New York State of Mind: A Winter’s Trip to New York
A Winter’s Trip to New York
By Don Allison
Those who live in the Northeast and who choose to race in the month of February are well aware of the possible weather challenges with which they may be presented. One can hardly claim surprise if snow, ice, or extreme cold turns up on race day. Caveat Emptor is the order of the season.
Thus, the cold weather for the 2001 Kurt Steiner 50 Km and Metropolitan 50 Mile was hardly an impediment to racing, especially when compared with last year, when an ice and snowstorm caused much misery in the 50-km and the cancellation of the 50-mile. All of that was cold comfort however, to those of us huddled at the start of this year’s race, jumping up and down in order to create some heat to offset the sub 20-degree by temperatures, accompanied by a brisk arctic wind. Nonetheless, the usual complement of nearly 100 ultrarunners lined up for the start of the 50-km at 9:00 a.m., while a few dozen hardy 50-mile runners were already an hour into their respective races.
One benefit of the cold weather was the reduced number of other folks that normally populate the park on the a weekend morning: walkers, runners, rollerbladers, cyclists, birdwatchers, and late-night revelers left over from the previous evening’s partying in Manhattan. This being New York however, there were at least a few from each of those groups on hand. I was especially impressed by the number of cyclists that toured the Park. Anyone who has ridden a bike on a cold winter’s morning knows how quickly various body parts can freeze up. It made running seem toasty by comparison—well, almost.
The hilly four-mile loop in the southern end of the Park is long enough to remain fairly interesting, yet short enough to seem manageable. Having run this race before, my first goal was to get halfway through the race (four laps) feeling decent. Given a recent knee injury and lack of racing fitness, that was not as easy as it sounds. I found staying hydrated was a challenge, as drinking cold water was not very appealing and besides, most of the water was frozen in the cups at the aid stations.
Soon enough I was in the later stages of the race. USA 100-km team member Bob Sweeney had already lapped me once; I was hoping to get through my sixth lap before he completed his eighth and the race. Little goals can keep you motivated when the going gets tough. I did manage to do that and with a little bit of hustle in the final lap, break four and a half hours.
Sweeney ran an impressive 3:18:03 to win by more than 30 minutes. “This race was just a stepping stone for me” he said after the race, looking no worse for the wear. “I am aiming for the (U.S. Championship) 100 Km in Pittsburgh,” he added. Sweeney collected $100 for a course record, easily breaking the previous mark by more than three minutes, but leaving enough room for further improvement in the future. Ellen McCurtin captured the women’s 50-km title. “This (Central Park) was where I ran my first ultra, so I enjoy coming back here to run” said the veteran McCurtin, who since has won countless titles on this course.
Rudy Afendor won the 50-mile in 6:30:43, and the effort showed as he staggered into the Road Runners Club headquarters afterwards, during the 50-km awards ceremony. The 50-km runners who were witness to Rudy’s fatigue and hypothermia were all silently thanking themselves they had not signed on for the full 50 miles on this frigid day. Twenty-one did manage to complete the half-century however, and hat’s off too all of them—even if it does let out one’s body heat.
The distant views of the city on this crystal clear day were a well-deserved reward for all who ran in either of the two races, conducted superbly once again by Rich Inamorato and the Broadway Ultra Society. On the drive out of the city, the concrete canyons stretched seemingly for miles in the glistening late afternoon sun. East River Drive, The Bronx, Yankee Stadium, Yonkers, and Van Cortland Park all passed by as my traveling companion and I left the city behind. By the time we were back in Boston, it was nearly Monday and the deep freeze was setting in again. You can’t beat the feeling of having run an ultra in February.
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