With last week’s miserable Brooklyn 1/2, Eve, Fayth & Jeff’s inspiring progress and the looming Shelter island 10k….my mind is on training. Those of you who’ve been around here a while are aware of our intense fondness for the SI 10k. For newcomers - this is really one of the best races out there and is easily my favorite of the year.

Thanks to the kindness, fortitude and enduring patience of founding Duke and all around menace Graham, the club’s membership is regularly treated to all the awesome that Shelter Island has to offer. As if the island’s beauty, copious ocean action and serenity weren’t adequate; once a year they’re kind enough to host a world class 10k complete with speedy Kenyans, top notch race support and cheering crowds. It seems like the entire island comes out (appropriate summer cocktails in hand, of course) to cheer the racers & the result is a singular racing experience.

That in mind, it’s easy to understand how central the SI 10K is for the Dukes of Flatbush. For some reason the organizers had last year’s race early in the season (about this time) and we still fielded a strong 10 person squad. This year the race has shifted back to a summertime event and is, in fact, going to be on the official first day of summer: June 21.

This race can inspire feats of strength and many Dukes, myself included, are aiming to turn in PRs this year. With 5 weeks between now and then, training is full on. I ran a 40:30 (6:31 mile pace)last year, so I’ve definitely got some hard workouts to get in if I want to have a shot at cracking 40:00. Encouragingly, I actually mustered a pretty quick 12 miler out in Shelter yesterday and feel none-the-worse today.

Best wishes to everyone training for the SI 10K; especially to all the dangerous Dukes out there. Hopefully we can field a 15 person squad in this year’s race and get our team picture in the Shelter Island Reporter!