A Race Grows in Brooklyn

May 18, 2013 Race Preview No comments

photoTomorrow morning at 7am I be at the Brooklyn Museum surrounded by about 20,000 of my closest friends at the at the start of the Brooklyn Half Marathon.   This point-to-point race like the borough hosting it has its challenges and a certain attitude.  The race’s 7am start time with limited street parking and shaky weekend subway service makes the first challenge getting to the start line.

The race starts next to the Brooklyn Museum on Washington Avenue.  After running the around Grand Army Plaza’s loop and under the arch the runners run one loop of Prospect Park, exiting the park on Prospect Park Circle and heading to Ocean Parkway.  On Ocean Parkway it’s a five mile run up the alphabet towards Surf Avenue passing the handball courts and climbing up onto the boardwalk, once on the boardwalk, it’s the .1 towards the finish.

While always a fan favorite, the Brooklyn Half has changed considerably from the first time I ran it in 2009, growing from 7000 runners to the 20,000 who will be pounding the pavement tomorrow morning.  The race has become a destination race for runners in the Tri-State Area and beyond complete with a three day pre-race party complete with live music and fireworks show.

The Brooklyn Half is one of my favorite races that I have many fond memories of, and tomorrow’s early wakeup call and increased security won’t do anything to diminish that.  So let me wrap this up, I have a race to run tomorrow.

Tales of a Back of the Pack Runner

May 17, 2013 View From The Back 2 comments
Esther and I after my first race in 2008

Esther and I after my first race in 2008

Since I rebooted this blog a few days ago, it’s time to reintroduce myself to my four or five readers, is it five? I’m Frank, a forty-something (ok I’m 48 years old) runner living in Jamaica Estates with my wife Esther and our dog Chico.

I grew up in Howard Beach in the 70’s and all our neighbors had sons.  We were always playing pickup baseball, football, soccer and hockey.  We also rode bikes; roller skated or raced each other around the block to see who was the fastest — what a great way to grow up!

As we got older life happened — careers, families and responsibilities — socializing now revolved brunch or dinner — not  soccer, football or hockey.  Some play softball, flag football or golf on weekends, while others joined a gym — and soon quit or are paying for a gym membership they don’t use.

I was no different.  I joined a gym — and worked out for months at a time, doing light weights or cardio.  Then I’d fall off the wagon, my gym bag would go to work with me, but somehow neither me of the gym bag would make it to the gym.

WIth my friend Leo after The Down and Dirty Mud Run

WIth my friend Leo after The Down and Dirty Mud Run

Five-years ago my life changed — I found my soul mate — an amazing woman who ran.  When I met Esther, running a marathon and skydiving were both buried deep on my Bucket List.  Esther already ran three marathons and was training for her fourth.  One of our first dates was a twilight run in Central Park, what a great night!

A week later I joined New York Road Runners and it was on.Five years and 80 races later, I’ve run everything from a 5K to a marathon — and running an ultra, doesn’t seem so farfetched.  I enjoy the camaraderie and made peace with what I am — a back of the pack runner.

Being at the back removes a lot of pressure — I know I’m not winning the race — or even my age group.  I don’t race others — I race the clock, pushing the limits of what I’m capable of.  I will admit passing runners at the end of a race with a final kick is still a rush.

Running has given me great memories.  I crossed a marathon off the bucket list and added eight more.  I’ve run half marathons in a frosty 14 degree chill and 90 degree heat.  I’ve raced in heavy downpours and crawled through mud pits.  I finished my second marathon, in Philadelphia, 48 minutes faster than my first one, and celebrated by running up the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.  Rocky Balboa would be proud.

My biggest reward is when friends and relatives tell me they signed up for a race, bike tour, or charity walk because they saw my picture on Facebook page and decided, “I can do that.”   I tell them all the same thing, “If I can do it, anyone can, just keep moving forward.”

The 30 Minute Club

May 15, 2013 30 Minute Club No comments

Motion I originally got the idea for the 30 Minute Club while reading one of John Bingham’s posts on Facebook about a group he started called the 100 Day Challenge.  The goal of the100 Day Challenge is to complete 30 minutes of non-stop activity for 100 straight days.

Last New Year’s Day, I stated the challenge, posting updates to my blog and Facebook page.  Changing the name to “The 30 Minute Club” I encouraged friends to “join” and increase their activity, 30 minutes at a time.  My posts included regular updates of races and training runs, cross training at the gym on the stationary bike or the elliptical machine.  Some were about morning walks with my dog Chico.

What surprised me was how many friends tracked my progress and even joined the club.  Soon friends were on machines at the gym or taking Zumba classes.  Maria, my running coach, you’ll be meeting her in future posts, liked the idea for new members of our time encouraging them to increase their activity.

Some days the challenge was inconvenient.   I ran up the steps in my building during snow storms, took my rain gear and iPod out for brisk walks on cold rainy nights, and even staggered out once or twice at 11pm when I realized I didn’t get my 30 minutes in.

Upon deciding to reboot North Queens Runner the 30 Minute Cub seemed like a good fit.  The original challenge lasted for 118 days from New Year’s Day to April 27th.  How far will this current challenge last?  Let’s find out.

30 Minute Club – Day 4 – Taking advantage of this morning’s excellent running weather, I went out for a 4.57 mile run in 37:39 running an 8:14 pace.

Time For A Reboot

May 14, 2013 General No comments

I’m back, although I doubt many noticed.  Many posts were posted infrequently and were too bloggy.  So why am I back?  I have thoughts and ideas to share; I just need to perfect how I express them.  So taking a cue from Hollywood, I decided for a reboot — if it worked for Batman, Superman, Spiderman, why not.

Since my last post, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the East Coast.   In addition to the thousands of displaced people, Sandy’s wrath caused the New York City Marathon to be cancelled.  Although cancelling the race was the right choice waiting until less than two days before the race on late Friday afternoon when most of the runners had already arrived on was pure stupidity.

Last month’s Boston Marathon forever changed security at marathons and signaled an end of innocence.  We now have extra security at races, expos, and at bag check. I now race with my cell phone at least $20 in my pack, just in case.

Since last summer, I broke my foot, and added another twenty pounds to an already oversized frame.  I joined a runners club, did lots of physical therapy and joined Weight Watchers.  Since then I’ve rediscovered my love of running, lost over 40 pounds and am putting up faster times at races.  Now I’m back at the keyboard, hoping to motivate a few people and have a forum to express my opinion.  I just have to do it in a less bloggy manner.

30 Minute Club – Days 1 -3 – This is my homage to John “The Penguin” Bingham’s 100 Day Challenge.  The goal is to complete at least 100 straight days of at least 30 minutes of non-stop activity.  On Sunday Esther and I ran 3.31 miles in 35:46 before heading out for Mother’s Day.  Yesterday I ran 5 miles in 42:35.  Today I ran 4.25 miles in 34:57 a 8:13 pace.