CALVERT VAUX PARK GREENWAY

With Google and such, you would think the web has information on everything.  That is not the case with Calvert Vaux Park, or at least its renovation.  Years ago I once took two nephews cycling there.  We rode as far as the water's edge.  I recall seeing a wide paved road with someone playing with a remote-controlled car.  There were some soccer players, too.  It rained a day or two earlier and on the way out we came across a flooded road.  Always up for an adventure, I encouraged the kids to charge right through.  I think they loved it.  It may be on this same bike trip that we also charged through some puddle-lake behind Home Depot.

If I recall correctly, Calvert Vaux Park then had two roads leading in and out of it.  There was a soccer field but not much else.  The wide paved road that I saw was far from the main road, Shore Parkway. A snapshop obtained via Google Maps confirms my faint memory, even though the captured image shows that construction already started.

When I started running seriously I needed new routes and wanted to re-visit the park but it appeared to be off-limit.  Some major renovation was started and the area was pretty much fenced off. It seemed like ages before the construction fence came down.  Sure the park looked nice but its gates were always locked.  There were no signs to indicate when it would be open to the public.  The Internet had nothing either.  I could see that only a portion of the park underwent renovation.  A large area closer to the water seemed to be left alone.  One day I decided to explore the undeveloped area.  One dirt road led into the area and there were signs of construction to come.  Some sections were fenced off and piles or stacks of construction materials laid here and there. I mostly run without my near-sight glasses and did not look hard to find any paths running toward the water.  On a second visit, I saw people heading for a baseball game.  The back area was certainly open to the public, it seemed.  One more run trip and I found a path to the water.  There was only a barrier to prevent cars from getting into the area.  A typical lithe runner could easily bypass the barrier.  There were no signs warning people not to enter so I walked past the obstruction.  There was a fork in the road and I took the left path.  A short distance later there was another barrier on the path, with many tree branches and such behind it.  The road seemed unpassable and I did not have much time left.  Gotta head back to shower and get to work.

Before I tried again to explore the waterfront of Calvert Vaux Park, I consulted Google Maps to get a better idea of the area.  From the outdated aerial photo, it seemed the right fork in the road was wider and connected to a path near the water.  That was exactly the case when I finally reached the waterfront.  What Google Maps did not show was a fallen tree that mostly blocked off the path.  Luckily, to the left of the path was just a grassy area that can be used to easily circumvent the downed tree.

There was no path that runs immediately along the water.  At the water margin, there is nothing to prevent anyone from jumping in or slipping in. The area was mostly wild alright. I ran along the narrow path near the water and it merged with the wider path eventually. I could have gone further but I was sure there was no exit that way. The path probably would end at the back of another construction area. I wanted no troubles and did not plan to trespass some off-limit area, so back I went.


Instead of the Fallen-Tree Path, I found the narrower path back to the second barrier. The path was actually blocked by tall grasses and would not join the wider path. Again, going around the tall grasses was easy, as the area was mostly open. Getting back to the "Left Fork" from behind the second barrier was easier than getting into it. Again it was time to head home and get ready for work. Maybe I will come back on a weekend, with baseball or soccer players in the area to feel safer.

The road appeared to be blocked but it was easily passable on the right.  I did not try to as it was time to head back.  On a later visit I came out to this side from the inside.

I could not help and wondered if anyone heard the sound of the tree falling.  The area was desolate.  Apparently not desolate enough for someone to place a wire trashcan in the midst of the branches...

There was no path to the water margin.  In the distance is the Verrazano Bridge.

If I kept taking this road (into the distance) I probably would end up behind some construction area that was off-limit to the public.

Years ago this was where I saw people parked their cars and someone playing an RC car.  I included the Verrazano Bridge in the picture to establish a point of reference.

The left fork in the road, after the barrier, would lead you here, where your journey would be blocked by the mass of brushes.  It is totally passable on the right though.

Somewhere in the short distance is the second barrier.

NEWTOWN REUNIONS: YES, NO, MAYBE

The first title I thought for this blog post was "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" but thought better.  There is nothing bad or ugly about the subject at hand, so "Yes, No, Maybe" is a better choice.


High school reunions, like many volunteer works, take lots of dedication from a handful few.  Sometimes the dedication pays off, others times it just falls short of the goal.  Together with a group of similarly dedicated volunteers, I was able to pull off the Silver Reunion for Newtown High School (Elmhurst) Class of 1985, in 2010.  Right after the reunion, some people thought that since many people moved to Florida we should have another in 2012, in Florida, of course.  It did not work out that way.  Many people still live in New York and did not want to travel to Fort Lauderdale.  Others thought it was too soon to have another reunion.  Turn-over rate was high for the volunteers in the Reunion Committee.  Some time before the event date there was not enough people financially committed and the event had to be cancelled.  Everyone got their money back and I told myself not to ever get involved with reunions again.  They can be joyful but also consume much time, sometimes for little result.  Other brave souls have gone ahead with their own year's reunions and the result is a mix bag...


YES! Class of 1972
http://www.newtownhs40threunion.com/
It is on!  Just mere days away from the date of this blog post!


NO! Class of 1985
No need for a URL, it is already over.  I created a Facebook event for it, even a payvment store in Facebook, but in the end there was just not enough interest or financial commitment to keep the event alive.


MAYBE...  Class of 1983
http://www.facebook.com/events/266268740128549/
I would think a thirty-year reunion is a big deal, but for whatever reasons there is not enough people putting up the money to guarantee the event's survival.  The reunion committee needs money up front to pay deposits for the meeting place, perhaps for the D.J. and photographer.  For my year's Silver Reunion, the Committee and other good souls loaned itself some money to get things started but still we needed others' money to keep the process going.  I would hate to see Class of 1983's 30-year reunion cancelled, but that may happen soon unless people start paying for it in sufficient number.  I wish the '83 Committee much luck!

NOT A MANHATTAN HALF

As declared in The Other Halves, I signed up for NYRR Grete's Great Gallop.  Since the length of the race course is set at 13.1 miles, it is a half-marathon even if the name does not mention it.  Two big loops within Central Park makes it technically a Manhattan Half.  Do not confuse the GGG with the NYRR Five-Borough Series' Manhattan Half, which also occurs entirely in CP, only counterclockwise.  Also not to be confused with is the NYRR NYC Half-Marathon, which runs through touristy Times Square and costs an arm and a leg.

The thing I like about the GGG is that it is relatively easy to get in.  It occurs in September so it is not hot.  Some people are so upset with NYRR's recent changes, like raising prices, that they really want a 5-boro half series to compete with NYRR's.  I compiled a list of non-NYRR half-marathons and called it The Other Halves.  I concluded then, and also now, that there is no non-NYRR half-mary for Manhattan.  But there is a unique half-marathon debuting at the end of May 2012.

Hosted by the Orchard Street Running Club, the inaugural Midnight Half is scheduled for May 31, 2012, midnight to perhaps 3 a.m.  The 13.1-mile course starts at 141 Chrystie Street, over the Manhattan Bridge, along the DUMBO waterfront to Red Hook for the first checkpoint, 70 Van Dyke.  Runners would then trace their way back toward the Manhattan Bridge, but not to get back on it.  Instead, they would head for the intersection of Kent Avenue and North 8th, checkpoint #2.  Finally, runners would take the Williamsburg Bridge to get back to 141 Chrystie.  All along there are no route marshals to tell you where to turn!  It is an unsanctioned race, for crying out loud!  Definitely not for the faint of heart.  A slow runner like me can easily find himself all alone, separated from the other runners.  Not that Red Hook or Williamsburg is particularly unsafe, the race spans from midnight to 3 a.m. or so.  It is unsafe anywhere in New York during those wee hours!

The idea of having a race late at night is not entirely new.  The NYRR has the Emerald Nut Midnight Run on New Year's Day.  I ran that race to usher in 2011.  Central Park was packed with runners during the wee hours of the New Year's Day.  The subway ride home was uneventful.  There was a drunk woman with a male companion.  She could hardly stay conscious and did not cause any troubles.  Not like some wolf pack of youngsters I had the misfortune of sharing a subway ride with one late night coming home from a concert.

I started writing this blog entry some weeks ago.  By now the inaugural Midnight Half is already sold out so officially you cannot sign up for it.  If you happen to be out on the street at that time, how about cheering the runners? More info about the unique event at http://midnighthalf.eventbrite.com/

ZHENG CONCERT, FLUSHING LIBRARY 2 PM MAY 26, 2012

And now for something completely different... a musical concert featuring classical Chinese music!

The maestro is Changyuan Wang.  Her students will also perform, among which will be my wife doing a solo.  My son and niece will be in the audience.  I will play chauffeur transporting the bulky instruments in their cases.  I will also play porter with the instruments during setup and take-down.

If you are in the area on Saturday, come by and say hello.  Look for a Chinese man with eyeglasses.  How hard can it be to find such a person in Flushing, New York?

NYRR BROOKLYN HALF MARATHON 2012

NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon (BMH) 2012.  Another half-marathon completed, no Personal Record (PR) broken, but there are a few nice things to write about.


Below photo is my preparation for the big event.  15,000 spots and all was sold out in about 10 hours!  I happened to be near a computer at the 9th hour and got in just in time.  The picture is somewhat misleading as I did not run in the race shirt.  Instead, I debuted the team singlet I just got in the mail mere days before the event.

Weekend races are usually made more challenging thanks to the MTA's ongoing subway repair schedule.  There was no work done on the D line so I took it from home to Pacific Street.  I should have taken another subway to get to the starting area, Washington Avenue and Eastern Parkway, near the Brooklyn Museum.  I knew very well that my corral, the 18000, won't be anywhere near the start.  I incorrectly assumed that the corrals would stretch along Washington Avenue so a walk from Pacific Street may actually get me to my corral faster.  It turned out the corrals stretched along Eastern Parkway.  No problem, us long-distance runners don't mind a few miles of walking to get to our corrals.


I envy those people who have a running partner.  My life schedule only allows me to run real early in the morning, like 5 a.m. or 7 a.m., and no one I know can accommodate that schedule.  I made some good friends on DailyMile.com, social media for runners, and have great interactions with others on Facebook.  Still, I think to advance to the next level I need to run in a group, somehow.  The group I decided to become a paid member was the Prospect Park Track Club (PPTC).  I've seen their banner and table at some races then joined their FB group and learned more about them.  I should be able to join one of their weekend group runs one of these days.  For the Brooklyn Half, I debuted the PPTC team singlet.


I knew that there would be a PPTC cheering squad at the entrance to the park where Coney Island Avenue meets Prospect Park West etc.  The new course for the BHM went down Washington Avenue, up Flatbush Avenue and around the Grand Army Plaza, back down Flatbush again and along Prospect Park's perimeter to enter the park Coney Island Avenue.  One big loop of the park then exit at the same place to get to Ocean Parkway then all the way down to Coney Island.  I think even before I got to the PPTC cheering squad I already got some cheering from those who recognized the PPTC shirt.  At the park entrance I thought I recognize Michael from PPTC but without glasses I was not that sure.  I waved at the group and Michael gave me some words/sounds of encouragement.  I worried that by the time I got back to that spot, to exit the park, the cheering squad would not be there any more, as I understood they had to rush to Coney Island to cheer the team leading runners.  Luckily, they were still there when I exited the park and I even got a few photos taken of me.  What a perk for being a member!  Thank you Patty and PPTC!

One thing I remember from the 2011 BHM was that there was little cheering along the way on Ocean Parkway.  The 2012 race, from my perspective, had more spectator support along the Parkway.  Maybe it was a result of better publicity, or the earlier start time of the race somehow fitted better with spectators' schedules.


I was hoping for a new PR but it did not happen.  I avoided the mistake I made with the Verrazano Half and did not run any extra, sweat-laden pieces of clothes.  Just the shorts and singlet, but it did not help.  The finish time of 2:26:21 is actually worse than the Verrazano Half's 2:25:30, but of course the course for the BHM was hillier.  It was also a hotter day, that's for sure.  I did experience the onset of cramping during the BHM, but it happened at almost the very end, with about 200 meters to go.  Again I could not sprint for the finish line but then I did not walk either.  The finish line was just around the corner and then within sight, it would look really bad to walk to it, so I just kept running and hoped for the best.


PPTC cheers and photos made the BHM extra nice.  The other nice thing with the race was medal award.  With NYRR, as far as I know, runners get medals only for THE Marathon in November and the NYC Half Marathon in March.  Both cost an arm and a leg these days.  The Brooklyn Half is the only other race that offer medals.  From the list of available volunteer positions, runners learned about "medal distributors" and much excitement was generated before the race.  I don't recall seeing any official confirmation from NYRR about medals for the BHM, so as I saw finishers walking in the opposite direction on Ocean Parkway, I tried to see that they had medals around their necks.  No one I saw seemed to have a medal, but a finisher answered in the affirmative when I asked about the medal as I ran past him.  I only have a few sports awards so medals are great mementos for me.

HAY TEE PEA EM

A day late and a dollar short?  I am pessimistic and think that is often the case with me.  I got back into the sports of running and so looked forward to actually doing all half-marathons of the NYRR Five-borough Series.  Alas, in 2011 I couldn't do the Bronx Half because of Hurricane Irene, then for 2012 there is no more Queens Half and Bronx Half.  In another situation, after years of not being connected to my high school, I helped organize a silver reunion, joined the official alumni association, made many new friends and re-connected with others.  Unfortunately, soon there will no more Newtown High School (of Elmhurst, Queens, that is) thanks to Mayor Bloomberg's politicking.  And then there's ATPM, the independent, free online Mac magazine.

For many years I helped put out the newsletter for the New York Amiga Users Group (which through magic was shortened to Amuse).  I mostly wrote the product news so it was somewhat easy.  Wade through the many paper mail the group received at its mailbox then write a few sentences about the product to be released or upgraded.  At some point the newsletter no longer came out and not too long afterward I stopped going to the meetings altogether.  Some more time passed and I discovered the MetroMac, the Metropolitan New York Mac Alliance.  Ugh, it's been so long I had to Google for that group name.  I contributed a few cartoons and at least one software review but then the newsletter was dying.  One day while googling for something I stumbled upon ATPM, short for About This Particular Macintosh.

One major difference with the ATPM experience was that there was no physical contact involved.  The entire magazine staff is spread all over the world and so is the audience.  Some staff members developed friendship and arranged to get together for special occasions or when business travel put them into close vicinity of others, but  it is not necessary to have physical interactions.  Email plays a big role as articles were sent for editing and returned.  Reviewers get registration code through email, too, then downloaded the software, usually in demo or limited version, and finally activated the full version with the registration code.  When a draft version of the mag became available, the staff got notified and many more pair of eyes would go over the articles.  Near the end of the month or the first few days of the month, the new issue came out, thanks to our dedicated editor, and we all breathed easy for a few days...  until when the cycle started again.

I started with ATPM as a copy editor, i.e. proofreader.  One day I took a shot at writing a review and even drew a cartoon appearing separately but referred to the reviewed product.  I had a good run with being a reviewer, but then other things in life got in the way.  Writing is a lengthy process, especially for a high-quality magazine like ATPM, and I was not the only one not able to keep up with the monthly process.  In recent months there were fewer and fewer articles submitted.  The May 2012 issue, http://www.atpm.com/18.05 , is the final one in the monthly, magazine format.  Discussion about a new format for ATPM is ongoing so stay tuned!

It is a special joy for me to have a review and a cartoon in the same issue of ATPM.  For the May 2012 issue, I have a review of Draw Something and already came up with a cartoon related to the product.  Something along the line of the latest iOS upgrade having extra features specifically made for Draw Something to help decipher lousy stick drawings.  When I learned that the issue would be the final one, I thought hard for something else to draw.  Luckily, the cartoon still involves Draw Something and makes much use of puns.  The first three puns are pretty obvious.  The last one may be tricky if you are not fond of fonts or don't work with typography.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I don't usually write about subjects covered by the media or things happening.  It is good enough that I write at all, never mind keeping current with current events.  This post is an exception, as I made a sonobe ball just in time for Mother's Day 2012.  It is really just a segue for me to introduce other sonobe balls I created recently...

When I first made a 12-unit sonobe ball, I thought that was too time-consuming already.  Before that I only made 6-unit pieces, which inevitably were just cubes.  Eventually I got bored with the 12-unit pieces and made the leap to the 30-unit design.  In case you are interested, the paper came from an ad insert for Nikon, found in some issue of AM New York this week.  Many people simply took the insert out and threw it back into the distro box.  Eventually, the discarded inserts would be thrown out as garbage.  I gave them a new life.

For comparison purpose, three sizes of sonobe balls side-by-side, with a U.S. quarter for further comparison.  The Mother's Day ball was made from 12 pieces of 8.5"x8.5" paper.  The "bumble bee" in the middle was made from 30 4.5"x4.5" squares, but note how it is almost the same size as the 12-unit piece.  Rightmost is the 12-unit sonobe made from 4.25"x4.25" squares.

"Erotica, She Wrote", made for a friend whose web site is mywritingden.net.  Check it out, but be warned that it is NSFW (Not Safe For Work).  I have yet found the time to pack it up and mail to her. 

"Frank Heart Apple", made for a colleague named Frank who likes Apple products, especially iPhone and iPad.  It is heart-warming to know that many IT pros these days gladly use Apple devices, including MacBook Pro to access corporate VPN.

A whole lotta sonobe!  Those with sharp eyes maybe able to see two Happy Birthday balls, one to Laura and the other to Nicholas.  The one in the back says "Do No Harm", very zen-like.  The one on the left with arrows is my template.  I unfolded it then scanned it in then used the scan image as a background so I would know where to place words and images, with proper orientation, so when folded the words and images come out properly aligned.  How about that L-shaped thing?  One day years ago I came across a whole stack of postcard-sized advertisement.  They made very sturdy origami objects but I could only make the L.

INAUGURAL VERRAZANO HALF

Why should runners work on their upper body?  Especially the arms?  So that if and when their legs are too tired they can use their arms to push themselves off from chairs, floor, etc.  Seriously, I really did that occasionally the hours after I ran the Verrazano Half Marathon.

Pre-race bib and shirt pickup did not work for me.  The one day that I was in Manhattan the pickup location was in Brooklyn.  I had a car with me and it acted like a leash on me.  I could not go anywhere too far lest I find a free parking spot, which is a rare thing in Manhattan's Chinatown.  I actually entered the subway at the R train's Whitehall Street but had to get out because the wait was too long.

On race day I got up early to catch the B64 bus to get to Owls Head Pier.  I rarely take the bus but the alternatives include riding the subway in a roundabout loop or driving, which would mean putting up with looking for a parking spot AND burning gasoline, which I try to avoid at all cost.

I got there too early and there was only a beardless Steve Lastoe setting up the mat, perhaps other race officials nearby too, but there was hardly any runners yet.  It was cold and windy with no place to hide so I headed off the pier to the side of the nearby deli.  It was really the driveway for the parking lot of the adjacent building.  It was sunny and warm there, there was a place to seat, and the wind did not whip around the corner.  What a big difference!

Eventually I got my bib and singlet and got back to the warm spot to put them on.  I thought I saw my ex-DailyMile friend Heather.  Good thing I did not approach the person as the real Heather found me later on.

There wers just 400 runners so when the time came there was just a short announcement about the course.  Four miles toward Ceasar's Bay, loop back before the baseball field, back to the pier and you have 8 miles down.  Out again toward the bridge and pass it just a little bit, 2.5 miles or so.  Turn around for the pier then about 2.5 miles.  The fast runners were told to start first and the rest began their run shortly afterward.  Thus began the inaugural Verrazano Half Marathon by NYCRUNS.  Not much of a corral to separate the runners according to their paces.  For a slow runner like me, that mean I did not have to walk some extra distance to get to my corral.  Small is beautiful and simple.

The course was advertised as "flattest and fastest" and I knew that was true.  At least the "flat" part.  I live not far from Caesar's Bay and use the Belt Parkway waterfront as one of my regular route.  For hill training, I usually include the few footbridges that go over the Belt.  In theory, I should P.R. easily.  Flat terrain and familiarity, what more can I ask?

I started out a few steps behind Heather but she soon disappeared from view.  I never join group runs so the only time I compete against others is during the races I registered for.  My first competitor for the Verrazano Half was a Woman in Bright Red.  I passed her somewhere during the first 4 miles but after Mile #8 she passed me.  Likewise there was a Woman in Light Brown, who I think also took over me after Mile 8.  I suspect I lost my lead of Light Brown and Bright Red because I had to drop the hoodie that I had on at the start of the race.  Apology goes to the person at Mile 8 who I handed the sweaty hoodie to.  I automatically thought it was a volunteer, who would gladly help out the runners.  I meant for her to throw it to the bag-check people but I found out afterward that she pretty much dropped it where she was standing.  I cannot blame her.

Without the sweat-drenched hoodie, I think I ran a little faster.  I managed to pass both women but soon found two other people who ran roughly at my pace.  I shall name them Neon Green and Neon Red.  They were walk-runners, i.e. they would run some distance then walk, then ran again, resumed walking.  In my book, during a race, you should walk only when you need to drink or take GU.  Much to my frustration, the two walk-runners would run past me, got overtaken when they walked, but then resumed the lead when they ran again.  At Mile 10.5, I had the lead and joked with the race official there about moving the cone closer to me to save me a few yards.  He moved the cone a few inches instead.  With just about 2.5 miles left to go, I took a short break and let out a loud whoop.  I do not how that work but it felt good whooping when tired.

Ms. Neon Red was probably a pacer for Ms. Neon Green.  Around the time of my whoop, Neon Red decided she had enough of me and ran ahead.  I told Neon Green that she and her pacer were killing me.  "Don't you ever give up?", I jokingly asked.  As I passed Neon Green, I told her that when I catch up to her friend, I would tell her that Neon Green said hello.  Wishful thinking.

With about 2 more miles to go, I started to feel something twitching or pulling in my left calf.  Soon the right calf had the same sensation, too.  Probably the onset of cramps.  I had to "go to work" after the race so I feared that if I pushed too hard, my legs will totally give out and I will have to work the 9 hours in extreme pain.  So I alternated between walking and running.  As she passed me, Ms. Light Brown was kind enough to nudge me with a "Come on" but I could not run at the time.  Neon Green passed me as well and I had zero chance of catching up to Neon Red.  I am sure Bright Red went past me as well.  It was just me against my uncooperative calves.  Maybe it was insufficient training, perhaps it was because I did not stretch enough before the race.  The pain eventually subsided and I was able to run over the finish mat, i.e. not limping to the finish.  Definitely not the usual sprint I enjoy so much, but at least I ran. At the finish line, to a person standing nearby I asked, in a conspiratorial tone, if there were anyone behind me.  I know I am slow but I would really hate to finish dead last.

I had a drink of water and took a bagel.  Congratulated the two Neon ladies.  Someone, perhaps Bright Red, told me that she liked my "roar".  It is fun to act silly sometimes.  I found my hoodie on the ground, near where I handed it off, a bit beyond the finish mat.  I totally forgot to stop my Garmin.  When I did, the time was 2:26.  I learned a few hours later that my time was 2:25. I did wonder, when I went over the mat to get my hoodie, then over the mat again to get back to the pier, did my time get recorded a second time then my finish time the average of the two?  I don’t think it would matter that much.  I am just glad that with cramps and all I still finished below 2:30. Next chance to P.R., NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon!

TRI BLOGS

I am steadily making improvements with my swim training for the 2013 NYRR Sprint Triathlon.  I really would like to swim 400 meters continuously but the most I can do right now is 50 meters.  I actually swim 450 meter total but it is not continuous.  I have to take a short break between each 25-meter distance.  I plan to increase the total distance by 50 meters each month, e.g. when May rolls around I will shoot for 500 meters total.  Luckily, I probably swim somewhat faster, or have shorter rests, because the latest swim outing lasted only 41 minutes.  The 41 minutes included a brief interruption when the lane I was in needed some maintenance or whatever and my son and I had to find another lane that did not have the maximum number of six swimmers.  The 41 minutes is probably not that great for the typical swimmer but compared to an hour for about half the distance back in October 2011 it is my Personal Record.


Ever since I learned that there are sprint triathlons, I knew that's what I want.  Just like a new runner shoot for a 5K race and slowly work toward a marathon (+40K), the sprint triathlon involves the shortest distances for all three legs of the sport.  The next decision to make is with what organization would I do the tri.  TriFind.com lists many events but I really hate driving so events in NJ and CT, or even in Upstate NY or out in Long Island, do not appeal to me.  As luck would have it, I recently discovered that the NYRR will have a sprint triathlon in a few months, June 30, 2012 to be exact.  The location of Flushing Meadows Park and Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center cannot be better.  The Aquatic Center is where I usually carry out my swim training.  Familiarity makes a big difference.  Besides, I don't think I am ready to swim in open water yet.  I am sure I thought the tri's swim portion is held in the lake of Flushing Meadows Park.


I might have seen announcements about the NYRR sprint triathlon before but I was not interested in the sport at the time.  Now that I want to participate in it, I discovered there is so little information out there about the event.  The official link in NYRR.org shows the map and certain rules but that's about it.  Being a blogger and a runner, I periodically read blog entries about race events and usually enjoy them.  There must be some blog entries out there about the NYRR sprint triathlon.  Sure enough, there are!  From reading them, I learned a lot more about the event:

• The NYRR sprint triathlon is a relatively recent thing.  The inaugural event was in 2009, just mere years ago.  I suppose PR'ing at foot races can go only for so long.  A tri is a natural progression, even if you have to learn how to swim or ride the bike.
• The event is capped at 500 participants.  Luckily, unlike the typical NYRR races, the sprint tri does not sell out shortly after registration opens.
• Tackling the tri in a relay team is actually allowed.  I am a lousy swimmer but not bad at running so I can team up with a good swimmer and somehow share the glory.  However, now that I enjoy swimming, I would not consider a relay team at all.  I think I can do the three legs by myself.  No sharing of glory, it'll be all mine!
• You will have to get up at 4 in the morning to be at the race site just to drop off your bike and get marked with bib number and age, etc.  Years ago, waking up at 4 was a rare thing for me.  I think I did it once just to be at some Black Friday sale.  Nowadays I can be up at 4:30 am to run 5K or 6K, so that aspect of the tri does not fazes me.
• Swimming portion is self-seeded, meaning swimmers are supposed to know their swim speed and line up accordingly, fast swimmers first and slower swimmers in the back.  I most likely will be in the last group, and will start my tri at 8 am.
• Getting a flat tire is a very real possibility and there may be nobody around to help you.  Being mechanically-challenged, I will need to get myself up to speed about changing inner tubes and such, should the need arises.  Emergency kit with hand pump, spare tube, etc. ugh, cycling makes running look so simple.
• Resting during the swim competition is allowed.  The swim course is 8 laps of 50 meters each.  If you have to, take a breather at each of the 50-meter mark.  It probably looks uncool to cling onto the side while other swimmers pass you by, but come to think of it, in foot races people walk when they are tired, so I think it's pretty acceptable.  I do plan to be good enough do the whole 400 meters in one fell swoop, but it is nice to know the option to rest is available.
• A common theme the bloggers refer to is the weird sensation of running after swimming and cycling.  I am still a runner who swims on weekends and occasionally rides the bike.  I really have to make sure I have a few training sessions where I actually swim, cycle, then run.  What I love about the FMAC, besides easy parking, is its hours.  On weekdays, you can swim as early as 6 am and on weekends you usually have until 9:45 pm.  Theoretically, in the summer, when my son does not have to catch a school bus early in the day, I can drive to the Aquatic Center with a bike in the trunk, swim, then cycle, and then swim.  I can even follow the same bike path and running path if I want to closely approximate the real event.

Nothing beats the real thing, but since I am not ready for the 2012 NYRR tri, I plan to volunteer for the event to get close to the action.  Then when June 2013 rolls around, I will be among the 500 triathletes!


Here are the blog posts I find useful and interesting.  Hope you agree!

http://dj-kiteboarder.blogspot.com/2010/08/nyrr-sprint-triathlon-race-report.html

http://brooklynrunning.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/nyrr-sprint-triathlon-2010-race-report/

http://losingweightinthecity.com/2011/07/nyrr-sprint-tri-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/

http://inshapeoutofmind.blogspot.com/2011/07/nyrr-sprint-triathlon.html

http://asp00n.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/run-tri-harder/

THE OTHER HALVES

Did you register for the NYRR Brooklyn Half-Marathon?  Fuhgeddaboudit!  Sure, the field was expanded from 5000 spots to 15000 but it still sold out in nine hours!  What is so tantalizing about the Brooklyn Half?  Maybe it is the tech shirt, the beach party at Coney Island, or the coupon for the Wonder Wheel?  Whatever the case, there sure is a great demand for NYRR races.

2012 so far looks disappointing for the NYRR Half series.  The Manhattan Half became a fun run because of snow.  The price increase for the popular Brooklyn Half suggests an unwelcomed trend.  Worst, the Queens Half in July will become a 10K, perhaps because of the heat.  What changes will come to the Bronx Half and the Staten Half?

NYRR races are super popular but they are not the only ones out there.  If you want to run a half-marathon in each borough of New York City, there are alternatives.  These other races may lack the high level of organization the NYRR or they may match it.  Some are much cheaper while others are more expensive.  They are most likely smaller in size and do not sell out as fast.  The experience can be better, or worse, but the point is it is possible to run half-marathons in the five boroughs and not all are NYRR-organized.  There is a reason why I used the phrase "not all are NYRR".

Happening mere weeks before the Brooklyn Half is the inaugural Verrazano Half on Saturday April 28.  Organized by NYCRUNS, the Verrazano Half route will involve the pier at 69th Street, the waterfront along the Belt Parkway, and some part of Caesar's Bay.  Some people wondered if the race route will be on Shore Parkway, the road that goes along the Belt Parkway.  Since race advertisement bills it as "flat", I doubt that Shore Parkway is used since it is hilly between 69th Street and Fourth Avenue.  The field was limited to 300 runners but then got expanded to 400. Still, that is a small number compared to the NYRR Brooklyn Half.  The $40 entry fee is nice though. https://nycruns.com/index.php?option=com_dtregister&Itemid=0&eventId=75&controller=event&task=individualRegister

Next, in May, we have the Rockaway Mother's Day Half. I plan to ride a bicycle going from Coney Island, over the Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, to the race starting area.  Most others will have go by car or maybe by the A subway line, which makes a big loop through Brooklyn and Queens.  Those people may even have to walk a bit after the subway ride.  If you are driving, you will have to pay toll for the Memorial Bridge.  I know, quite a hassle to get to but you probably can register easily, and it is only $22. http://signup.runnyc.com/evententry/2252101 . Not as inexpensive is the 13.1 Series, which I believe happens within Flushing Meadows Park. Even if you sign up as soon as registration opens, you will still pay $65. I understand you get a medal, which you rarely get with NYRR races, but that's still a lot of money for a Half.

In the NYRR Half series, Bronx Half comes after Queens so I will try to do the same.  For over a year now, the Holiday Marathons group have some success in organizing no-frill donation-welcomed trail races, in Van Cortlandt Park.  There is no  registration fees but there is also no race shirt, no individual bib, and no time chip.  You do get some memento, depending on the distance you ran, which can be three miles, six miles, half-marathon, or full marathon.  The trouble with Holiday Marathons is lately they could not officially hold races because Parks Department kept denying them permit.  I am just being optimistic here and hope that by Independence Day, or even Labor Day, HM will find some resolution and able to resume officially holding races. http://theholidaymarathons.com/Races

The Staten Island Trail Festival, organized by the New York Adventure Racing Association (NYARA) is similar to races done by The Holiday Marathons folks, in that the course runs through trails or forest paths.  Also like the Holiday Marathons races, the Trail Festival has different race distances for different runners, namely, 5K, 10K, 25K, and 50K.  Since we are talking about half-marathons, 25K is what you want since it is the closest to the 13.1 miles distance for a half-mary, which in metric is 21K.  The 2012 Trail Festival is scheduled on December 8, 2012, although the link of http://www.nyara.org/template.php?Add-a-Page=8 still refers to the 2011 event.

Hey, you left out Manhattan!  Not really, since I am not done.  Remember I wrote that not all the halves I mention are NYRR-organized?  That means maybe one is indeed organized by NYRR. Like the Norwegian Festival / Grete's Great Gallop in September.  Only last year that I discovered that the Great Gallop distance is 13.1 miles.  When the Bronx Half was cancelled because the City revoked permit due to Hurricane Irene, I used the credit from that to run in the Great Gallop.  It takes place in Central Park, just like the Manhattan Half, so it's a perfect substitute for the Manhattan Half.  Hopefully not too many people know about it so that it won't fill up so quickly.  Another NYRR Half that is not part of the five-borough series is the More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women's Half-Marathon.  As the name suggests, it is for women only.  I heard its price was also raised this year and filled up quickly so it should not be considered an alternative for the Manhattan Half.

I am on the mailing list of a few running organizations, as well as a few Facebook pages on the topic.  I am pretty sure there is no non-NYRR Half that takes place in Manhattan.  Please prove me wrong.

STARTS WITH "TRI", RHYMES WITH "ON"

In this year, 2012 A.D., I will participate in a sport the name for which starts with "TRI" and rhymes with "ON".  Hmm, what can it be?  Triathlon?  But you cannot even swim 50 meters non-stop!  Sadly, it is true, no triathlon for me this year.  What I will do in 2012 is to run three marathons, or tri-marathon, get it?  Of course it won't be back-to-back races like Dean Kamazes’ 50-state streak.

For my hard work of completing 9 qualifying NYRR races and doing volunteering for one event (9+1) in 2011, I have guaranteed entry for the 2012 NYRR NYC Marthon, scheduled for November 4.  It cost an arm and a leg nowaday to run the NYC Marathon, but since I already did 9+1, might as well go through with it.  An item on the bucket list, that is what the NYC Marathon has become.

I subscribe to the mailing list NYCRUN.COM.  Early in the year, when I learned about the big discount on the Yonkers Marathon, I jumped at it.  Only $40!  How low can it go?  A few weeks ago, registration for the Brooklyn Marathon opened and even though the race will still be limited to Prospect Park, I signed up for it anyway.  It’s my home borough, I gotta support it.  The cost went up by $10 but at $80 it’s still affordable.

I would also sign up for the Rockaways Marathon too but it will be held a few weeks before the NYC Marathon.  I already spent so much money for the NYC Marathon, I do not want to take any chances with having a marathon done before the big one.  Like the Brooklyn Marathon, Rockaways’ was born just last year.  Hopefully it will be around next year as I plan to skip the NYC Marathon and use the money to run a few more races.

Hong DDa

I like to take photo of witty vanity plates and try to decode the messages.  Some messages are easy to figure out while others are challenging.  At least to me.  It is all relative, of course.  For example, with the photo below, for someone growing up in an English-speaking country where Volkswagon already bombarded with ads for the cute vehicle, it is a dead giveaway.  LIL BUG must be short for LITTLE BUG, as in VOLKSWAGON BUG.  But what if the simple puzzle is shown to someone who is new to the English language?  Further pretend that the person is also new to Western culture.  How would he know BUG here refers to the car model and not to an insect?  Chances are the English dictionary he uses will not have the definition for LIL.  If he is from Viet Nam, he can be thrown off by the use of BUG. The original Volkswagon Bug was marketed in Viet Nam and the Vietnamese calls it xe con cóc or the Frog Car.

The topic of different interpretations reminds me of the hông đa in Viet Nam. The sharp-eyed reader may correctly guesses that the name refers to Honda. When I was in Viet Nam, some thirty-plus years ago, almost any motorized bike is referred to as hông đa. My guess is that Honda had a big section of the motorized bike in Viet Nam back then. Likewise, lam bách ta means any scooter, not just the Lambretta motor scooter. Lastly, GMC automatically means a truck, even the General Motor Corporation makes more than just trucks.

Having spent most of my life in the U.S., I easily associate the word Honda to cars and not motor bike. There's the Honda Accord and I even own a Honda Odyssey. Perhaps because my father used to drive a hông đa, I remember the words the most, even though dad's bike was not necessarily made by Honda. But then again there is also this short song parody that I know and remember well, even if I forgot a word here and there and had to ask my brother for help:

Chiều mưa rầm rầm

Tôi lái chiếc hông-đa đưa tiễng nàng ra đầu cầu

Vừa tới bếnh sông thấy một người mặc cái xà-rong

Đứng xa như đàng ông, đứng gần như bà-bống

which translates to something like

It was a rainy night

I rode the Honda to send her to the bridge

At the river bank there was a person wearing a sarong

Far away it seemed to be a man, but close-up it was a drag queen

Do pardon my written Vietnamese, it has been a while and I do not want to spend too much time correcting typos, if any. Does bà bống really mean drag queen? Let's hear it from some Vietnamese people.