23 May
Posted by Birch as BBQ, Baja 1000, Cars, Electronics, Food, Gadgets, Misc, Motorcycle, Music, NYC, Run, Sailing, Sports, Surfing, Training, Travel, Uncategorized
Sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do and, I guess, this is one of those times for our beloved admin, erstwhile coach, training partner extraordinaire and certified master of the grill Jeff. He’s packed up the shop, loaded what’s important and is redeploying to the left coast in search of fortune, adventure and cracked crab. As we all navigate the fog caused by last night’s sayonara wumpus, I’d just like to pause for the cause and give a hearty HUZZAH to our partner in crime.
Fare thee well sir. You’ll be sorely missed but we’ve every confidence you’ll quickly get to holdin’ it down out there and swelling the ranks of the Dukes West Coast Chapter. Write when you get work and we’ll come inspect your beachhead.
Vaya con dios y un gato en tu pantalones Amigo.
-mismanagement
Today on Mothers Day we get a race report from one of our team members, Eve F, who was out there representing and much stronger than the rest of us. While we were at home liking our wounds from last weekends half marathon, she went out there and ripped a 10 mile race. Back to Back 10 mile races. Respect!
From Eve:
I just wanted to let you know I ran another for the team today. The
Mothers Day 10 Mile. It was a rough one for me, central park and those
damn freaking hills on top of just being damn tired it wasn’t the
greatest for me but it was fun. Just wanted to give you a DOFB heads
up.
F EVE DOFB NEW YORK NY 1:28:11 8:49
My esteemed colleague, training partner and fleet ne’er-do-well Jeff Eckhaus has already turned in a beaut of a report on this past weekend’s Brooklyn Half, so I’ll not dwell on what he covered. Suffice it to say, I did not have nearly so fine a day as he. Cruel irony indeed that this half, on my own home turf, on the very streets where I train day in and out, would wind up being my most painful to date.
First 6 miles were largely without incident. I was running a pretty strong 7:05-7:10 pace though I felt a little fluttery. My left foot started to get pins and needles numb, which is rarely a good sign. It’s previously only happened in full marathons, but for some reason my left foot starts to go numb whenever I’m creeping on my limits. Never the right, only the left….go figure.
Anyway, about the time old lefty was checking out I pulled up on Jeff. I drafted behind him for about a quarter of a mile watching his stride. As has been noted many times, Jeff and I train together regularly and I was noticing how his mechanics seemed to have improved of late. You know a runner is coming into form when you can see the energy tensed in their muscles release seemingly without effort. Sort of like a large cat when it looks like it takes more exertion for them not to pounce and un-spring the stored energy than it does for them to bound along. Anyway, Jeff had that stride going where he was sort of floating effortlessly above the pavement and I was deep in considering how very different I was beginning to feel when he finally caught on to my lurking.
We cruised along for a bit together, but I was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain pace and sent him ahead just before we reached Prospect Park. Not more than a quarter mile into the park I had to pull my ship over on account of grinding stomach cramps. Somewhat mystified, I walked along for 20 or 30 yards and was every bit as surprised as the poor woman next to me when I projectile yakked. Mind you, I run this very loop 2-3 times a week, so it was an odd sort of thing to be feeling so utterly lousy on ground that I normally sail over. Another boot about 50 yards later I managed to pull my shit together and get a shuffling head of steam before heading up the last looming hill before Grand Army Plaza. I don’t normally mind this one, as I’m a hill lover, but I can assure you this was one of the hardest climbs I’ve ever stuck with. Had to resort to all sorts of mental cheats…..the older lady in front of me will never know it, but she actually towed me up that thing and I owe her a psychic debt of thanks.
Anyway - managed to gut it out and finish with a 1:37:15. Not the worst, not the best, but definitely the toughest half marathon I’ve run. I really don’t know what the issue was. The indicators could be read to point to dehydration, but I was well hydrated. And I was equally well rested etc. Certainly all the pints of Guinness in Ireland a month back didn’t help; I was under-trained, but that’s hardly a first. Guess I’ll just chock it up to the borough of Brooklyn reminding me who’s boss.
All that said - congrats Jeff on running an excellent race and establishing a new PR. Tremendous shouts out to the other three Dukes who turned in awesome performances as well. Eve with her first half completed and she, Jen & Fayth all turned in sub 2:00–righteous!!
This is the first time we’ve had 5 Dukes for one of the NYRR half’s and it’s sweet to be officially in the hunt for club standing this year. Nice work all and remember, there are few better feelings than looking at a Los Compadre in your rearview!
Waking up this morning and stepping outside, I could feel a great day for running. It was about 50 degrees and overcast with just a little humidity, but nothing to be worried about.
Getting to Coney Island for the start was little bit of the pain due to track work on the F train but made it there with 20 minutes to spare before the start. Tried to find the rest of the Dukes of Flatbush at the start, but no luck, this race was going to be solo.
I have to give a huge hand to the NYRR and the volunteers for a great start using the seeded corral system. My bib color was red and number was 15xx which meant I was in the 2nd corral, right near the start. This was especially useful since the first 2.5 miles of the race are on the Coney Island boardwalk, which is a little old, warped and sandy. Not a place you want to have to jostle for space.
Toeing up on the line, I got my Garmin 405 ready for its maiden race, and then the cannon went off.
Mile 1 & 2 were on the boardwalk and according to the Garmin I average a 7:15/mile pace, a little quicker than planned but I was feeling really good.
Miles 3 - 9 were along Ocean Parkway and were flat and built for speed, except for a little headwind blowing here and there. I was cruising along at a 7:20 pace and feeling strong and then a minor miracle happened. At mile 6, Birch, fellow DOFB member and training partner pulled up alongside me. I think he may have been behind me for awhile, checking me out from that perspective , but he said nothing. Seems suspicious.
Birch and i cranked along at a little faster clip, about 7:10/mile until the end of Ocean Parkway, where Birch started feeling some pains and needed to slow down and told me to go on without him. This is a first as Birch is normally running sub 7 minute miles and I am ready to die trying to keep up.
Mile 9 - 13 saw me entering Prospect Park, fan support started to build and so did the hills. There is a small downhill in the beginning but then we came up the big hill that leads to Grand Army Plaza. The thing I hate most about this hill are the false peaks. Each time you think you are done there is another climb. Damn those park architects.
The last few miles were a race for me as I tried to break 1:35 for the Brooklyn Half Marathon. I pushed and tried but the final small hills at the end drained me of the precious few seconds and finished the race in 1:35:55, a new PR for me. I am not going to say the Garmin 405, made the difference, it was probably training, but running a race with a GPS watch changes the whole race. I strongly encourage anyone serious about running to purchase one.
Overall another great Brooklyn Half Marathon and look forward to race reports from other members. More important, I believe the Dukes of Flatbush finally had 5 racers finish which means we earned club points. Look out Los Compadres, here we come in the Club Competition
It is only now, with a week’s distance, that I can begin to encapsulate this year’s Boil. The Fifth (mostly) Annual SpecialAI Crawfish Boil was, in a word, epic. The bugs were god-damned delicious, the music was off the hook and the revelers gave everything they had in the pursuit of good times. Tally of relevance:
Lbs of Crawfish shipped up from Louisiana: 275
Lbs of Crawfish Consumed: 275
Barrels of Beer Consumed: 5 (!!)
Number of kick-ass Bands: 4-5
List of notable instruments demonstrated: Stand up base, drums, keys, mandolin, banjo, tuba (!), trombone (x2), trumpet, guitar (x5), maracas, tambourines, cowbell, neck-tie washboard!?!), accordion, larynx (yodeling), rubber chicken
Number of DJs intending to play: 5
Number of DJs who actually played: 3
Approximate number of attendees: 150 (+/- 25)
Number of unknowns who crashed: 25
Number of hours the party lasted: 11
All in all, an amazing time was had and a serious thanks out to them tasty lil bugs, the incredible bands, our excellent friends and everyone else who contributed of their time, energy and buzz to make this the best boil yet!
And now a few pics for da taste:
Special Cajun delivery…one of three mongo boxes of bugs straight from LA
Craw enforcement is serious work…one needs a placard for the vehicle
Said Craw Enforcement Vehicle and the attached compliance officer
The calm before the boil. Please note appropriately prominent placement of the NH state flag. Boil Free or Die baby!
Looks may deceive …this pint sized shellfish lover can eat her weight in Crawfish
$2 Goat gettin’ things roarin’ as the bugs start coming out. These guys wail!
Early round as folks start jockey for long-haul positioning.
This past week has been the final week of hard training before the Brooklyn Half Marathon next week and I guess a mini-taper. I think the whole team has been putting in the miles and getting ready for the race. This is going to be a fun one and hopefully able to get close to a 1:35 half. With Birch pacing I think it is a possibility.
To prepare for the pace, I have gone back to the track for some speed workouts, which are horrific and vomit inducing, but would love to share with you for those who want to speed work.
On a standard 400m track, do one lap below 1 minute 30 seconds, then slowly jog (hate the word) or shuffle your feet to keep moving for 1 minute, then repeat the fast lap. Then wash rinse, repeat for 8 fast laps, trying to stay below a set time (mine is 1:30).
I have no scientific proof for this method as I have cobbled it together from a few training gurus, but give it a shot, if you do not get faster, you will puke, gonna be fun either way.
Tomorrow morning I will try to hook up with the Shampoos for an easy 8-10 mile run before our annual Crawfish Boil. Then let the good times roll.
Crawfish Boil pictures and report to follow later this week
This weekend brought some nice weather and my first chance to run one of my favorite paths, from the East Village over the Williamsburg Bridge to McCarren Park and back.
The bridge has both the North and South paths open and was full of people enjoying the sunny day. As usual everyone stays on the North path (pictured), which I think is due to the entrance on the Brooklyn side for the South entrance being hidden.
Running through Williamsburg for the first time in 4 months, I had a chance to see the incredible construction going on and the progress that has happened in 4 months. Kent Ave has become a full on construction zone, where in the next year thousands of people will live. Is a always strange to think that a few years ago I would run there without seeing a soul.
One soul that I did see on the corner of Kent & N.12th asked me for directions, which unfortunately I could not help them with. My question to other runners, when you are out there do you stop if people ask you for directions or do you wave them off? I know everyone thinks they would stop, but would you? Do you?
For all the shenanigans the Dukes of Flatbush do in our day to day lives, we do try to give back to charity when we can. Members of this club have run for Team for Kids and Fred’s Team, raising $10,000 over the past few years.
On that note I wanted to alert all of our readers about another charitable event coming up in the next few months. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Rock & Run on the River. Here is a description of the event from the event organizers of this run/walk event, so far all of you aspiring runners and walkers here is your chance to make a difference.
Come and share the excitement and inspiration of Rock & Run on the River - a 5K run/walk along the beautiful Hudson River that celebrates life beyond cancer and raises awareness and support for Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Cancer Survivorship Initiative.
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Registration opens at 7:00 AM)
Where: Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 (12th Ave. and 44th St.), New York City
As I mentioned in a previous post, the Scotland Run 10K is one of my personal favorite races of the year and it seems the word has gotten out. This year there were 7,000 runners in the race, one of the largest turnouts for a NYRR race.
The morning looked promising with sunny skies and no breeze, but unfortunately it was a little cold for spring, the temperature at 7:30am was 28 degrees. I knew it was going to warm up, but would have to suffer in the cold for a few hours.
The start area for the Scotland Run was set up in Mineral Springs Central Park and where the government of Scotland had set up a few booths giving away Scottish flags and bags as well as the ability to get your face painted. The band was great and for this year we had the Red Hot Chili PIPERS. Good times out there even though it was a little chilly, but starting to warm up.
The race is ready to start as the Pipers lead everyone out to the start line, where I position myself around the 7 minute mile pace area, hoping this will keep me from having to bob and weave too much through the crowd. Even though I know I planned to run around a 7:20/mile pace, to even have a chance to run that pace for the first mile I needed to set up close to the 7:00/mile sign. Let me tell you, I cannot wait for this corral system to start and really hope it will be a success. (I promise not to vent about slow packs of runner in front).
Mile 1 was still a little crowded and and a little uphill but managed to hit Mile Marker 1 at exactly 7:30. This was a pretty good sign.
Mile 2 -3 were spread out more with more downhill than up and I was able to pick up the pace, running 7:00/miles for these two. Nice bonus was seeing my friend Seth running the other way with his son in a baby stroller and hearing my name called out.
Now, I am not sure where, but I believe this occurred somewhere near the end of mile 3, after a long uphill climb, just when I thought I was out of gas, and ready to slow it down, suddenly the sounds of a single bagpipe were blaring through Central Park. One bagpiper in a quilt was standing guard at the top of the hill urging people on with his playing. Score one for NYRR and the race organizers for this move.
The next few miles went along real smooth as I tried to keep a 7:15/mile pace and look to finish below 45:00 minutes for the 10K. One other nice move by NYRR this year was widening the lanes so there was more room to maneuver.
As I hit the 6 mile mark I knew the sub 45:00 was within reach and just pushed through the last uphill portion (this part I hate) to the finish line at Tavern on the Green at a respectable 44:42, a 7:12/mile pace for a 10K, one of my fastest 10K runs and one of my better finishes. I placed 628 out of 7000 runners. This is promising for the upcoming season, because to be honest I have barely ran more than 20 miles a week since the start of 2008 and have not been as healthy as I would like.
Now I wish I could say all the other members of the Dukes of Flatbush were able to make it out for the race. As usual Eve F came out and turned in a stellar performance for the Dukes, but the same cannot be said of the Shampoos.
Seems they heard Nessie was going to be at the race and hid in Brooklyn, scared to cross the waters in to Manhattan.
Springtime is the time for the auto makers to show off their new cars and there is no better place then the New York Auto Show. Nick and I took a walk over to the Jacob Javitz Center to check out the cars that we hope and pray to afford one day. I also had the chance to catch up with my good friend Alex Roy who is displaying his Team Polizei M5 and promoting his book The Driver. If you go to the show I encourage you to go over to the south concourse and say hello and purchase his book, which I have written about in an earlier post.
Instead of boring you with descriptions of the cars which nobody wants to read, I figured some serious car porn is the only way to go.
Enjoy!
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to concerns in the Brooklyn community, the date of the 2008 NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix has been changed from Saturday, April 26, to Saturday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m.
The Brooklyn Half Marathon is one of the premiere events in the Dukes of Flatbush racing schedule and is on home turf. The race starts on the Coney Island boardwalk and then is a flat pancake run down Ocean Parkway and a fantastic finish inside Prospect Park.
I hope that this last minute schedule change does not impede anyone from joining (myself included) and may allow for more entrants as it does not conflict with Passover and gives all aspiring runners an extra week to train.
Here is the official note from the NYRR regarding the date change and what runners can do about it:
For those who have already registered, NYRR is offering three options to resolve issues resulting from this change:
* Leave your entry as it stands and run the race on May 3
* Contact NYRR by 11:59 p.m. on March 31 and request that your entry be transferred to another equivalent NYRR event of your choice
* Contact NYRR by 11:59 p.m. on March 31 and request a coupon good for entry to another equivalent NYRR event that you will choose at a later time
I just ran across the work of an amazing photographer named Pieter Hugo. He has a number of series, but I was particularly drawn to these photographs taken in Nigeria of men who have taken wild animals as “pets”. Who doesn’t want a Hyena running around the house? Wild stuff! Check out the official site.
I wanted to alert everyone out there that one of my favorite races of the year is coming up soon. The NYRR Scotland Run 10K
This race always includes some world class runners, real nice gift bags, a 10am start and bagpipes. Not really sure what else you could ask for in a 10K.
If you are reading this now then you still have 25 days to prepare for this race, so get yourself in gear. It is only a 10K - 6.2 miles for the metric phobic
After a few experiments over the past few years, NYRR is instituting a seeded corral system for races beginning with the Adidas Run for the Parks on April 20th, 2008.
Now for the uninitiated, let me explain what a seeded corral system is. Runners are assigned to corrals according to their per-mile pace with faster runners in the front and slower runners in the rear. This is supposed to ease congestion at the start of the race and allow runners to not have to bob and weave their way to the front.
In concept this is a great idea and will ease the whining by so many people about the 10:00/mile people clogging up the roads. I have been known to be one of those whiners, especially on a short race and I am looking to set a PR.
In practice this is going to be real hard to enforce. Even with the new volunteer system in place to gain access to NYC Marathon, having to check the bib times of 5000+ runners and placing them in corrals is going to be one massive undertaking.
I hope the volunteers have an easy a time as these cowboys, putting runners in the corrals will be tough. Only time will tell.
The Dukes of Flatbush have got to stay fit to conquer the 2008 Baja 1000. This means a lot of running, but we try and mix it up to keep our knees in good graces. I personally spend a lot of time on a bike. A few years back, I picked up a fixed gear one and have really enjoyed it. Thought I’d give the uninitiated the skinny…
A fixed gear bike has one gear. You use the same gear to go up hills, ride the flats, cruise downwhill. It also has no freewheel that means you can’t coast - if the wheels are moving,the pedals are also turning in the same direction. You can pedal a fixed gear backwards.
A fixed gear forces certain behavior from the rider:
“Riding a fixed gear on the road is excellent exercise. When you need to climb, you don’t need to think about when to change gears, because you don’t have that option. Instead, you know that you must just stand up and pedal, even though the gear is too high for maximum climbing efficiency. This makes you stronger. Really steep hills may make you get off and walk, but the hills you are able to climb, you will climb substantially faster than you would on a geared bicycle.
When you descend, you can’t coast and the gear is too low. This forces you to pedal at a faster cadence than you would choose on a multi-speed bicycle. High rpm’s force you to learn to pedal in a smooth manner–if you don’t, you will bounce up and down in the saddle.
Most cyclists coast far too much. Riding a fixed-gear bike will break this pernicious habit. Coasting breaks up your rhythm and allows your legs to stiffen up. Keeping your legs in motion keeps the muscles supple, and promotes good circulation.”
I’ve been riding mine for a few years and it produced noticeable results in a short period of time. I ride loops of Prospect Park which includes a steep, mile-long hill. At first, I could only manage one loop on this bike, standing in the saddle, huffing and puffing up the ‘widowmaker’. In a month, I could do three loops. In a few more, I could comfortably ride five. These bikes don’t let you rest, but don’t let that turn you off. You really get into a groove - very different from a typical bike.
If you haven’t checked one out, I recommend that you do. These bikes don’t have many parts so they are generally quite affordable. I splurged on a Bianchi Pista track bike that cost around $500. Note that track bikes don’t come with brakes so I added a front one. You can also find a number of these on Craig’s List.
DOFB
