It's quite an amazing and exciting time to be a member of Front Runners New York. I'm continually amazed at all the new faces that I see. The attendances at the fun runs are at all time high levels. There are literally bodies everyone come announcement time at Rutgers. It's rather funny, actually. And babies and little kids sprinkled throughout the crowd. What a diverse and unique club we've become.
And if you haven't been to a workout in awhile, come see what you've been missing. Attendance at the first few outdoor sessions has been terrific. Koach Kelsey is whipping the membership into shape, as evidenced by the constant PRs being reported in the weekly race reports. And as for the races, if you follow the club results, you know that the membership is out in big numbers at the NYRR races. At last month's Run as One, TGL Classic we had an incredible 81 members cross the line. And a week later, 54 members donned the club jersey at the addidas Run for the Parks. And incredibly, over 150 members have signed up for this year's ING New York City Marathon!
The month of May kicks off with the always popular club points race, the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Hope to see another large showing at the starting line on the Coney Island boardwalk! Two weeks later is the 4 th club points race, the Healthy Kidney 10k.
Finally, the month of May ends with the club hosting the International Front Runner Games. Originally a big scale event that the International Front Runner organization asked us to host in conjunction with their annual convention of delegates, the board voted to scale down the event to generate more interest and make it more affordable to the membership since the interest from out of towners was too low to warrant such an event. We hope you'll enjoy the revised event and appreciate everyone's support. We will be refunding those who paid the full price in a timely manner. The board is excited about the new format and hope you will be too!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Saturday, May 23, 10am – International Front Runners Fun Run including complimentary breakfast (Rutgers/Central Park).
Sunday, May 24, 12 noon – 5K cross-country run followed by a 5M cross country run (Van Cortlandt Park)
Sunday, May 24, 4pm – Barbecue reception at 4pm (Union Theological Seminary Courtyard – Broadway and 121st).
Happy running everyone, and see you in both Central and Van Cortlandt Parks!
Mikey B
April 2008
The first signs of spring have finally arrived, and none too soon for many of our members. Some members are resurfacing at the runs and at the races after their annual winter hibernation. Others have been actively training at the Armory or getting in their long runs in preparation for their spring marathons. Whether you've enjoyed winter running or shied away from it, most would agree that spring makes for some of the best running conditions. Spring is the season of new beginnings!
The month of March started off with the 10 th addition of the Front Runners Indoor Track Meet. This year's addition was a nice success, with many FRNY members running and over 150 total participants. Thanks to everyone who ran, volunteered, or just cheered on their fellow teammates. A special thanks goes out to the meet director, Joe Plutz, for once again putting on such a smooth event. Many participants commented that our meet is their favorite of the year, and this wouldn't be possible without all the volunteers' assistance. And a thanks also goes out to Koach Kelsey, who's dedication to the training program has paid big dividends to so many members.
Two days after the track meet was the 1 st points race of the year, the Colon Cancer 15k along with the shorter Colon Cancer 4M . An incredible 75 club members participated in one of the events, making for a great club showing on the racing circuit. Members were also out in big numbers later in the month, with 25 members running the NYRR 8000 , and an impressive 49 members capping off the month by running the Scotland Run 10k . Its great to have such impressive club support out on the running circuit month after month. And running well. And fast! The men's team scored top 3 finishes on 3 consecutive weekends for the 1 st time in recent memory. But it's not only about fast running, it's about participation. So thanks to each and every runner who dons their FRNY singlet in support of the club.
April is a big month for spring marathons. Good luck to all our members participating in this year's Boston Marathon , Also good luck to members participating in the London, Long Island, Jersey Shore, Madison, and other spring marathons. And congrats to Keiran O'Mahony (3:05.09) and Tim Guscott (3:17.23) on both running Boston marathon qualifying times this past month. The next points race in the NYRR Club Series is the Run as One, TGL Classic 4M on April 13 th . Hope everyone will come out and support this event, regardless of pace!
And in less than 2 months is the International Front Runner Games , right here in NYC!
The weekend long event will include a track meet, 5k, 5M, social events, scavenger hunt, beer & pizz night, BBQ & awards banquet, and other fun events! If you haven't yet, make sure you register today by clicking here. And check out the promotional video by clicking here:
Happy running everyone, and see you in Central Park!
Mikey B
March 2008
FRNY Awards Night 2008 was certainly a night to remember. With 177 attendees, it was our largest and most successful awards night to date. And it's always nice to see our fellow runners, triathletes & bikers all dressed up and in attire other than singlets or sweats! A good time seemed to be had by all, and many thanks to all those patrons who supported this event.
Thank yous are also in order for those who gave their time and efforts to make this event a big success. In particular, let's thank Katrina Amaro for her visual presentations, Rob Lennon for his speech writing, Joe Lim for the year end recap video and Michael Orzechowski for yet again securing that great space at Union Theological Seminary. Someone commented to me that with the long, dimly lit candled tables, the venue looked like Hogwarts!
Congratulations to Dave Pitches on winning the Front Runner of the Year award. He was certainly a worthy recipient with all of his accomplishments and accolades he received not only last year, but year after year. A true inspiration to us all! Also congrats to Lenore Beaky for winning the Area Award for Sustained Commitment to FRNY and to Joe Lim for winning the Guy Zelenak award for all his work he put into revamping the website. A complete list of all the winners is listed below.
Club members were also out on the racing circuit last month, with 40 + members competing at both the Gridiron Classic and the Bronx Half Marathon. But the biggest racing event last month was our annual trip to Prospect Park to participate in the Cherry Tree 10 Mile Run & 3 Person Relay. While there were fast times aplenty in both the 10 miler and in the relay competition (including Kelsey Louie, Rob Lennon, & John MacConnell's 1 st place overall finish!), this event for the team is generally more about participation and team camaraderie. And with such a large club contingent all sporting their club attire, we certainly were noticed! As evidenced by positive comments and inquiries the club received post event.
March kicks off with the 10 th annual FRNY Indoor Track Meet on Friday night, March 7 th . Hope you all can make it up to the Armory for this fun annual event. And for all those who've been actively involved in the winter indoor training program, now is the chance to see your payoff! 2 days later on Sunday March 9 th is the (now) 1 st points race of 2008, the Colon Cancer Challenge 15k (since the Snowflake was snowed out!) . So hope to see you out there for one or even both of these events!
Happy running everyone, stay warm, and see you in Central Park! And remember to register for theInternational Front Runner Games!
2008 Awards Night Winners:
Front Runner of the Year: David Pitches
Guy Zelenak Volunteer of the Year: Joseph Lim
Area Award for Sustained Commitment: Lenore Beaky
Presidential Award winners: Ted Paszek, Ruth Gursky, Rick Buckheit
Continental Airlines raffle winner: David Swinarski
Lee Gorman Memorial Cyclist: Fritz Van Orden
Tritons of the Year: Barbara Krajewski & Bryce Wunder
Newcomers of the Year: Hilary Lorenz & Kieran O'Mahony
Most Improved Athletes: Jennifer Ishii & David Lin
Middle Distance Runners of the Year: Lucia Muntean & Brad Gayman
Long Distance Runners of the Year: Kristen Marx & Zander Ross
Age Group Winners:
Under 30: Mollie Berliss & Charlie Herschel
30-39: Audra Farrell & Kelsey Louie
40-49: Hilary Lorenz & Patrick Guilfoyle
50-59: Paulette Meggoe & Mark Mascolini
60 & Over: Lenore Beaky & Dave Pitches
February 2008
Every Saturday when I arrive at Rutgers for our weekly fun run, I am amazed at all the new faces. Week after week, even on cold January runs, more and more new faces arrive and are greeted by Saturday regulars. The club is in the midst of a full-fledged boom!
And what makes it more exciting is how diverse the club has become. The women have increased their presence substantially. And we certainly have had a youth invasion. Not that anyone is complaining, mind you. And the club has become fast! Long gone are the days when the club was thought of as social but not particularly athletic. If you haven't been around in a while, make it a point to stop by sometime. It's a great time to meet some new friends and catch up on some old ones!
The club was out in force on the racing circuit in January at both the Fred Lebow 5 Miler and the Manhattan Half Marathon . We also had a dedicated group of tracksters participate in the Thursday Night at the Races series. Meanwhile, a large group of both men and women have been training hard all month at the Tuesday/Thursday workouts up at the Armory in preparation of the start of the Points Race series.
February kicks off with the Front Runners New York Awards Night 2008 on Saturday, February 2nd. With over 175 guests, this annual event sold out early and looks to be the biggest and grandest to date. All sorts of surprises are in store, so hope to see you all at the social event of the year!
On Saturday, February 16th, the club will make its annual trek to Prospect Park to participate in the Cherry Tree 10 Miler & 3 Person Relay. This annual event is one of the more popular events the club participates in during the winter months; most opt for the 3 person relay. So grab two friends and come join us in Brooklyn!
Finally, the first points race of 2008 is the Al Gordon Snowflake 4 Miler on February 23 rd . The club's support of the Points Races last year was terrific; let's do more of the same in '08! Below is the Points Races selected in the series by club council and NYRR. Be sure to save the dates and plan your vacations and social lives accordingly!
February 23 - NYRR Al Gordon Snowflake 4M (M, W)
March 9 - New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15k (M, W)
April 13 - Run as One TGL Classic 4M (M, W)
April 25 - Brooklyn Half Marathon 13.1M (M, W)
May 17 - Healthy Kidney 10k (M, W)
June 7 - NYRR Mini 10k (W)
June 15 - WABC Father's Day Fight Against Prostate Cancer 5M (M)
July 19 - CPC Run for Central Park 4M (M, W)
August 16 - NYRR Club Team Championships 5M *Double Points* (M, W)
September 6 - Fitness Magazine Mind, Body, Spirit Games 4M (M, W)
October 4 - Norwegian Festival Grete's Great Gallop 13.1M (M, W)
November 2 - ING New York City Marathon 26.2M (M, W)
December 7 - NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10k (M, W)
Happy running, everyone and see you in Central Park.
-Mike
January 2008
As 2007 came to an end, the club showed no signs of slowing down. Front Runners were out in record numbers for the three NYRR races ran this past month. 67 members participated in both the Hot Chocolate 15k and the Holiday 4 Miler , and an incredible 71 members led the club to top 10 finishes at the final points race of the year, the Joe Kleinerman 10k. For the year, an amazing 352 FRNY members ran at least one NYRR race, including 267 men and 85 women. Congratulations, everyone! These are numbers that we can all be proud of. Lets also congratulate all of our age group winners in our final year ending points standings: Mollie Berliss, Charlie Herschel, Audra Farrell, Kelsey Louie, Hilary Lorenz, Patrick Guilfoyle, Paulette Meggoe, Mark Mascolini, Lenore Beaky, and Dave Pitches. These winners will be honored at the 2008 FRNY Awards Night, along with the winners in all the awards categories. Also to be awarded that night will be the newcomers of the year, the most improved runners, and both the middle and long distance runners of the year. In addition, awards will also be presented for the Tritons of the Year, the Lee Gorman Memorial Cylist of the Year, the AREA Award, Guy Zelenak, and Front Runner of the Year Awards. Awards Night 2008 is scheduled for Saturday, February 2nd. More details will become available in the next few weeks, but make sure to attend what plans to be the Event of the Year! December also saw the announcement of the 2008 Board. Congrats and Welcome to Michael Benjamin, President; Rob Lennon and Audra Farrell, Men's & Women's Vice Presidents; Dane Grams, Secretary; Jeffrey Werner, Treasurer; and Katrina Amaro and Ryan Singer, Directors at Large. Also lets welcome the 2008 Race Captains: Sharon Abbott, I.J. Frame, Hilary Lorenz, and Chris Stoia. And a big and hearty Thank You goes out to Cenk Bulbul, Alex Kristofcak, Andrew Butler, Claudia Cummings, Michael Orzechowski, Ruth Gursky, and Jerry McDonnell for their contributions to the club in 2007. While some will take a much needed break from their busy training schedules in January, others have already gotten theirs underway. Indoor training at the Armory has been a big success this year as an alternative to the cold outdoor running. Coach Kelsey Louie, assisted by Rob Lennon, Audra Farrell, and others, are currently leading the club through a disciplined and goal focused training program. Look for early results to start paying off in the upcoming Fred Lebow 5 Miler , the Manhattan Half Marathon , and the Thursday Night at the Races series. Its going to take some work to top all the successes the club achieved in 2007, but with all the new members, the enthusiasm, and the hard work being turned in by so many, I think Front Runners New Year has even bigger and greater things on the horizon for 2008. Happy Running everyone, stay warm, and see you in Central Park!
The month of November kicked off with one of the biggest club weekends of the year, the ING New York City Marathon weekend. Front Runners were out in force for the Pasta Dinner, the annual Pancake Breakfast, the 24 Mile water station, and the actual marathon itself. A record 73 club members finished this year's marathon. The club met the challenge of 40 under 4:00 and 50 under 5:00, with 44 members finishing under 4 hours and 66 under 5 hours, therefore qualifying the club for a special cash prize from New York Road Runners. We had 13 Boston qualifying times ran, with many others running their 1st marathon or personal bests. Congratulations, everyone!
Also, a big Thank You goes out to all the club members who volunteered their time & efforts to make all the events of that weekend so successful. The volunteerism displayed by our membership is one of our greatest resources and the reason how we are able to successfully stage events for the membership throughout the year. A special thanks goes out to Sean Butler, Andrew Butler, Marty Tracy and Dane Grams for serving as coordinators for the weekend events.
The marathon was not the only event last month. Despite the onset of chilly weather, the club remained active in a big way. The club also held its 5th annual Front Runners Cross Country Meet. This low-key event is always a lot of fun, and a chance to introduce club membership to the sport of cross-country running. A special thanks to Mollie Berliss, along with both Claudia Cummings and Michael Orzechowski, for all the work they did to see this event ran smoothly.
There were also 66 club members who participated in the God's Love We Deliver, along with others who ran the NYRR Cross Country Championships, Philadelphia Marathon, Pete McCardle XC 15k, Prospect Park Turkey Trot, and Knickerbocker 60k.
The final points race of the year occurs on Sunday, December 9 th at the Joe Kleinerman 10k. Participation has been fantastic all year all the club points races, so let's make an effort to support the club one last time in 2007.
As 2007 comes to an end, the club has so much to be thankful for. Membership is at record highs. Women are more active and vibrant than ever. The younger membership has found a welcoming home. The club is financially sound. On behalf of the entire board of directors of Front Runners New York, we wish you all a very safe and Happy Holiday season. And hope to see more of you all in 2008!
Well, it was late to arrive, but October finally brought the first signs of the fall season. But not early enough for this past month's points race, Grete's Great Gallop Half Marathon . The sticky and steamy conditions didn't deter 63 club members from taking part in the Half, with another 14 settling for the shorter 1.7 mile Norway Run. It's great to see so many club members turning out month after month to support the point's races, and the racing circuit in general. The club was also out in force at the Staten Island Half Marathon and the Poland Springs Marathon Kick Off 5M.
October also saw 50 or so members participate in this year's Blue Line Run, which follows the last 20 miles of the NYC marathon course. This year's edition seemed to be the most successful yet, as our marathoners took advantage of the perfect conditions to get in one last long run prior to their big day. Let's again thank Joe, Mark, Jerry, Ted, and Bill for volunteering their time and efforts for this event.
Several individual members set impressive milestones this past month worth noting. Ramon Frisneda joined the sub-3 hour marathon club by running a 2:57.08 at this year's Chicago Marathon . Both Joanne Dondero and Barbara Krajewski competed at this year's Iron man World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. And Bryce Wunder became a member of the Iron-man fraternity by completing the Greater Floridian Triathlon.
Good luck to all our members running this year's ING New York City Marathon! There looks to be a record number of club members participating this year, so congratulations and good luck to you all.
NYRR gives cash incentives to running clubs for participation if they can meet one of two benchmarks; 40 members finishing under 4:00, or 50 members finishing under 5:00. We've tried for many years to reach this elite benchmark (only 2 running clubs qualified for this bonus last year), so lets make this our goal this year! Remember, you're not only running for yourself, but also for the club when you've hit the wall at mile 22! And use the wall of FRNY supporters at mile 24 to pull you through the last few miles of the course.
We hope you all consider joining us for one of the three events we have scheduled for marathon weekend. We'll have our annual pasta dinner on Friday evening, followed by our traditional pancake breakfast on Saturday morning. Thanks to both Sean Butler and Andrew Butler (really, no relation!) for organizing these events. And if you're not running the marathon, remember to stop by the 24 Mile Water Station! It's a great location to not only watch the marathon, but also to help out the runners and cheer on teammates. Thanks to Dane Grams and Marty Tracy for organizing this event.
After the fall marathons are over, the Armory season is upon us. We're inviting anyone who wants to get faster, improve running form, or just get in some good workouts in the cold, winter season to consider joining us. The season runs for November 17 thru April 18 on Tues and Thurs evenings from 7:45 to 9:30pm. Contact board liaison Rob Lennon or Coach Kelsey Louie for more information or to sign up.
Finally, it's also time to vote for candidates for your 2008 Board. Running for President this year is both Michael Benjamin and Mollie Berliss; Rob Lennon is returning unopposed for Men's VP; Audra Farrell is running for Women's VP; Dane Grams for Secretary; Jeff Werner for Treasurer; and 3 candidates for the two Director at Large positions; Katrina Amaro, Andrew Butler, and Ryan Singer. Details will follow shortly on the procedures for voting for these candidates. All current dues-paying members are eligible to vote, and remember, your votes are important to these candidates!
Happy running everyone, best of luck in the marathon, and see you in Central Park!
Fall has officially arrived here in the city. Which is my favorite season of the year. Cooler temps, changing leaves, the start of marathon season. Apparently, I'm not the only member of this opinion. If you've been reading the race report the past few weeks, its incredible how busy and active (and large!) the membership has become!
September started off with an incredible 81 club members racing the Fitness Games 4 Miler (the total was actually closer to 85 or 86; remember to sign up as Front Runners New York as your team affiliation!). And we were not only out in numbers, but also fielded competitive teams, as both the Men's & Women's teams had their highest team finishes of the year. Afterward, the membership headed up to Riverbank State Park for the annual Meet the Membership picnic. What a great venue that was, with the amazing views of the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge….
Membership also participated in big numbers at Reach the Beach, the Fred Lebow Cross Country 5k points race, the Queens Half Marathon, 5th Avenue Mile, and the ING 18 Mile Tune Up. Speaking of RTB, the club sent three teams up to New Hampshire this year in the ultimate team building event. Just talk to one of the many members who've competed in this event over the past five years; if you've yet to participate in this event, put this on your 'things to do' list for next year! Thanks again to Peter, Jeff, Loren, & Audra for helping to organizing this event.
October kicks off with the 9th Club Points race of the year, Grete's Great Gallop Half Marathon on October 6th. This is the time to see if all the hard work you've put into your marathon training is paying off! And I know you've all been training hard…..I've seen you at the speed workouts, on the long runs, and at the track.
The following weekend is the club's annual Blue Line Run, in which we run the last 20-22 miles of the ING NYC Marathon course. If this year will be your 1st NYC marathon, this is one event you won't want to miss. And NYC marathon veterans also enjoy the route as well. Let's thank Joe Criscione for allowing the club to use his home as a meeting point, as well as the volunteers out on the course.
The ING NYC Marathon is just around the corner! Good luck to everyone as you make your way through your final stages of preparation. Don't forget that on Friday of marathon weekend, we'll have our annual pasta dinner, and on Saturday morning will be the traditional pancake breakfast. And for those not running the marathon that Sunday, remember to come out to the 24 mile water station, which again this year will be hosted by FRNY. Thanks in advance to Sean Butler, Andrew Butler, Dane Grams, and Marie Tracy for coordinating these events.
Finally, it's time to start thinking about next year's board. If you are interested in running for next year's board of directors, please email me for further information, or speak to any current board member.
Most FRNY Finishers: 60 (1990)
Fewest FRNY Finishers: 1 (1979)
Fastest Pace Time: 6:05 (2:39.46)
Slowest Pace Time: 17:34 (7:40.19)
August 2007
The month of August brought generally cooler temperatures to the city than we are normally treated to this time of year, and with that brought some nice running conditions. The month kicked off with 59 club members running the 2nd Nike New York City Half Marathon. The mild temperatures factored into multiple FRNY members recording personal bests on that special day. Several members mentioned this is one of their favorite races of the year, so look for this event to become bigger and bigger as the years go by.
The morning of the NYRR Club Team Championships was a special day indeed. How often are we able to race in 59 degree temperatures in mid-August in New York City? Sure beats the steamy 90 degree temps that typically define this annual event. Turnout was terrific on this spectacular day, as 64 club members took the challenge of what is described as the most competitive non-money race in the Northeast. A big thank you goes out to all club members who participated, set a PR, or came out to cheer. This day was all about team camaraderie and fast running!
There are several activities planned in September that will satisfy both your social and competitive itches. Time to put all your hard training efforts to test this month, as this is the only month of the year with two points races; the fitness Body, Mind and Spirit 4 Miler on September 8 th , followed 8 days later by the Fred Lebow Cross Country 5k on September 16 th . And September 14-15 th is the date of the club's annual trek to New Hampshire to participate in the 200 mile Reach the Beach Relay. The club is sending 3 teams this year; both a Men's & Women's Open team, and also a Men's Ultra team. Best of luck to all participants! And if that's all not enough, the Queens Half Marathon moves from its typical Spring running the a September 23 th date on this calendar year.
And finally, since all work and no play makes for some grumpy runners, let your hair down at Vlada on Friday, September 7 th for the First Friday Social. And follow that up the next day with the annual Meet the Membership picnic. This year's event will take place at Riverbank State Park at the north entrance at 145 th Street. Just a reminder that there will be no fun run from Rutgers on this day; if not running the points race that morning, then come up early to Riverbank for a fun run and stick around for the picnic which starts at 11:30am.
If you haven't stopped by in awhile, come see us this month. We've got a lot planned and we'd be happy to have you along. Happy running everyone, and see you in Central Park!
After a busy month in the club in June with all the Pride Run activities, it was nice to wind things down a bit in July. July also brought its typical heat and humidity to the city, which just aren't my favorite running conditions. But it might just be a matter of preference, as it didn't seem to slow everyone down. We continued our strong showing on the racing circuit, with 45 members running the Park to Park 10k and 32 participating in the Run for Central Park . Club members have also been busy on the triathlon circuit and the Van Cortlandt Park summer cross country series.
The month of August kicks off with the popular Nike New York City Half Marathon, which gives us that rare opportunity to run through Times Square. A large contingent of club members is participating in this 2 nd annual event, so best of luck to everyone. The other big event in August is the NYRR Club Team Championships held on August 18 th . We hope everyone will consider coming out for this event, regardless of pace. This race is as much about participation as it is about competition, and this is the only race of the year where the top 10 men and top 5 women count in the team scoring. Additionally, Masters Teams are composed of five men or three women and veteran and Super veteran teams are composed of three men or three women. Let's make it our goal to field a complete team in every age category! Hope everyone will support this event by either running or cheering your teammates on. And don't forget to wear your FRNY uniforms proudly!
Many club members are running a fall marathon, with over 100 members entered in this year's ING NYC Marathon (!!) and another 10 or so heading over to Europe for the real-Berlin. We encourage everyone to come join us each weekend for our weekly group long runs. Sure beats going long alone! Thanks to Alex for coordinating the runs this year. And remember to join Coach Kelsey for Central Park workouts on Tuesdays and track workouts on Thursdays.
Well, the 2007 Pride Run has come and gone, and what a great day, and great weekend for that matter, it was! Mother Nature was kind to us year, with perfect weather for running. There were a record number of total registered participants: 3,537, a 3.48% increase compared to 2006. Even more impressive, however was the total number of finishers: 2,671 – this was the biggest turnout yet! (and an incredible 29.74% increase compared to 2006!)
And the club supported the event in a big way, as 188 members crossed the finish line, making it the most FRNY finishers in the race's 26 year history. And about another 30 came out to marshal or otherwise help out behind the scenes, so it really was an incredible team effort.
Congrats to Lucia Muntean and Brad Gayman, winners of the Steve Gerben award for first FRNY male and female finishers. Also congrats to Steve Vizena and Jen Ishii for winning the Mickey Zacuto award as the first club Master finishers. And there was great running all along as 20 club members finished in the top 10 in their respective age groups and scores of others obtained personal bests.
Thanks to Michael Orzechowski for his tireless work behind the scenes to pull off this great event. His hard work paid off in a big way when he played an integral role in landing our first title sponsor, Continental Airlines . They've expressed interest in a future sponsor relationship with the club, which would not have been possible without his efforts.
Also a big thanks goes out to Joe Plutz, for his role with the Gym Bar fundraiser; Alex and Cenk for their outreach efforts; Mark & Rob for opening their home and hosting the successful Brunch to Support the Pride Run; and to Sean Butler and the rest of the membership for volunteering their time and efforts with registration and marshaling.
Also, thanks to all those who came out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to participate in the Pride March. There were upwards of 40 – 50 members who came out at some point and joined in on the festive march/run down 5th Ave and on to Christopher Street. What a great Sunday that was.
This month, we can all kick back a bit and enjoy the summer. But that doesn't mean the club is going into hiatus by any means. The month kicks off with our ever popular First Friday Social, this month held at XES. This bar remains a popular summer meeting point with its large outdoor patio space.
And make sure you sign up early for the July Men's & Women's points race, the NYRR/NY Mets Run to Home Plate. This race caps out at 2,500 participants, so make sure you register early.
Also, July traditionally marks the beginning of our annual marathon training schedule. A record and amazing 102 FRNY members have guaranteed entries into this year's ING NYC Marathon. Let's make our club goal this fall to be the year we finally qualify for NYRR's cash incentive for clubs who have at least 50 members finish the marathon under 5 hours. We've been close many years, but I think this is the year we'll successful meet this club benchmark.
Remember to participate in the Tues/Thurs workouts whenever you can. Let's all train hard, play hard, and have a great summer! And good luckk with your training as we prepare for the important fall season.
June is Pride month, which is probably the busiest and most important month for the club of the year. This year's board has worked hard to plan and offer the membership a variety of activities to help celebrate Gay Pride and also to celebrate this great club which has become an important part of so many of our lives.
The month kicked off early with the First Friday Social, held this month on Thursday (May 31) as a fundraiser for the Pride Run. June 9 features three events; for the women, the fifth points race of the year, the always popular & women only event, the New York Mini 10k. Others looking to run that day can head to Prospect Park to support the Brooklyn Pride 5k. And finally, Cenk and Alex will lead FRNY members sporting their singlets on a street walk from Rutgers to West Village through Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea to support the Pride Run.
On Sunday, June 17, the FRNY men will run their fifth points race, the Father's Day Prostate Cancer 5 miler. After the race, Mark Gilrain and Rob Lennon invite the entire membership to their apartment for a Brunch to Support the Pride Run. For a suggested donation of $10.00, membership can enjoy mimosas and bloody marys amongst fellow teammates. All proceeds will go directly to the Pride Run. Thanks in advance to Mark and Rob for their generosity, and we hope that the membership, from long term to newbies, will stop by for this exciting event.
The following weekend is Pride weekend. On Friday, June 22, volunteers are needed in shifts from 11:00am to 7:0pm for registration and race packet pickup at New York Road Runners. Afterwards, head down to Stonewall on Christopher Street for a Pride weekend kick off happy hour (but don't stay too late!) On Saturday, June 23rd is our 26th annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Run! Hope to see the entire membership supporting the race by either racing, pre-race registration, or marshaling. Thanks in advance to Michael O for all the hard work he's put in the past few months to make this year's edition the best yet! Then finally on Sunday, June 24 FRNY will again support this year's Pride march by running & marching our way proudly down the parade route.
In July, we can all rest a bit!
The club has so much to be Proud about this June. Thanks to the membership for supporting the club in big numbers for the points races this year. And a big thanks goes out to the many different faces who've worked hard to make this a better club. By respecting tradition yet embracing the ever changing world around us, we hope we've created a running and social environment that we can all be Proud of.
Today was a great day to be a runner in the city. Late April day,
temperatures in the 70s. Not a cloud in the sky. Cherry blossoms in
full bloom. A race in Central Park. Thousands of runners, everyone in
a good mood. Out with the tights and in with shorts & singlets.
Front Runners out in masses, sporting their latest club gear. Sure
beats the fast paced rat race that is our everyday lives. Our weekend
escapism.
I headed over to the park this beautiful morning to get a a few miles
and to cheer on my fellow teammates. Man, how many runners are New York
Road Runners getting for their races these days? I think there were
something like seven thousand for today's adidas Run for the Parks 4
miler. Guess we're in a full scale running boom! After the race, it
was fun to mix and mingle with fellow Front Runners... so many were in
the park either racing, cheering, on a long run, sidelined with an
injury but out cheering nonetheless, or just enjoying the day (and the
scenery). Good times.
Front Runners were also out in full force for the Brooklyn Half-Marathon. The weather cooperated this year and many members set PRs on
this course. Thanks to all those who came out to cheer us on. The
banners and cowbells and high fives made for some great team spirit.
And a special thanks to Paul Raso, for his usual post-race brunch.
What a great job he did at feeding so many hungry runners. It seemed
more members than ever showed up this year, and a great time was had by
all.
This month features the fourth club points race of the year, the Health
Kidney 10k on May 19. The club currently has remained competitive in
most every age category, so let's keep up the momentum! Remember, as always, we encouraged participation, regardless of pace,
so hope everyone will make an effort to come run this event.
A couple of organizational changes that I'd like you to be aware of.
Mike Arden had to step down as Executive Director of the Charitable
Foundation. He is being replaced by Mollie Berliss. Mollie brings to
the position great enthusiasm and ideas. Let's welcome Mollie to her
new role. And after 10 plus years of continued service as editor of The
Next Mile, Donn Peppler is stepping down in his position as Editor.
Let's all thank Donn for his many years of hard work for the club. A
new editor will be announced shortly. And a big thanks to Joe Lim, for
all the hard work he has done in launching the new and improved FRNY
website!
Enjoy this great weather, happy running, and see you in Central Park!
