Busy Summer

Welcome to Governors Island

It's been one of those weeks again. I ran three 5ks in one week. It started on Sunday with the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Cyclones Take Your Base (which I talked about in my last entry), continued with the PPTC Al Goldstein's Speed Series #4, and ended with the NYCRUNS Firecracker on Friday (Independence Day). In the latter two I placed in the top three of my age group and reaped awards left and right. It seems that I am finally able to run a fast enough pace in 5k and 10k races to be a strong contender for placement in the top 3 of the 40-44/49 age groups (in smallish races like NYCRUNS's.) I have another 10k coming up next Sunday so we will see how it holds up. Here are the results for my last two races:

• PPTC Al Goldstein's Speed Series #4, 5k, 20:28 minutes, 6:36 pace, 41st/223 total, 3rd/14 age group
• NYCRUNS Firecracker, 5k, 19:59 minutes, 6:27 pace, 19th/529 total, 2nd/38 age group

I need to improve those times to have a shot at NYRR races as well. There is some motivation, no? 

Taking this picture was verboten!

Let's recap the Firecracker run:

It was a race held on Governors Island on Independence Day. NYCRUNS organized three out-of-schedule ferry rides that brought staff, equipment, volunteers, and runners to the island which was still closed for the public. Not even spectators were allowed at that time and if we had anybody who wanted to watch us they had to sign up as volunteers. I believe this is one of the very few races where the organizers did not have a problem to find all the volunteers they needed. Volunteering spots went fast! At least we runners had the entire place to ourselves. Well, kind of. Park staff made sure that we didn't wander around and made us stay close to the start/finish line. I was caught taking pictures of the Manhattan downtown skyline and was asked to stop and wait until the island opens (at 10am) and go back and stay with the other runners. Luckily, I was able to do some sightseeing at the beginning, just minutes after arriving on the island and dropping off the only piece of baggage I had - an umbrella -, while doing my warmup run and discovered Hammock Grove. When I saw those hammocks I thought that the warmup could wait a bit and made myself comfortable for a but until the sprinklers turned on and forced me to leave.

Always a good time

Since most of the island was under construction the course was two short loops which went by pretty quickly. I kind of liked this arrangement because the more familiar I am with a course the better I can ration my energy and will not be surprised by a hill here or there. The first loop I ran as quickly as I could, trying to hang onto the fastest runners, and by the time the second loop came around I was familiar enough to get through the last 1.5 miles easily; just not as fast, unfortunately. A third or fourth loop would have been boring, though, so I am glad that they didn't try to make this a 10k race. When the finish line was in sight I still had enough reserves that I kicked it hard and outran somebody else who tried (desperately?) to stay on me. I also overtook women #3 and #4 at that time. I scored second place in my age group and the organizers already know my name. This is a rewarding feeling, I must say. A few other NY Flyers were in attendance and a few of us earned spots in the top 3.

 I have a whole week of no racing but finally doing some training runs. Next up: NYCRUNS Shore Road Summer Mini-Series #2 (I missed #1 because it was held on the same day as the Queens 10k.)

Keep on running!