• Royal Race Report: Amelie Poojary on the Brooklyn Half

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    Yes, I initially wanted to follow a training plan but didn’t have great incentives to do so. I ended up joining as many CHRC speed workouts and long runs as possible.

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    Yes, I wanted to run it in less than 2 hours because my ultimate goal this year is to run the marathon and mentally, I cannot imagine running for more than 4 hours. I ran the Brooklyn half in 1 hour 59 minutes without too much effort, so I feel more confident about my goals now!

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    Yes!! Long runs and speed workouts were super helpful. I had a hard time finding routes and having fun when doing them by myself. The longest run I did with the club was 10 miles and I believe that’s why I felt so good til ~11 miles on race day. And I ran that Prospect Park hill so many times during speed workouts that I didn’t even need to catch my breath after running it during the race. Also, I loved that the club organized a Q&A, a run to the race pre-party, and group pics before the race. I participated in all of these events – they were very well planned, fun and took a lot of pressure off of me!

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    The cheerers, being completely in control of that loop and hill in the park, and the beach at the end!

    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    The last 2 miles – they were hard on my legs, but they made me realize that I need to run more often and longer distances.

    Would you run it again?

    Yes!

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    Train, train, and train. Also go to all of the great events organized by the club before the race (I had friends meeting me after the race so I didn’t attend the post events, but I think those would be great if you are on your own!)

  • Royal Race Report: Guillermo on Cheering at the NYC Half

    CHRC Royals don’t just love to run, we love to cheer on our teammates because we’ve all had that experience of struggling through a race and being lifted up and recharged by friends who’ve come out to cheer for us. Here’s Guillermo Jimenez’s ecstatic report on the “cheerer’s high” he got from cheering at the NYC Half Marathon:

    It was a beautiful early spring morning. At 38 degrees, it would have been perfect for racing, but it was a bit cold to be standing around. I figured I would do my recovery run and get warmed up by running from my apartment to Dekalb Ave. As I left my apartment at 6:55am, I saw lots of runners making their way to the start. I felt a bit envious. As I ran past Grand Army Plaza, a police officer nicely informed me that the start was the other way. I gently smiled and replied that I was not racing but was instead heading to help set up a cheer spot. I was the second person to arrive. Amanda had already set up the table. All we needed was the banner. As we set up, we saw some November Project folks. I joined their tribe workouts once and they are awesome people. Unlike me, lots CHRCers are November Project regulars, so they knew about us. We offered to join forces. As both CHRC and NP members started to arrive and runners made their way to Manhattan, the party started. I would normally be too cold standing around, but the energy from both runners and spectators was so warm and contagious that I did not feel the cold.

    I saw lots of familiar faces from previous races, Strava friends, and teammates. I tried and failed miserably to take some pictures. It is hard to cheer and take pictures at the same time. My plan was to cheer until 8:15am at the first cheer spot and then take the Q train to mile 12 in Manhattan. I have raced the half marathon more than any other distance, and for me the hardest mile is always mile 11. At that stage, you are hungry, tired, and your legs hurt. In my case, people start to pass me. Miles 11-13 feel like never-ending miles. When I see someone at mile 11 or 12, it always gives me that extra push to finish with a smile and I wanted to give that to my friends.

    As I reached my planned location, I saw the 1:25 pace group. This made me smile because on 2018, I ran past them on the Manhattan Bridge. (Of course I had started too fast and killed my legs early in that race, but that’s another story). I put on my banana suit and began cheering non- stop. Gideon joined me shortly afterwards and the Banana Cheer Squad was in action. This brought back memories from the 2017 NYC Marathon, where Gideon and I ran side by side wearing banana regalia for the first 13 miles. Groups came and went. People came to cheer on their loved ones and left. We often asked for their runner friends’ names and chanted the names along with them. Some groups stayed longer than others as they had multiple runners on the course. One lady asked me, “Which runners are yours?” My immediate response was Crown Heights, but right away, I corrected myself and said, “Well, not really. I’m not only here for Crown Heights. I’M HERE FOR ALL RUNNERS, so basically ALL OF THEM ARE OURS!” She had been really quiet and kept to herself before that, but after my response, she began to cheer on all runners just like Gideon and me. As the race was in its final stages, we saw Zoe and we screamed our hearts out. She came running over to us, eager to high-five us. We wrapped it up a few minutes afterwards, filled with something I would describe as a runner’s high. We didn’t race, but nonetheless we were happy to witness people push through barriers and give them a smile, even if just for a few seconds. I would say it was a cheerer’s high. If you have yet to come out and cheer for the duration of a whole race, please do so. You’ll definitely love it. I know I did. You may get a sore throat, but the cheerer’s high is worth it!

    Awesome runner Zoe passes the cheer station!

  • Royal Race Report: Tara Mardigan on the NYC Half-Marathon

    What was your race experience like?

    Whoa, this race was equal parts tough and exhilarating. The course was familiar to me in spurts from both running and biking NYC but stringing it all together was brand new. What a way to see NYC! I was trying to distract myself in the later miles by pretending I was a tourist and being in sheer awe of the best city in the world. It helped a bit.

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    Yes! I won’t race a half marathon unless I’m trained. I hired Coach Nick Wical of @runforyourunwithus in early January to design an interactive online training plan. It was very helpful and Coach Nick was flexible given some fatigue and unexpected foot issues that crept in during my training. He uses Vdot, the coaching platform to upload all of my workouts and comment back and forth. I’m already signed up with Coach Nick for the Brooklyn Half with my sights set on a PR. www.roadandtrailrunners.com

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    I had 2 goals:

    • run sub 2 comfortably (last 3 miles were not so comfortable but I did 1:55:13)
    • PR (missed by 22 seconds from Staten Island Half 2018)

     

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    Of course! The cheer station was the best. Nothing beats seeing a bunch of bananas emerge into viewpoint. It carries you.

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    Running alongside fellow CHRC teammate, Jaimie. She is the smoothest runner I know. It really helped to have her next to me even though we were running our own races. I just need to try to stay with her the entire time from now on!

      
    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    The later parts of FDR Drive were my biggest challenge. Surprisingly hilly without crowd support made it extra difficult. I sometimes like a quiet stretch of a race (Queensboro Bridge during the NYC Marathon) but for some reason, I was overthinking how much more of the race was left while on FDR. I suppose mental strength training will help me with this for future races.

    Would you run it again?

    Absolutely! I prefer cold weather running so this time of year suits me and the course is anything but boring.

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    As always, go out relaxed the first few miles. I might have gone too fast in the start even though I felt great at the time. It’s a hilly course throughout.

    Also, if it lines up with St. Patrick’s Day again, account for extra time getting to the actual start/bag check. I called for a Lyft from BedStuy and usually have a 3-5 minute wait to get a car (or less). It was an unexpected 23 minute wait so I had a stressful time getting there. The Lyft driver told me it was because of St. Patrick’s Day and higher demand. Everything worked out but just barely. I felt like the adrenaline wasted getting there would have come in handy during the race.

  • Royal Race Report: John Bedard on the Cherry Tree Relay

    What was your race experience like?

    When I first heard about the race, I was pretty intimidated based upon the terrible weather experienced previously, especially since even Akil refused to run it and that guy runs thousands and thousands of miles! However, this year’s weather was great and I was excited not to have to run the whole 10 miles! Aside from the bib pickup, the overall race felt well organized and was on time. The relay handoffs went pretty smoothly for our team and I had the best running teammates.

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    Nope. 3.4 miles is a pretty short distance for me and the course is super familiar since we run around it at least once a week!

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    My goals were in our team name, CHRC banana splits! I wanted negatives splits on my lap, which I and my team achieved. In the end, Sunny, who ran the 2nd lap, had a faster pace than me, and in turn Nick had a faster pace than Sunny! Very happy with the results 🙂

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    Yes! Running with my teammates and getting to know each other’s paces and abilities was very helpful.

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    I really enjoyed the relay aspect and working together with teammates to achieve our best results.

    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    Potentially, it was the weather, but in the end the weather was great. So, I guess it was the handoff of the snap bracelet, but otherwise, no big challenges.

    Would you run it again?

    Yes!

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    It’s worth braving the weather to run this race. If you are looking for a PR for a 10 mile race, this one is definitely a good choice because the course is so familiar!

  • Royal Race Report from the 2018 NYC Marathon – Kelly’s race

    What was your race experience like?

    South Brooklyn, sunshine, adventure. Making a Great British Bake-off joke to some British lady with “Mel” on the back of her shirt. The guy with the shirt saying if he finished the race he’d propose to his girlfriend! (DID HE?!) Tripping hard while high-fiving a kid! Losing Brooke. Finding Brooke. Tearing up at all the familiar songs. Looking for friends & family in the crowds but mostly missing each other — but then, unexpected friends in the crowd! Big silly grin the whole time.

    Miles 8-12, uh-oh, this is getting kind of hard. But this is my home territory. That’s where I cheered last year! Now I’m near my school, do I see any kids? (Nope, although some saw me.) The CHRC cheering station, thank you so much. Slowing down a lot. Scarfing down gummies. These gummies are revolting. What made me think I actually liked them?! Eat more. Drink more.

    Miles 13-15, holy heck, who knew the front of the ankle could cramp like this? There are even muscles there?! Biology. Goddamn. This is all because of my school’s freakin’ 10:40 am lunchtime!!! Also, I appreciate that you Greenpointers came out but make a little noise, people! I have a friend who will be near the Pulaski Bridge. Maybe I will see her and she will save me. Keep running. I lost Brooke!? I’m all alone? What do I do? Keep running. These gummies are revolting. Eat more. Drink more.

    Queens. I only remember about 30 seconds of Queens but they aren’t bad memories. Just get to the bridge. The bridge is all right. I practiced this. It’s not the thing that will take me down. It’s quiet. Take a moment to look out at the river. This hill will be rewarded. The bridge is all right.

    1st Ave. Wow, you really can see that long straight river of runners stretched out for blocks that you will also have to run…. Inspiring. Horrifying.

    Bathroom stop. Yes! Got out ahead of some digestion issues, took a tiny break, feeling better. I know all the steps I have to take to get to the end. I’m. going. to. fucking. take. them. all. There’s my friends’ chorus that’s going to sing when I pass. Yay! Wait, why aren’t they singing?!! (The tracker app was about 2 min. wrong is why.) But they’re here for me! Be grateful!

    The Bronx. All the leg cramps are back — and brought friends! BUT. I have a little love for this neglected borough because I started my career teaching here, and people are out playing music, and it’s not true that no one cheers here. Oh crap! I didn’t practice the course right, I went straight but they’re making us go around this block before the bridge, that’s soooo annoying! Maybe I should try some of this BioFreeze stuff. Doesn’t work through socks. Oh well. I’m going to walk for a minute and try to loosen up some of these aching muscles. Is that a race photographer? Really?!? I walk for 1 minute of this whole race and that’s when you take my picture?! Keep running.

    This is Harlem but I am in my head. I hear some music. That little park zig-zag. Maybe I’ll walk again. People around me are struggling, too, it’s okay for this to be hard. Go deeper into yourself. Around the corner onto 5th again, a familiar voice, it’s my friend Jay! No way I’m going to walk now! I owe him so much.

    The stupidly long uphill along the park but the end is coming, I can taste it, I only have to run for, like, 45 more minutes… sigh. More friends, a whole cheering section that I didn’t know would be there! Everyone shouts my name. Just let each cheer carry you. You’re almost there. Oh fuuuuuck, that’s the MET?! I thought we were almost to 59th Street! Keep running.

    Central Park South! Keep running! Back into the park! Keep running! Don’t use up that last strength yet, they always hide the finish a little farther away than it seems. Push push push. 200 m. Just keep running. That’s the finish. That’s the finish. Raise your arms up! That’s the finish.

    Now what?

  • Royal Race Report from the 2018 NYC Marathon – Gideon’s race

    What was your race experience like?

    Joyful, as always with the NYC Marathon. Could’ve used more clouds!

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    Yes and no. I had an ambitious start, dealt with some early injuries, but couldn’t get into a rhythm for the bulk of it. Career transition jumbled it!

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    Finish 3:45, or at least better

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    Yes! Leading the handful of Long Runs that I did kept me honest. Feeling a duty to those around me got me to step up. Guillermo and Walt rode in with me the morning of from Sterling St, and we kept each other cheerful and encouraged throughout the morning. And then Dave G and Mary G ran with me for the first 20 miles!

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    New York putting on its best face.

    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    20 miles in. Whew!

    Would you run it again?

    Absolutely.

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    Lean on this club. It will give you so much back.

  • Royal Race Report from the 2018 NYC Marathon – Heather’s race

    What was your race experience like?

    Incredible. Difficult. And so much fun. I knew it would be hard but nothing has ever pushed me this hard before. I was pushing myself to run past extreme pain, knowing that the finish line was waiting for me. I had an index card in my pocket with a list of where my spectator friends would be waiting, and between keeping an eye out for them, the energy from the crowd, and all the texts that came through from my friends, I had no problem pushing through. And the last mile and a half was the biggest runner’s high I’ve ever felt – I knew I was going to make it and I was able to finish strong. I had no pain in that last mile or so, just complete euphoria. (The pain came back just over the finish line, though. Of course.)

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    Yes! I did the majority of my runs alone, but CHRC supported me the whole time with Stava kudos, words of advice and encouragement, and of course high fives along the course and afterwards at our post-race party. I also never would have run this race without their inspiration and motivation to begin with.

    Would you run it again?

    At mile 16, my answer was, “Absolutely!” At mile 23, it was, “Absolutely not, no way, never again.” With a few days distance, I’m already looking up training plans to figure out how I can be better prepared for next time…

    What was your race experience like?

    Incredible. Difficult. And so much fun. I knew it would be hard but nothing has ever pushed me this hard before. I was pushing myself to run past extreme pain, knowing that the finish line was waiting for me. I had an index card in my pocket with a list of where my spectator friends would be waiting, and between keeping an eye out for them, the energy from the crowd, and all the texts that came through from my friends, I had no problem pushing through. And the last mile and a half was the biggest runner’s high I’ve ever felt – I knew I was going to make it and I was able to finish strong. I had no pain in that last mile or so, just complete euphoria. (The pain came back just over the finish line, though. Of course.)

  • Royal Race Report from the 2018 NYC Marathon – Madeline’s race

    On November 4th, 2018, I ran the 2018 NYC Marathon, as a proud representative and member of CHRC. It was my first marathon (of hopefully many), and though I’d spent the previous eighteen weeks in training, I believe that nothing can truly prepare you for the excitement and uncertainty of race day. I entered the race with the general goal of finishing, a more specific goal of feeling okay while finishing, and a (kind of unrealistic) goal of finishing in under 5:00. I achieved one and a half of those goals.

    I gained entry to the 2018 NYC Marathon through NYRR’s 9+1 program. I had initially set out to complete the 5-borough series in 2017 with a friend, but as I tagged along on her training runs in preparation for the 2017 NYC marathon, I was inspired to enter the 2018 race myself. I tacked on four more short runs and one volunteer session in late 2017, and I was in!

    What was your race experience like?

    I started off race day morning feeling tired. Waking up at 6:00 AM, I tried to keep my mind off the long journey ahead. I had gone to bed early the night before, with a belly full of pasta, but nerves had prevented me from sleeping well. Making the trek to the start village in Staten Island was the first hurdle: taking the subway to the ferry to the shuttle bus and then entering the village itself would have been nearly impossible without the support of the other CHRC 7:30 ferry-riders. Paradoxically, the frenetic energy of the other runners in transit helped me forget my own nervousness and stay in the moment. When the shuttle bus got stuck in traffic, I chatted with Heather, Brooke, Kelly, and Zoe, while sipping my coffee.

    We disembarked the shuttles at around 10:00 – one hour to go until the start of Wave 4. Heather and I explored the blue village – we hung out with therapy dogs, grabbed some free coffee and gatorade, and nervously reapplied sunscreen before parting ways to join our respective corrals. I shed my outer layers into the donation bins – I was chilly but knew that wrestling with layers while running would prove too stressful. All too soon, the corrals collapsed and we started moving forward. I was caught between dual feelings of excitement and dread. Realistically speaking, I had 5+ hours of running ahead of me. I knew intellectually that I was well prepared, but I still struggled with doubt and fear of the unknown. The longest I had ever run was 20 miles – the final 10k of the race would be uncharted territory.

    As the 4th wave moved eagerly forward to the start, we crested over a bridge and emerged from the cover of trees into full view of the Verrazano Narrows bridge. The sun shone brightly over the crowd, and I could just barely hear Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” playing at the start line. As my part of the wave edged closer to the start, everyone broke into an eager trot – by the time we crossed the start line, I was at an easy, comfortable jog. I started my watch and took a deep breath. The race had began.

    I spent the first few miles of the race smiling from ear to ear. The wind over the bridge was brisk, but I quickly warmed up. I switched from music to a podcast – Last Podcast on the Left – because I was running unaccompanied and missed the easy banter of chatting on long runs. I quickly took out my headphones after crossing the bridge, however, in order to fully take in the sights and sounds of Brooklyn. In those early miles, every funny sign brought a smile to my face. I was delighted to hear sidewalk bands playing pop punk from my teen years, and found myself hooting and hollering like a madwoman every few minutes. In retrospect, my emotional buoyancy early on was not destined to last.

    At mile eight, I hit my first planned cheer station. Although I knew exactly where to look to find my friends and family, the effort required to scan faces in order to find them was exhausting. I was too caught up in the pack to stop, so once I saw my cheerleaders, I kept moving. Up next was the CHRC cheer station at mile nine. There was one issue, though – I didn’t know exactly where they were located or on what side of the street. As I was running, I pulled up the day’s instagram post and tried to memorize the surrounding buildings from the picture. I continued on through beautiful Clinton Hill, taking in the golden leaves in the trees while maintaining a comfortable, strong pace. When I finally caught sight of a few bananas soon after the 9th mile marker, I sprung into a full, goofy prance. I bounced jauntily past the crowd, feeling ebullient and energetic from the cheers and support. I marveled at the fact that I had run nine miles but still felt relatively fresh.

    Soon after the cheer station, though, the mood of the race quieted down. We were passing through South Williamsburg and the sidewalks were relatively empty: since Sundays are work days for the Orthodox Jewish community, the only people out were hurrying by on errands and paying little mind to the runners. During this time, I focused on my podcast and thought ahead to my next moral support station: a friend would be cheering from Williamsburg.

    As I entered Williamsburg proper, the streets slowly filled again. I began to recognize favorite restaurants and bars, and kept my eyes open for my friend. However, the effort of scanning the crowd for familiar faces began to drain me. I caught sight of my friend and managed a quick hug before jumping back in again, but something felt off. My stomach was churning from the last Gu I’d taken and my left knee was starting to twinge. Right before crossing the bridge into Queens, I took a bathroom break, thinking I just needed a moment to reset at the half marathon mark.

    I don’t remember much of Queens other than continuing to feel uncomfortable – both knees were kind of hurting, which was making me nervous. My stomach still felt weird, even after stopping for extra cups of water. By the time we started up the incline of the Queensboro bridge, my emotional state began deteriorating as my knees seized up. I switched from my podcast to a playlist of upbeat music, but that just made me feel disappointed in myself when I had to pull over to the side to stretch and shake some life back into my knees. I was frustrated that I was in such pain, while the people around me still seemed to be going strong. I made a deal with myself: I would walk/jog the rest of the incline then start running again after cresting the top of the bridge. However, even after starting downhill, my knees still hurt – a lot. At that point, I resigned myself to the thought that this pain was not going away for the foreseeable future, and I would have to find a way to work around it in order to finish.

    Entering 1st avenue at 59th street was truly like hitting a wall of sound, as it’s so often been described. The energy there helped me forget my knee pain for a while. I also had friends and family to look out for around mile 18, so I tried to keep my head high in preparation. I order to soothe my knees, I started walking each water station and spending one minute walking after each mile marker. My hope for negative splits was out the window. This new strategy gave me some energy back and allowed me to fully appreciate seeing my moral support system. However, as soon as I’d passed them, I was on my own again. I stupidly began counting down the miles. I had 8.2 left. It felt like an insurmountable amount.

    By the time I entered the Bronx, I felt emotionally spent. The onlookers cheering and the school marching bands on the sidelines confused and infuriated me. I was so tired, and rather than energizing me, the flurry of activity surrounding the race course just made me feel scattered. Insidious, defeatist thoughts entered my head. Rather than reveling in the experience, living in the moment I had trained for, I began to just wish it were all over. I could feel how dangerous it would be to mentally give up on myself before the race was through.

    I can’t say for sure what helped me keep going. Perhaps it was a combination of things. When I passed back into Manhattan, the miles left to go suddenly felt manageable. The supportive texts that had been popping up on my watch all day were coming faster now – “welcome back to Manhattan!” and “almost there!” At 90th and 5th, I saw Áine on the sidelines. She gave me gummies and told me I looked strong. I nearly broke down in tears right there. At that moment, I felt anything but strong. Near the Met, I saw my parents one last time. They were ringing these ridiculous giant cowbells and when I came into view, the entire crowd surrounding them began cheering too. My knees weren’t hurting so much anymore. I was close to finishing. I sped up.

    The final mile was a blur. I was pushing my pace, I felt like I was flying. I also really, really wanted to be done so I could stop running. As I approached the finish line, I kept my eyes up so I could soak in the view and revel in the moment. As soon as I crossed, however, I felt like collapsing. I thought to myself, stupidly, that this had been a lot harder than I thought it would be. I also thought, “let’s do this again next year.”

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    I used an 18-week training plan, sent to me by CHRC’s own Liz Marvin. I edited the plan to fit in NYRR races and official long runs, and somewhat modified the mileage according to Hal Higdon’s beginner marathon training plan. Once I finished tweaking it, the plan called for long runs every weekend, maxing out at 20 miles, with 3-4 days of midweek easy running. Ideally this would have amounted to 537 miles over the training period. However, though I prioritized training this summer, life still managed to get in the way. I skipped two long runs and quite a few more midweek runs due to illness, vacation, or just plain laziness. My total training mileage ended up being 386 miles with an average of 25 miles/week. Who’s to say if those skipped runs would have made for a more enjoyable race, but at the end of the training cycle I still felt well prepared.

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    My general goal was to finish, but I was 99% sure that was achievable. I also hoped to finish feeling strong, which I only partially accomplished. Finally, I was hoping for a sub-5 hour finish, which seemed feasible based on my half marathon times, but (mostly due to knee pain) I did not meet that goal this time. My finish time was 5:14:53.

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    I ran most of my long runs with CHRC on saturday mornings. Initially, I was apprehensive about joining the long runs because I am on the slower side – 10:30 to 11:00 pace when running long. However, I found the run leaders to be incredibly supportive of my leisurely pace and they made great accommodations that allowed me to catch up with the rest of the pack at regular intervals. On smaller group runs, run leaders kindly slowed down to my pace and chatted to me as I broke new personal records. I ran my first 15-, 16-, 17-, and 20-milers on CHRC saturday long runs. The moral support of the weekly long run crew, in addition to the smart route planning (including much-needed water and bathroom stops), was truly instrumental in the success of my training season.

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    My favorite thing about the marathon was the energy and celebration surrounding the event. It was so gratifying to see the streets filled with cheering spectators – I’ve never experienced anything like it! When I was flagging in the last few miles, it felt so good to hear random strangers screaming out my name and words of encouragement.

    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    The hills! The course is definitely tougher in the second half. The Queensboro bridge was truly hellish – it was so long and tedious and my energy faltered without having crowds cheering on the sidelines. The incline on 5th avenue is also no fun. At such a late stage in the race, it just felt like adding insult to injury.

    Would you run it again?

    Hell yeah. Next time, with knee support.

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    Find a training plan that works for you, and take it seriously. But! Not too seriously. I made the major mistake of trying to ‘make up’ missed runs on rest days in the middle of my training, and it led to feelings of burnout and lethargy that otherwise probably could have been prevented. As race day gets closer, realize that the work has already been done. One more workout won’t make or break your race, and the best thing you can do in preparation is to treat your body and mind well. Also, keep in mind that the marathon is both a physically and mentally exhausting endeavor. Give yourself time to recover afterwards – both your muscles and your emotions need time to heal. Finally, take control of every part of the race that you possibly can control, and let the rest go. Give your race day outfit multiple test runs, try out all your fuel on long runs in the weeks beforehand, and dramatically increase your hydration! If you feel mentally prepared, you’ll be more able to address any curve balls thrown at you on race day.

  • Royal Race Report: Aine Chalmers on Run the Farm

    What was your race experience like?

    Despite it being a cold fall day (real feel in the 30’s), the race was a very fun and muddy experience. The race is just big enough to feel competitive without being too crowded or intense. The trails are beautifully maintained and well-marked. The send off (a call/response consisting of our duties to protect nature followed by “we run the farm” in unison) warmed this environmental engineer’s heart and was just a little off-beat, fitting for the bucolic venue.

    I ran with Jessie and we decided to run a conservative race. We ended up behind a run/walk group and had some trouble maintaining our pace/passing people when the trails became single-file.

    Overall it’s a great race to get out of the city and enjoy the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. Prospect Park trails don’t cut it when you get a chance to breath in some fresh air and hear the changing leaves crunch beneath your feet!

    Did you train for this race? If so, how?

    I am coming off the Chicago Marathon so I was not specifically trained for the race. I haven’t really set foot in trails (beside hiking) since high school XC when I, now ironically, decided that a 5K was too far for my talents. Luckily the race is suitable for people of all skill levels and experience – seems like many experts and newbies were enjoying the race together.

    Did you have any goals for this race? If so, what were they?

    My goals for the race were to have fun with the CHRC royals, stay upright for as long as possible, and devour some fall treats when I finished. I’d say I was able to accomplish all these goals (although I did lose my footing a few times) and perhaps overdid it on the cider donuts.

    Did CHRC help you train for/run/celebrate this race? If so, how?

    First of all, shout out to the CHRC Saturday morning group who got me to a marathon PR without the dread/stress/doubt that usually comes with the long runs!! I suppose those hot summer miles count as training for this race.

    Since “We Run the Farm” is in Westchester, the race logistics required some organization from one of our wonderful leaders, Kay. A large group of CHRC runners made our way to Katonah to run the farm and celebrate at a local apple orchard afterwards. It was great to have some spectators (kudos to standing out there in the cold) and fellow teammates cheering at the finish line. Thank you again to all the drivers and organizers who made it possible!

    In my opinion, the best part was the celebration!! After leaving Muscoot Farms, we traveled nearby to Wilkens Orchard to visit their farm store and get some goodies. We also got the opportunity to pet an awesome dog and have a mini-photo shoot.

    What was your favorite thing about the race?

    Reworking this question… the most memorable part of the trip was getting stuck in the mud when trying to leave the farm. Warren (our gracious driver) was stuck in a huge muddy pit when we tried to reverse out. The ladies (Rebekah, Jessie, Brooke, and myself) attempted to push the car out of the mud, but our strength was no match for the rainy fall we’ve been having. The farm staff had to hitch a tractor to our car to pull us out of the pit. The farm staff was very helpful (and apparently photogenic) as they got us city folks literally out of the sticks and mud. Warren is about to leave us for the west coast and we gave a memorable final race to go out with a bang!

    What was the biggest challenge about the race?

    Trail running requires more attention to your surroundings and an altered running form. I almost feel a few times and was feeling a little sore the next morning but am eager to try out more trails!

    Would you run it again?

    Yes, and I hope to see more Royals out there next time, too!

    What advice/tips would you give to Royals wanting to run this race?

    Be prepared to get muddy and have a big smile on your face!

  • Postcards from the Road

    Just when you were mourning the end of your summer travels, three postcards from travel races to cheer you up!

    Gideon Bautista on the New Jersey Marathon:

    Distance: 26.2 miles
    Date: April 29th, 2018
    Location: Monmouth, NJ

    Favorite race moment: Getting called “banana man” while not even wearing the costume by people who couldn’t have possibly known I race in banana costumes.

    Favorite CHRC moment: Going to the “OG” (Olive Garden) & Toys R Us the afternoon before with Big Dave, then play-testing “Wheels Up”, a board game designed by Spencer McCormick (like an aviation version of Ticket To Ride!), and other board games at Megann’s!

        


    Walt Walker on the Broad Street Run:

    Distance: 10 miles
    Date: May 6, 2018
    Location: Philadelphia, PA

    Favorite race moment: It was my 10th BSR, which meant that I no longer had to enter the lottery for the race. I automatically qualify now. More importantly, it also marked 10 years of me running, which gave me some time to reflect on how much I’ve developed personally and physically. I ran that first race in 90 minutes. Now, I’m down to 68 minutes.

    Favorite CHRC moment: There were ten of us that stayed in a house for the weekend. We spent all of Saturday and Sunday together, and I enjoyed sharing with the team the neighborhoods and the memories where I grew as an adult. Also, they were able to experience firsthand why the Broad Street Run is one of my favorite races.

        


    Kay Naito on The North Face Challenge – Bear Mountain Half Marathon:

    Distance: 13.1 miles
    Date: Sunday May 6, 2018
    Location: Bear Mountain, NY

    Favorite race moment: Getting to the last aid station and seeing that Joey was still with me, still running at planned pace despite obvious pain; crossing the finish line with him, and then later seeing his brother and girlfriend make it across the finish line as well, totally fine and happy (I had been worrying about how they were getting through their first Half-Marathon on this course, in the rain)

    Favorite CHRC moment (if you traveled to/ran this race with CHRC): This is maybe not a “favorite” moment or necessarily about being with CHRC; but an important memory I have from the race.

    The Bear Mountain 50K had been my goal spring race – it was going to be my first ultra marathon, and I’d planned to do it alongside Dave Gibbons. Early in the winter, I pulled my hamstring at a race finish and I had been pushing the recovery for several months. It hadn’t been going well and I dropped to the Half-Marathon event. In April, I doubled down on healing. To stop myself from feeling frustrated about this race, I focused on running this with my husband, his brother, cheering for Dave and all the others who ran in this North Face Challenge.

    At one point in the race, I felt a wave of grief over my body. About a year prior, I had been so strong, completing the Breakneck Marathon with CHRC in 7.5 hours. Here, I was not even certain about finishing a Half Marathon at my desired pace. Not long after, I was overcome with gratitude for the strength in my body I felt just then; the club members in CHRC who helped me get through the months of so many starts and stops in my training; and the experience of running as witness to someone else’s finish line.