NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Manhattan

Forums

Forum guidelines BT super discount

Updated posts

My threads
No new posts

My favorite threads

General Discussion

Race Reports! » NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Manhattan

Rss Feed

Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller

NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix: Manhattan - RunHalf Marathon

View Member's Race Log View other race reports

New York, New York
United States
New York Road Runners
14F / -10C
Sunny

Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = my age group ;)
Age Group Rank = 0/

Pre-race routine:

heh - pre race routine ;)

i did this race for the first time 2 years ago, and in fact it was my first 1/2 mary. Kristin (lazymarathoner) egged me on and convinced me that i could complete 13.1 miles

i did indeed complete 13.1 miles in 2009 and the event in 2011 marked my 5th 1/2 marathon - who'd have thunk it?

the pre-race routine was very similar to 2 years ago. it started the night before with a solid course of 'girl talk' and laughter topped with fabulous pizza and wine, concluding with a couple of cocktails and finally a bag of cookies that were to die for.

i don't think i've eaten that much food in an entire week, let alone in one night!

12:30 am - lights out

Event warmup:

i'd have to say this was one of the most interesting warm ups i've ever experienced.

we planned on getting up at 6:30 as we had to pick up our race packets prior to heading to the race. last call for pick up was 7:30, the race started at 8, nearly 20 blocks away in manhatten - ummmm, what's up with that? right?

i woke up, thought to myself - huh, it's awfully light. i looked at my phone - 6:53 am. oops! i seriously thought about simply crawling back into bed and pretending i hadn't seen the time ;) (hey, it was 14 degrees out - can you blame me?)

instead

me: kristin, it's 6:54

kristin: {insert expletive} you're kidding. OMG!

me: can we make it?

kristin: if we get a cab like NOW we can maybe make it

we were both dressed for the race and out the door in 10 minutes flat - impressive!

in the cab we realized it didn't take a rocket scientest to figure out there was no way we were going to make the packet pickup, so we decided to go straight to the race and run without numbers

with our new found extra time, we stopped to get coffee at starbucks - i'm not a huge starbucks fan, but it was a little slice of heaven this morning

somehow, we sweet talked the volunteer at the bag check to let kristin check her bag with absolultely no proof either of us had legitimately registered for the race

oy!

we then sauntered to the start, sipping coffee and commenting on why every one seemed to be in such a hurry

we crossed the start with one minute to spare! LOL!

Run

2h 46m 53s
13.1 miles
12m 44s min/mile

Comments:

we were literally the last people to start the race

i was figuring this would be a long and lonely race - i am already a solid member of the BOP club, and to have started the race 10 minutes late - well, i figured the only people i would see were those that passed me on the second loop of the park.

it turned out to be one of the best races i've had

i ran the first 3 miles at a solid 11 minute pace - and i actually ran the first 3 miles, i don't think i had to walk but maybe once for a very short time (for those of you who know me, this is huge)

at mile 8 i was at a 12 minute pace, again for me - very awesome.

after that, i just got slower and slower - but i never doubted i'd be able to finish

i was inspired by the 'heart' that exists in the BOP. talk about determination and character

from the elderly man dressed in jeans and a work jacket, to the 3 women clearly bound together in a pact to complete the distance - i was humbled by their spirit and and sense of purpose

the other little known advantage of being BOP is that on a 2 loop course, you get to see all the eye candy run by as the FOP passes you :)

the 'winner' passed me around mile 4 and soon after that i was passed by the runners completing their second loop

i entertained myself by trying to guess if it was a woman or a man behind me, based on the sound of their gait

it's amazing how each runner sounds different, each person's stride is as individual as their personality - i guess that's not something we often think about

surprisingly i was 12 minutes faster than the phily 1/2 :)

What would you do differently?:

nothing - it was great fun!

i could have been 5 minutes or more faster, maybe even 10 - but as my very best friend A pointed out - is 5 or 10 minutes faster worth giving up the great memories of the time spent with a good friend? the answer is clearly no

sometimes it's best not to take life too seriously :)

Post race

Warm down:

a nice little detour around central park, trying to find the starbucks where kristin was waiting for me - darn my sense of direction (or lack there of!)

after the race, we took a cab back to brooklyn and had the most amazing brunch ever!

all in all, it was tremendous fun and a terrific 'race'!

Event comments:

they need to have race packet pickup at the site of the race rather than in a separate location

Last updated: 2011-01-01 12:00 AM

Running
02:46:53 \| 13.1 miles \| 12m 44s min/mile
Age Group:	0/
Overall:	0/
Performance:	Good
Course:
Keeping cool		Drinking

Post race
Weight change:	%
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]
Physical exertion [1-5]
Good race?

Evaluation
Course challenge	Just right
Organized?	Yes
Events on-time?	Yes
Lots of volunteers?	Yes
Plenty of drinks?	Yes
Post race activities:	Below average
Race evaluation [1-5]	3