From Jim McQuade of the M 40+:

The Men’s 40+ team got off to a terrific start at Coogan’s this weekend, finishing third among the 40+ teams.  Scoring for the team were Alexandre Tilmant (17:18), Daniel Gercke (17:29), and Michael Ahern (17:36).  The three scorers were followed by Jim McQuade, David Greenberg, David Dorsey, Gael Lledo, Francis Nigel, Oishi Kimihiko, Mickey Hawtrey, Laurence Go, Michael Caggia, and Andy Kiss.  Congratulations to all for an excellent day of racing. 

From Andrew Moore of the M 50+:

Starting off the new season on the right foot!

Our CPTC 50+ team had a great week to start off the NYRR road race season – starting with the 50+ team champs award for 2011 at NYRR Club Night followed by a win at the Coogan’s 5K on Sunday.  We had a terrific turn out at Coogan’s with 10 finishers for the short race up and down the roller coaster hills of Washington Heights. Our scorers were Alan Ruben (18:17), Peter Allen (18:34), and Andrew Moore (19:03).  The solid back up was provided by Christopher Donnelly, George Bullis, Arthur Palmer, Oscar Garcia, Ralph Ripley, Budd Heyman and Philip Vasquez – a big congrats to all. And a big thank you for those CPTC who ventured uptown to cheer everyone on – it was much appreciated.

From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:

The deck has been shuffled and the dealt cards of Mens 60+ this year bode well for our team. 

Thanks you all for those who wore the CPTC singlet and the support of the rest of our team. Sid said we mature guys have team spirit; ’nuff said there. Kudos to our guys pouring on the coals up and down this waterfall course. I’ve cycled Broadway to Bennett to Overlook and south on Fort Washington Ave numerous times yet the last hill up to the Pinehurst park caught me blindsided, even though I had just run down it. Staring up that statistically significant grade was like finding a hefty “dealer’s prep” on the final bill of sale. NYRR does not give discount 5ks; the vertical gain is virtually identical to the Van Cortland’s XC 5k where there are no mariachi bands.
First a shout out to the boys of March: Phil Vasquez, 59 as an aspiring 60+, Kevin McGuire, on board at last, Chip Olsen, dependable in the throes of a cold, unflappable Dave Delano, Fred Trilli, pushing the 65 plus envelope, and Paul Saunders, our ultimate backup at 70. Who among us ever thought we would roll such high numbers on age. We all think we are 15 years younger except Sid, who walks that walk.
And our scorers: Dr Sam Mann, coming off a chronic injury of duration, and our national hero Dan Molloy, who proved it never hurts to have a son of the Emerald Island at the starting line for NYRR’s St Patrick’s race.
My apologies to those I missed post race as, along with Julio, my name did not appear in the results. We waited by their truck while the timers sorted it out. Julio did to the 65-69 group what Jack McShane did to the 60-64. They broke the curve. Julio beat me chip time. Jack bested Tim Delaney, the strongest of my group. Gravity is pulling me back to the pack, a motivated bunch of otherwise good guys. It also dropped Taconic RR to second as Julio and his West Side team took first. But today we own 3rd while last year we had a vacant lot.
 
Did we have fun? I certainly did with pre, starting line and post race banter, positive “vibes” and shared experience. 
Next stop the Scotland 10k on April 7th. I’ll have to drive back and forth from Boston. As it sits within the 2 Passover seders.
Cptn Hank