Monday, December 6, 2010

DECEMBER 2010 TOM BYRNES and FRIENDS Last LOOP column for 2010, doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!

DECEMBER 2010

TOM BYRNES and FRIENDS

Last LOOP column for 2010, doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!

Many thanks to PPTC members who volunteered with USADA and their involvement  with athletes whose finishing positions were selected for drug testing at the NYC marathon: Wayne Bailey , Junior Pasee, and Lynette Gonis. Thanks also to back- up reserve volunteers  Emma Roman, Marilyn Bucich, Natacha Ferrari, and Maria Green.
Chatting with Alberto Salazar and the athlete he coached certainly made my day!   

Remember when you’d see Mike Ring pushing his  twins in their jogger stroller on the inside loop? Give ‘em an apple and they’d be good for a loop of no fuss. They’ve come a long way since then ! Mike’s  stepped up and is taking  them to Rhode Island to  the USATF Junior Olympic Region 1 Cross Country Championship Sunday November 21st. with Sean Rice’s Prospect park Youth Running Club. Joining Mike and his kids will be other PPTC members and their children :  Ami Hassler's son  Owen, Marcy Greenberg's son Rory, and Christine Guerra ‘s children Carlos, Manuel, Carlitos, Patricio and  Joaquin.  More info on Sean’s youth club at http://www.eteamz.com/wwwPPYRCcom/

NYC’s done , the Turkey Trot is wrapped up for another year, so now its time to take stock of how your 2010 running and training went and plan for 2011.
I think that Richard Weaver said it best when he seemed to have shouted   “ THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all the wonderful PPTC volunteers and friends who contributed their time and best effort in making one of  PPTC’s annual races a tremendous success. You worked at registration in the four days leading up to the race and came out in the early hours of morning Thanksgiving day to make the race work. More than 2000 runners/walkers finished the race and that could not have happened without all you fabulous people and your wonderful support. I am so proud of PPTC.” Thus spake Sir Richard.

PPTC’s Indoor Winter 2010-2011 Speed Workouts at the Park Slope Armory began the first week in December. What a treat for both the eyes and the feet! A great indoor 200m track, a great facility well attended by YMCA staff, ( water fountains and clean bathrooms  !!! )  great coaching with Coach Tony and Charlene, a great group to run with, and all at a super great price! The followup emails about strecthing pre and post workouts and other important matters are the icing on the cake.

1-1-11, be there for Harry’s Handicap, a fast as you can complete inside loop of the park on the first day of the new year. Check the details elsewhere in this newsletter and  on the PPTC website.
Balmy. Rain, snow, freezey cold, no matter what the weather, we’ll all be together !

All the best for the happiest of times and the healthiest of miles to come in 2011. See you all on the roads.