Kings Park 15k - Run15k

Last year I raced this course from the start. I went out way too fast and I suffered the entire race. I didn't feel like doing that this year. I started much slower and felt much better throughout most of the course. I was 19 seconds per slower on avg this year compared to last year -- 2 mins 51 seconds slower total. Considering I hadn't raced at all yet this year (last year I'd already raced a trail run and two 5k's in Jan & Feb), considering I lost a month and a half of running to IT Band syndrome, I really couldn't be happier with the results.

Also, due to my very recent ITBS, I made it a point to run on the side of the road where my problem leg was always higher - this did not always make for the quickest, most direct route, but it worked because my legs felt fantastic. I also lost time because I didn't have the physcological confidence to really hammer the downhills like I did last year, as sometimes that aggravates my IT Band.

My BT friend Ralp (rtocco) was in front of me the whole race, and I came up behind him a few times, but I still felt leary of racing - and this was not the course to test my leg out on, so I ran my own race. And truth be told I did try to catch him at the very end, but he was just too quick! (Great job Ralph.)

Nothing. I did the best I could today and had a blast. The weather was georgeous. Today was by far the warmest, sunniest day on Long Island in 2009. Perfect timing.

The biggest positive I am pulling out of this race is that I may have lost some speed compared to last year, but this year I feel I have more endurance, and I feel in better overall shape. After finishing the race this year I felt really good and could have run another 10k. Last year after finishing the race I felt like Hell and for the rest of the day I felt terrible.

Congratulated Ralph on killing his time from last year. I met up with my uber-fast cousin who finished 10th overall! And of course he wasn't 100% satisfied ;) Found Mike (mscotthall) who did an absolute phenomenal job for his first time racing this monster course. I know Mike is gonna go sub 2 in May at the L.I. Half!!

I split to the bathroom and took off my ridiculous-lookin' tights which acutally worked very well because the second I took them off and my legs "uncompressed" I could feel a little bit of discomfort along my IT Band. These specific tights target the calves and IT Band and they worked beautifully.


Not having raced in 5 months and missing a month and a half of running training. Lack of mental confidence due to my recent injury.

What also limited my ability to perform is my weight. I am roughly the same weight as I was last year for this race (174-ish). But at 5' 10" (by a hair) I know the only way for me to achieve my goal of going sub 1:10 for this race one day, I'm going to have to be 165 lbs or lower. Maybe next year.


Like I said last year, if you want a super challenging hilly race to start your year - the Kings Park 15k is it. It is the toughest road race I've ever run and I couldn't imagine starting my racing season without it. This is my third consecutive year running it, and I hope to run it for another forty years, God willing :)