NYRR, We Have A Problem

Last time we checked, 5 boroughs of NY consisted of:  Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.

http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2013

Can you find 5-Borough Series: Queens in this race schedule?  Not at this point in time...It’s not even there as a TBD like Brooklyn Half! 

Normally, a missing race isn’t a big deal, since there are plenty of other races to do, but this is a bigger deal because it’s part of NYRR’s signature “5-Borough Series”.  There is a perk to this series, where if you complete 4 out of the 5, you get a coveted guarantee entry into (expensive) NYC Half Marathon.

Did NYRR ditch this deal?  NOPE.  They say so in the race recap of the Manhattan Half that happed this past weekend!  (Fantastic job for braving the cold Gio, Rachana, Linda, Haralampos!!)

Many runners took to the hilly Central Park loop with hopes of completing their first race toward a guaranteed entry to the NYC Half 2014. NYRR members as of January 2013 who keep their membership current through 2013 and complete four of the five races in the series will be eligible for guaranteed entry. (emphasis added)

So did Queens get the short end of the stick?  Did it become the new “forgotten borough”?  Tweets to @NYRR went unanswered as of this post…

BTW:  Manhattan Half had awesome long sleeve tech shirts this year.  Sure is better than a medal!

Yo Brooklyn.

Hey guys, hey guys, DID YOU ALL GET THIS E-Mail?

It’s about how you can get a Gurantee Entry in to BROOKLYN Half Marathon by doing some fund raising.  We here at Agony have nothing against fund raising and we also like prizes.  That’s not the problem here.

The problem is when you click on the “Here are the Rules” link at the bottom of the e-mail, it lists the value of the prize.  Value here, being the entry into Brooklyn Half in Spring.  ...Isn’t that like the “entry fee”?  While the disclaimer clearly says that the prize is just for entry and not the entry fee isn’t winning an entry equivalent of buying yourself a spot via registration process?  The value, as listed in the disclaimer is $200 for the two prizes - $100 each.

Does this mean that Brooklyn Half is going to be $100?  Last year, for non NYRR members, the registration fee was $70 (members paid $45).  Is it likely that this year it will be $100 (and maybe $65 for members)? 

Also, it’s a bit disturbing that they are raffling away entry spots.  What does this mean?  Is Brooklyn Half going to be a raffle race like NYC Marathon and NYC Half?  Is it going to have some kind of guarantee entry requirement (like run 5 regular NYRR races!)?  Is being quick online, having a fast internet connection, and a trigger happy mouse finger not enough to get a spot anymore?

At this point, the NYRR calendar only reflects race dates up to April.  We don’t have any details regarding the Brooklyn Half yet.  Last year, it was almost April before they released the amended course and new field numbers. 

These registration fees are getting pretty pricey.  This will certainly shatter the popular belief that running is a cheap hobby.  

Typically a runner will spend:

$120 every 3 months for proper shoes.

$100 to $400 for GPS enabled watch (more, if you are a tri-athlete).

$300 for Winter Gear.

$100 for Summer Gear.

$30 or so every other month for gel, gu, fuel, electrolyte drink powder.

$200 for miscellaneous gear (fuel belt, water bottles, spi-belts, sunglasses)

Optional:  $7000 on a carbon framed bike so you can “cross train”.

Then $100000000000000000000000000000 on registration (and possibly travel) fees to various races just so we can torture ourselves more with our very expensive gear.  

Running.  The Ultimate in Masochism Pleasure.

Odds & Ends

Winter is in full blast, but some Agonites were out and about racing and stuff. 

Firstly, Captain Crunch ran the Houston Marathon and did an impressive 3:31:38 marathon.  Congratulations Captain!  We expect you to do a full race report. 

LisaLisa came in 9^th in her age group in Joe Kleinerman 10K.  Congratulations to you too!

January is also the start of training for any of us running the 2013 Boston Marathon.  Seen in the Park on a rather balmy for a January (40F) evening was LisaLisa and Xena.

The contrast in their outfit was quite well…interesting.

LisaLisa – “I love cold!”  Rumor has it that LisaLisa’s Nordic, so she was running in shorts and CEP socks.  No gloves, no hat.  She was wearing a light long sleeve shirt, though.

Xena – “I hate cold!”  Xena was wearing long leggings, a fluffy white hat, Boston Marathon nylon jacket, and god only knows how many layers underneath it.  She was also wearing gloves. 

Mr. Tom has been seeing nursing his back but still kicking butt on Strawberry Hills, doing continuous Hill Repeats. 

A REMINDER:  If you haven’t taken advantage of the 2012 NYC Marathon Resolution, don’t for get.  You have until THIS FRIDAY to do whatever you want.  Refund, future marathon entry spot, etc.  Again, here at Agony, we think CASH is the best option, but hey, it’s all up to you guys.