2015 Newport Liberty Half Marathon Race Report

This was my 10th Newport Liberty HM, 2005-2015. Funny, I never planned to run the same race 10yrs in a row, but hey, there it is. I have placed inside the top 10 at this race 7 times.We have our ups and downs, don't we? Sometimes, the competition gets tougher, ready or not. Anyway, the weather yesterday was fairly ideal, cloudy and 72 degrees F. While it kept us cool, the wind was too strong, it definitely put a slow down on things between miles 6-10.

Shortly after the start: Far left, Steve Mennitt takes an early lead, 3 different styles of GSTC singlets on display.

 Today's splits 5:50, 5:39, 5:41, 5:36, 5:34, 5:36, 5:41, 5:51, 5:55, 6:02, 6:07, 6:01, 6:33 last 1.1 miles (5:57pace). Battling Sciatic nerve pain was a factor, time to see the Chiropractor. Maybe I haven't thrown myself into hard enough workouts yet this year. I am trying to avoid having excuses. I would prefer proper execution of a solid race strategy. Anyway, read on. Check here for Full results.

At least 7 GSTC men in this photo, we all were somewhere around 25-30th position here at about 1.75miles. Anthony Harris is looking at You!

My reaction: This didn't feel so great. Knowing I had pushed too hard too soon and was over my threshold into the wind in the middle of Liberty State Park, but let's talk about where I was in the field early versus the end. I was easily somewhere back around 30th before we had made it to 1 mile. Noticing that I had taken off too quickly, I corrected my pace within the first minute of the race. From there I was running along with a well formed pack of teammates and competitors, probably somewhere between 12-15 at times. Everyone in this clump seemed fairly content to keep it tight for the first 3.5miles...
That's when I had had enough of the little tea party. I swung a turn wide allowing me out from behind 7-8 guys and I started to move to the front. I made a push from there until we were near the 5mile mark. I felt surprisingly comfortable with the first three miles. By the 9th mile I might have been in roughly 14th or15th position, but I was clearly a pretender, fading back to 19th by races end. All in all, it was good battling with some great runners.
I proved to myself the following, I'm not at my all time best and I can't run at that pace right now. Which, is admittedly frustrating. But at least I have a better idea of where I am working from. Truth be told, I wasn't ready to race a HM. There has been little in my training this year to lead me into this.  But, I've had worse efforts and worse endings for sure.
I was impressed with the effort I saw out there today from so many people. The teamwork I witnessed and took part in was great! I still dislike the course itself, and if they change the championship race location ever, it won't break my heart. I could happily close the book on a race I have run 10 times.
Somehow, from here, I will find a way to make training happen each day until The Club National XC Championship in December. It shouldn't be impossible, I've got inspiring teammates around me!

Finishing in 1:16:05, glad this one came to its end.

March Mustachio Madness, the 800lb Gorilla, and Ben Stiller's devious doppleganging

Every few months, it seems one, two, or even three new studs just pop up out of...well, seemingly nowhere and just join GSTC. I'll often liken this to a stable where I'm just another horse. But I think we've gone past the point of saying things like "We've got some studs in our stable". So, as usual, as fit as I ever may get, a killer 22-23yr old just rolls up and crushes me like it's his part time job, at least it keeps me honest out there.
After Sunday's Miles for Music 20k, where two of our best guy's(both 800/mile types) were not entered and yet we still put 10 in the top 11 and 13 in the top 20 for the men, and on the women's side 6 of the top 10.
It is apparent that GSTC is "The 800lb Gorilla in NJ", to quote 20+yr veteran of the roads, Elliott Frieder, who holds a 2:26 marathon pr.  Elliott and his twin brother Jonathan chatted with Club President/Coach/Athlete-Chuck "Slash" Schneekloth and I about the race we'd all just finished and the general state of road racing in NJ.
So, this was a great effort for March, I'm feeling alright a couple days later, happy to be essentially just as fit as I was one yr ago and not on the verge of an achiles injury again. So, the upcoming spring track season should be exciting when I get a chance to run the 3k steeple!

I run with Gorilla's. Really fast ones.

 And now, some other recent fastness and fun:

Racing the Mile at the NYC Armory, finished 4:36.5 according to the half-assed hand timing they do there. But as you can see I ran so fast I bent the time space continuum. So 4:36.5 is most assuredly incorrect. Had to be at least 3:42, just sayin'. It's probably true. Photo compliments of Ted Shalack.

The Bearded Cat Ninja's exchanging the baton at Road Relays III, it was a lot like Rocky III, except there were no silly bro hugs on the beach like this:

While it is well known that beards are a source of power and have been known to bring their keepers massive clutch PRs, I decided to dedicate March...to the Mustachio! Yeah, I look like Ben Stiller,So, of course, no pr on this day for me. But fear not, the beard shall rise again! April 1st=beard revival!

Differences between Ben Stiller and me: 1) I don't have a mullet 2) I don't shave my chest 3) I'm not into nipple shock therapy. And that's it, otherwise we are one and the same.  Thinking about it now, we might be twins, and I was accidentally placed into a time machine at birth, shuttled 16yrs into the future to 1981 where I was handed over to an unsuspecting couple in Queens, NYC.  Think about it's possible, we were both born in NYC. Have you seen back to the Future? Anyway, I take the bull by the horns, all day every day...

Like the time that I killed the Robot King! This actually happened, robot children everywhere powered down with oil leaking from their ocular receptors(robot tears of sorrow)