2012 NYC Marathon "Results".

So.  Hurricane Sandy happened.  We were all afraid that had we ran the 2012 NYC Marathon, we’d be attacked with sock full of feces.  Some of us called it a season and didn’t do any make up races, some of us braved the streets of Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Richmond, even Prospect Park. 

Now NYRR has decided what to do with the all the angry marathoners.  It’s expected that NYRR will send out a notice to NYCM 2012 registrants soon with the announcement.

You’ll have a choice of options here.

1)      Get a full refund. 

2)      No Refund, but guarantee entry into NYC Half Marathon 2013 (which costs $117).

3)      No Refund, but guarantee entry into NYC Marathon of your choice (2013, 2014 or 2015).  If you choose this option, registration fees for the future marathon will be “frozen” at 2012 rates. 

Earlier this month, we all got a one sentence e-mail from NYRR that almost made me smash my computer:

Post-Cancellation Updates
Please note that NYRR members as of January 2012 who entered the 2012 ING New York City Marathon will receive 9+1 race qualifying credit for their entry. Members should check their NYRR member profile starting December 11, 2012, to ensure that they've received the credit.

This e-mail we got is saying that the non-event NYCM 2012 will count towards one of the races for the “9+1” deal for NYCM 2013.  So even if you didn’t run the marathon, they will credit you with “a race” to meet your 9 races.  Most of us here at Agony (or any other NYC teams) have already ran like 20 races even before the NYCM 2012, so this was silly and more like a slap in the face than anything. 

Here are our thoughts:

Option 1)  Good idea. We like cash.  We especially like cash when it’s during the holidays.

Option 2)  I don’t get my $230 back AND I have to pay $117?!  No thanks.  Half marathon is half the distance but the price is MORE THAN HALF of the marathon.  This is a BAD DEAL.

Option 3)  We’re from NYC area and we are a NYRR registered competitive team.  We normally run more than 9 races a year, so we practically have guaranteed entry for the life of our running carrier.  Also, we’d have to pay another round of registration fees, albeit at the frozen 2012 rates.  WAIT.  WAIT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘FROZEN’ registration fee?  Does this mean this thing is going to be MORE EXPENSIVE in the future?  Are we going to see $300 registration fees!?  I have better, funner, cheaper, races that I can run than NYC Marathon…

So kids, choose your options wisely.  All things considered, smart money for most Agonites is probably cash back.  Go get yourselves a new pair of running shoes (2013 models are out, yo!) and maybe a nice pair of CEP socks or two.  We olds master runners need that sh!t to hold our sad calves together.

See You All When I Return

Hey, big CONGRATULATIONS to all 9 Agnoties who kicked butt on a rainy, humid Staten Island Half!  As usual, the Maharaja showed his dominance by unleashing his super powers.  It looks like Louise PR’ed and clenched Competitive Team Start.  GRATS GIRL!!  I wish I was there!

And guys, guys, I had an interesting conversation with Capt Chris this morning. 

Capt Chris:  What’s your bib number for Toronto?

Me:  I won’t have it until packet pick up.  They ghetto like dat.

Capt Chris: Make sure you send it to me.  And what you wearing?

Me:  Sure.  I plan to wear team singlet or T unless it’s long sleeve weather up there.  Right now it’s 60% Rain, 47F.  (sad face)

Capt Chris:  In that case wear a singlet.  I wore my singlet yesterday and it kept me dry except my arms and inside of my panties.

@##%?!   Why the hell is inside of Capt Chris’ panties NOT dry?  Hey fellow Agonites who ran the Staten Island Half with him…did you see what happened to him?  

Any ways for me, all the hot, humid, hard, annoying training has come down to coming Sunday - a drizzly, wet, humid weekend in Toronto.  The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is on its way and I’m freaking out.

My coach has ordered an impossible race:

Through the 5k mark: let's keep things around 8:15/mile (or 5:08/km) and no faster!  There's plenty of time to catch up later in the race, but taking the first 5k at around :30 slower than goal pace is ESSENTIAL.

If you do the math, you'll be 1:30 in the hole, but over the next 23 miles, that's just an average increase of 4 seconds per mile (ie. you have to run 7:41s in stead of 7:45s...pretty negligible difference). This race is totally flat, so it's going to come down to a lot of restraint and smart pacing at the start to set you up for the remainder of the race. From 5k-35k, you should be cruising. Try to relax and focus as much as possible, and keep your pace as consistent as possible.

From 35k to the finish, this is the race. If you've been smart this far into the race, you'll be able to dig and grind out the last part of the race. When things get difficult, keep your cadence up and spin your legs.

Slight problem.  This training season, other than a few races, I haven’t been able to hit 7:45min/mile.  7:41 for 18 miles is…Kinda Hard!  But then my Marathon Goal Pace is 7:47 so I guess I can go as slow as 7:43, if I kick up the first 5K to about 8:11, :12.  Wait, but the 8:15 is ESSENTIAL.  …and so I redraw and redraw my pace calculator.  YIKES.