I prefer to run marathons simply for joy – with no big plan, goal, expectation, or smartwatch. And I love every minute of doing that.
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PPTC has been the long-time club home for Coaches Anthony “Tony” Watson and Charlene Kohler-Britton. They started formally offering the Speedwork Training series about 18 years ago.
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Surrounded by a halo of the brightest light and sitting on an immaculate white countertop is the subject of your affection: a croissant. The pinnacle of French baked goods. Refueled by the thought of a post-run treat, you rush off to find one, but where?
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When PPTC last raced the Washington Heights 5K in 2020, we still gathered in large groups, the eponymous Coogan’s was still open, and Covid was a mild curiosity. Little did we know that it would be the last NYRR Club Points race for two years. This past Sunday marked the triumphant return of club points races, at the 2022 edition of the Washington Heights Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K. This year, 61 members of PPTC packed the starting corrals, eager to race again on the hills of Fort Tryon Park.
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Signing up for the 5K Training Program was an easy* decision for me because I am familiar with Coach John and his coaching. I first started training with Coach John as a runner in NYRR’s VIP training program for my first marathon (the 2011 NYC Marathon). More recently, I did workouts written by Coach John as part of the Off The Hook Track Club. While I know Coach John, most of you probably don’t know him. Hopefully this coaching spotlight will help you to get to know Coach John.
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Fortunately, the right gear allows you to venture further into the park’s depths. Soooo what gear does one don during these cold months? The answer varies so we’ll take it temperature by temperature.
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We’ve seen them in the park, on runs, or at events. They’re the PPTC couples near and dear to our hearts. This year we are spotlighting a few more couples made up of PPTC members.
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I ran the Chicago Marathon earlier this month. At the time I thought it was a complete disaster but I'm realising that I dealt with it in a way that makes me proud.
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This year, the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and a time of upheaval, I’ve heard the whisperings of the 2001 NYC marathon, which was held a mere 7.5 weeks after the attacks. Runners recalled hesitancy regarding running the race, but also stories of running with friends, helping strangers, and coming together as a city.
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So I’ve had more time to think things over, and I’ve got a train ride ahead of me. I figured I’d jot down some more fully formed thoughts about where I went wrong in my training.
Like many event organizers, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) struggled to find an appropriate time to reschedule their event given the particularities of the pandemic. October 11th seemed a logical option as it is a federal holiday on a Monday and keeps with the Monday race-day tradition; the date ultimately was selected by the BAA. However, the association failed to appropriately account for who and what their event would be displacing.
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Your faithful PPTC blog correspondents have wandered Brooklyn in search of viable Tuesday morning interval destination alternatives to the recently closed Red Hook Recreational Area and its beloved track.
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Fresh off of a sunset viewing over Prospect Heights and dressed in overalls and a yellow top, Lorena met up with me at Ample Hills Creamery. She spoke not just about her bilingual play, Unspoken Garden, but also her journey with running, PPTC, and activism.
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Some five years ago I met Michael Ring (he/him) at NYRR’s Open Run at Marine Park. I don’t remember the exact date or that exact moment, but undoubtedly Michael was wearing a red PPTC hoodie or a PPTC T-shirt, perhaps with the Achilles logo pinned to his shirt. Michael was a slow walker who at that time may have joined us to walk only a loop of Marine Park (0.84 miles). Michael was talkative and friendly. Anyone who took time to speak with him learned a lot about the evolution of the running scene in New York City through the years and the medical condition that afflicted Michael.
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This June 26th, Front Runners hosted their LGBT Pride Run in Central Park for the 40th year. Many of these members were kind enough to lay out the details of this celebratory race including details regarding current in-person racing with NYRR and what the Pride Run means to them. While June may be over, we can celebrate Pride all year long. Happy Pride everyone!
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I had not yet considered running with my then almost two-year-old son, as it was effort enough for me to move my own body, let alone adding on the weight of a heavy piglet. Little did I know that the then-untouched running stroller in my storage unit would be the secret weapon that would light my running on fire…
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This week, as festivities for Juneteenth begin throughout the city, use running as your voice to protest against the injustices BIPoC experience and to celebrate the freedom of African Americans. There are several opportunities to commemorate and learn more about this monumental day, so grab a friend or family member, or march out on your own and use the sport you love to move in solidarity with African American people.
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In the world of StravaArt, the #1 rule is it has to be done in one fell swoop. From the beginning to the end, you can end the run only once. Everything you “draw” is captured and of course there is no erasing. Sure, you can pause but once you un-pause, the app would just make a perfectly straight line connecting your current location to where you were when you entered pause mode. We just want to make words or pictures with our runs then take a screenshot or two. The online tool called Strava Multiple Ride Mapper (SMRM) is just what we need. It works great whether you run or ride.
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Digression Loops attempt to antidote loop fatigue. On those slow, mild days where the breeze has your back and you’ve got some extra miles to burn, this is the alternative to laps around the park. The only governing rule is each run has to reveal something spectacular about the city—usually food; probably carbs.
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