From Phil Falk of the Open:
The men’s team lit up the roads on Saturday at the NYRR Men’s Team Championships. The depth of our team really shows for a race like this, where we had 63 finishers, 18 guys under 28 minutes, and a very tightly packed top 10, earning a spot on the podium at third place:
Jeff Ares, Jonathan Wetzel and Peter Brady
Photo: Nigel Francis
| Kerwin Vega, 25:53 |
| Greg Cass, 26:21 |
| Taylor Burmeister, 26:26 |
| Stan Berkow, 26:43 |
| Timothy Lynch, 26:58 |
| Peter Brady, 26:59 |
| Jeff Ares, 27:05 |
| John Pollina, 27:07 |
| Matthew Lacey, 27:07 |
| Tommy Fyffe, 27:20 |
I would say the weather cooperated about as much as you could expect for an August race. Warm-up loops were met with a steady drizzle, which actually continued through the women’s race, then dried up before the men’s. So we avoided the usually late summer sultry heat (though the humidity stuck around), which proved crucial to sustaining efforts through the whole race. Our top racer was Kerwin Vega, finishing with a course PR in a speedy sub-26.
Stan Berkow
Photo: Andy Kiss
The Team Championships is really a highlight of the racing calendar. It’s a deeper, more competitive field, with higher stakes in the offing. The American middle distance runner Jenny Simpson has said, “The secret to racing is not about digging deep for more than you’re capable of, it’s about knowing exactly what you’re capable of.” CPTC showed what it’s capable of, and should be proud of the result!
Phil Falk
Photo: Andy Kiss
Next, eyes toward the Fall, with more volume, more workouts, as we gear up for cross-country and marathon training!
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
The leadup to team champs was tense – would we get a solid top five onto the line? What type of oven would Central Park be? Some thought pizza, some thought toaster. Would other teams bring in wildcards? And then the rain started. But when it was time for the warm-up, the temps were moderate, a strong top five showed up, and the rains faded.
A half hour and change later, worry had changed to quiet confidence as it became clear that many of us had found the kind of performances that championship races bring – we had to wait for the points to be tallied, but it was clear that we had done all we could.
When the NYRR did publish the first set of unofficial results, we had won the race by around 2 1/2 minutes, putting us well in front of West Side and Warren Street in the year-long points competition. While NYRR might find revisions like they did after Front Runners, here’s where we are as of press time:
CPTC: 96
Warren Street: 78
West Side: 75
With two races dropped, we still have a solid lead:
CPTC: 72
Warren Street: 66
West Side: 57
Keep in mind that Warren Street has already used up its two bad races – we haven’t. This is a big advantage – If they have a bad race from here on out they have to keep it. We don’t.
Our scoring five were Peter Brady, Daniel Gercke, Cary Segall, James McQuade and David Bosch. Rookie Brad Kelley was our #5 guy, but he is ineligible for the team competition so he will be dropped.
Interesting that four of our five scorers did not score at last year’s team champs – Peter is the only repeat offender. That’s one of the great things about running – you never know who is going to get fast.
Race of the day honors are shared by Daniel Gercke, Coleman Cowan and Gregg Lemos-Stein – each set lifetime personal bests for 5 miles on a muggy day on a rolling course.
In my race preview I asked if Coleman would continue his lightning march through the 70%s in the age grading tables – and obviously the answer was yes. His 29:49 was a massive PR in absolute terms and the corresponding 78.03% AG score his best ever:
This year’s team championship was an all-time best for me — both AG%, 5-mile PR and first one under 30:00. I was fortunate to have a good day where everything came together. It’s been a year since I joined the team and I seem to be hitting a peak in my training. The team workouts have given me the confidence to compete on a higher level than I ever have in the past. That helped in the last mile, which was by far my fastest, and a nice way to finish.
Lots of racing for me this weekend: After a good deal of rest after the race on Saturday, I competed in the NYC triathlon on Sunday.
Coleman Cowan
Photo: Andy Kiss
While we are losing Gregg Lemos-Stein to the land of Coe, he has left us with a lifetime five mile PR and Central Park AG% score (31:21/74.80%) to think about what might have been.
This was a lifetime best, my previous was at team champs two years ago. It’s not quite my best AG — I just barely cracked 75% for the first time ever at Peachtree last month.
As some of you know I’m moving to London later this month for work, so this was my last race in orange for a while. I used that as motivation as the pain set in on the east side. My mantra was “last race” and that seemed to work except for a brief bit of bargaining on Cat Hill. The cheers from teammates were just awesome, that’s the best part of team champs. The big reason for my progress thus far: hard runs at lunch with Brenn!
BTW, if anyone wants to look me up in London and go for a run I’m at gstein4@yahoo.com. I plan to stay with the club and attempt Coach Tony’s workouts across the pond.
Gregg Lemos-Stein
Photo: Andy Kiss
Daniel Gercke continued to be a cornerstone of the 40-49 with his 27:42/86.66%. That AG score was the highest of all CPTC men in the race, regardless of age, and the 12th highest of anyone in the race. He was second in the 45-49. It’s a tough town. Anecdotally, among the men, I would think only Alan Ruben has run a better AG score recently in a long distance race. Needless to say, that was Daniel’s best AG score ever and was a lifetime five mile PR. At age 48. He was our #2 man, behind Peter Brady.
I tried to put in a fairly steady effort. Even with a slowdown at Cat Hill I somehow hit the fastest pace for any race over a mile I’ve ever run. We faced down a strong challenge from the oldsters of Warren Street – what a great showing.
Daniel Gercke
Photo: Andy Kiss
Speaking of Peter Brady, off 800 training, he won the 40-44 and ran 3 seconds faster than 2013, at 26:59/84.94%. He had a double dip of glory, coming across as the #7 man in the open team.
This race was definitely the fastest 5-miler I’ve run in Central Park since college. I was happy that we won the 40 age group as a team and that I was able to contribute. It was great seeing so many CPTC teammates cheering on the sidelines. It definitely helped, especially in the last two miles when I was starting to struggle.
Peter Brady
Photo: Andy Kiss
Our #3 man was the solid as a rock Cary Segall, who may not have had his best race of the year, but it was enough to get us to the win.
Cary Segall
Photo: Nigel Francis
James McQuade had a good race – putting in his best AG score of 2014 (28:39/81.84%) as our #4 scorer, and snagging third in the 45-49.
Our number five man was vet Dave Bosch, scoring for the first time in 2014 with his 29:19/81.23%. While he didn’t quite get a lifetime five mile PR (such is the problem with being 47 and racing a lot), he hit a lifetime best AG%:
It was cooler than anticipated and I went out at sub-6 pace, harder than usual. Three months of consistent speed work paid off as I was strong throughout the race and competed hard with guys in the last 400, finishing 15 seconds off my 5-mile PR.
We came out in numbers in these three consecutive scoring 5-milers, and whether we’ve scored or not we beat each other up in practice and deserve the win and our top of the table standing. Thanks to St. Peter (Brady), perhaps the nicest and most unassuming man in NYC sport, for gracing us with his presence but also for laying down the Rule of Sub-27.
The masters prayer: Lord grant me three months of consistent speed work.
Brad Kelley joined the club in April and came out of nowhere to technically be our #5 man at 29:17/81.98%, but since this was his first NYRR race in many years…he is ineligible for team scoring. I’m sure we’ll be seeing Mr. Kelley in the scoring tables down the road.
Mo Lahseni had a good day – a masters PR at five miles and in AG (29:38/79.16%).
Brenn Jones ran his best Central Park AG % of 2014 (29:54/75.53%).
Wayne Merdis showed he knows how to turn up the wick at the right time – in both 2013 and 2014 his best five miler came at team champs.
2014 debuts were had by Lou Pahnke and Michael Siegell.
At least two of us ran team champs on Saturday and the NYC Triathlon on Sunday – including Tim Stockert, who finished third in the triathlon’s 45-49 and had the fastest run of all in his age group. Coleman Cowan also completed the double. Nigel Francis, Nick Garramone and John Milone did the triathlon only.
From Chris Donnelly of the 50+:
CPTC’s 50+ men turned out in force for the 2014 Team Championships 5 miler, and following several revisions to the results, came away with a fourth place place finish in an incredibly competitive field. Taconic has turned out to be the team to beat in 2014, with their top runners really ripping it up. As a result, we have our work cut out for us in the remaining road races.
Still, CPTC boasted plenty of fine performances. Alan Ruben again led the scoring charge, crossing the line at 30:30 (84.74% AG) in a top three finish in the 55-59 age group.
Casey Yamazaki has been a real stalwart in 2014, and came in next at 31:19 (78.54% AG) for an eighth-place finish in the 50-54 age group.
Casey Yamazaki
Photo: Andy Kiss
In his debut road race for the 50+ men, John de Csepel made it count. John ran 32:05 (76.02% AG) as our third scorer.
The scoring trio had plenty of support.
Mikal Scott continues his improvement trajectory, with a 13 second PR, 32:47 (76.91% AG).
Mikal Scott
Photo: Andy Kiss
Chris Donnelly ran 33:24 (74.25% AG).
Marc Mizrahi was right behind, with a 33:45 (72.88% AG).
Tom Raymond was back in his first NYRR road race since 2011’s Club Champs race. Tom ran a 34:54 (72.85% AG).
Budd Heyman, who rarely misses a scoring race these days, came in at 36:41 (69.88% AG).
Victor Osayi heeded the call too, and clocked in at 37:29 (68.98% AG) in his first NYRR road race since 2010.
And Stuart Alexander, who’s been back on the road this year, ran to a 40:13 (65.39% AG).
Stuart Alexander
Photo: Andy Kiss
Where it all stands: we’re now in the chase pack. With this latest result, Taconic bumps the CPTC 50+ men out first place in the club points standings 85-75. However, dropping two races produces a far more lopsided deficit since we’re been more consistent all year and would lose a pair of third place finishes, or 20 points. Adjusting for the two dropped races, Taconic has the upper hand with 75 points, versus our 55, with VCTC at 50 and BRRC at 49. But remember, there’s plenty of racing left in 2014.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:
The 2014 Team Championships Men 60+ added grease to the pole in the competition of which team will make it to the top by year’s end. Brooklyn RR’s John Shostrom and Jack McShane moved their team’s marker, taking 1st place in 1:41:38 leaving CPTC’s 1:44:55 (3 minutes and 17 seconds shy) in 2nd place. In the one misadventure in an otherwise wonderful race, Yasuhiro Makoshi pulled up near the carrousel, a new chapter in the ongoing battle for 1st place men 60-64 between Yasuhiro and John. Above age 60 it is less Formula 1 and more antique auto racing; parts that were made in the late 40s, early 50s can and will break under stress in year 2014.
Hank Schiffman and Ty Austin
Photo: NYRR
Chris Neuhoff ran a fine race; he always does: 34:03 (34:46 last year), 80.03%. My time was 33:14 (33:03 last year), 82.74%. We put in a good show but were no match for John: 31:20 (the same time Yasuhiro ran it last year) and Jack: 32:58.
Chris Neuhoff
Photo: Andy Kiss
Kevin McGuire was there to back us up, and he did: 37:38 (40:40 last year), 71.76%. He was only 18 seconds behind Brooklyn’s 3rd, Charlie Hanley.
Had Yasuhiro crossed the finish line, Chris would have been our 3rd scorer and the team order could have gone either way. But other than our sorrow that Yasuhiro suffered an injury, I am glad that Kevin got a chance to score for the team. Sometimes I feel he takes the role of the understudy covering an actor who never gets ill.
Our old rival Taconic RR took 3rd in 1:45:37. Their numero uno guy, Timothy Delaney, was out in Montana. Had he been in the race things could have been even more interesting.
All this points to some real bumps on the road to Club Night.
Harry Lichtenstein, our 1st back up, 42:44 (41:54 last year), arrived at the start after the gun. His protest to a race official that the horn went off 2 minutes early, supported with the download from my Garmin 610, fell on deaf ears.
Our 2nd back up, Dave Delano, 46:08, crossed the finish line, singlet soaked in sweat. Yet his hair was perfect, as always.
Fred Trilli rounded up our herd, 50:51 (44:52 last year). If everyone else had a wedding to attend, Fred was our last chance to score for mens open.
Kevin: “Great day. Felt like a small town local race. Knowing that racers on all sides were competitive is a nice way to run.
Enjoyed the company as Victor (Osayi), Wayne (Merdis) and I hung together for the whole course until Victor pulled away in the last 400. He had some extra octane in the tank. I hope Yasuhiro’s injury is slight and he will back at it soon. He is our 60+ star.”
Yasuhiro: “At 2.5miles, when I was chasing John, I had a strong pain in my calf.”
Dave: “…as I said before the start…it was really humid today….too humid for me to run with the big dogs, but just right for the big hair. Another thing….why is it that 35 years ago there were no women like the runners of today? When I was in my 30’s, the only women at the races were the volunteers…and they were sitting down at the water tables. Timing…everything is timing….”
Fred: “I am sorry that I could not keep up with two bad legs.”
Chris: “Great racing with you all and wishing Yasuhiro a very speedy recovery! I finally took my first team picture and I’m proud to be part of this great team. Wishing Hank and Dave Happy Birthdays on Saturday. Hank- we still need you to score for the 60-64 team…don’t forget us. I saw Malcolm Gladwell at the race and told him I just finished his David and Goliath book. One more to go…What the Dog Saw and other adventures.”
Yes, Mr Gladwell was there. He ran a good race. One of my brothers said I missed an opportunity to draft behind his trademark afro.
The Team Point tally so far is nuanced. We are in 1st place with 93. Taconic RR is in 2nd with 72. Brooklyn RR is 3rd with 70. But taking the “Greenberg Consideration” into account (scratch 2 from actual current standings) Brooklyn is 1st with 70 (they did not score the prior 2 races). We are one point behind at 69. Taconic is 3rd with 56. The scratch 2 is a double edged sword. Brooklyn has used its wiggle room. Any future non-scoring races for them and they get a zero in their tally. To date, we have never scored lower than 2nd place. The coming 4 miler on 9/6 will be another slug fest. But the 5th Avenue Mile will hopefully bring out our fast twitchers. After that it is the hop, skip and jump: Grete’s, the Marathon, Ted Corbitt 15k, and into the record books.
A shout out to Stuart Alexander, who will soon be blessed with automatic entry into our CPTC men 60+ den of thieves, a place from which there is nowhere else to go.
Your very Captain Hank
Points Standings After Team Champs
First Place: M 40+, M 60+
Second Place: M 50+
Third Place: Open