Better Late than Never...

With my apologies to all the 2007 award winners, I offer this as an example of not seeing the forest for the trees. Having been immersed in the awards selection as committee chairman, and after writing a newsletter article covering the festivities on Jan.25th, I completely forgot to make mention of it on our website. Albeit 2 weeks late, here's a quick summary of all our 2007 award winners who made it a such a memorable year.

New member-Helen Dole
Most Improved-Danielle Hansen
Bob Muller Award-Arthur Gonzalez
Outstanding Single Contribution- Krishna Kumbhar, Ralph Yozzo
Comeback Runner- Tom Byrnes
Ultra- Al Prawda
Most Races(M/F)- Paul Soskind/Gilant Phillips
Most Miles (M/F)- Andrew Davenport, Tom Tobin (tied)/Sandra Ferrari
Top Runner (M/F)- Anthony Watson/Emily Sanderson
President’s Award- Veronica Antoine
Anne Perzeszty Elite Volunteer Corps- (5 or more volunteer assignments)
Antoine, Veronica
Bezuidenhout, Rosemary
Boutross, Christine
Bucich, Marilyn
Byrnes, Tom
Clark, Roland
Deliz, Evelyn
Duquette, Amy
Ferrari, Sandra
Figueroa, Luis
Goldstein, Al
Hammerman, Craig
Kohler-Britton, Charlene
Kumbhar, Krishna
Meany, Tom
Meany, Pat
Mooney, Kathy
O'Brien, Doug
Olney, Doug
Perzeszty, Anne
Phillips, Gilant
Rieman, Michael
Rieman, Lila
Ring, Michael
Skillman, Brad
Soskind, Paul
Tomasi, Peter
Tomasi, Susan
Torres, Gil
Watson, Tony
Weaver, Rich
Yozzo, Ralph
Zavala, Julio

Point races

Here are the NYRR Club Point Races for 2008:

February 23 Al Gordon Snowflake 4M M/W
March 9 NY Colon Cancer 15K M/W
April 13 Run as One TGL Classic 4M M/W
April 26 Brooklyn Half Marathon M/W
May 17 Healthy Kidney 10K M/W
June 7 New York Mini 10K W
June 15 WABC...vs Prostate Cancer 5M M
July 19 CPC Run for Central Park M/W
August 16 Club Team Championships M/W Double Points
September 6 Fitness Mag M..,B..,S..Games 4M M/W
October 4 ...Grete’s Great Gallop Half M/W
November 2 NYC Marathon M/W
December ?? Joe Kleinerman 10K M/W

Do you know that at least 4 runners being considered for Runner of the Year in their age groups can be seen training and racing in Prospect Park? Justin Canna, Felipe Vergara, Jose Santiago and Debbie Barchat all made the list. We wish them the best.

NY Giants Rock On!!

PPTC congratulates the Super Bowl XLII Champion NY Giants, and their fans for their thrilling upset of the New England Patriots.
Our hearty thanks also to David Lansner and Carolyn Kubitschek for getting a 42" HD TV for this year's party--in past years, both teams had to drop a player to adapt to the screen format.
Special recognition to club treasurer, Doug Olney, who sat unflinching as the sole Patriot fan amid the screaming Giants following. He warned prior to the game that the club accounts would not be released if he didn't return safely to his home that night.
We cordially invite both teams to join us on Saturday, February 16th, for a head to head relay competition at the Cherry Tree 10 Miler.

Welcome Bijs

Our congratulations to Andrew and Lauren Davenport on the birth of their daughter, Bijs, born on Tues., Jan. 22nd. All are doing well. With the installation of our website photo gallery, we look forward to seeing pictures of this latest addition to PPTC, The Next Generation.

Can you feel those fast-twitch cells twitching?

The speed workouts coached by Tony Watson are just around the corner once again. The first of 10 Tuesday night sessions will be held on February 5th at 7 pm. The group meets at the park entrance at Bartel Pritchard Sq (accross from the Pavilion movie theater).
The club is again subsidizing the cost of the sessions. The cost to club members will be $55 for all 10 workouts. A runner has to be a member for 2 months prior to the start of the sessions to qualify for this price. Non club members, or members w/ less than 2 months may sign up for the very reasonable cost of $100. Checks can be mailed to the club address, and must be received by Friday the 1st. Otherwise bring it with you on the first night, but the group is limited to 20 runners so mail the check in tonight.
If you wonder if these workouts are worth it, ask prior participants. Most of them can be found on the awards ballot after taking their running to the next level. We'll be posting printable registration forms on the website, but you don't have to wait for them to mail your check in.

Gilant Phillips shatters 11

At the Holiday 4M in CP, Gilant Phillips (Jill) made a major breakthrough, finally shattering the 11 minute mile pace with a time of 42:19 (10:34 pace). Currently "the voice of PPTC", Jill may yet come to be remembered as "the legs" as well.

It's Hammertime!!

This past Saturday, Craig Hammerman, former PPTC board chairperson, was inducted into the NY City Hall of Fame in the category of Volunteerism. The Hall of Fame honors remarkable New Yorkers who have contributed to the betterment of our city and who will serve as role models for our youngsters. PPTC extends its congratulations to Craig and his family for his well deserved recognition.

Nominations and Turkey Trot Reporting

Don't forget to send in your nominations this week for member awards!! The nomination sheet can be found in last month's newsletter. If the dog ate it, request another one from contact@pptc.org. We have a lot of members deserving of your recognition; don't let them go unheralded.
Also, I urge you to record your Turkey Trot results on the database. There was no team affiliation recorded on the race applications, and because of the large number of participants, it's not likely that the results will be entered on your behalf.
And while you are doing your holiday shopping, pick up something nice to wear to the Awards Dinner on Friday, January 25th.

Say Cheeeeeze: Updated

Kudos to our webmaster, Krishna Kumbhar, for his latest addition to the site. Visit the "Photo Gallery" and knock yourself out with PPTC photos going back several years, and including the latest taken by Ralph Yozzo at this year's Turkey Trot.

Krishna asks that you send any photos you wish to share to photos@pptc.org However, if you have a lot to send, it's requested that you send a CD to the club address rather than overwhelm the system. Those pictures can take a while to download.

Turkey Trot Huge Success

All the preparations of the last 6 months yielded a hugely succesful Turkey Trot 5M on Thanksgiving Day. On a bright and sunny 60 degree day, 1,200 runners started their holiday celebration with a 5 mile romp through the loops of Prospect Park. Over 50 PPTC volunteers and another 25 students from Bishop Ford High School pitched in on race day to stage this annual Prospect Park tradition.
Registration, and preregistration pick up was handled smoothly, split callers and water stops performed well,and electronic chip timing allowed for quick posting of results. Although we ran out of water and medals at the finish due to the unexpected turnout, most runners were understanding and still thanked us for a great race.
Profits from this race allows us to subsidize the membership events we support throughout the year, such as the coached speed sessions, Harry's Handicap, marathon support activities,awards, the picnic, and website and newsletter services. We also make a donation to the Bishop Ford H.S. track teams, and the Prospect Park Alliance for support of our efforts.
PPTC congratulates the organizing committe of Veronica Antoine, Luis Figueroa, Tom Meany, Anne Perzeszty and Gil Torres plus the countless members who donated their time and effort to this resounding success. Without such widespread volunteer participation none of this would have been possible.

See Tom Run, See Tom Bike, See Tom Run

No, it wasn't Deja Vu all over again. It was Tom Byrnes triumphantly wrapping up his season with a first place age group win in the Prospect Park Duathlon last Sunday. Tom ran a 5K, biked 4 loops, and ran another 5K. Turning on the jets, he caught the second place finisher with a half mile to go, and took home the medal.
This was Tom's second duathlon this year, and along with 3 tris, a half marathon, and the Cherry Tree 10 miler, it marks a very positive comeback season.
Since being diagnosed w/ skin cancer 7 years ago, and undergoing the ravages of chemotherapy, Tom has steadily worked himself back into shape with single minded resolve. His tenacity and triumph in the midst of a life threatening crisis has set a truly inspirational example for us all.
Feel free to copy this in "The Inside Loop", Tom. You've earned it.

Post Marathon Wrap Up

33 PPTC marathoners finished the ING NYC Marathon on Sunday.
They were led by Denise Frazier (3:25+) and Frank DeLeo (3:29+). Making their marathon debuts also were Helen Dole in a promising 3:31+, Amy Duquette in 4:27+, and Gilant Phillips in an epic effort (6:44+)where the time didn't tell the whole tale of the determination and discipline that went into getting her ready to complete the distance.
The post race reception, as usual, was bursting with comraderie as we greeted our runners w/ food, and a place to unwind and exchange stories.
Andrew Davenport headed home to Lauren's chocolate waffles. Veteran runner and ex-president Michael Rieman declared it his last marathon, and bemoaned forgetting sweat pants to wear home. Veronica Antoine will run 2 more to reach 15 overall. Michael Ring finished his 15th, and is weighing if it will be his last. Frank DeLeo pushed hard in the last half to finish under 3:30. Sandy Ferrari ignored the pain from a callous at mile 17. Amy changed her running bra in the midst of a crowd without taking off her shirt or exposing any part of her anatomy. Frank Canzannella shared a childhood regret that his birthday was on Sept. 1st, and he never got to celebrate it in school. And missed by his absence was Al Prawda who unfortunately fell while dancing to the drums in Harlem and broke his wrist, but finished nonetheless.

The December issue of the newsletter will contain extensive coverage of the marathon, and we want you to be part of it. If you ran New York, Chicago, Philadelphia or any others, Around the Park wants to hear your fall marathon stories. Drop an e-mail to Brad Skillman (our copy editor) at brooklynbridgerunner@yahoo.com and vent, praise, discuss what happened. What was the one thing that you didnʼt expect? What was the point on the course that you realized your race goal was won/lost -- and why? What unique thing from this yearʼs race did you learn? Let us know by Dec. 1 so we can print your comments in next monthʼs issue.
Congratulations to our runners,and thanks to Al Goldstein, Anne Perzeszty, Julio Zavala, Cecil Burgin, Diana Ortiz and all others who volunteered their time to organize the Last 10 Miles, marathon bus, and reception for us.

Meet the Members

Amy Duquette has been conducting interviews of PPTC members for the newsletter - and getting lots of appreciative feedback for her work! Do you know someone who would be a candidate for her to write about? How about you? Don't be shy. Send the names and contact information of people you would suggest for her to interview to contact@pptc.org and we'll relay it to her. Amy says it usually takes about an hour for her to conduct the interview.