From Greg Cass of the Open
The Open Men’s team continued its run of strong performances at the Front Runners New York LBGT Pride Run 5-Mile race. With a course that looped through the Harlem Hills and weather looking more and more like legitimate summer, PRs were tough to come by, but CPTC still impressed throughout the results.
Kerwin Vega
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Just like the last time out, the Open Men used a line-up with some new faces to lock down a solid 4th place finish. Leading the way for the Orange was Kerwin Vega, who took a break from early Chicago Marathon preparations to clock an impressive 26:12.
Greg Cass
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Greg Cass came in next at 27:12, motivated by the lead woman bicycle and accompanying whistles throughout the long second half.
Cary Segall and Cliff Gerber
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Two 40+ runners lent a helping hand to the Open Men as well, with Daniel Gercke and Cary Segall finishing in 28:31 and 29:05 as our 3rd and 5th finishers, respectively. The final member of the scoring team (our 4th finisher) was Cliff Gerber, who finished in 28:54 and continues to show steady improvement following a long and difficult stretch of injuries.
Giancarlos Zambrano
Photo: Atsede Aemro-Selassie
Also worth noting – Giancarlos Zambrano likely finished within our top-5, but in a surprising (ha) twist, the B-tag never registered his time. Hopefully we can get the results fixed to reflect his strong race as well.
Ken Tso
Photo: Atsede Aemro-Selassie
Congrats to the broader team for another fine day, and thank you to everyone who supported CPTC throughout the park. The next race up is Club Champs on August 2 – another fast 5-miler where we score 10-deep instead of 5-deep. We’ll need everyone’s help to score well in a race that also counts for double points in the annual standings – if you’re fit, then stay fit and if you’re not fit, you have a month to get there!
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
Comparing results from Front Runners and Portugal is sort of like comparing the 22nd mile of a marathon to the first. Yes, they were the same distance, but everything was tougher – a hillier course, a dewpoint of 57 vs 50, and only two weeks rest before FRNY.
That said, while individual performances at Front Runners were generally not as numerically good as at Portugal, we toughed out a team win and had a big turnout. Nice to do well on the tough days – it reflects well on us.
Turnout was fifteen – two shy of the Portugal turnout, but still a good number.
Interestingly, our scoring team was actually faster at FRNY than at Portugal while West Side was 28 seconds slower.
NYRR is two races behind in updating the points tables, but here is where I believe we are:
CPTC 69
West Side: 55
Warren Street: 51
With two races dropped:
CPTC: 45
Warren Street: 39
West Side: 37
We have a big advantage in that Warren Street and West Side already have bad races to drop – we don’t – all of our races have been strong. We are ahead of them already – and if they have another bad race they will have to keep it. If we have a bad race we can drop it.
The race is not on a PR type course, so I have less statwork to write about this week.
Daniel Gercke
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Daniel Gercke was our top scorer, killing it with an all-time masters PR for a five mile race in Central Park: 28:31/83.53%/second in the 45-49 and also scoring for the open team.
This course pushes back hard in the first mile, and pacing is hard to control on the rolling second mile or so. I drafted behind David Alm through the hills, then with Cary for a mile or so, and finally with Giancarlos, who kindly passed me a cup of water. Great team effort.
Cary Segall scored for the third time this year with his 29:05/77.65%/fifth in the 40-44 and was the #5 guy for the open team.
Jim McQuade
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Jim McQuade also scored for the third time this year with a big improvement over last race: 29:24/79.14%/seventh in the 40-44.
Race of the day honors go to Matt Febles, who ran an all-time AG % best of 32:02/72.64%, and that in his first Central Park race of the year. I hope Matthew can do more racing so we can see more improvement.
I was quite pleased with my effort. My last mile may have been my fastest and that’s very rare. Legs still in post marathon recovery mode; lungs and spirit however were more than up to the task. Most of all I had fun racing again, and it’s been a while waiting for that! Sorry I didn’t get to meet up with you, but I will be back for Club champs and maybe the next Tuesday track at Icahn.
Neil Sussman and Daniel Ifcher
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Daniel Ifcher might have had the best Portugal-Front Runners comparison – At FRNY he came within a second of his Portugal time and was fifth in the 45-49 vs. seventh at Portugal. I believe fifth is Daniel’s best age group placing in a points race.
I ran just 1 sec slower than 2 weeks ago, which was a 40’s PR. So happy with that. My race was mostly about feel and placement rather than time… I tried to hit 6:10 for mile one and feel good doing that, which is what happened. So as I felt good, I just tried to push out roughly sub-6 min miles. Glad to see so many other orange (and blue) shirts out there.
Wayne Merdis also ran well at FRNY compared to Portugal – only 19 seconds slower, and with a better AG score than in 2013.
Coleman Cowan ran an all-time AG PR for five miles with his 31:27/73.99%.
Tim Stockert
Photo: Sue Pearsall
Timothy Stockert locked up another high AG place with his sixth place 30:01/79.36%:
It was a fun race today. I love the Pride Run and especially the rainbow pops at the end!! It’s such a festive race and it was great to see the CPTC team out in force. I’m so happy we eeked out a win. Yay!! Nick is getting so much faster with CPTC and Daniel, once again, made it look so effortless as he zoomed by me at mile 2. Around mile 4, I heard Tony yell “go David” and thought I’d see David Greenberg shortly thereafter. I guess it was David Bosch. I must say it is really fun to have such a strong group of 40-something’s to run with. It’s definitely making me faster!
Nick Garramone is indeed getting faster – he is vaulting up the sheets with his best age group placing of the year (in a points race), 27th, and ran 12 seconds faster this year than last year’s effort in the same race.
Dave Bosch continued a very strong year of running with his 8th place in the 45-49
Glen Carnes turned in his second top 10 place in the age groups with his 30:17/78.05%.
Dave Bosch
Photo: Sue Pearsall
A large orange welcome back to Nigel Francis, on the starting line after a few months off to recover from injury. That road back can be long and disheartening so it’s great to see Nigel running hard.
__________________________________________
Team Champs is next – five score and points are doubled, so in a tight points race TCs could determine the whole sundae. It’s a privilege to be able to compete in a race as intense as team champs – we should try for the biggest turnout of the year.
__________________________________________
Turnout looks weak at the September 6 four miler and at Grete’s – please consider signing up for those
_________________________________________
The December 13 15K is the same day as the USATF Club Championship XC race – I am sure many of us would like to do both. Best case – we wrap up the team points championship at the marathon and all head down to Eastern PA on a road trip.
___________________________________________
Andrew Hogue won the masters title at the Wall Street Decathlon – an event with running, rowing, pullups and throws and…
___________________________________________
Send a Citius Altius Fortius cheer loudly and southly as teammates Peter Brady, Anthony Davis, Andrew Hogue and John Zuehlke compete at USATF Outdoors Masters Champs July 17-20.
______________________________________________
Happy40th to Brad Weiss, who is currently recovering from a 2:49 marathon in June – let’s send some of that 40s inspiration his way.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+
Yasuhiro Makoshi
Photo: Sue Pearsall
What a gorgeous day in Central Park! Our 60+ guys ran as well as they looked:
* We took 1st place in the team competition.
* We maintain our lead in the team point standings.
* Our 3 team scorers: Yasuhiro, Hank and Chris, earned 1st, 3rd & 4th in age place.
CPTC 1:41:08
Taconic RR 1:51:52
Front Runners NY 1:53:44
Van Cortlandt TC 1:54:07
Yes, we had 10 minutes on Taconic, the 2nd team finisher. However, Timothy Delaney, their big gun, was out and expected to be back in the next race. Next year, their superstar Steve Calidonna turns 60. They are a great running club and we are fortunate to have them as competitors to keep us strong.
Current, unofficial overall standings:
team score *score -2
CPTC 69 45
Taconic RR 52 36
Brooklyn RRC 40 40
Front Runners NY 36 26
Van Cortlandt TC 33 24
NY Flyers 23 18
*hats off to Captain David to bring up this stat
Although our eight 60+ men were a mere .31% of the total 2576 men finishing this race, we were 6% of the total 133 men in our age group.
This course was more challenging than the Portugal race.
Kevin McGuire: 38:59, 7:48, 69.26% (40.25 last year!) (Portugal: 37:47, 7:34, 71:46%)
Dan Molloy: 43:16, 8:40, 62.96%
Dave Delano: 48:02, 9:37, 58.85% (Portugal: 47:35, 9:31, 59.38%)
Harry Lichtenstein: 49:04, 9:49, 55.03% Portugal: 42:00, 8:24, 64.29%)
Fred Trilli: 50:17, 10:04, 56.74% (Portugal: 46:17, 9:16, 61.63%)
Chris was our sole runner who ran the LBGT faster than the Portugal 5 miler.
Captain Sylvie and Kevin ran together, he passing on the uphills and she on the descents until Kevin stayed in front.
Yasuhiro double dipped into our 50+ group again. He and Chris then ran the Achilles 5 miler the next day, taking 1st and 2nd in age place.: 32:32, 82.27% and 35:20, 77.11% respectively.
Dave: “It really felt good to be passing so many young people…of course it was because they were partying, not racing. I’ll take whatever edge I can find…
And it’s truly a turning point in my career when (younger) teammates comment on my hair…and not my pace. Sigh.”
Chris: “The LGBT race is always so festive and colorful…and the race tank tops are great!”
In the corral before the start, Captain Chris laid out his race plan in light of his current injury. I could see him ahead of me in the first mile. Ascending one of the West Drive hills, I heard someone in his voice cheering me on. Looking ahead, he was gone; it was him; he had dropped out.
George Hirsch ran the Queens 10k: 55:20, 8:55 pace, 1st in age, 16th AG, 79.04%.
Next up is the Club Championships. Get on board little children!