All Things Running-Related

Nice to see everybody's plans to run.

I did Grete's Great Gallop (Central Park half) last year but I incurred a pretty bad Achilles injury and was sidelined for most of the Spring. I'm rebuilding now but I don't think I'll be ready for Grete this year (October 6th), but it's possible. Would probably want to stop and stretch periodically if I did.

I am looking at running a half marathon in Lake George on Aug 10 and the Philly half in September.

@hauscat, I just sent you a really slow pm.

I guess I got lucky with NYC - did it in 2006. I got in through the lottery on the first try. I was pretty surprised.

In for Philly half, self inflicted maladies notwithstanding

I am planning to pick up my number in Philly on Friday and then I will just go down the morning of the race, if anyone is interested.

I am targeting the Philly half, but I'm going to wait as late as I can to sign up just in case of injury. I've wasted too much money on races I couldn't do!!

My whole "use the summer to build up mileage" has been a big ol' lazy FAIL so far. I've really only been running once, maybe twice a week lately. I have about 4 weeks until I need to really start training, so I'm hoping to find a kick in the pants and get out there.

96 days to NYC!!

Training is going well. Miles are increasing (46 miles last week) and speed is intensifying. I have 2 more weeks of hills, then intervals. So far so good (knock on wood).

I've really enjoyed longer runs at Duke Farms in Hillsborough. Miles and miles (20+) of beautiful paved trails. Lots of trees and shade. It really is perfect. If you haven't gone, go!!

RE: half marathons - I'm looking forward to Grete's. Also check out:

1. Narrows Half on 9/15 - https://nycruns.com/races/?race=narrows-half-marathon - this is an AWESOME run!!
2. Newport Liberty Half on 9/22 - http://www.newporthalfmarathon.com/
3. Ocean City Half on 9/29 - http://www.ocnj.us/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.pageDetails&id=2088&typeID=179 (kinda far though!!)
4. Yonkers Half on 9/29 - http://www.theyonkersmarathon.com/
5. Prospect Park Half on 10/5 - http://beta.active.com/brooklyn-ny/running/races/prospect-park-half-marathon-2013
6. Paine to Pain Half on 10/6 - http://www.painetopain.com/

Some are closer than others, but some look fun. I need to do more research for August and September races.

TarheelsInNj said:

I am targeting the Philly half, but I'm going to wait as late as I can to sign up just in case of injury. I've wasted too much money on races I couldn't do!!

My whole "use the summer to build up mileage" has been a big ol' lazy FAIL so far. I've really only been running once, maybe twice a week lately. I have about 4 weeks until I need to really start training, so I'm hoping to find a kick in the pants and get out there.

Start running now and build your base! It'll make your training so much more pleasurable! You can do it!! You can do it!! It's supposed to be in the mid-60s tomorrow morning.

Summer Streets in NYC is the next 3 Saturdays (August 3, 10, 17). 7 miles of open streets from 7am to 1pm. It's fantastic for long runs.

Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/home/home.shtml

ETA: my advice is to start early. Last year I once ran at 11am... it was a bit too crowded (and hot). It's perfect from 7am to 10am.

Summer streets looks great. What fun that would be for a run.

I have just signed up for my first half marathon! I am so excited. http://www.rbmarathon.com/

I have run mostly 5Ks and only on 10K but am really looking forward to it!

Congrats, @ictulips02! A 10k is almost halfway there You've got plenty of time!!

TarheelsInNj said:

Congrats, @ictulips02! A 10k is almost halfway there You've got plenty of time!!

Thank you. I am looking forward to the training. I much prefer to run in the fall (cooler temps), so I thought that the timing of this race will be perfect for me.

ictulips02 said:

TarheelsInNj said:

Congrats, @ictulips02! A 10k is almost halfway there You've got plenty of time!!

Thank you. I am looking forward to the training. I much prefer to run in the fall (cooler temps), so I thought that the timing of this race will be perfect for me.

I felt the same about Philly. I won't need to really kick up the training until the end of August when it's hopefully cooler!! Fall is such a perfect time to run, you'll have a great time.

Leealli said:

Summer streets looks great. What fun that would be for a run.

It's really really awesome. Especially if you're running NYC... get used to those city streets! There's water stops and bathrooms. I usually start around the BK Bridge and run up to Central Park and back. That's about 14 miles. If I want to extra miles (like this weekend), I'll run a loop in Central Park.

Brilliant run in the rain today. I have an 18 miler this weekend - either Sunday or Monday - do any or you run along Wyoming at all? Is it open to runners? Sidewalks? side of the road? Otherwise, I have to work out a new route.

There is nothing better than running the Central Park loop on a weekend in the fall.

Leealli said:

Brilliant run in the rain today. I have an 18 miler this weekend - either Sunday or Monday - do any or you run along Wyoming at all? Is it open to runners? Sidewalks? side of the road? Otherwise, I have to work out a new route.

Me too! I ran 8 miles in the heavy rain around lunchtime. LOVE running in the rain.

I've run long on Wyoming. It's "okay". I've run the entire length, from Millburn to West Orange (turns into Gregory). The sidewalk disappears in a few spots in West Orange (before Northfield Ave), but overall it's fine. I don't love it, but it gets the job done.

hans said:

There is nothing better than running the Central Park loop on a weekend in the fall.

Ditto!

Or even better, 1 loop Central Park, run down to the Westside Highway Path, run north along the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge Lighthouse and back, then return to CP. I think that's around 17 or 18 miles. It's a great run, and the views are awesome.

ETA: the Westside Highway Path is very flat. It's a nice contrast to the rolling hills of CP.

One of my favorite long run routes is to go through Golf Island to town and out to the end of Wyoming (by Glenn), take Wyoming all the way past Northfield Ave to Mt Pleasant Ave. Head down into West Orange onto Main Street, head north and take a right onto Harrison Avenue and follow it into Montclair (it becomes Orange Rd) to Bloomfield Ave. Then I make my way back the same way but from Main Street in West Orange I go to Valley Road which eventually goes past Hat City Kitchen and becomes North Ridgewood in South Orange. I can vary the route a bit depending on what distance I want to go but it's about 19 - 20 miles. A good 20-miler loop for marathon training.

I have another long-run loop that goes through Summit into New Providence/Berkeley Heights.

hans said:

I have another long-run loop that goes through Summit into New Providence/Berkeley Heights.

Oooh, what's that? I've been wanting to venture into the Summit area.

My preferred route is to head through Golf Island to town, head towards Millburn on Glen Ave, cross over Wyoming and continue on Glen past the RR station until you hit Marion Ave (just past Brookside) and take a left. Cross over Old Short Hills Road onto Hobart Ave and follow all the way to Hobart Gap Road (past Short Hills RR station and up big hill). Once you hit Hobart Gap Rd take a left (warning - no sidewalks here and a blind curve). Cross over Route 24 and up the hill into Summit. Take Hobart Gap until it hits Springfield Ave and take a right into downtown Summit. Then I just follow Springfield Ave into New Providence until I want to turn around. 10 miles from my house will get me to Central Ave and 11 miles will get me to the Trap Rock Brewery in Berkeley Heights.

On many occasions, I have run into downtown Summit and back (about 12 miles total). You can even head into the Chatham area from Summit on Morris Ave.

Hans - I will have to look into your route. Interesting.

I was really wondering because right now Wyoming is closed to cars because they are re-paving. Anyone tried to run up there this week? I use Wyoming a lot, especially on my long runs.

I ran on Wyoming yesterday at 5am without a problem. It may depend on the time you run.

hans said:

My preferred route is to head through Golf Island to town, head towards Millburn on Glen Ave, cross over Wyoming and continue on Glen past the RR station until you hit Marion Ave (just past Brookside) and take a left. Cross over Old Short Hills Road onto Hobart Ave and follow all the way to Hobart Gap Road (past Short Hills RR station and up big hill). Once you hit Hobart Gap Rd take a left (warning - no sidewalks here and a blind curve). Cross over Route 24 and up the hill into Summit. Take Hobart Gap until it hits Springfield Ave and take a right into downtown Summit. Then I just follow Springfield Ave into New Providence until I want to turn around. 10 miles from my house will get me to Central Ave and 11 miles will get me to the Trap Rock Brewery in Berkeley Heights.

On many occasions, I have run into downtown Summit and back (about 12 miles total). You can even head into the Chatham area from Summit on Morris Ave.

Thanks Hans. Super interesting route. How long is the hill into Summit? I've considered running into Summit via Broad Street, but the long hill has always deterred me.

Hobart Ave has a gradual hill up to Hobart Gap Road which is about 7/10 of a mile.

The hill just past Route 24 is about 1/4 mile but steep.

Any way you slice it, there will be hills on the way to Summit.

Hi everyone! Doing River to Sea with slowrunner today. SR is on his first leg on a path along the canal. Already a day for collecting stories...

bikefixed said:

Hi everyone! Doing River to Sea with slowrunner today. SR is on his first leg on a path along the canal. Already a day for collecting stories...

Awesome, have fun guys!!

Gettin' real out here... Only 6 guys functional when we should have 7. Fun!