Monday, April 26, 2010

Boston Marathon Results

Congratulations to PPTC finishers at the 119th Boston Marathon on April 19, 2010. There were some outstanding performances, including:


Men
  • Matthew Frey - 3:00:02
  • Chris O'Brien - 3:04:18
  • Ralph Yozzo - 3:10:15
  • Tyrone Sklaren - 4:17:34
Women
  • Tiffany Hendryx - 3:26:43
Great running, all. Way to go!

If we missed anyone, please speak up in the comments so we can stand corrected!

More/Fitness Half-Marathon

Central Park, April 25, 2010



Last Name


First Name

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Age


Bib


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State

Overall
Place

Gender
Place

Age
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Finish
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AG
Time
AG
Gender
Place


AG %
KLEINVIVIANF573432PPTCWEST HAVENCT13151315132:02:479:221:36:0410368.5 %
IMJEANNIEF423385PPTCNEW YORKNY135213522202:03:059:231:56:02123856.7 %
KENNEYJULIETF431380PPTCBROOKLYNNY146714672462:04:109:281:55:56122856.7 %
MOSESJEANINEF322594PPTCBROWNS MILLSNJ188018803172:08:159:472:07:51258051.4 %
ROMANEMMAF555666PPTCBROOKLYNNY32993299542:21:1510:461:53:36100957.9 %

Monday, April 19, 2010

IT’S YOUR PICINC YOU HAVE TO COME! By Tom Meany

IT’S YOUR PICINC YOU HAVE TO COME! By Tom Meany


Saturday June 26, 2010 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!


Yes, this is your Picnic, make of it what you want. The Club’s leadership wants all our events to meet the needs and expectations of our members, so what kind of a Picnic do you want?


Well we are not totally clueless; we are gearing up towards making this the most family friendly one we can. Richard Weaver has again volunteered to be in charge of organizing it. He needs your ideas and help.



Traditionally we have our only track event of the year: the three person team relay race around the lake, almost a 2 mile loop. Usually followed by a potluck picnic feast. We have had kids races in the past WITH MEDALS, some kids games and some interesting and unusual entertainment. To quote Al Goldstein after Amy Duquette’s debut of tap dancing: “We have never had professional entertainment at a Club picnic before.”

Here are some of the details: the Picnic is free to members We encourage you to invite family and friends for only $5 for adult non-members. Everyone is urged to contribute something good to eat for the buffet table. The Club will provide both vegetarian and meaty hero sandwiches and drinks to quench your thirst. Like any party - it is easier to have enough for everyone if we know you are coming. So, drop an email to contact@pptc.org or call the Club phone at 718-595-2049 and let us know how many people we can expect.


We have the Oriental Pavilion area from 8:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. Richard will be placing his arms around some of you for support, advice and help. This is a great opportunity to make it the kind of family friendly Club event you would like it to be. A lot of you with kids don’t always get an opportunity to hang out and have fun with your running friends and your kids. We have extended an invitation to our youth affiliation; headed by Sean Rice, so we should have plenty of youths.



I encourage you to use the Club Open Forum and every other means of communication to beat the drums and get things going.


By the way, you are all placed on notice: the defending champions in the Elite Foot Racing category in the relay race remains the team of: Al Goldstein, Lila Rieman and Himself. (Paul Soskind to Officiate).


SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

NYRR Run for the Parks 4M

Central Park - April 18, 2010



Last Name


First Name

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Age


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AG %
TCHITCHUIETIENNEM38495PPTCBROOKLYNNY51501123:485:5722:497973.8 %
MAZZUCHINDANIELM34328PPTCBROOKLYNNY63621724:016:0023:3711771.2 %
WANGGARYM36533PPTCBROOKLYNNY1061052025:096:1724:2817768.8 %
HASEMANVICTORM371226PPTCBROOKLYNNY3042925827:076:4626:1241964.3 %
GREENEGARY R.M55674PPTCBROOKLYNNY3723551127:256:5123:008473.2 %
PLOCICAROBERTM381414PPTCBROOKLYNNY96885518030:177:3429:02100758.0 %
WONGDAVIDM412552PPTCBROOKLYNNY100187913430:267:3628:3288859.0 %
DEEMEGANF412128PPTCBROOKLYNNY13222162531:277:5130:0920663.7 %
GONZALEZARTHUR JM632188PPTCBROOKLYNNY175813781932:488:1225:4134265.5 %
HOGANMEGANF284211PPTCBROOKLYNNY237566419834:398:3934:3987855.5 %
KENNEYJULIETF433256PPTCBROOKLYNNY29589849836:259:0634:2282655.9 %
RODRIGUEZELBAF564415PPTCBROOKLYNNY326611641037:229:2030:1421263.5 %
SOSKINDPAULM666475PPTCBROOKLYNNY391223012139:539:5830:23130555.4 %
NILESIRVAF427380PPTCBROOKLYNNY4047171118240:3010:0738:32161249.9 %
BERMANSTEPHANIEF417050PPTCBROOKLYNNY4051171318440:3110:0738:50166349.5 %

Paul Soskind Interviews Majo Tinoco, Patricia Perlo, Regina Cahill and Lynda Mules

INTERVIEW WITH MAJO TINOCO 



P.S.: You've been a PPTC member for about a year now. Were we your introduction to running?

Majo: No , I actually started about two years ago. Coogan's Bluff was my first race. So every year I want to do it as a celebration.

P.S.: Well, you sure didn't pick an easy one. Why Coogan’s?

Majo: My friend told me if I completed it, we'd go for some fried chicken. She said "It's only 5k anyone can do this." I surprised myself in doing it in 31:34.

P.S.: How have you evolved since then?
Majo: I did the Turkey Trot that fall, and joined PPTC to gain motivation and encouragement. PPTC helped me to train and complete the 2009 Brooklyn Half.

P.S.: How did you feel after that?

Majo: Great, and I'm doing the NYC Marathon this fall.

P.S.: What do you attribute your ability to bridge from a 5K to a marathon in two years?

Majo: Being cautious enough to find a balance between miles and intensity. I try
to key in on someone during a race who will make me put out the effort I need without causing injury by overdoing it. I also look at photos of myself running to attempt to improve my form and become more efficient..

P.S.: So while you have running goals, you want to avoid being sidelined.

Majo: I'm in this for the long haul, I want to be running pain free many years from now.

P.S.: You certainly have a wise and balanced outlook. Much success in many years to come.



INTERVIEW WITH PATRICIA PERLO 




P.S.: When did you get involved with running?

Patricia: In 1976 when the New York Marathon took to the streets, my mother and I visited the
exhibit about it at Sak's 5th Avenue. Mom said "You can do this." Six years later, I did.

P.S:.How did you train until that day you toed the line in1982?

Patricia: I started running, upping my mileage, and eventually ran with Nina Kuscik (the first N.Y. woman to complete a 50 miler and break three hours on the old Yonkers Marathon course}. She inspired me. I was doing 20 miles on a low week and as high as 50 miles in a hard week. I ran N.Y. until 1987.

P.S. So now you’re back, what are your goals?

Patricia: To go faster, be stronger. do better. I'm stronger, have
greater bone density, and more muscle mass then I did in 1982.

P.S.: How has PPTC helped you?

Patricia: When I decided to train hard PPTC was there for me with arranged workouts, people who encouraged me, exhorted me to try harder without the nasty elitism found in some
other clubs. Running has been a lifesaver for me and PPTC has helped me realize much of it.





INTERVIEW WITH REGINA CAHILL 



P.S.: What was running like when you became involved?

Regina: There were few female participants. Women were often accepted grudgingly. PPTC
had included several talented women - Flavia Marin, Vicky Collette, and Claire Murphy (twin of PPTC’s 2:33 marathoner Harry Murphy Jr.). Bob Muller and Harry Murphy encouraged me to join and were very supportive.

P.S.: So, you already had a running background?

Regina: No, I played basketball and softball in high school, wearing gym uniforms with "numbers" written on them in magic marker. During college I worked, but continued participation in those sports.

P.S.: So, you were never a track athlete in college?

Regina: Actually, when I went back at age 29 to do graduate work, I competed on a college level, against much younger women in the 1500 and 800.

P.S.: That explains your ability to this day to dig deep and best many younger rivals. Now,
however, you seem to have a particular affinity for cross country. Why?

Regina: It was probably spawned out of those long Sunday runs with Harry over the old Yonkers Marathon course. Out in the woods, in rural settings, natural running.

P.S.: How have things changed since the late seventies?

Regina: Back then there were fewer participants and far fewer women in the sport, but people had fewer other commitments, so they could devote far more time to training and racing. Rivalries were very intense, but so was the support and camaraderie. For a long time PPTC was somewhat lacking in those aspects, but lately we've gained a group of female runners who are helping to carry on the PPTC tradition of competition, camaraderie and pride. The men are also taking up the challenge, so I have great hope for the future. I'm glad I still compete on an intense level and hope to inspire others as well.
P>S. As someone who has followed your running, I'm sure I thank you on behalf of us all for your contributions to PPTC



INTERVIEW WITH LYNDA MULES 




P.S.: Were you a born runner?

Lynda: No, the only running I did way back was a compulsory mile for high school gym class, which was traumatic! I was doing yoga and biking until about three years ago when I did a
5K in Philadelphia. Running became a metaphor for something I couldn't do; so starting to run was a challenge against negativity.

P.S.: How did you join PPTC?

Lynda: When I moved to Brooklyn, I wanted a club that was community oriented. My participation in the speed workouts introduced me to a diverse, supportive, encouraging group of people,
so I felt I wanted to become an integral part of the club.

P.S.: How have you done this?

Lynda: By volunteering at events, encouraging others, and helping to implement any new ideas we develop.

P.S.: So how do you feel we can improve?

Lynda: We should have club uniforms readily available to all members, we should all show our colors at races; and we should massively extend our participation outside of Prospect Park and Brooklyn.

P.S. What do you aspire to for yourself?

Lynda: To run faster, and complete my first marathon this year; then use the strength from marathon training to run faster in shorter races.

P.S.: I'm sure I speak for all of PPTC when I say we're glad you're on board and continue to have great success.

Let's go racing - May edition

Let's go racing - May edition
By Geoffrey Vincent



Whilst strolling through the Park one day,


In the merry, merry month of May...






Strolling? Get a move on - it's May and it's time to go racing!






There's plenty to do this month as the various Summer speed series get under way. Both tentative at press time, but we're looking at the Tuesday night Fort Hamilton Army Base Speed Series 5k slated to start May 4th and the Thursday Staten Island Summer Speed Series 3m on the 6th - start times for both 7:00 PM. For those of you who prefer a little dirt under your feet there's the 5k XC Series in Parsippany, NY on Wednesdays at 7:15 PM (those begin April 21st) and the Van Cortlandt Track Club's X-C Summer Series (5k - start time 7:00 PM) starting May 27th.

Closer to home PPTC's very own Al Goldstein 5k Summer Speed Series gets under way on May 26th - every other Wednesday at 7:00 PM by the Oriental Pavilion. More details should be on the website soon.

Lots to do on the weekends too. Good luck to everyone running the LI Marathon on the 2nd (or any of the related events that weekend) and ditto the North Face Endurance Challenge races the weekend of the 8th and 9th.

For everyone else there's the Cinco de Mayo 5k here in Prospect Park on May 2nd and the Y the Ramble 5k and 10k up in Riverdale.

Don't forget May 9th is Mother's Day and what better way to celebrate than by taking part in the Prospect Park Mother's Day Duathlon and The Fuggetabout It 5K? OK, so Mom might prefer flowers...

There's more multi-sport fun the following weekend (for those so inclined) with the Queens Biathlon out in Alley Pond Park on May 16th. If it's the same course I competed on many years ago the bike leg includes a wicked fast downhill on the Cross Island Parkway (closed to traffic, of course).

Also on the 16th is Buckley's - Kennedy's 5k (details not finalized at press time), the Forest Park Classic 4 in Queens, the NYPD Memorial 5k (Liberty and West Streets in Manhattan) and others too numerous to mention.

If you're not running the Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 22nd you might want to check out the Keep BRAVO Running 5k on the 23rd, down on Shore Road in Bay Ridge.


Finally, I'm still waiting for definite details on the May 16th Harbor Fitness 5k and May 31st Staten Island Advance Memorial Day 4 Mile Run - I'll update the calendar when I hear more, so keep checking back I’m always adding something new!


No matter what races you choose, run fast - and wear your team colors!

APRIL 2010 THE INSIDE LOOP TOM BYRNES and FRIENDS

APRIL 2010

THE INSIDE LOOP

TOM BYRNES and FRIENDS

Thanks to Bobby Fisher and Coralie Dartiques for catching mention of PPTC in a recent Runners World magazine article. The few lines on Harry's Handicap on page 99 were part of a piece called 'Sweat Equity'. As Coralie Dartiques says, “Yay PPTC!!” Hey, let’s have a French pastry to that!
The mid March weekend storm certainly did lots of high wind damage to many of the older trees in Prospect Park. Instead of rocking and rolling in the reported 70 mph winds, many of these older taller trees just belly flopped down. An overwhelmed Park’s Department’s call for help saw several PPTCers stepping in, among them Geoff Vincent and Patty Perlo.

Let’s keep PPTC’s long time friend and Broadway Ultra’s President for Life Richie Innamorato in our thoughts and prayers with his mom’s passing mid-March. The death of a loved one is always a sad loss and hopefully Richie and family will find solace in the memories of mom’s 97 years.

Looks like PPTC’s Susan Kegg Eastman’s working as well as living on the Navajo res out in Nevada. She still runs some, mostly after her cute two year old son Gabriel, works some, and misses Brooklyn pizza a whole lot!

Any interest in Birkam yoga? Maria Green usually knows the when’s and the whereas of these interesting sessions that certainly will keep you flexible and limber.

PPTC was not only on the roads but behind the scenes as well at March’s New York Half. Race results for those who ran are posted on PPTC’s website but behind the scenes volunteering with USADA and Doping Control were PPTC’s Lynette Gonis,Maria Green, Natasha Ferrari, and Tom Byrnes .Thanks also to Sandy Ferrari and Lynda Mules who offered to volunteer if and when there were last minute volunteer spots.

Great job that Geoff Vincent is doing coordinating upcoming races on PPTC’s calendar of upcoming events on the website. You really can’t say that you don’t know where to race given all the hard work Geoff is doing on this. Check it out and see what I mean!

Catching the Brooklyn Irish Day Parade on Sunday March 21st brought back memories of PPTC’s group run in the park and then settling in to a Sunday brunch at Circle’s restaurant before getting out watching the parade from PPW and 15th street. Hey, used to be a great chance to sit down and break bread. Flying pieces of French toast, dropped pieces of ketchupped fries, member’s kids not wanting to sit still, food orders getting mixed up.Fun? Yes, it actually was!

PPTC’s presence at the Scotland Run on Saturday April 3rd certainly wasn’t any left over April’s Fool joke. Some 27 odd runners! No, no, not that the runners were odd, that’s just an expression, you see…………….hey, .see you on the roads! 

Fall Marathons – don’t tell the NYRR, but it really isn’t just about New York…

Fall Marathons – don’t tell the NYRR, but it really isn’t just about New York
By Geoffry Vincent

So you didn't make the cut for the NYC Marathon lottery but you really wanted to run a marathon this Fall.  Or maybe you just don't want to run New York this year, preferring to venture away from home to log your 26.2 miles.  Whatever your reason, there are plenty of opportunities both close by and farther afield, and the place to start your planning is the new Fall Marathon Calendar at www.pptc.org.  We've got city marathons, country marathons, marathons in the USA and Canada, marathons by the ocean, in deserts, in forests.  Big marathons, small marathons, flat marathons, downhill marathons - even a wicked uphill marathon with 6,000' of elevation gain!

If you're undecided about whether you should try the out-of-town experience maybe the comments of some of your fellow PPTC members might persuade you.

“I personally prefer to run out of town marathons to the New York marathon. I don't like running in crowds of people. Last year [besides the Amica Matahon] I also really enjoyed the Sri Chinmoy marathon in Rockland County and the Blues Cruise 50K in eastern Pennsylvania, both within driving distance of New York. I also really like the Yonkers marathon in Westchester: only 100 people and quite scenic in parts.”

“I loved the Steamtown Marathon and would recommend it to anyone looking for a smaller (2500 runners), scenic, mostly flat and downhill course. The race starts in Forest City and runs through small towns with locals cheering the runners on through to the finish in Scranton. It's a fast course with a few miles of flat trails. Early October is the peak of fall foliage in Northeastern Penn. so it is quite beautiful all along the course.”

“I loved the [Hudson Mohawk Marathon].  About 700 runners, a flat course-running from Schenectady to Albany-mostly on bike trails at the height of fall foliage season.  No hoopla, spectators, jugglers, bands or costumes. Water and Gatorade held out to you every 2-3 miles.  We stayed in a bed and breakfast in Albany; there's a bus in the morning to take the runners to the start, and best of all I got to urinate 1 minute before the race start. I can't imagine a faster course.”

“I've participated in one of the Philly Marathon races for the last 3 years.  I ran the half back in '07, and the marathon in '08 and '09.  Overall it's a great race and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to run a November marathon that is not New York.  Given that the start and finish are right downtown, travel and hotel accommodations are a snap.   As a matter of fact, it's so easy, I left my hotel at 6:35 for a race that starts at 7am.  The course, while not as flat as Philly likes to bill it (it's no Chicago), is relatively flat and fast.”

For myself I swore off marathons more than 25 years ago, but every now and again I like to fantasize about where I'd run if I was to go the distance again. 

If there’s one thing I enjoy as much as running it’s a glass of wine, so the Wineglass Marathon in Corning, NY might be an option. And it’s rated by Runner’s World as the 10th best marathon for getting a Boston qualifier (worth noting that the Bay State and Hudson-Mohawk marathons both ranked even higher – 1st and 2nd respectively).

I was lucky enough to win a stay at a spa in St. George, Utah a few years back.  It’s a beautiful part of the country, with good hiking and rock climbing in the area - and the St George Marathon.  It starts north of town (buses provided) and the route includes scenic Snow Canyon Park, with a drop of over 2,500’ from start to finish – little wonder it was included in Runner’s World’s 10 Most Scenic and Fastest Marathons!  The field is capped at 7.400 runners.

Not sure why I’ve always been intrigued by the Civil War era, but here are a couple of races that that combine history and running.  The course for Freedom’s Run Marathon in Shepherdstown, West Virginia is mostly National Park – Harpers Ferry, the C&O Canal, and Antietam Battlefield. Or try the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia – if you plan on taking kids along this was rated Most Family-Friendly by Runner’s World. 

If you’ve ever had the urge to run one marathon in two countries then maybe the Detroit Free Press Marathon (Detroit, Michigan) is the race for you.  Yes, the race starts in Detroit but crosses into Windsor, Ontario (that’s in Canada for the geographically challenged) and finishes back in the Motor City.  The course includes one mile underwater as you run through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.  Since this is a cross-border event it’s closely supervised by Homeland Security – you don’t want to know the consequences of failing to notify them if you’ve had a recent Nuclear (Radiation) Medicine Procedure recently (I kid you not – check the website).

I guess that really if I had my druthers I’d go for something scenic though.  If I was a surfer I’d probably go for the Malibu International Marathon (Malibu, California) and channel my inner Dude as I ran the Pacific Coast Highway. That’s not to say we don’t have good coastal scenery for a marathon here on the East Coast.  If you’re a lobster lover check out the Mount Desert Island Marathon (Bar Harbor, Maine) – don’t worry, you don’t have to run up Cadillac Mountain on what Runner’s World describes as the Most Scenic marathon (and runner up for Best Overall)

The Pacific Northwest has been a favorite area of mine for a long time, and I got to drive some of the Columbia River Gorge a few years back.  Who knew you could run it too?  Check out the Columbia Gorge Marathon (Hood River, Oregon) which has been described as the “most scenic” - and then there’s Portland close by with good food and even better beer. Note: this race is not a Boston qualifier, if that matters to you.

Heading south a little but sticking to the West Coast is the Humboldt Redwoods Marathon (Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California).  This is out of the way – 200 miles north of san Francisco, 40 miles south of Eureka – but everything I’ve ever heard says it’s worth it.  If you like trees this is the race for you!

After a year’s absence (it was last run in 2008) the Grand Canyon Marathon (Grand Canyon, Arizona) is back on the calendar for 2010.  Here’s your chance to run the South Rim of the Grand Canyon! Be prepared to suck wind – the elevation is around 7,000’ but you’ll be doing it with a very intimate group of people as the race is capped at 300 (there were only 54 runners in 2008).

Finally… the wicked uphill. Take a trip down to southern Arizona for the Mount Lemmon Marathon (Tucson, Arizona). You can be one of the 2,500 hardy souls who tackles this all uphill run starting in the Sonoran Desert with its saguaro cactus at 3,100’ and finishing in the pine forests of the Catalina Mountains at 9,147’.

Wherever you choose to run – have fun, and share the experience with your friends at PPTC!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

NYC Half Marathon Results

NYRR finally updated their results for the NYC Half run on March 21, 2010. The list of PPTC runners still seems short, so if you ran the race and your club affiliation is indicated indirectly, contact Miembership@pptc.org to let us know.




Last Name


First Name

Sex/
Age


Bib


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City


State


Country

Overall
Place

Gender
Place

Age
Place

Net
Time

Finish
Time

5K
Split

10K
Split

15K
Split

20K
Split

Pace/
Mile

AG
Time
AG
Gender
Place


AG %
FreyMatthewM30335PPTCBrooklynNYUSA182157371:21:111:21:110:18:360:37:590:57:141:17:3206:121:21:1131372.95
DoleHelenF271209PPTCBrooklynNYUSA53876261:28:481:28:480:21:140:42:331:03:201:24:5106:471:28:4813374.14
ScottSarahF321753PPTCBrooklynNYUSA61988201:29:451:29:450:21:150:42:371:03:431:25:3806:521:29:2914973.58
LunaGerardM372497PPTCBrooklynNYUSA212116472921:42:331:42:330:23:590:48:281:12:411:37:4607:501:40:42196858.81
WongDavidM414924PPTCBrooklynNYUSA511033495391:56:141:56:140:53:581:21:511:50:4708:531:50:42324853.5
WhartonNykiaF3515291PPTCBrooklynNYUSA1033351607702:26:362:26:361:10:291:44:352:19:5311:122:24:49530745.46