From Greg Cass of the Open:
The Open Men took to the streets of Washington Heights looking to make a statement in the first scoring race of the year. After requiring a strong effort in the final scoring race of 2013 to lock down 3rd place for the year, the group is focused on an even effort throughout the year so that we don’t necessarily have to round up a full squad for a December race in the snow…
Stan Berkow, Will Davis and Matt Lacey
Photo: Sue Pearsall
With perfect weather and a strong line-up of individuals that included 2014 victors from Houston (Sean Gage) and Central Park (Matt Lacey), what could possibly go wrong? That question was answered approximately 4 seconds after the starting horn when a stray photographer managed to take down a pack of runners that included CPTC’s own Sean, Phil Falk, and Greg Cass, among others. To categorize Phil’s incident as a “fall” understates the full-on body slam that he absorbed from Greg, who probably outweighs him by almost 50lbs. All 3 scrambled back to their feet and put together impressive races under the circumstances, particularly Phil, who showed incredible grit and determination to finish in 16:42 before spending an hour in the medical tent getting checked for broken ribs (true story). Awesome showing, Phil, and good luck with the recovery.
Despite the best efforts of photographers, black ice, and traffic cones strategically placed as obstacles, the Men’s Open team did indeed make a strong statement, as 4 men finished the hilly course in under 16 minutes to lead CPTC to a resounding 2nd place finish, over 2 minutes clear of the third place team. Leading the way for the team was Will Davis (15:43), who cruised to 14th place overall despite what he considered “uneven” training – we’re all looking forward to seeing what he’ll throw down as things come together this spring. After Will, Kerwin Vega (15:50, first NYRR points race for CPTC after a strong Fall 2013), Stan Berkow (15:50), and Matt Lacey (15:54) rounded out the sub-16 crew. Greg Cass brought up the rear for the 5-man scoring team in 16:12. Similar to the rest of the Orange, the Open Men had a great start to 2014, and we’ll look to keep that momentum going in a few short weeks at the Scotland 10K. Thanks to all who supported along the way, and congratulations to all of our teams and racers for a great start to the season.
Kerwin Vega
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Outside of the NYRR circuit, CPTC had an excellent showing at the NYCRUNS Frozen Penguin Half Marathon in Brooklyn, taking 3 of the top 5 spots. A big congratulations to Giancarlos Zambrano (2nd place @ 1:21:23), Ken Tso (3rd place @ 1:21:54), and Kieran Garvey (5th place @ 1:23:43) for representing the Orange and making us proud – great work guys!
From David Greenberg of the 40-49:
Jonevan Hornsby, Rob Gill, Peter Brady and Andrew Hogue
I have to lead with the world record 35-39 4 x 800 relay on Sunday – Here’s Peter Brady’s account:
The team was Andrew Hogue who ran leadoff and split 2:02; Rob Gill who ran second leg and split 1:58; Peter Brady ran the third leg and also split 1:58; and Jonevan Hornsby ran anchor and split 1:56, giving us a total time of 7:55.13. The old world record for the M35 age group was 8:11, so we beat it by a pretty wide margin.
This was the same group that unsuccessfully tried for the outdoor record last summer, so it was great to have another chance last night. As you know, last winter, Neil Fitzgerald, David Peters, Jonevan and Andrew ran 8:04 and thought they set the record, but unfortunately it was never ratified because of the new rule stipulating that everyone on the team needs to be of the same nationality. The people in Boston who organized our relay set this event up specifically for some teams to attempt to break the 4 x 8 relay records, so I think they are on top of all the technicalities required to get our record ratified. Another group of broke the M40 record in the same race, so it was an exciting atmosphere.
Video of the race from Flotrack
On to Washington Heights:
The revamped, recharged and soon to be rejuvenated 40-49 beat the two teams ahead of it on the 2013 points podium…but was aced out for the race win by yet a different team. Nothing comes easily in NYC.
But the day was a good one, with many good races and a solid improvement over last year. Our turnout (15 people) was 25% larger than last year and our top 3 averaged 17:46 versus 18:00 last year. In the end we moved up a spot on the podium, to second.
Our top scorer was the great Thom Little (17:32/79.06%), on loan from Kentucky, and running with a certain handicap:
I came up to NYC for a buddy’s bachelor party this weekend and squeezed in a race the next morning. It went well despite only getting 3 hours of sleep due to the dancers being 3 hours late for their house call. I have come to realize that this is an ideal hilly course as that it gives back what it takes in the best places. It was great to see so many teammates out there.
Jim McQuade was our number two man (17:49/78.97%), putting in some fast hillwork even as he recovers from the Houston Marathon, where he ran 2:41.
David Greenberg was our third scorer, running his best age-graded Coogan’s ever (17:58/79.56%).
Unlike most races, I actually had a plan for this one: race in control until the top of the hill at 2.5 miles, then run like heck to try to stay ahead of John Milone’s kick. Not sure if the ‘race in control’ part worked, but I was very pleased with my last mile, which was around 5:34.
Race of the day honors go to En Cho, who ran not just a lifetime Coogan’s PR (18:28/74.51%) but the best race of his life by AG:
I had a 23 second course PR and an all-time AG of 74.51% yesterday. I credit a full x-c season of Van Cortlandt Park, under Tony’s guidance, for breaking my limitations on the hilly Washington Heights course. I couldn’t have done it without setting up a strong base in the fall.
En Cho
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Michael Nolan is in the charts with a bullet as he has been improving quickly and already is up to 18:47/76.72%, his second fastest AG in the NYRR db. I noticed Michael has been racing a lot and asked if that was a key to his improvement:
No magic to the increased racing — I joined CPTC last year after running the Brooklyn Half on my own and have realized I really enjoy the races and training. Embarrassingly, I have not run a 5k race since my senior year of high school back in 1984. I didn’t know what to expect with the course or my legs so I started too slowly but had negative splits in each of miles 2 and 3.
En and Michael were not alone in their record-setting ways: I count four course records among the 40-49:
David Bosch (who ran the best AG of all of us) 18:05/79.65%, Ed Hernandez (19:01/75.16%), Wayne Merdis (23:26/59.58%) and the departing (for the 50+) Joe Bachana (21:59/66.59% – his second best AG in the NYRR database)
From David Bosch:
Though the pace felt fast, I had a pretty solid race for being in the midst of marathon training – 7 seconds faster than last year and my course PR, but didn’t crack the 18 minute barrier as I had hoped to. In what is becoming a disturbing pattern I worked may way back to Milone by the top of the big uphill, only for him to leave me in the dust the last quarter mile. Good we came in 2nd.
David Bosch
Photo: Sue Pearsall
From Ed Hernandez:
I was satisfied with my results since it was my first race for 2014! PR for this tough course.Started slow first mile, was held back by slow runners in front of me, my strategy for next 5k is to position myself better – maybe start closer to the front.
Daniel Ifcher found a weekend without a marathon (he ran 2:58 last week and is running LA this week) and grabbed a 5k masters PR.
Ran 18:20 yesterday, which is my 40’s+ age PR, and very happy to be running sub-6 pace, and place within top 10 age group for a points race. Great to see the wave of Orange out there!
Other highlights were
Laurence Go: best AG in 9 races
Robert Neal: best AG since 2006!
Coleman Cowan: Coogan’s debut and his best AG of the year even as he trains for ultras.
In the unofficial (yet fast) category, please join me in welcoming Timothy Stockert to the team. While he wasn’t able to count for us in the standings as a CPTC member, I’m sure he will in the future as he helped form a very nice pack with Bosch, Greenberg and Milone and finished at 18:04/79.76%).
David Greenberg and Timothy Stockert
Photo: Sue Pearsall
We put six people in the top ten in the age groups:
Thom Little: 2nd
Jim McQuade: 4th
David Greenberg 6th
John Milone 6th
Dave Bosch 8th
Daniel Ifcher 9th
From Chris Donnelly of the 50-59:
Once again CPTC’s 50+ men faced the daunting hills and freezing temperatures on Fort Washington Avenue and came away with a strong showing in the opening race of the 2014 NYRR Club Points season. The 50+ men placed second in a tight race, with the indefatigable Alan Ruben ripping through this hilly beast of a course in 18:15 to capture first in the 55-59 age group, for an 84.93% age graded performance. Chris Donnelly was the next scorer, laying down a 19:34 (76.64% AG), good enough for 50-54 age group top 10. The scoring finished out with a timely assist from 60+ Captain Hank Schiffman. Hank’s 20:27 (81.29% AG) put the 50+ men at a cumulative 58:16, a mere seven seconds behind Brooklyn RRC’s consistent effort.
The scoring group was ably supported by four more 50+ runners who finished in a tight 30 second band starting with Art Palmer, who battled his way to a 21:08. Michael Varieur returned to club points action with a 21:13 (71.85% AG) after five years of concentrating on trail ultras. Mike observes: “Ran the JFK 50 Mile in November as my last race so this was a bit of a shock to the system. With no speed or interval training yet, I was out in 6:45 or so, and figured I could pick it up as I went along. Didn’t happen that way but was happy to hold pace for the duration.”
Welcome back to the roads, Mike!
Dennis O’Donnell and Oscar Garcia both posted their personal course records. Dennis rolled to a 21:25 (72.98% AG), despite a lack of real speed work over the past month, noting that the 3 mile hill course is tougher than he remembered. This grueling course is tougher than we all remember, Dennis. Congrats.
Oscar Garcia
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Oscar Garcia finished just behind Dennis at 21:36, (69.44% AG). Oscar has been whittling down his time on this course year after year since 2008. Way to go Oscar.
In all, it was a great day of racing, and it was a thrill to see all of our teams place highly in the results. There’s a long season of racing ahead. Our next points race is the Scotland 10K at 8 am on Saturday April 5. Go orange!
From Hank Schiffman of the 60-69:
Six seconds made the difference in CPTC Men 60+ besting Taconic Road Runners in this first club point race for 2014. Thus, Dan Molloy’s 22:53, Chris Neuhoff’s 21:45 and my 20:27 totaled to 1:05:03 and 1st place: goodness.
Backing us up were Kevin McGuire, 22:57, within range of biting Dan’s ankle,
Bill Allert, 24:06, returned from a fresh injury, Dave Delano, wrist intact,
28:14, and Fred Trilli, 29:35, back from the North Pole.
Dave Delano
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Fred: 29:35, 58.33%, 21st men 65-69
Dave: 28:14: 60.54%, 14th men 65-69
Bill: 24:06, 67.75%, 18th men 60-64
Kevin: 22:57, 71.15%, 11th men 60-64
Dan: 22:53, 71.37%, 10th men 60-64
Chris: 21:45, 75.77%, 7th men 60-64
Hank: 20:27, 81.29%, 3rd men 60-64
A note on Dan and Kevin. These 2 guys kept pushing each other, raising the tide
that lifted both their boats. There was a gestalt in their interchange. Thus the
tale of our 6 seconds.
Dan: “He passed me with 3/4 to go… and woke me up from a temporary slumber…I
thought I had dropped him… but he never stops and all his training mileage has
created a strong base. I was able to run :20 faster than last year… and Kevin
a whopping : 31 faster… !…Without the duel between Kevin and myself… our
team win would not have happened. Great fun.”
Kevin: “Yes Dan and I were battling the last 1/2 mile was so much fun. I am sure
it helped our time. Dan has a good kick.”
Had Tony not screamed at me to get moving on the final ascent to Pinehurst, I
might have been responsible for losing our 6 seconds. I worked hard to maintain
a pace, but it took Tony to make me realize that I had actually settled in on a
plateau. We spend so much time working on our engines, but in a race we also
have to be a different type of driver.
Seven out of the 71 CPTC finishers were men 60+: thank you guys.
Captain Hank
