or "How an old friend made me do a kick-ass 5K"
At four years in a row now, the Harold M. Schumacher Passaic Valley Rotary 5K River Run is not only the longest named race I have ever run, it is also the race I have done the most times. It is a great course, though not without its tough spots (Hello, hill on Riverview Drive in Totowa!). It has a friendly vibe (mostly locals) and it offers lots of prizes - overall placers, age-group placers and raffles. A trophy or a medal is nice, but 25 bucks in the old pocket, well, that's pretty nice, too.
Since the Nov. 27 was the rescheduled date for the race which was supposed to take place on Oct. 30 but was postponed because of a freak snowstorm, I was not exactly prepared to run a 5K that was on par with the three I had done earlier in the season.
For one thing, I had moved on in my training. No longer doing hard, fast repeats on the track to maximize my short game, I was now training for the Rehoboth Beach Half Marathon (Dec. 10). Not only that, but it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, man! How the hell do you run a speedy 5K after loading up on food for a weekend?
So I decided to give it the old college try. After all, it was not like I was doing nothing. Surely the work I had been doing for the half marathon (800 and 1600 meter intervals, tempo runs, and long 13+ milers) would count for something.
In the gym at the Little Falls Recreation Center, I was getting warmed up when I heard someone call my name. It was Sarah Schillaci, an old co-worker and occasional running partner from a few years ago. I hadn't spoken with her in a while, so it was nice to know she was still running. She had always been an amazing runner. Do a search for her name at some race results web sites and you will see what I mean. She insisted that she was not at her best and was not expecting much from this race. So when we lined up at the start, I wished her luck and took my place at the front, figuring she would hang farther back.
Clearly, I was overestimating my ability and she was underestimating hers because within 30 seconds she zoomed past me. I thought at first that I was running too slowly and needed to pass her, but I couldn't close the gap.
"The hill," I thought, "I'll pass her on the hill." That hill on Riverview is about halfway through the course. Hills are typically where I make my move and pass people. But no matter how hard I pushed, she was always in front of me, keeping the distance. Crossing Main Street on Union Boulevard, and hanging a left into the residential area on the south side of Little Falls to the second mile marker, I realized it wasn't that I was too slow - it was that she was too fast! She was still the same amazing runner I had remembered, which meant that I was probably running a much better race than I had expected by simply chasing her.
Chase her I did. I stopped thinking that I could close the gap and instead focused on not letting her increase the distance. She was just a few seconds in front of me, so if I could keep her right there, I would end up with a great race. Rounding the corner where Second Avenue meets Wilmore Road and First Avenue, then crossing Main Street onto Maple Avenue, it was a matter of sticking it out until the end. I was wiped out, fatigued. But I pushed as hard as I could to stay right behind Sarah.
She crossed the finish line at 18:43 and I crossed six seconds later. I showed up not expecting much, but because of Sarah, I ran one of my best 5K races ever. Thanks, Sarah! You are awesome!
While I didn't place in my age group at this race due to some stiff competition, I did win a special award for being the fastest Little Falls resident. In addition, I won a gift card as a raffle prize! See how it pays to run your hometown race?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
John Samra Memorial 5K
Two years ago, I achieved a personal record at this Clifton race. With the colder weather approaching and my body getting worn out from two months of speed training, this was my last real chance to set a new PR and beat that 18:30 from 2009.
The weather was ideal - cool, no humidity, brisk. I made my bold decision to plant myself in the front of the pack and shot out of the gate at the word "Go." I felt like a fireball as the pack thinned along Colfax Avenue and by the time we made the left turn onto Clifton Avenue, I secured a spot in third place.
Pushing hard up the hill as I crossed Paulison Avenue, I had the second place runner in sight and I knew I would overtake him. I could already see him losing steam in the second mile. Turning through the side streets, I made my move and took hold in second place, never looking back.
Back on Clifton Avenue, I bounded down that same hill and worked my way toward Van Houten Avenue. And when I say "worked," I mean it. The police officers on the sidelines could see my determination and the extra effort I was expending, many of them urging me on, giving me encouragement.
I could not determine if I was in PR range but I thought for sure I was in sub-19 territory, so it caught me off guard as I pushed it to the limit around the last turn into the municipal complex and saw the clock already hitting the 19-minute mark. All I could do at that point was try and stanch the hemorrhaging seconds by continuing to give everything I had, ending up with a respectable but underwhelming 19:10.
But hey, second place overall? A quality run? Who can complain?
To shake off the disappointment, I decided to run the course again, this time at a comfortable pace. Sunday was my long run day, so I was planning on running extra after the race anyway. I enjoyed passing the same cops on the sidelines as they asked in disbelief, "Are you running it AGAIN?" When I finished the second time around, I felt good. But that feeling wouldn't last.
For the second race in a row, I came in second overall and was completely overlooked during the awards ceremony. While standing in disbelief and feeling insulted that I would be neglected again, I actually figured out why it happened. The scoring systems automatically separate out the top three overall, expecting that the organizers will give awards to them. The age group awards then start from the fourth place finisher. At both of those races, they only planned on giving an award to the overall winner and then age group prizes starting with second place. But since the standing sheets already removed the top three from the age group list, the third place finishers and I were counted out!
After a couple of weeks of calls with the Clifton PBA, they finally dropped off my medal at my home. They gave me first place in my age group (just as the Cheshire Home 5K directors did). While that is very nice, I feel cheated because, in both cases, someone else also has the same award. Again, I hate to complain, but I should have a second place overall medal. And maybe the people who have awards they do not deserve should be honest and give them up.
I know it sounds bitchy or petty, but the truth is that I am a regular guy that works really hard training for these races, so if I can manage to pull some hardware, fair and square, the award means a great deal to me.
The weather was ideal - cool, no humidity, brisk. I made my bold decision to plant myself in the front of the pack and shot out of the gate at the word "Go." I felt like a fireball as the pack thinned along Colfax Avenue and by the time we made the left turn onto Clifton Avenue, I secured a spot in third place.
Pushing hard up the hill as I crossed Paulison Avenue, I had the second place runner in sight and I knew I would overtake him. I could already see him losing steam in the second mile. Turning through the side streets, I made my move and took hold in second place, never looking back.
Back on Clifton Avenue, I bounded down that same hill and worked my way toward Van Houten Avenue. And when I say "worked," I mean it. The police officers on the sidelines could see my determination and the extra effort I was expending, many of them urging me on, giving me encouragement.
I could not determine if I was in PR range but I thought for sure I was in sub-19 territory, so it caught me off guard as I pushed it to the limit around the last turn into the municipal complex and saw the clock already hitting the 19-minute mark. All I could do at that point was try and stanch the hemorrhaging seconds by continuing to give everything I had, ending up with a respectable but underwhelming 19:10.
But hey, second place overall? A quality run? Who can complain?
To shake off the disappointment, I decided to run the course again, this time at a comfortable pace. Sunday was my long run day, so I was planning on running extra after the race anyway. I enjoyed passing the same cops on the sidelines as they asked in disbelief, "Are you running it AGAIN?" When I finished the second time around, I felt good. But that feeling wouldn't last.
For the second race in a row, I came in second overall and was completely overlooked during the awards ceremony. While standing in disbelief and feeling insulted that I would be neglected again, I actually figured out why it happened. The scoring systems automatically separate out the top three overall, expecting that the organizers will give awards to them. The age group awards then start from the fourth place finisher. At both of those races, they only planned on giving an award to the overall winner and then age group prizes starting with second place. But since the standing sheets already removed the top three from the age group list, the third place finishers and I were counted out!
After a couple of weeks of calls with the Clifton PBA, they finally dropped off my medal at my home. They gave me first place in my age group (just as the Cheshire Home 5K directors did). While that is very nice, I feel cheated because, in both cases, someone else also has the same award. Again, I hate to complain, but I should have a second place overall medal. And maybe the people who have awards they do not deserve should be honest and give them up.
I know it sounds bitchy or petty, but the truth is that I am a regular guy that works really hard training for these races, so if I can manage to pull some hardware, fair and square, the award means a great deal to me.
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Halloween run that wasn't
Seemingly out of nowhere, Mother Nature decided to dump a half a foot of snow on the Northern New Jersey area on Halloween weekend. It just so happens that was the weekend of the annual Passaic Valley Rotary 5K River Run.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, the snow fell hard, fast and heavy. And when I say "heavy", I mean "heavy" and not "heavily" (though it was that, too). The sheer weight of the wet snow collecting on trees and power lines wreaked absolute havoc as both came down at an alarming rate throughout the region. Thousands upon thousands of people were suddenly without electricity. Somehow, I was spared. I was supposed to attend a friend's Halloween party in Demarest, but he had to cancel it. His power went out that afternoon (and didn't come back until days later!). I was all dressed up as Ace Frehley with nowhere to go, though I did end up going to another friend's place in Woodland Park.
When I got up the next morning, I was all set to run my first Halloween race. I reapplied my Kiss makeup and headed to the Little Falls recreation center. But when I showed up, there was no one there. The place was locked up. I headed to the local Dunkin Donuts with my iPad so I could get online and see if there was an update. Sure enough, the race was canceled. Apparently, the roads were a lot worse than I had thought, with ice, snow and dangerous conditions with downed trees and power lines.
There was nothing else to do but head out for my usual long run, then. That's when I was truly able to see the severe damage this freak storm caused. Plus, I got to run in my Halloween costume after all.
When I got home, there was a text message on my phone - "I just saw Ace Frehley running down Main Street."
On Saturday, Oct. 29, the snow fell hard, fast and heavy. And when I say "heavy", I mean "heavy" and not "heavily" (though it was that, too). The sheer weight of the wet snow collecting on trees and power lines wreaked absolute havoc as both came down at an alarming rate throughout the region. Thousands upon thousands of people were suddenly without electricity. Somehow, I was spared. I was supposed to attend a friend's Halloween party in Demarest, but he had to cancel it. His power went out that afternoon (and didn't come back until days later!). I was all dressed up as Ace Frehley with nowhere to go, though I did end up going to another friend's place in Woodland Park.
When I got up the next morning, I was all set to run my first Halloween race. I reapplied my Kiss makeup and headed to the Little Falls recreation center. But when I showed up, there was no one there. The place was locked up. I headed to the local Dunkin Donuts with my iPad so I could get online and see if there was an update. Sure enough, the race was canceled. Apparently, the roads were a lot worse than I had thought, with ice, snow and dangerous conditions with downed trees and power lines.
There was nothing else to do but head out for my usual long run, then. That's when I was truly able to see the severe damage this freak storm caused. Plus, I got to run in my Halloween costume after all.
When I got home, there was a text message on my phone - "I just saw Ace Frehley running down Main Street."
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The challenge of buying NYE tickets
In October, Phish announced a four-night New Year's run (Dec. 28-31) at their home away from home, New York City's Madison Square Garden.
Phish has done shows at MSG as part or all of their New Year's run eight times. They also did two other MSG runs (October 1996 and early December 2009). Of those 19 shows in 10 visits to the iconic venue, I attended eight shows over seven of the runs. So Phish, MSG and I have always gone well together.
Since this year was a big Phish tour year for me, in which I captured some of the thrills of yesteryear by attending 11 shows in spring and summer, to cap it off with the MSG run would be fitting. To that end, I entered the Tickets By Mail lottery requesting all four shows. I got two - the 28th and 30th.
Dec. 30 is special to me. It was the date of Phish's first ever MSG show, back in 1994 and I was there (floor seats!) with my brother, Ben. It is also the date I have seen Phish more than any other - 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2010.
But New Year's Eve is the Holy Grail of Phish shows. Every phan knows the NYE show is the most theatrical, sometimes the best played, show of the year. I was fortunate enough to attend NYE in 1995 and 1997 at MSG, and flew down to Florida for the Big Cypress 1999 show.
Phish went on hiatus in 2000, so there was no NYE show that year or in 2001. Their not-so-triumphant return was NYE 2002 at MSG. No luck getting tickets to that - they went in minutes and were subsequently scalping in the thousands. 2003 was in Miami and not practical for me at the time (I'd do it in a heartbeat now!), and they broke up for good (so they said) in 2004. Reunited in 2009, they did NYE in Miami again, but I was not sure it was worth it anymore, since they were a rusty shadow of the band I loved.
Everything changed last year. Phish not only became great again, they were better than ever. I will always feel like I missed out on one of their greatest tours, summer 2010, because I had been listening to the 2009 recordings and often cringing at the badness. It was autumn before I listened to the summer 2010 greatness, so I hit a few October shows before trying to get those hot NYE tickets. I was able to see the two excellent Worcester, Mass., shows on 12/27 and 12/28, and the 12/30 MSG show, but NYE was beyond reach again.
Something else had changed in the 11 years since I had been to a NYE show - online ticketing. Back in the day before the internet, Ticketmaster sold tickets through outlets at music stores and it was first come, first served. The more you wanted it, and the earlier you were willing to show up, the better your tickets. I was in college at the time, so you bet I was out there, the day before, sleeping outside the store in the cold, waiting for the doors to open the next day. It paid off with floor seats in 1995 and 1997.
But now, the only way to get tickets, in most cases, is at the awful Ticketmaster website. Tickets went on sale for NYE at 10 a.m. that day in October and the website immediately crashed from the enormous traffic. A few lucky people got through and the rest, of course, went to scalpers both legal and illegal who always get the best tickets in this corrupt system.
I'm happy about seeing two more Phish shows to round out the year, but unless a miracle happens, it looks like I will be missing another New Year's Eve with Phish.
Phish has done shows at MSG as part or all of their New Year's run eight times. They also did two other MSG runs (October 1996 and early December 2009). Of those 19 shows in 10 visits to the iconic venue, I attended eight shows over seven of the runs. So Phish, MSG and I have always gone well together.
Since this year was a big Phish tour year for me, in which I captured some of the thrills of yesteryear by attending 11 shows in spring and summer, to cap it off with the MSG run would be fitting. To that end, I entered the Tickets By Mail lottery requesting all four shows. I got two - the 28th and 30th.
Dec. 30 is special to me. It was the date of Phish's first ever MSG show, back in 1994 and I was there (floor seats!) with my brother, Ben. It is also the date I have seen Phish more than any other - 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2010.
But New Year's Eve is the Holy Grail of Phish shows. Every phan knows the NYE show is the most theatrical, sometimes the best played, show of the year. I was fortunate enough to attend NYE in 1995 and 1997 at MSG, and flew down to Florida for the Big Cypress 1999 show.
Phish went on hiatus in 2000, so there was no NYE show that year or in 2001. Their not-so-triumphant return was NYE 2002 at MSG. No luck getting tickets to that - they went in minutes and were subsequently scalping in the thousands. 2003 was in Miami and not practical for me at the time (I'd do it in a heartbeat now!), and they broke up for good (so they said) in 2004. Reunited in 2009, they did NYE in Miami again, but I was not sure it was worth it anymore, since they were a rusty shadow of the band I loved.
Everything changed last year. Phish not only became great again, they were better than ever. I will always feel like I missed out on one of their greatest tours, summer 2010, because I had been listening to the 2009 recordings and often cringing at the badness. It was autumn before I listened to the summer 2010 greatness, so I hit a few October shows before trying to get those hot NYE tickets. I was able to see the two excellent Worcester, Mass., shows on 12/27 and 12/28, and the 12/30 MSG show, but NYE was beyond reach again.
Something else had changed in the 11 years since I had been to a NYE show - online ticketing. Back in the day before the internet, Ticketmaster sold tickets through outlets at music stores and it was first come, first served. The more you wanted it, and the earlier you were willing to show up, the better your tickets. I was in college at the time, so you bet I was out there, the day before, sleeping outside the store in the cold, waiting for the doors to open the next day. It paid off with floor seats in 1995 and 1997.
But now, the only way to get tickets, in most cases, is at the awful Ticketmaster website. Tickets went on sale for NYE at 10 a.m. that day in October and the website immediately crashed from the enormous traffic. A few lucky people got through and the rest, of course, went to scalpers both legal and illegal who always get the best tickets in this corrupt system.
I'm happy about seeing two more Phish shows to round out the year, but unless a miracle happens, it looks like I will be missing another New Year's Eve with Phish.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Cheshire Home 5K
For my second 5K of the short-race season, I ran the small, but very friendly Cheshire Home 5K through Florham Park and Madison. It was another hilly course - I could tell while driving to the location, but I was still confident that a PR could be in the cards.
Instead of mile repeats, I was doing eight 400-meter repeats on Wednesdays, shooting for 1:28 or better for each interval. Some times I burned up the track with 1:21; other times, it was a sluggish 1:31. But, mostly, I stayed at or beat my goal. Everything was on track (pardon the pun).
I had registered at the Cheshire Home website, but when I got to Madison High School to pick up my bib, they didn't have me on file. Thankfully, and this is HUGE, the nice woman believed me when I told her I registered and already paid by credit card. If she had made me pay again, that would have soured my whole experience. Big thanks to the staff for being so trusting!
With only a hundred or so people, there was no doubt I should be at the front of the pack and had no trouble getting there. The race began with a flat and downhill stretch that turned a right corner onto another flat straightaway. I bolted out in front, but another runner quickly passed me in the first mile. I stayed hot on his trail, though I could not bridge the small but significant gap.
Another right turn sent us uphill and while I pushed up the hill with all my might, the front runner seemed to be as adept with the hills as I. Completing the rectangular course with one more right turn brought some rolling hills. I still kept the leader in sight, always feeling like I had him in my clutches, but never quite able to catch him. I felt like I lost a little steam and never recovered from that earlier hill and I was right. After cresting the final incline, the clock became visible and I could see, as the winner crossed that it was just past the elusive 18:30 that I can't seem to break. He crossed at 18:33 and I was still pushing through fatigue, finally hitting the finish at 18:44.
Am I going to complain about an 18:44? No way. Am I going to complain about coming in second place overall, even though my first-ever win was actually possible? Not a chance. This was a wholly rewarding race. Afterward, there was a fantastic food spread inside the Cheshire Home and people with whom it was lovely to talk.
I will, however, complain about the second instance of being overlooked in one day. When it came time to announce the overall and age-group winners, they completely forgot about me. They gave a trophy to the winner then proceeded to distribute age-group awards.
"Okay," I thought, "they're not doing Top Three overall, which is unusual, so instead of an award second place overall, I'll get the award for first in my age group."
But instead, the Top Three awards in my age group were given to the three men on their 30s who finished after me! They completely forgot about me!
Look, I know it sounds silly, but I am a sensitive guy. I take it personally when I'm neglected like that. Besides, after bringing it up afterwards, they apologized and gave me a trophy for first in age group. Not the overall silver medal for which I was hoping for, but fair and accurate nonetheless. I mean, five years ago, I had never won a medal or trophy for anything ever in my life. Who am I to quibble at this point?
Instead of mile repeats, I was doing eight 400-meter repeats on Wednesdays, shooting for 1:28 or better for each interval. Some times I burned up the track with 1:21; other times, it was a sluggish 1:31. But, mostly, I stayed at or beat my goal. Everything was on track (pardon the pun).
I had registered at the Cheshire Home website, but when I got to Madison High School to pick up my bib, they didn't have me on file. Thankfully, and this is HUGE, the nice woman believed me when I told her I registered and already paid by credit card. If she had made me pay again, that would have soured my whole experience. Big thanks to the staff for being so trusting!
With only a hundred or so people, there was no doubt I should be at the front of the pack and had no trouble getting there. The race began with a flat and downhill stretch that turned a right corner onto another flat straightaway. I bolted out in front, but another runner quickly passed me in the first mile. I stayed hot on his trail, though I could not bridge the small but significant gap.
Another right turn sent us uphill and while I pushed up the hill with all my might, the front runner seemed to be as adept with the hills as I. Completing the rectangular course with one more right turn brought some rolling hills. I still kept the leader in sight, always feeling like I had him in my clutches, but never quite able to catch him. I felt like I lost a little steam and never recovered from that earlier hill and I was right. After cresting the final incline, the clock became visible and I could see, as the winner crossed that it was just past the elusive 18:30 that I can't seem to break. He crossed at 18:33 and I was still pushing through fatigue, finally hitting the finish at 18:44.
Am I going to complain about an 18:44? No way. Am I going to complain about coming in second place overall, even though my first-ever win was actually possible? Not a chance. This was a wholly rewarding race. Afterward, there was a fantastic food spread inside the Cheshire Home and people with whom it was lovely to talk.
I will, however, complain about the second instance of being overlooked in one day. When it came time to announce the overall and age-group winners, they completely forgot about me. They gave a trophy to the winner then proceeded to distribute age-group awards.
"Okay," I thought, "they're not doing Top Three overall, which is unusual, so instead of an award second place overall, I'll get the award for first in my age group."
But instead, the Top Three awards in my age group were given to the three men on their 30s who finished after me! They completely forgot about me!
Look, I know it sounds silly, but I am a sensitive guy. I take it personally when I'm neglected like that. Besides, after bringing it up afterwards, they apologized and gave me a trophy for first in age group. Not the overall silver medal for which I was hoping for, but fair and accurate nonetheless. I mean, five years ago, I had never won a medal or trophy for anything ever in my life. Who am I to quibble at this point?
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