before. The pasta party was fine, but I have to say that the Tavern on the Green was not as wonderful as I expected. I thought the décor was a bit tacky. We sat at a table with a group of women who had come all the way from Austin, Texas for this race. On the way out, walking down the crowded corridor I walked right past Al Sharpton.
We had very good weather for this one—nice cool running weather. We each ran our own race (we always do). The lead runners lapped me shortly before I finished my first lap of the two lap course. It was a thrill having them run past me. I felt pretty good until about mile 10. Then my legs just started stiffening up. Even on the downhills my legs were unhappy. So that last couple of miles were a push for me. Nevertheless, I finished and felt good about my time. It was nothing spectacular, but it was good for me, and better than previous half marathons I had done. However, I decided that I needed to work on my training so my legs would be better able to go the distance in the future.
I stayed for a few minutes of the after-race party. They had a great band playing. Then it was back to the hotel to grab a quick shower before our long drive home. Three down, six to go!
Racers: Lyle, Kathy, Alka, Mary (missing from picture: Lauren, Brooke)
We made our reservation at the Beacon Hotel. Kathy would drive this time, and Mary would navigate. The plan was to leave at 5 am Saturday. We arrived in the city around lunch time, left our luggage at the hotel, and headed down to the Expo to get our packets. I met Kathrine Switzer and chatted with her for a few minutes. She was autographing her new book, Marathon Woman, and I bought one. We all had our bone densities screened at the expo, and compared our T scores. After lunch at a great little spot near the expo we returned to the hotel, dropped off the packets and rested briefly before heading over to the Pasta Party at the Tavern on the Green.
I always wanted to check out the Tavern on the Green, as I had never been there before. The pasta party was fine, but I have to say that the Tavern on the Green was not as wonderful as I expected. I thought the décor was a bit tacky. We sat at a table with a group of women who had come all the way from Austin, Texas for this race. On the way out, walking down the crowded corridor I walked right past Al Sharpton.
We had very good weather for this one—nice cool running weather. We each ran our own race (we always do). The lead runners lapped me shortly before I finished my first lap of the two lap course. It was a thrill having them run past me. I felt pretty good until about mile 10. Then my legs just started stiffening up. Even on the downhills my legs were unhappy. So that last couple of miles were a push for me. Nevertheless, I finished and felt good about my time. It was nothing spectacular, but it was good for me, and better than previous half marathons I had done. However, I decided that I needed to work on my training so my legs would be better able to go the distance in the future.
I stayed for a few minutes of the after-race party. They had a great band playing. Then it was back to the hotel to grab a quick shower before our long drive home. Three down, six to go!
The Hostel Weekend
February 24, 2007: NYRR Al Gordon Snowflake
Racers: Nancy, Shirley, Kathy, Alka, Lyle
We decided to be adventurous and try out a hostel this time. Mary was actually the one who picked this one after looking at ratings and reviews. She happened to be in the city the weekend before and personally inspected it. She called to reassure us on the day of our trip that we had “made a good choice.”
The NYRR Al Gordon Snowflake, a 4 mile run, was scheduled for Saturday. We decided to go down for Friday and Saturday night, and to try taking the train in from New Jersey. We arrived at the hostel around 9 or 10 pm. It wasn’t what I had expected, but I figured, how bad can it be? Everyone else was not as optimistic. However, I was way too tired to go looking for another place to stay at this hour.
The staff was friendly but completely incompetent. We had reserved a 6 bunk room with its own bathroom. Initially there had been six of us planning to do this trip, so we would have the room to ourselves. Instead they said the 6 bunk room was unavailable and put us in a 12 bunk room. This room was trashed. It looked like people were living here. When we first walked into the room, there was a woman on a top bunk who said to us, “Oh good. I’m glad to see some other normal people.” The bathroom was trashed too—full of dozens of shampoo bottles, spilled makeup, and hair. We couldn’t even find 5 clean bunks to call our own and had to go down and get the front desk people to remedy the situation. Once we figured out where we were sleeping we went and had a late supper at Carmines, an Italian restaurant with great atmosphere, great food. It was a nice respite from the hostel.
Then we returned to the hostel. The door lock didn’t work. The furnace pipes clanged all night. I kept my purse in my bed. Some of us slept in our clothes. We think a couple of women that were staying in the room were working as prostitutes. It was like a nightmare that kept getting worse. It was horrible. When I awoke the next morning, I made a decision that we were moving out of this hell hole as soon as we finished our race.
The morning was brilliant but COLD. It was 20 degrees and windy. We were absolutely frigid as we waited for the race to start on East Drive in Central Park. We warmed up quickly when the race finally started and we trotted counterclockwise around the park. It was so cold that the cups of water had ice on top. But I felt good, and enjoyed my second tour of Central Park.
After the race, we booked a room at the Beacon Hotel, showered and checked out of the hostel. We walked into the lobby of the Beacon, and it was as if we had gone from one universe to another. There was a collective sigh of relief. Our two room suite was like heaven. We could finally relax and enjoy ourselves. We decided right then and there that we loved the Beacon and that we were going to stay there every single time. Period.
We spent the afternoon exploring the city. After lunch we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoyed their Tiffany exhibit. We then took the subway south and meandered through Greenwich Village for awhile. We stopped in a Mexican restaurant for margaritas and sangria.
Racers: Nancy, Shirley, Kathy, Alka, Lyle
We decided to be adventurous and try out a hostel this time. Mary was actually the one who picked this one after looking at ratings and reviews. She happened to be in the city the weekend before and personally inspected it. She called to reassure us on the day of our trip that we had “made a good choice.”
The NYRR Al Gordon Snowflake, a 4 mile run, was scheduled for Saturday. We decided to go down for Friday and Saturday night, and to try taking the train in from New Jersey. We arrived at the hostel around 9 or 10 pm. It wasn’t what I had expected, but I figured, how bad can it be? Everyone else was not as optimistic. However, I was way too tired to go looking for another place to stay at this hour.
The staff was friendly but completely incompetent. We had reserved a 6 bunk room with its own bathroom. Initially there had been six of us planning to do this trip, so we would have the room to ourselves. Instead they said the 6 bunk room was unavailable and put us in a 12 bunk room. This room was trashed. It looked like people were living here. When we first walked into the room, there was a woman on a top bunk who said to us, “Oh good. I’m glad to see some other normal people.” The bathroom was trashed too—full of dozens of shampoo bottles, spilled makeup, and hair. We couldn’t even find 5 clean bunks to call our own and had to go down and get the front desk people to remedy the situation. Once we figured out where we were sleeping we went and had a late supper at Carmines, an Italian restaurant with great atmosphere, great food. It was a nice respite from the hostel.
Then we returned to the hostel. The door lock didn’t work. The furnace pipes clanged all night. I kept my purse in my bed. Some of us slept in our clothes. We think a couple of women that were staying in the room were working as prostitutes. It was like a nightmare that kept getting worse. It was horrible. When I awoke the next morning, I made a decision that we were moving out of this hell hole as soon as we finished our race.
The morning was brilliant but COLD. It was 20 degrees and windy. We were absolutely frigid as we waited for the race to start on East Drive in Central Park. We warmed up quickly when the race finally started and we trotted counterclockwise around the park. It was so cold that the cups of water had ice on top. But I felt good, and enjoyed my second tour of Central Park.
After the race, we booked a room at the Beacon Hotel, showered and checked out of the hostel. We walked into the lobby of the Beacon, and it was as if we had gone from one universe to another. There was a collective sigh of relief. Our two room suite was like heaven. We could finally relax and enjoy ourselves. We decided right then and there that we loved the Beacon and that we were going to stay there every single time. Period.
We spent the afternoon exploring the city. After lunch we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoyed their Tiffany exhibit. We then took the subway south and meandered through Greenwich Village for awhile. We stopped in a Mexican restaurant for margaritas and sangria.
Our group was pretty inefficient in trying to buy subway tickets from the machines and swiping them through the turnstiles. Some of us were more challenged with this task than others. We finally realized toward the end of the weekend that we should each buy a Metrocard with multiple rides on it so that we wouldn’t have to deal with the ticket machine every single time.
After a nice relaxing happy hour in our beautiful hotel suite, we then went out for a late supper at a nearby Indian restaurant. The next morning we headed home. Two down, seven to go!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Running Amok in the City
January 7, 2007: Fred Lebow Classic
Racers: Mel, Shirley, Lyle, Alka, Mary
We couldn’t wait to start our “grand scheme” and signed up for the first qualifying race for 2007, the NYRR Fred Lebow Classic, a 5 miler in Central Park. As of January 1, we had 6 committed members: Lyle, Alka, Mary, Shirley, Mel and Nancy. Nancy wasn’t going to be able to make the first race.
Initially I thought that we would be able to do 9 races all together. But it became apparent early on that even with the large number of NYRR qualifying races to choose from, we were not going to be able to identify 9 races that we could all do together. Trying to coordinate this was a cross between herding cats and solving a Rubik’s cube.
The plan would need to loosen up in order to work. Individuals would each need to suggest specific races to do, see who wanted to join them, and plan the races in a slightly more spontaneous manner. Each person would be responsible to make sure they made it to 9 races in the upcoming year.
Another feature of “the plan” as I saw it, was to try to do this as frugally and time efficiently as possible. If we were each going to travel to NYC nine times in one year, this could be costly and time consuming. My vision was to do this “on the cheap,” with the philosophy that in a great city like New York you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a blast. We would drive down together, share moderately priced lodging, eat at fun, casual places, take the subway or walk, and just enjoy the sights and ambiance of the city.
Early on I had suggested that we stay in hostels, considering the price of hotel rooms in New York. When I mentioned this to Mary on one of our Sunday group runs, she gave me this look that implied, “Are you out of your frigging mind??” So Mary got very busy and found us a great deal on rooms at the Upper Eastside Marriott Courtyard for this first trip. Mary also appointed herself tour director, which was great.
The race was on Sunday. We left Saturday morning about 7:30 am. Mel was late, so we made her sit in the very back of my SUV. I was driving and decided to try a route through New Jersey. I know this decision was hard for Mary (as she is an expert on the fastest way to get to New York) but she was very gracious and flexible. We had a great drive down. The day was sunny and getting very warm as we traveled south. We had a little glitch as we actually tried to cross over from New Jersey into Manhattan. I had a GPS navigation system, directions from Mapquest, and ongoing verbal directions from Mary. An in spite of this (or perhaps because of this) I took a wrong turn and ended up where I really didn’t want to be—going through the Holland Tunnel. It was amazing. It seemed like it went from 20 lanes to 2 lanes in a span of about 100 feet, with this giant free-for-all sprawl of cars and trucks playing chicken with each other. Where we live there is no such thing as a traffic jam, so under usual circumstances I’m not a pushy or aggressive driver, and tend to be kind and accommodating to fellow drivers. I could see that this attitude wasn’t going to work if I wanted to make it through the tunnel! So I switched into NYC driving mode (yes, I am capable of this). We had a beautiful drive up along the Hudson, past the Chelsea Piers. It was over 70 degrees and everyone was outside. People were out rollerblading in shorts and tank tops. (Remember this was January 6!) We rolled down our windows and enjoyed the drive through the city.
We drove past the NYRR office and picked up our packets (we were delighted with the long-sleeved white t-shirts with the colorful design) and then headed to the hotel to check in. There was no time to waste. Mary had a plan. We took a subway down to midtown and she took us on a walking tour that included Trump Tower, shops along 5th Avenue (we could look in the windows, but she wouldn’t allow us to go in), Rockefeller Center (the Christmas tree and decorations were still there), and I’m sure other sights that I can’t remember now. The main challenge of this walk was to keep up with Mary without getting run over. We ended in Times Square, and headed up to The View. We enjoyed our drinks, the view, and the crowd.
We couldn’t wait to start our “grand scheme” and signed up for the first qualifying race for 2007, the NYRR Fred Lebow Classic, a 5 miler in Central Park. As of January 1, we had 6 committed members: Lyle, Alka, Mary, Shirley, Mel and Nancy. Nancy wasn’t going to be able to make the first race.
Initially I thought that we would be able to do 9 races all together. But it became apparent early on that even with the large number of NYRR qualifying races to choose from, we were not going to be able to identify 9 races that we could all do together. Trying to coordinate this was a cross between herding cats and solving a Rubik’s cube.
The plan would need to loosen up in order to work. Individuals would each need to suggest specific races to do, see who wanted to join them, and plan the races in a slightly more spontaneous manner. Each person would be responsible to make sure they made it to 9 races in the upcoming year.
Another feature of “the plan” as I saw it, was to try to do this as frugally and time efficiently as possible. If we were each going to travel to NYC nine times in one year, this could be costly and time consuming. My vision was to do this “on the cheap,” with the philosophy that in a great city like New York you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a blast. We would drive down together, share moderately priced lodging, eat at fun, casual places, take the subway or walk, and just enjoy the sights and ambiance of the city.
Early on I had suggested that we stay in hostels, considering the price of hotel rooms in New York. When I mentioned this to Mary on one of our Sunday group runs, she gave me this look that implied, “Are you out of your frigging mind??” So Mary got very busy and found us a great deal on rooms at the Upper Eastside Marriott Courtyard for this first trip. Mary also appointed herself tour director, which was great.
The race was on Sunday. We left Saturday morning about 7:30 am. Mel was late, so we made her sit in the very back of my SUV. I was driving and decided to try a route through New Jersey. I know this decision was hard for Mary (as she is an expert on the fastest way to get to New York) but she was very gracious and flexible. We had a great drive down. The day was sunny and getting very warm as we traveled south. We had a little glitch as we actually tried to cross over from New Jersey into Manhattan. I had a GPS navigation system, directions from Mapquest, and ongoing verbal directions from Mary. An in spite of this (or perhaps because of this) I took a wrong turn and ended up where I really didn’t want to be—going through the Holland Tunnel. It was amazing. It seemed like it went from 20 lanes to 2 lanes in a span of about 100 feet, with this giant free-for-all sprawl of cars and trucks playing chicken with each other. Where we live there is no such thing as a traffic jam, so under usual circumstances I’m not a pushy or aggressive driver, and tend to be kind and accommodating to fellow drivers. I could see that this attitude wasn’t going to work if I wanted to make it through the tunnel! So I switched into NYC driving mode (yes, I am capable of this). We had a beautiful drive up along the Hudson, past the Chelsea Piers. It was over 70 degrees and everyone was outside. People were out rollerblading in shorts and tank tops. (Remember this was January 6!) We rolled down our windows and enjoyed the drive through the city.
We drove past the NYRR office and picked up our packets (we were delighted with the long-sleeved white t-shirts with the colorful design) and then headed to the hotel to check in. There was no time to waste. Mary had a plan. We took a subway down to midtown and she took us on a walking tour that included Trump Tower, shops along 5th Avenue (we could look in the windows, but she wouldn’t allow us to go in), Rockefeller Center (the Christmas tree and decorations were still there), and I’m sure other sights that I can’t remember now. The main challenge of this walk was to keep up with Mary without getting run over. We ended in Times Square, and headed up to The View. We enjoyed our drinks, the view, and the crowd.
So then it was on to dinner at Virgil’s Barbecue. It was noisy, crowded and fun. This is the part where certain people who shall remain nameless began to run amok. I have edited out the details in the interest of decorum.
The next day was bright and cooler, and we all had a wonderful race in spite of the late night out. We had finished race number one!
We then packed up the car and headed back to the 'Burg. We were actually in the city only 19 hours, but we definitely packed it in.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
How it all got started...
I've been running with a group of women most Sunday mornings for the last few years. Early on we felt like we needed a name for this group, and we came to call ourselves "Women on the Run." We've had great fun over the years, running the streets of our little town--during the glorious days of spring, summer, fall, as well as persisting through the dark, frigid days of our harsh northern winter. We've run lots of races together too--nearby 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons. Its been a blast.
Then I got this idea last fall as the 2006 NYC Marathon was approaching...
I've wanted to run the NYC Marathon ever since I heard about it. However the dilemma is that in order for me to run the race with a friend (which is how I would want to do it) we both must be lucky and win the lottery. There are other ways to get guaranteed entry--run a fast qualifying time (not going to happen for me), raise money for a charity (I don't like to mix my charity and my running), OR ----join the New York Road Runners for 2007 and 2008, and run at least 9 of their "qualifying" races in 2007, resulting in guaranteed entry for the 2008 Marathon. (This last plan would have the added fun of traveling to NYC, enjoying the city and running races in Central Park over and over again.)
Problem: My friends and I live about 400 miles from New York City, where all of the races are held (except one which is in Washington DC, even further). We would have to travel there 9 times in one year--a big commitment of time, money and effort. I was afraid to even bring the idea up given how outrageous it seemed at the time, but I needed to find at least ONE other person who would agree to do this with me, so I had to bare my soul and spit it out. On November 5, 2006 (the date of the 2006 NYC Marathon no less) during our usual Sunday morning run, I described my idea to one running partner, Mary. She was interested! I couldn't believe it. That gave me the courage to email everyone else. Within 30 minutes of my email, my friend Alka responded:
"I have taken the leap and registered for NYRR. Let the adventure begin."
What a woman that Alka is. (At that point I hadn't even signed up myself...so I promptly did.) Now we were two.
The momentum grew. Mary, Shirley, and Nancy joined by the end of 2006. Now we were five. We began checking out the NYRR website so that we could plan our 2007 race schedule. I couldn't believe how much interest and enthusiasm there was for this wild plan. What a way to start the new year! By the end of January, we had 4 more women join in: Mel, Kathy, Lauren, and Brooke. Now we were nine. Unbelievable.
Our adventures are well underway at this point. In future posts, I'll describe the adventures we have already had, as well as adventures to come. I'm hoping that the other 8 women who have joined me in this scheme will respond with their thoughts, stories, perspectives.
Then I got this idea last fall as the 2006 NYC Marathon was approaching...
I've wanted to run the NYC Marathon ever since I heard about it. However the dilemma is that in order for me to run the race with a friend (which is how I would want to do it) we both must be lucky and win the lottery. There are other ways to get guaranteed entry--run a fast qualifying time (not going to happen for me), raise money for a charity (I don't like to mix my charity and my running), OR ----join the New York Road Runners for 2007 and 2008, and run at least 9 of their "qualifying" races in 2007, resulting in guaranteed entry for the 2008 Marathon. (This last plan would have the added fun of traveling to NYC, enjoying the city and running races in Central Park over and over again.)
Problem: My friends and I live about 400 miles from New York City, where all of the races are held (except one which is in Washington DC, even further). We would have to travel there 9 times in one year--a big commitment of time, money and effort. I was afraid to even bring the idea up given how outrageous it seemed at the time, but I needed to find at least ONE other person who would agree to do this with me, so I had to bare my soul and spit it out. On November 5, 2006 (the date of the 2006 NYC Marathon no less) during our usual Sunday morning run, I described my idea to one running partner, Mary. She was interested! I couldn't believe it. That gave me the courage to email everyone else. Within 30 minutes of my email, my friend Alka responded:
"I have taken the leap and registered for NYRR. Let the adventure begin."
What a woman that Alka is. (At that point I hadn't even signed up myself...so I promptly did.) Now we were two.
The momentum grew. Mary, Shirley, and Nancy joined by the end of 2006. Now we were five. We began checking out the NYRR website so that we could plan our 2007 race schedule. I couldn't believe how much interest and enthusiasm there was for this wild plan. What a way to start the new year! By the end of January, we had 4 more women join in: Mel, Kathy, Lauren, and Brooke. Now we were nine. Unbelievable.
Our adventures are well underway at this point. In future posts, I'll describe the adventures we have already had, as well as adventures to come. I'm hoping that the other 8 women who have joined me in this scheme will respond with their thoughts, stories, perspectives.
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