Wayne Merdis
Photo: NYRR
From Greg Cass of the Open:
The NYRR Club Points Series continued with the Portugal Day 5-Miler, the first of 3 consecutive 5-mile races in the summer heat of Central Park. The weather smiled upon the Orange as they took to the hills of CP, and the mild day helped spur the team on to fast and impressive results.
The Open Men’s scoring team flexed its depth, with a few long-time members pushing back into the top 5 to help lead the team to a strong 4th place overall finish. Matt Lacey (26:43) lead the charge for CPTC, and I followed up a few seconds behind (26:51). Next for the Orange was Cary Segall at 28:23 – at the start, Cary mentioned to me that he was still getting used to his new age group…Cary were you talking about the 40+ team or the Open team? Great work double dipping for us! Rounding out our top 5 was the always-consistent David Alm (28:51) making the early morning trek in from Brooklyn and former Open Men’s Captain Michael Basen (29:09). Great work everyone – solid result, and a nice start to the string of 5-milers.
The race also saw its fair share of PR performances. Neal Sussman took down his 5-mile PR from last year’s Poland Spring run by 10s, clocking a 29:16 – he appreciated the support from the CPTC women along the East Drive to help get him through the final slog (a feeling I certainly echo). Iber Gonzalez Vidals continued his run of PR’s since joining the club last year, clocking a 29:38 to drop his 5-mile best by 65s (!). And right in the same mix was Ken Tso at 29:40, a 16s PR. Ken continues his 2014 run of PR’s, crediting Tony’s workouts and the crew he runs them with. The same crew helped push Ken to his PR, and the CPTC concentration in the 29:30 to 30:00 range is awesome (David Bosch, Iber, Tim Stockert, Glen Carnes, John Milone, Kieran Garvey, Valentine Lyashenko, Daniel Ifcher, Jim McQuade, Alan Ruben, and Justin Cawley) – great job working together and pushing one another guys! Ken, like the rest of us, will be looking to drop that PR even further in another week at the Pride Run – hope to see you all out there for our next scoring race. Thanks to cheering teammates for all the support, and congrats to the women for a great performance the day before!
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
Usually pixels flow to screen for these race reports but I did procrastinate on this one… to avoid writing about how the 40+ lost to West Side by just two miserable, barely measurable seconds. The loss won’t cost us the lead, but the race will tighten up. We’ll be ahead 54-45, but with two dropped races, our lead evaporates to just 30-27. West Side is a good team – they have been getting stronger every race. Meanwhile I’ve been walking around muttering ‘two seconds’ and thinking about buying lighter racing flats.
Our turnout continues to be the highlight of the year – we had 17 on the line versus 13 last year. At the pointy end we put eight orange shirts below 30 minutes while last year just four managed it. This year our tenth man was 30:49 and last year our tenth was 33:09. We made up 33% of the CPTC finishers, the largest contingent on the team.
Our scorers were Cary Segall, David Greenberg and David Bosch.
Cary Segall (28:23/79.53%/fourth in the 40-44) has scored in both races since he turned 40 and has already become a cornerstone of the 40+. Front running becomes him – Portugal was his best AG score of the year and two seconds faster than last year as an open runner. Cary also scored for the open team, always an honor to double dip.
David Greenberg scored in his fourth consecutive race with his 29:25/80.34%/second in the 45-49. His AG scores for his last three races are 80.34/80.30/80.60 – consistency is not a problem there.
I ran well today. I got through the early miles chasing Glen Carnes up the West Side and the middle miles chasing Timothy Stockert down the East Side. Then Tony got me going for the last mile. Good to be on such a great team.
David Bosch scored for the first time this year, but not for the first time, he had the best AG score of any of us. He ran 29:30/80.73% and was third in the 45-49. That was his best AG score of all time, based on the NYRR database.
I ran a little off the back of our CPTC sub-30 minute group through the early hills until getting off the transverse, as I knew the course lent itself to a fast finish. I had a good finish, but clearly not good enough by 2 seconds. If we keep coming out in numbers I believe our depth will wear down the other teams through the summer.
David shares race of the day honors with Robert Neal, who also ran an all-time best AG with his 30:48/76.75%. Robert has improved an impressive three consecutive races based on AG.
I was surprised when I read the AG result. Thanks to Tony’s work at the track I was able to keep things together despite running ahead of current conditioning. While my goal was to run under 31 minutes, I somehow convinced myself that running sub-30 was not impossible. Ergo, the last 1.5 miles was a bit of a sufferfest. It was instructive to see David B float by as he proceeded to take one minute out of me over the second half of the race. I entered the other five mile race in a couple weeks so hope to go a little faster there and perhaps one day help you all out in the scoring column.
Remarkable in a different way was middle distance specialist Glen Carnes, who came out to race his first road event since the second Bush administration. While Glen trains more for the mile than the hills of Central Park, let’s welcome him to the road crew.
Running my first CP road race in @6 years and with the team was great. This race was a good start back from time off due to injury over the winter and early spring months and I was happy with my time. There’s nothing like seeing many new and old teammates to reignite the fire to run with the team. My focus over these recent years has been running with the CPTC indoor/outdoor track squad and I will continue to do that, but I plan on being out there for more of the CPTC team road races. The next one will be the five miler on June 28.
Several of us set masters PRs for five miles. Daniel Ifcher used the strength from his marathon training to record his best five miler since turning 40: 29:53/79.12%. Daniel has been inching toward the 80% mark – come more speed or come a birthday, I’m sure he’ll get there.
Saturday morning long run regulars Timothy Stockert(29:37/80.43%) and Jonathan Stenger(32:04/70.41%) also set masters five mile PRs. Jonathan is coming back from injury, so his race was most welcome:
It certainly wasn’t a great race–race wise–but it was the necessary first step in getting back into race shape and it felt really great to be out with the team. I ran a contained race and certainly could have run stronger, but I needed to see where I was. I have a much better sense of that and I’m already looking to string together a series of races through the summer so that I can really execute well by fall. I’ll keep chugging along and hopefully will start to see results as we push through the summer.
Edwin Hernandez nailed down a masters five mile PR also, and his accomplishment comes with a big neon exclamation mark: Ed had a surgical procedure the day before and was under general anaesthesia for it. He’s fine, and he wins the ‘live to race race to live’ award for 2014.
Today’s race for me was very gratifying. I finally got to start a race with my fellow teammates. I started the race conservatively since the first mile was uphill. The second mile was my fastest (sub 6 min),but the last three miles I started to fade away, eventually finishing below my expectations. I really shouldn’t complain much, because I was instructed not to run due to a surgical procedure and sedation I underwent the day before. Personally, I felt great this morning I wanted to race – maybe not a smart idea but sometimes we do what the heart and passion dictates,and that was to RACE today!!
Also running with great heart was Jim McQuade, who had run the Vermont City Marathon just three weeks earlier. His 2:49 wasn’t a marathon PR, but good to see him come back on the starting line so soon:
My training for Vermont was not particular stellar, and I did not show up for the race in top condition. Fortunately, I gauged my fitness just right, and I ran to my full potential on that particular day, finishing with a 23 second negative split. I was very pleased with the result and had a great time. It is a terrific little marathon.
With respect to the Portugal Day Race, I ran my fastest mile of the day to get to the start line, arriving at the start line a minute after the race had started; ran the first two miles way too fast, and predictably died a bit over the last two miles. It was not a very good showing.
I am not signed up for a fall marathon, although I likely will sign up for one and run one. I’d like to focus on getting some speed back over the next several months – that will be the goal.
John Milone continues to improve as the year goes, setting a masters AG PR for five miles (29:44/76.53%), and his best AG score since April 2013.
Finally, a big CPTC welcome to Nicholas Garramone, who ran his first race with the team. The orange magic seems to be working – he set a masters five mile PR with his 32:53/70.77%.
On to Front Runners and beyond – let’s hope the two seconds go our way next time.
From Chris Donnelly of the 50+:
CPTC’s 50+ men fielded a deep team of eight runners at the Portugal Run 5 miler, taking third place overall and missing second place by a mere three seconds.
Alan Ruben
Photo: NYRR
Among the standout performances:
Alan Ruben, who’s been on a tear in 2014, noted
“On a great day for racing, ran 29:58 for my first sub 6 minute pace 5 miler since 2011. Also, unbeaten in my age-group in 2014. A Happy Fathers’ Day! “
Once again, Yasuhiro Makoshi provided a timely scoring assist, turning a 31:56, or 6:24 pace, good for second-place in the 60-64 age group and an 83.835% AG. Continuing his rebound from recent injury, Yasuhiro made it look easy from our vantage point at mile 4, and that effort was well appreciated on the road as well. The 40+ team’s Brenn Jones reports: “Yasuhiro made running fast on a hot day look effortless. He’s got a smooth stride and quick turnover. As always when seeing a teammate on the course, he helped me along to a better race.”
Casey Yamazaki again closed out the CPTC scoring effort, his 32:11 good for a 76.44% AG and 15th place in the competitive 50-54 age group. This was Casey’s best five mile effort in a year and his best age graded percentage since Portugal Day 2012.
Marc Mizrahi was hot on Casey’s heels, at 32:15, for a 76.25% AG and 16th place in the 50-54 age group.
Mikal Scott notes that he executed according to plan; “I did what I wanted to do, I ran consistent and increased my pace towards the end.” Mikal emptied the tank at the right time, ramping up his effort in each successive mile, starting at 6:49 and ending at 6:23 place. Mikal ran 33 minutes flat, at a 6:36 pace, for a 76.39% AG performance, good for 24th in the 50-54 age group.
We also had plenty of fine supporting performances from veteran teammates stepping back into competition.
Bob Schulz continues to edge back onto the roads, posting a 37:23 time and breaking the 7:30 pace barrier for an AG 68.75%. And let’s welcome back Rick Schultz in his first NYRR race in more than three years. The long-time CPTC member posted a 37:56 for a 67% AG. It was great to see Stuart Alexander out there pushing it again. His 39:35 merited an 66.43% AG.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:
A new race, a new hand of cards dealt. CPTC 60+ men took 1st place in the race, besting 2nd place Taconic by 7 minutes and 42 seconds. We are back in 1st place in the club point standings with 54 points as Brooklyn could only manage one finisher. They are now tied for 2nd place with Taconic at 40 points. Don’t write these teams off. They have talent on line.
In the 60-64 age group, our team scorers came in 2nd, 3rd and 4th:
Yasuhiro Makoshi, 31:56, 83.83%, 6:24 pace,
Hank Schiffman, 33:09, 82.93%, 6:38 pace,
Chris Neuhoff, 34:51, 78.18%, 6:59 pace.
Yasuhiro scored in second position for our 50+ team as well and was 2nd overall CPTC men age graded, to fleet-footed Alan Ruben. Speaking for all masters, I’m sure each would forgo the higher AG for a faster time and a younger age. But short of reincarnation, it is not to be.
Money in the bank, backing up our scorers were the thundering herd:
Kevin McGuire, 37:47, 71:46%,
Rick Shaver, 18 seconds behind Kevin at 38:05, 70.27%, 7:37 pace,
Harry Lichtenstein, an even 42:00, 64.29%, 8:24 pace,
And our 65+ guys:
Fred Trilli, 46:17, 61:63%, 9:16 pace,
Bob Haig, 46:22, 60.39%, 9:17 pace,
Dave Delano, 47:35, 59:38% and 9:31 pace.
Yasuhiro: “To compete with John today, I did run too fast for 1-3 miles and burned out for last mile.”
Kevin: “Seeing all our teammates before the race, in the corals, during the race and after is such a lift. I plan to keep showing up.”
Chris: “I partied like it was 1999 the night before. Had dinner and too many margaritas with friends the night before. I was compromised but no excuses. For the first 800 it was crowded and that held me back a bit. I was happy to just squeak under 7 min pace…even though I ran 6:45 pace for the Healthy Kidney 10K. Hope to do better on June 28th.”
How did our results compare with last year?
Yasuhiro walked away with it last year in 30:48, 86.15%.
Hank improved over last year’s 33:28, 81.42%.
Chris did better by 3 seconds, 34:54, 77.38%.
Kevin was recovering from an injury last year, he improved over his 39.15, 68.18%.
Rick was under the sway of plantar fasciitis and did not run.
Harry ran 2 minutes and 5 seconds faster this year, 44.05, 60.73%.
Fred ran 45.34 last year, 43 seconds faster than this year, 62.03%
We had runners in the Celebrate Israel 4 miler.
Yasuhiro was 1st age group, 24:54, 84.89%, a 6:14 pace, 2nd overall men age graded!
Chris was 12th men overall at 80.74%, running a 6:40 pace in 26:39.
Harry ran 32.57, 8:15 pace, 64.72%.
Bob’s time was 36.32, 9:08 pace, 60.55%.
David Alm has a profile of Allan Dias in the current (July) Running Times. It only confirms that he is an extraordinary individual.
This from Dan Molloy on his effort on June 14 in the Wycoff Franklin Lakes Triathlon (0.5 mile swim, 17 mile bike, 5.0 mile run) http://www.compuscore.com/event/3398
“While not as fast as in previous years… the body performed flawlessly… and I felt strong each leg of the journey… capturing 1st in our age group.
My swim was strongest of the three legs… but I felt solid on the bike and run… finishing strong on the run with … dignity and a good strong kick.
A 53 yo friend passed me on the bike and made a comment about me being an old man… I caught up with him at mile 4 on the run and let him have it… as the old man passed him up… all in good fun.
My confidence grows.”
Check that you are up to date on your CPTC dues.
Hats off to Road Coach Tony for his guidance in bringing us to race performance. There is no substitute for confidence based on competence.
May you all better you time for the coming LGBT 5 miler on June 28th at 8:30am.
Hank
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Standings after Brooklyn:
First Place: 40+ (unchanged); 50+ (unchanged)
Second Place: 60+ (down from first)
Third Place: Open (unchanged)
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