PPTC member Corre (pronounced Corey) is full of a very playful energy, always sporting a broad smile and sometimes wearing a cute shirt when she runs. Corre was awarded PPTC ‘Best New Member’ award last year. If there were a “Most Club Spirit” award, she’d be a hard contender to beat, not only because she runs every Tuesday night Speed Series, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday PPTC group run, but also because of the way she interacts with the her fellow runners, stirring up the social vibe, making it a little more fun to be there.
She won that ‘Best New Member’ award because of her spirit, dedication and positive attitude but she’s also had some impressive times in 2008. Corre finished the Brooklyn Half in 1:38, a 7:30 pace per mile, and the Team Championship five-mile race in 35:26, a 7:05 pace per mile. But don’t ask her because she doesn’t remember her times. She can’t recite how many miles she is currently running per week either but does admit that she has more fun training than racing. She believes in “…free running. Just being the runner that I’m proud of.”She does not focus on achieving PR’s and does not think much about her past races.
For Corre, running has been a way for her to find balance and control,a way to harness her abundance of energy and feel less anxiety. Corre had found herself at risk of losing control both figuratively and literally at different points in her life. For example, after her very first half marathon in Seattle at age 17, Corre in peedher pants at the finish line. She found it funny then and still laughs about it years later. She reflects on the symbolism in this loss of control. She typically pushes herself hard, not knowing when to stop and throughout her life she’s looked for a way to define limits for herself. Long distance running, which requires that she maintain her pace, offers the boundaries she needs.
Corre has always been active. As a child, born and raised at the base of Mt.Rainer in a town called Enumclaw, (“The Land of Evil Spirits”), WA, she hiked, rode horses, played on the farm and in the woods. She was right in the middle of six siblings. Her mother was a runner and in sixth grade Corre asked her if she could join her on a run. “I was a skinny kid. The run was really hard for me and my mind and body did not match up.I did not know why I could not go faster but I wanted to.” Her other siblings were all active, but none were runners. Corre continued this connection she established to her mother into junior high and high school. She was the captain of her track and cross country team in high school. It was here where she first discovered and appreciated the community aspect that running can offer. This continues to be one of her favorite parts about the sport. While many adults lose ties with old friends, Corre remains friends with her high school running friends even though she is living on the other side of the country. This May they will all run a half marathon together. Corre is also heading up an all ladies 200 mile Reach the Beach relay team in NH this September.
In college, Corre took a break from running for a period of time. Her parents were going through a divorce and Corre began experimenting with the partying lifestyle. But after this phase, she moved to Santa Barbara to work for an investment banking firm. The boss here decided to pay for her (and all employees) to receive personal training during their lunch hour. Corre took complete advantage and went five times a week. She then joined the track club that trainer coached and she once again submerged herself into running. She ran her first marathon shortly after in San Diego. Even though she was no stranger to distances and had completed a 30K, she found it “…nerve wracking and fun. But I was proud of how controlled I was.”
“Running is a place where I find clarity. It is my foundation to make me happy. It only helps me and does not hinder me.” The only time when she was hindered was during a long, tough winter in New York and swears that the cold weather is what brought on the tendinitis in her hip. Besides finding tendinitis in NYC, she found herself part of a running community again within the PPTC. The group runs provide the constant schedule she responds to and the park environment where the runs take place are reminiscent of her childhood surroundings. “My favorite part of the day is my run and I like the social component of it, but also the competition. You can tell a lot about a person when you run with them. In our group some of us always need to be in the lead and we are always inching ahead of each other. (One runner) is really honest in the way he runs and I really value his honesty. I’ve become very aware of others and the dynamic of people…my relationships have changed and I’ve also learned how to rely on people and be a better team player all through running.”Corre and her husband moved to NYC two and half years ago, where one of her brothers and a sister lives. She works in advertising for the Above the Influence anti-drug campaign geared towards teens and her husband is a photographer. She is deeply involved in yoga at Laughing Lotus in Manhattan. She finds yoga and running similar in that yoga also requires her to find and hold a pace for an extended period of time. Also, it “gets me out of my head.” When asked what her future goals may be, Corre says, “One of my gifts is that I am a casual runner. I don’t think people stop to be thankful for their gifts often enough in life. I just want to continue bettering who I am,” and for Corre a big part of that happens through running.
At our coach's advice we made a strong showing at the JFK Runway Run. Click here for the results. Note that we finished 6, 14, 21, 30, 42 47, 53, 61, 68, 120, 171, 196, 210, and 241 out of less than 600 runners. (I hope they do not adjust the results and mess my my list!). The awards ceremony was like the PPTC show. Here is the quote from coach Tony"
Dear Runners,
Congratulations to all who smoked the JFK race today. PPTC rules!!! Lots & lots of hard earned hard ware....
Let's plan to do it again,
Best,
Tony
Go Team.
ChickenUnder and One Runner's World were both there, but if you read their blogs it looks like they were at two different races. Click here for some I-phone photos from Frank.
This official photo was also on the JFK Rotary website:
We also had a massive showing in the Run As One 4M:
List by Team: PPTC
Distance: 4.0 Miles, 6.4 Kilometers Date/Time: April 19, 2009, 9:00 am Location: Central Park, NYC Weather: 58 degrees, 64% humidity, overcast.
23 matches found.
Click any blue heading to sort the list. AG = Age Graded.
First big news is that there is a big blue tent in the parking lot. That means the UniverSoul Circus in here. Yep, till April 26. It is always good to have more people in Prospect Park, but watch out for extra traffic. It looks like Well House Drive is being used for parking.
But have no fear, traffic is being controlled in an appropriate way. (I thought that sign looked good in front of that budding tree.)
It is kinda cool to here circus music for about a mile if the loop!
Last week I reported on the arrival of flowing drinking water in Prospect Park. Now I can confirm that the (very) portable portapotties have returned.
Anybody giving me a hard time about my photography get more pictures emailed to them;-)
Q. I know that for certain events, like the marathon and games at Madison Square Garden, traffic lights are set to run in unusual ways. How often does it happen?
A: Although it happens a lot for sports events, there are no ironclad rules. The city’s Department of Transportation adjusts lights every day, whether for rush hour, a motorcade or the marathon, according to Nicole Garcia, a department spokeswoman.......
Does this person think that the lights are all green for the runners during a road race?
NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg and members of her staff will be at our April 6th General Meeting. Here’s an opportunity to ask questions or raise the concerns you have regarding NYRR and running in NYC. To make the most of the time we will have that evening, it would be best to get those questions/concerns to Mary before the meeting to ensure on-the-spot response and avoid most, if not all, “I’ll have to get back to you on that” answers. Put them in an email to contact@pptc.org and we’ll combine all the information and send it in in plenty of time before the meeting. And mark your calendar!
And there is more - Ballots will be counted at the April 6th meeting and you still have time to vote. Your ballot must be postmarked by April 2nd to ensure it arrives in time or you can bring it with you to the meeting. Do not remove the ballot number; it is there to ensure it is an official ballot. There is no cross-check list so your anonymity is safe. See you on April 6th.
So, if you have not mailed in your ballot yet.... Don't. Bring it to the meeting!
In 3 weeks Gill took about 20 people from "Hi I wanna start running" to a basic understanding of warming up, stretching, correct form and pacing techniqus.
This group will continue to meet Saturday mornings and we are looking forward to some of them will be joining our "long runs" soon.
We also had some blogging Amy felt GREAT! and Rebecca finished 3rd in her Age Group. It also looks like Mike Rieman has returned to racing after breaking his arm last time he competed in Central Park
Colon Cancer 4M Challenge List by Team: PPTC
Distance: 4.0 Miles, 6.4 Kilometers Date/Time: March 22, 2009, 9:00 am Location: Central Park, NYC Weather: Nice
If your ballot for the April 2009 PPTC elections was seriously damaged in the mail, here is what to do: 1- Notify Mike Rieman of the damage (MERieman@aol.com) . Please provide your home address, especially if you are have joined PPTC within the last three months. 2- Mike will mail you a replacement ballot. Please save the damaged ballot if possible and return it along with your replacement ballot. The deadline remains the same: Ballots should be postmarked no later than April 2, 2009.
Another election issue: do not remove the ballot numbers. Ballots returned without numbers cannot be counted. The numbers are there to ensure that the ballots are not copies but are the official ones. Be assured your anonymity is safe. There is no master list of names that might be used to cross check numbers to names. Thanks
I just got back from the first installment of the Beginner's Runners Workshop. I ain't no beginner but I sure got some learning.
About 20 newbies showed up and all had a great time. For some it was there fist loop around the Park.
Next week there will be lessons on interval training (or fartleks for us oldsters).
All welcome!
Beginners' Workshop Series Kicks Off First in Three-Part Series Begins Saturday
Gil Torres, Kirsten Marino and Katie Muladore will be leading a three-session workshop starting this Saturday, March 14th, at 8 a.m. designed specifically for beginner runners. This pilot program is in collaboration with Slope Sports and grew directly from our success with the joint group runs. We are reaching out to runners who feel they are too slow or inexperienced to do long outings with the big group. Each session will illustrate practical tips that will help runners stick with a program, develop good technique and progress gradually and safely towards their goals. All paces are welcome. We’ll be regrouping at specific points along the run and nobody will be left behind. We’ll meet on the sidewalk at the Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park. The program is free and we encourage you to attend all three sessions. Non-club members are welcome.
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