Listen to Episode  50

Just what is a “fun run”? We still don’t know, but we spoke about it.

Tavia basked in the glow of her (at the time unknown) age-group victory in the Roosevelt Island 5K, which Steve helped put on. Yeah!

And we all agreed that we happy not to be doing a marathon and talked about just how much strain we’d put ourselves through on Marathon Sunday.

With Amy, Julie, Steve, Tavia, and Joe

Listen to Episode 49

Brenn, Steve, and Joe tonight. Brenn ran and Steve worked at the Greenpoint Get To The Point 5K this afternoon. Both enjoyed it, and we had a bit of a discussion about chips versus D- and B-Tags. Some of the folks who ran that race ran the Staten Island Half as well, the final of the Five-Borough Halfs (4 this year with the Bronx-cancellation).

We spoke about that race last week but none of us ran it. According to the NYRR Facebook page, though, it appears that there was quite a pre-start issue, something about not having a big enough ferry. Who knew they came in different sizes? The guy who finished eighth was particularly peeved. A second boat had to be gotten, but the people on that boat arrived at the start well after the start of the race itself. Steve speculated that NYRR couldn’t delay the start for permit reasons. Consensus was reached on the show that it was a screw-up. It seems likely, however, that this is the type of thing at which NYRR is good and that it won’t happen again.

Steve is rightfully pumped for the inaugural Brooklyn Marathon, set for November 20. The course is set up and will soon be certified. Only a score of spots available.

Joe revealed that his next race will be the Rocky’s 5K on October 29. One of two races at the Rockies — there’s a 10K in the Spring — this will be a good one. He also gave fair notice that he will not be running any races at the Armory this year. If anyone cares.

Listen to Episode 48

Oops. It’s a week since Episode 48, and we (that’d be Joe) forgot to put it up. Here it is. We spent a good deal of time talking about the Brooklyn Marathon and course certifications. With Steve and Joe.

Listen to Episode 47

That was fun. Several of us ran the Fifth Avenue Mile (Brenn, Julie, Joe) and that’s what we talked about. And Steve joined us too.

And in anticipation of the Paine to Pain trail race we spoke briefly about that.

Listen to Episode 45

After months of anticipation and hard work, the 2011 Yonkers Marathon was run on September 18, with a half-marathon. Steve was a major behind-the-scenes actor in the races, and he spoke about that and what he hopes will happen to the race going forward. Emmy ran the marathon, and she spoke about how she enjoyed it.

So much time was spent on that race, the second oldest marathon in the US. (Boston is first.)

On Thursday, Julie ran the Sunset and Suds 5K in Riverside Park, a major topic of show 41. Although the latter portion of the race was held in the dark, a good time was had here as well.

Finally, with the Fifth Avenue Mile coming up this week-end, we spoke a bit about that, although none of us has run it. Several of us are doing this next one, though, so expect reports next week.

Finally, you’ll note the Endure link to the right. The show about which we spoke in Episode 37 is back in Brooklyn, and New York Running Show listeners get a 10% discount on tickets. Julie spent a good amount of time this week-end scoping out the rehearsals.

Listen to Episode 44

In this “extended dance mix” episode, a full 75 minutes of alternating wisdom, rambling and pregnant pauses, Brenn, Joe, Julie and Steve covered quite a lot of ground:

First we revealed the jewel that is the Tuckahoe Challenge, a combination of 1 and 5 mile races just a few train stops from Harlem. This year Julie, Joe, Emmy and Frank all took part in the 35th running. If you’re looking for a great tuneup for the Fifth Avenue Mile, this one’s a no brainer.

Then we learned about Steve’s newest venture, yesterday’s inaugural Continental Breakfast 5K (which featured a spread that sounds more like the Bellagio breakfast buffet), a race that involves a group of teenage runners improbably named The Determined Ladies.

Then we pondered the mysteries of pre-race anxiety. What causes it? How can you prevent or manage it? Can it ever be useful? How come even after decades of racing it never goes away?

Finally, we headed back up to Westchester for an update on next weekend’s Yonkers Marathon and Half Marathon, which Steve has helped to grow into the largest field in its 86 year (that’s not a typo) history. Register now or get shut out.

Listen to Episode 43

Hurricane Irene knocked out the show on August 28. (Then during the following week the Labor Day holiday severely depleted our hosting reserves.) But one man stood alone in the face of Irene. In this episode, a scant 18 minutes, Joe mostly covers the cancellation of the Bronx Half and Percy Sutton races over Hurricane Weekend and ensuing criticism, both fair and unfair, of how New York Road Runners handled communications. Good little show.

Listen to Episode 42

In which Ari talks of his Battle of Brooklyn and Brenn queries Joe about some recent blog comments.

As to the latter, the comment-in-question is here. The earlier ones referred to: “Talking To Myself” and “If You Haven’t Broken 2:10 . . .”

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG SILENCE AT THE END. THE SHOW ENDS WHEN WE SAY IT ENDS. TELEPHONE TROUBLE DELAYED THE OFFICIAL TERMINATION.

Oh, and:

Listen to Episode 41

Gavin Goldstein, president of the New York Harriers, was our guest as we spoke about the Thursday night Sunset & Suds 5K (PDF) series in Riverside Park (the September 15 event is sponsored by the Harriers) and about the Harriers in general. The next race in the series is on August 25. The main sponsors are Urban Athletics and adidas. You can preregister in person at Urban Athletics’ Upper East Side location, by mail using the PDF form above — or register at the race (provided there are any spots left).

As we noted awhile back in our Club show, the lively community of running clubs is one of the best things about being in the NYC area. The Harriers is one club worth checking out.  Each club has a personality, and no size fits all. (On tonight’s show, Julie is a Harrier, Brenn is a member of Central Park Track Club, Steve of Prospect Park Track Club, and Joe of Warren Street.)

At show’s end, Steve, who’s heading to Iceland for a half-marathon and hard at work getting the Brooklyn Marathon ready, related his experience this morning doing chip- and hand-timing for a race in the rain. Flash floods! Shirtless finishers! Bottom line: tough to do.

Listen to Episode 40

In which we debated true meaning of the phrase “The Shortest Distance Between Two Points Is A Straight Line” and other aspects of the NYRR Club Championship Five Miler. With Julie and Joe, who ran, and Brenn and Steve, who did not. There ensued a discussion about course-certification. (USATF has a database of certified courses.)

Steve mentioned some upcoming races being put on by NYCRuns, and Julie asked for info about a certified (see above) 5K in the Christmas period in the Tri-State area.

[Edited to Add: Linda Chan points out that the FITNESS® Mind Body + Spirit 4-Miler on Sept. 17 also has a separate men’s and women’s start, the former at 9, the latter at 10.]