Great Race of the Week

Attention Patriots Fans - Rush the Goal Line Harvard Pilgrim 10K at Gillette Stadium

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Ever dream of a race finish down a NFL football field? New England Patriots fans and other hopefuls can make this dream a reality this July 4th. It’s the inaugural Harvard Pilgrim 10K at Patriot Place - an entertainment/dining/shopping complex next to Gillette Stadium. The 6.2 miler takes you through a mostly flat course through Foxborough, then winds back to the Patriot Place with a finish inside Gillette Stadium over the 50-yard line. Race Expo is Fri, July 2nd and Sat, July 3rd, a day which includes a 3PM kids run, and one for toddlers. Walkers are welcome. Register early, this race is sure to sell out.

Winter Wonderland Running

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

I thought of weather differently before I started to run. Snow required bundling up. Now there’s freedom in a run in the cold. White puffs of breath, snowflakes falling on my face, perspiration escaping in bubble on the outside of technically correct running tights remind me that I’m working it. It’s refreshing to say the least. Lace-like white streaks contrasting the grey trees make for a pretty picture. Just don’t stop until you’re near someplace warm. It’s too damn soggy and cold to stop, get a chill, and get started again.

10,000 Run for Haiti

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:41:49 -0500

A benefit run to aid Haiti in Central Park, this morning. Runners contributed $40 and vendors their services to raise over $ 400,000 to help those devastated by the earthquake. 10,000 runners, more than twice what the average weekend New York Road Runner races usually draw, flooded the course. So much so, when sprinting to the finish, I wondered why runners stopped to chat right before the chip timing mats. What were they thinking?
Turns out it was so crowded it was a bottle neck. Falling off pace after crossing the finish created a blockage for runners right about to finish. First time I experienced that. Now I know why volunteers always shout “keep moving” at the finish lines.
Afterwards, ducked into a bakery for some caffeine. Met Tammy and Debbie who had run their first race. Their goal? Celebrating the best in life with a great group of friends. Told them about a great race for girlfriends, The Other Half-Marathon in Moab, Utah. Wonder if we’ll all end up there in October!

Goofy? You Bet! Walt Disney World Half-Marathon on Sat Walt Disney World Marathon on Sun

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 22:34:10 -0500

If you headed to Orlando for warm weather running, think again. Florida had a cold snap. It was 4 degrees warmer than NYC.
Saturday AM half-marathon race start saw snow and sleet. Didn’t deter the sell-out crowd of 31,000 runners. Course wound through Magic Kingdom and Epcot with a lot of mileage on Disney’s inter-park highways.
Headed back to Walmart after the race to purchase more throw away sweat pants and sweater. Snagged the last pair of Men’s mediums, then met 3 guys from Florida who didn’t even own winter running clothes. They were a bit nervous - it was their first marathon. Walmart was picked thin, so I gave one guy my pants.

Sun AM marathon started at Epcot. Knew I was in the right place when I saw an illuminated globe floating in the middle of the World Showcase Lagoon. Ran by famous 18 story geodesic sphere, better known as Spaceship Earth. Passed a couple of guys running with socks strapped around their chins, attached to headbands to keep their faces warm. Gave them some tips about drinking water on the run (crease the cup - it’s easier to swallow water and less spills).
They looked familiar so I checked out their pants. It was the Wal-Mart guys!
Sun rose after leaving Epcot and some guy running beside me starts to chat. Says he’s from NYC. He looks familiar.  “Did you run the Midnight Run in Central Park?” I met him for 10 seconds that night. A friend of a volunteer I met. We started to chat. 10 Miles into the race is our photo op above, in front of Cinderella’s Castle. We stuck together for most of the race.

The Mayor of Magic Kingdom came out and posed with runners - are you listening Mayor Bloomberg? Photo ops were a poppin’. You could have your picture taken with Mickey, Goofy, Doug the talking dog from Up, on a carousel horse, Pirates of the Caribbean - ship included, Alice in Wonderland, the Incredibles - runners were willing to stand in line, handing their cameras to Disney staff assigned to take pictures. In a marathon first, stopped in Animal Kingdom where roller coaster rides were being offered for runners on Everest Adventure. Well, anyone who has heard me speak, knows how I feel about the Mount Everest Marathon - it was like running in heaven. So I wasn’t going to pass up a free ride.

Rounding the course through Disney’s Hollywood Studios we passed the costume shop. Can’t say that runners weren’t entertained, maybe too entertained. Only 16,932 marathoners finished out of the sell-out race crowd of 24,000. Great race for those with a slow pace. You won’t feel alone at the back of the pack. Definitely one you can bring your kids to.

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:22:33 -0500

It was my last chance to volunteer for New York Road Runner’s Club 9+1: Run 9 of their races + volunteer for 1 = automatic NYC Marathon Entry. So before my merry making began at an ice block party (bring a heavy coat) I celebrated midnight literally underneath fireworks in Central Park for the Midnight Run.
Met 3 fellow women volunteers and we became fast friends, laughed the 3 hour tour of duty away, and were assigned a peak spot at the start/finish line. For all of 10 seconds, met Volunteer Amy’s friend, Anthony. Who would have known that such a brief encounter would not be the last that I’d hear from Anthony...