Peter Brady and Jordy Smilde
Photo: Ben Ko
From Greg Cass of the Open:
Since becoming a club points race, December’s Ted Corbitt 15K has largely been associated with cold, snow, and more cold. Surprisingly, the weather threw us a nice hanging curveball last weekend with conditions that would make the Scotland Run jealous. Even though a large portion of the Men’s Open team was representing the orange well at the USATF Club Cross Country National Championships on the other side of the country, the CPTC men still came through in a big way with our 4th place showing highlighting our tremendous depth as well as the strength of our masters runners.
Jordy Smilde lead the way for the men, clocking an impressive 51:37, good for a 3.5 minute PR in his first time scoring for CPTC! After a strong summer track season, Jordy had a great fall, mostly in XC but also at the Dash to the Finish – the 15K is longer than his typical race, but turning in a 51-mid when he was shooting for a “low 53” suggests big things await in the coming years. Two masters came next, with track star Peter Brady turning in a 52:14, 25 seconds faster than last year, and Jim McQuade coming through in 53:16. Peter’s ability across distances may be unmatched on the Club, and the open men are always thrilled to see him line up in a road race – Saturday was no exception! Jim continues to impress with consistency – his 85% AG performance was tops for CPTC men on Saturday and also his highest in a NYRR on the year – congrats! Coming through next for the orange was Herbert Plummer in 54:28, notching a huge 2-minute PR. Herbert has also put in his time on the XC circuit this fall, and the benefit was clear on Saturday. Next up for Herbert – a well-deserved break after a long summer/fall season. The final scorer was Mohammed Lahseni, another masters runner, who clocked a 54:57. Mohammed showed that his breakthrough at Grete’s earlier this fall was no fluke. The under-40 crew thanks the masters for being so fast!
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
The CPTC 40+ put a cap on its 2015 repeat championship season with a conclusive win at the Ted Corbitt 15k. With these 15 points and the obligatory two worst races deleted, I unofficially calculate that the final points standings will be approximately:
CPTC: 133
West Side: 105
Warren Street: 104
Our scorers on Saturday were Peter Brady (51:37/84.64%,1st AG); Jim McQuade (52:15/85.00%/3rd AG) and Mohammed Lahseni (54:57/82.41%/4th AG) Peter and Jim also scored for the open team.
Peter’s race was a personal record for 15k, and despite being a national champion, his first age group win since the last Corbitt. Which makes no sense, but does show the strength of NYC masters running.
Peter:
I remember running this same race two years ago in the cold and heavy snow! 15K is an obscure distance that I only ever run in this race so I managed a PR: 52:14- 24th place overall and won my age group (although as expected 49-year old Paul Thompson kicked my butt to collect the $150 top prize for runners over 40).
My mile splits were: 5:30,5:21,5:38,5:30,5:45,5:31,5:39,5:52,5:42 and 1:45 for the last 0.3). Was targeting around 5:40 and managed to average 5:37 so I’m pretty happy with the result. Felt good until the hill in mile 8. The rest of the race was a struggle but I managed to hold it together.
Jim McQuade
Photo: Jay-R Mojica
Jim McQuade is officially back in form with his best age graded race in two years.
Mohammed Lahseni, our third scorer, continued a strong year with a PR at 15k.
Race of the day honors go to Jeffrey Garnett, who was the only 40-49 orangist to run both an absolute PR and a lifetime best age graded score in the NYRR database (59:03/74.29%). Jeffrey would be a candidate for the 40-49 most improved award, if in fact we had one: He started the year running in the 66-68% range and has improved steadily through the year.
Jeffrey:
I had hoped to score points at this race. I was thinking with the title locked up and this being a big race for me I might hit the top 3 – and based on last year’s performances I would have – but this year all of the big guns came out!
My big goals are half and full marathon but I spent a couple weeks on speed to shoot for a fast 5k Turkey Troy and knew it would help my confidence going into this – I don’t consider 10k or less to be my strength.
My goal for Ted Corbitt was 59:30 and I used advice from Tony to setup the final Thursday workout (4x lower loop) and my splits for the race to shoot for a personal best. I came down with a virus just before club championships and missed most of August recovering. This was my final chance to peak for a race in 2015 and I also wanted a good result to help me focus on the months leading up to Boston. I ran the first 5k slightly under target then built over the middle 5k and finished the last 5k at 6:15 which was 6 seconds better than my overall time and gave me a final time of 59:03. Over the last couple of miles I focused on catching one of our teammates (Kieran?) which I did with less than a mile to go and this helped me finish strong. I am now almost back to my times from 10 years ago and really excited for 2016.
Jesus Ansede-Ferreiro also set a 15k PR with his 58:19/75.81%.
Mark Eric Lattin for one in the comeback column – as late as August he was sidelined with achilles problems and was in a boot…come December he is rounding back into shape with a 56:27/78.31, fourth man.
Daniel Ifcher is back on the circuit a few months after the birth of his son and some dings:
Daniel:
It’s great to be back and racing. I had backed off a bit in the fall due to some pains here and there, and was pleased with my progress. It’s a distance I don’t normally run, and having done it only 3 times in 6 years, all 3 times are within 1 minute of each other. One call out is for the weather – who would have thought it would be in the 50’s for this race – nice.
Away from Central Park, some notable results: Team Brad ran two good marathons: Brad Kelley ran 2:51 in Philadelphia and Brad Weiss was part of a world record five-person marathon centipede team, finishing in 2:53.
Year in Review
I like to take some time in the final race report to recognize those who scored over the year. Every year I am amazed by the number of people who score – fifteen of us had the honor this year – our depth is our strength.
Daniel Gercke: 6 scoring races
Cary Segall: 4
Rich Nelson: 3
Brad Kelley: 3
Peter Brady: 3
Mohammed Lahseni: 3
Daniel Ifcher: 2
Jim McQuade: 2
Matt DeAngelis: 2
Gerry O’Hara (age 50+): 2
Coleman Cowan: 1
Ulrich Fluhme: 1
Sherman Lau: 1
Nicholas Thompson: 1
Douglas Tsao:1
From Chris Donnelly of the 50+:
CPTC’s 50+ men came away with a second place finish in last week’s Ted Corbitt 15k, capping the 2015 club points season. It was a strong showing amid unseasonably warm weather, but not quite enough to knock off BRRC, who appear set to edge us out for runner up in the points competition behind the West Side juggernaut.
John de Csepel
Photo: Jay-R Mohica
Still, following the bone chilling cold over the last couple of years, we had beautiful conditions in which to race, and the day yielded PRs for our top three scorers and a quartet of top 10 age group finishes. Most important, however, was the tremendous show of team support. Steve Menlove volunteered for his first ever 15k; John de Csepel, who usually focuses on shorter distances, ventured onto the long roads; Art Palmer, just days away from a medical procedure, showed up for his first run since the New York Marathon; Alan Ruben gamely jumped in to race again without serious training; Glen Redpath tweaked a quad a few weeks back but he still showed up to run a rare road race in his 50+ debut for the team.
We went into the race tied with Brooklyn, so whoever fared better here would take second in the overall points. The result:
Teams – 50+ Men
1 Brooklyn Road Runners Club 03:02:17
Iain Levine 59:23
Riccardo Bianchi 1:00:48
John Shostrom 1:02:06
2 CPTC New Balance 03:03:17
Stephen Menlove 1:00:48 PR
Christopher Donnelly 1:00:56 PR
John de Csepel 1:01:33 PR
In addition to all running PRs, Steve, Chris and John placed fifth, seventh and ninth, respectively, in the 50-54 age group.
Chris Donnelly: I don’t run this distance much, and I’m usually pretty dented up by this point in the season, so I was really pleased with how this one went. This was a 2+ minute PR. My goal was to run evenly in the initial 4 mile loop, and then use the terrain and compete during the five miler. Steve Menlove and I worked together throughout, moving up the field in the early miles and eventually reeling in BRRC’s second man, Riccardo Bianchi. The final 3.3 miles was a spirited back and forth that brought out the best in us all. After falling behind just a bit in mile six I had the perfect vantage point to see Steve pull even with Riccardo, and that inspired me to claw my way back and then move ahead. Even though he was struggling in the late miles, Steve ultimately edged out Riccardo by a fraction of a second to win our race within a race.
Our third man, John de Csepel wasn’t far behind and offers two observations: 1) It was great to see Alan Ruben once again toeing the line – the high point of the day. 2) Chris Donnelly went out at a measured pace and then turned it on for the second loop for a strong post-marathon performance.
Alan Ruben
Photo: Jay-R Mohica
Alan Ruben crossed the line next, at 1:03:19, for eighth place in the 55-59 bracket. Alan: I ran this race on the back of regular easy running but no workouts. I was pleased with my race given my current level of fitness. It felt just like my regular racing despite the pace being slower. Looking forward to seeing where regular workouts can take my racing performance in the New Year.
Glen Redpath assured us last week he was going to run easy after testing out that quad. He stuck to that plan, crossing the line at 1:11:07. Welcome to the 50s, Glen. Heal well.
So that’s a wrap. Thanks to all who ran this year. So many of you came out to support the team, and we had a great mix of people in the scoring. 2015 scorers included Alan Ruben, Chris Donnelly, Art Palmer, Gerry O’Hara, Tony Ruiz, Casey Yamazaki, Mikal Scott, Eiji Ebihara, Toshiki Ikehata, John de Csepel, and Steve Menlove. Everybody counts, from old hands to new faces. When we needed an extra hand, Captain Hank and Yasuhiro were there for the assist. And of course, the entire team was inspiring, especially the 40+ men. Congrats to all on a wonderful season.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:
Those who committed to run the 2015 Ted Corbitt 15k were rewarded with stunning race conditions amid the park of our namesake in the heart of our fair city.
They who were wise enough to refrain from aggravating their ongoing injuries remained unscathed. They who toed the starting line and were not overdressed, raced the park decked in autumnal splendor with temperatures in the high 50’s.
Our band of brothers prospered with Yasuhiro Makoshi’s age graded 82.68%, 1:02.27, 2nd in age grade, 17th AG men overall, snapping at the heels of the great Alan Ruben. Yasuhiro was one of 3 in the race who ran their age in minutes. Yasuhiro kicks the proverbial butt. His has been a long, slow road to running health.
Gary Gosselin feels he went out too fast. Motoring ahead of me in the last third of the race, I’d say he did not. His racing times have been dropping as he continues to run faster. Gary was 7th in his highly competitive age group, finishing in 1:07.23/ 76.41%, (1:10.08 last year) 80th man overall AG. May his training for this coming year’s Boston Marathon be every bit as fruitful as his efforts were this year. He has proved invaluable in our team effort towards club point standing.
Hank Schiffman (yours truly) was our 3rd scorer, 1:08.10/ 79.17%, 45th men overall, made his racing debut from a hamstring injury 2 months earlier and paltry mileage. Today’s results were just short of a home run: the injury did not resurface, he endured the distance, and was all of 18 seconds out of being tied for 1st in his age group. Fittingly, Joe Porcaro of Taconic Road Runners bested him on this last race of the team point series, a redux of the same scenario in the Salsa 5k, the first team point race. The possibility of taking 1st in AG collapsed under tiring legs in the final 2 miles. Lord love a duck.
Hank:
Alan Ruben and I spent the whole night before working out the logistics of getting the same AG %; 2 old war horses fighting over the same bag of oats. Glad to see the program managing the AG place of men overall deferred to absolute age.
Ever the good soldier, Kevin McGuire, a shoo-in for our 3rd scorer, was bumped by the good health of Yasuhiro. He run 1:14.53/ 70.05%,(1:12.52 last year). Wearing his summer racing attire, Kevin crossed the finish line looking as if he had just emerged from the swimming leg of a triathlon. Truth be told, he had poured a cup of water over his head. Last year that cup of water would have resulted in a bump on his head from the block of ice.
Kevin:
It was an OK race for me, a bit slower than last year but always happy to hit the 70%AG.
Bill Allert’s time of 1:18.14/ 67.68% was unrepresentative.
Bill:
I was late so got stuck in traffic for the first mile and a half. Would love to say that it cost me 10 minutes, but it didn’t. I remember now why I love the track. 15K is far!
The best part of the day was running into some team mates who I haven’t seen for a while… and some of whom I actually met for the first time! Other’s of whom I still have yet to meet. It’s wonderful to see mates of similar age still getting the job done.
Race results vary for all sorts of reason. Some days you race for time, some days you race for place, and some days circumstances negate the event as a competition and leave you with no other excuse but to enjoy the moment. Bill did get to race on a wonderful day.
Phil Vasquez tripped on a downhill and broke a rib (or more) as well as incurring a hand injury on the opposite side at the Fred Lebow 5k XC race 4 weeks ago. And yes, Phil finished that race. Finding a comfortable position for sleep has not been easy. He can assure you that he hasn’t gotten in a lot of quality training since then, but he has been determined to continue his running career. Thus he ran today in 1:20:21/ 65.29%. No doubt he will sleep well tonight.
Phil:
One rib is enough. What a fun year we had. I’m looking forward to 2016.
Dave Delano, 1:40:00/ 55.57% (last year 1:25.08) found the time to host a post race party for our 60+ men and women and get this race in as well. We celebrated Sylvie’s 69th birthday at Dave’s. (She doesn’t look or run like 69, but there it is.) We have a lot of cohesion among our group. Dave in one of the factors in making it so. He gets a gold star for helping to make it happen.
Don’t let it be said that we were dominated by BRR in this race. Among their 3 scorers, Yasuhiro and Gary finished as dots between their dashes: John Shostrom, Yasuhiro Makoshi, Jack McShane, Gary Gosselin, Doug Currier. One more picture card in our hand and the outcome could have been different. We did very well.
In other NYCC races, Chris Neuhoff took 2nd in age group running the Race to Deliver 4 miler in 28:34/ 76%.
George Hirsch took 1st in age group and a remarkable 5th AG overall in the Jingle Bell Jog, running the 4 miles in 34:26/ 81.78%. Incidentally, George ran the first loop of the 15k as a training run.
In addition to Phil’s 26:51 at the Fred Lebow 5k XC race, Bill Allert ran it in 24:18 and Hal Lieberman in 27:24
Thus we have arrived at the end of the 2015 NYRR Team Point Race season. 1st place Brooklyn RR swept the competition with speed and grace. Today’s race was a bask in glory lap around the park with their flag. They won the day and the year for 1st.
The battle for 2nd place for the season could have come down to WSX and CPTC in today’s race. WSX was a no show today, they ceded the field to us, wittingly or unwittingly. Our team snagged 2nd place today, and for the year as well. We came out to defend our position against a team that did not field three 60+ male finishers. We did our homework, they played hooky. What happened at today’s race will determine the order come Club Night. Thank you all for supporting our effort, whether you ran and scored, ran and was a potential scorer, or your involvement helped to lift us up to grab that apple on the penultimate branch.
This Saturday is our Holiday Classic 10k. On January 8th is our annual Awards Party. Time for our penultimate victory lap.
Hank Schiffman