Race #37 - NY Tri Underwear Run- 11:37

I promised myself that I would do different races during my 50@50 and this was as different as they come. The distance was only 1.7 miles (not accurate) but all runners had to run in their best underwear, well not all. Some looked like they just drop their pants to run the race. I on the other hand spent a good few hours trying to figure if I should go boxers or briefs. I decided on boxers with a bike print. Since the NY tri club was the sponsor, it seem to make sense. I almost felt overdressed because some runners really went small.

I got into the city at 5pm and headed to NYSC to drop off my stuff and change for the race. No I didn't walk from the club to the park in my undies, I put my shorts over them. I figured I drop them 15 minutes before the start. I was early, but as the runners started signing in you could see this was going to be a fun evening. They were trying to break some sought of record of people in Jamaican costumes as well as the most number of people assembled in their undies. Not sure if they broke either record. It was like a costume party in your under garments.

Men wore all kinds of running gear from Speedo types, to traditional boxers. Thongs were not allowed but the ladies had all kinds of undies as well. There were complete teams of runners from the NY Tri club and the Annapolis Tri club from Maryland. Some outfits were just spectacular. The Naked Cowboy was also there but he wasn't running. Real tough to cover 1.7 miles in boots.

I ran 11:37 which was a 6:50 pace for the 1.7 miles but I am sure the course was longer. I felt like I was going at a 6:15 clip. I was on the front line at the start , mainly to get in the start photo. When the gun went off, I was actually in the lead for the first 100 yards which was surely uncharted territory for me. Some guy in tightie whities flew by me and then a few others. I think I made a tactical mistake by running fast because their were no women in the front so I wasn't able to take in the sights. The female winner passed me at about the 3/4 mile mark so I was able to get a nice look at her but that didn't last long. I finished about 12th out of 300+ runners.

I met up with Mallory and Becky Baker who are good friends with my niece and nephew in Pittsburgh. Mallory is doing the Tri on Sunday so they stopped by to watch the race and pick up the race packet for Sunday. We stopped for a beer after the race and chatted about running. Mallory is also doing the NYC & Philly 1/2 marathons so I will catch up with her then as well.

Only 13 more races to go so I need to pace myself with good runs in the future. I have one more goofy race that I hope to run which is in Boston, The Santa Speedo Run. Also runners in red Speedo but it is also in December.

Run on my friends.

Race # 36 - Ocean Grove Biathlon - 18:27

I was suppose to run the Teterboro 5K with my nephew Andrew on Saturday but I called an audible and switched to the Ocean Grove Biathlon in Neptune, NJ. I am getting tired of the 5K's in NJ. They all seem the same sometimes and since I am running a bunch of races this year I wanted to mix it up a bit. I planned on doing a few multisport events during the 50@50 but wasn't sure which ones. The senator and Gerry Fennelly planned on running so I decided to do the Ocean Grove race with them.

This was a not a very big event, but a well run race put on by the Jersey Shore Running Club. It was another beautiful day at the Jersey Shore to run. I was hoping to bring my bike so i could get a few miles on it after the relatively short race. Next month I plan I riding 65 miles in the annual Princeton Free Wheelers ride so I need to get miles in. Unfortunately, the senator needed to get home early to help clean for his huge 50th birthday party.

I post registered, got my long sleeve t-shirt (strange for a summer race) and took the banner shot with Ken and Gerry. The start was about 1 mile from the finish area and the registration tables so we had to leave enough time to get there. It made for a good warm up.

My plan was to run a 12:15-12:30 2 miles and then 6-8 minutes for the swim. The swim distance was 300 hoping o get under 19:30. The swim distance is always subject because it's difficult to measure. I made it over to the Willows Swim Club twice this week just to get a feel for the distance. My two swim workouts consisted of just doing multi-laps of 100 meters totaling 800. I just needed to get the confidence that I could cover that distance without tiring.

This race was slightly different than the normal race which included a swim because the swim was after the run. In 99% of all tri's the swim is first. This meant I was going to sprint 2 miles which would had my heart rate up to 160 then i needed to get my shoes and socks off fast and sprint to the water. I was a little concerned with an elevated HR and jumping into the cold ocean.

The start went off on time and my heart rate immediately was up so I just wanted to get into a grove and start passing people. The course was out and back and back again. You got to see the leaders a couple of times on the course. The run portion finished on the boardwalk then down a few steps onto the beach where I took of the shoes and socks, put the camera down and off i went into the Atlantic. The waves were pretty big so I had to get past them before I can start swimming. Water was initially cold but once i got going, it was perfect. my direction was off a bit but it is so difficult to judge the buoys because your head is down into the water. I headed out of the water a and after a quick sprint on the beach to a finish of 18:37. I was happy with the time and the event. I finished 2nd in my age group so I was happy with the whole experience.

After the race I met Gerry Fennelly's brother, Peter Fennelly who was on the America's Cup team captained by Bill Koch in the 90's. I keep meeting interesting people at all these races.

I will add a few tri's in the remaining 14 races so I need to continue to ride and swim.

I help coach my son's baseball travel team and he had 4 games this weekend so to get in a race, and a swi/bike workout on Sunday was difficult. His baseball team won 3 of 4, which included a victory the Branchburg Championship game.

am 90% sure that my 50th race will be the Philadelphia Marathon in late November. I will start training for that in August and get the remaining 13 races in around the workouts.

Life is not a spectator sport - please get out there and enjoy the scenery.

Race #35 - Belmar 5 Mile Run - 33:38

Wow, what another great day at the Jersey Shore running with over 2,500 runners. On a picture perfect day along with rather cool temps for running in July, race #35 is now history.

Bob's 50@50 provides transportation so I picked up the Senator at 6:30 to get to Belmar by 7:30. We had a quick stop at the WaWa which I am a big fan of their coffee. Ken spent much of the ride down creating his various teams for the team categories. He loves putting these teams together and usually just grabs anyone to add to his squads.

I took Friday off from running to give my legs a break after an easy run on Thursday and a hard 21 mile bike that night with Marshall Samtur. More on my biking later. We got a great parking spot and then headed to the start for bathrooms and some photos. I was immediately met there by Paul Russo who I played softball with many years ago. Paul is in great shape, does tri's and runs at a 6:15 clip for a 10K. Paul and look like we can both still patrol the outfield if I must say so myself.

Paul biked 10 miles from his beach house then paced me at a 6:40 pace for the 5 miles. I felt pretty good at the start doing a 6:38 and 6:41 first two miles respectively but struggled in miles 3 & 4 (6:44 & 6:53) but finished strong with a 6:39 final mile. Paul and I ran together for the whole race finishing in 33:38. It was nice finally catching up with him at a race. I don't run with the Senator (Ken V) because he is way to fast finishing in 31:56. Ken turns 50 very soon and is in great shape. Speaking of politicians, Governor Corzine ran today and finished in 55 minutes. I wish I would have seen him, he would have looked great in my banner picture.

I enjoy running the Belmar race because the post race party by the park is usually top notch with lots of food and vendors. The weather is usually hot which I don't like but I love running by the water.

We headed over to Bar A for our free burger and some great music. While there I met up with a few members of the Raritan Valley Road Runners who are a great bunch of folks. I wasn't drinking because I had to head to Branchburg to get to my son's Michael baseball game at 3:30. I did hang around Bar A till 1:30 for the team awards which our team came in second. I am still not sure how that works and who was on my team.

I also met up wit Rebecca Rothstein who is the architect of the website Post Race Party. It is a website where you can rate the races you run. It is a great idea to help you choose which races are the best. It will keep race directors on their toes. Put on a good race, and runners will show up.

Now for my biking. I am doing a 65 mile bike ride with the Princeton Free Wheelers on August 1st with my neighbor Marshall, who has been riding the last few months and does 50-60 miles regularly. I hope I can keep up with him, so I will be riding more in the next few weeks. I do have a goal of doing a century so this might be my incentive for next year.

15 more races to go so I will make sure the remaining runs are quality races. No fluff, just good races with good people. Check out my schedule. I don't think I will do the Teterboro 5K next week.

Life is not a spectator sport, so get out there and join me.

Milltown 5k - 20:58

Race 34 was a quick one, but not one of my better races recently. Although I barely broke 21 minutes I felt like I was struggling the whole way. I haven't been running my best recently and my legs have been tired. I can't say I was happy with the time, but maybe it's time for me to do some speed work in between races.


The Milltown 5K is decently organized but not well publicized and they don't publish finishing times on any website. I do know I finished 37th out of 200+ plus runners and ran a 20:58. If you don't look at your time when you finish or have a watch you will never know your time. This race has been run for over 20 years and they still can't get those times on a website. I would have run the Cranford Firecracker 4 miler but it starts at 9:30 and I had to get down to Monmouth Beach for my son's doubleheader. One year I ran the Milltown 5k At 8am and then drove to Cranford to meet up with Vin Laudati to run the Cranford race at 9:30. It's the only time I ran two races in one day. I will try to run 3 races in one day if I can find that day where there are 3.

I ususally run the Milltown race with Ken White but he was in St Maarten with his family (not skiing) so I went solo. I met up with Michael Daigeaum who is a very fast runner and has won many races outright. He is one of the nicest guys you will meet. I also met up with Frank Calandruccio from Remax Country in Milltown. Remax was one of the sponsors of the race.

My plan was to go out in 6:30 pace and try to finish strong but that was not the case. The course was slightly changed due to some road construction so I am not even sure the course was certified. There were no mile markers so I was on my own for pace and split times. My heart rate was hovering right around 150 for most of the race. The course has a few decent hills so it is not the fastest 5K course but is not difficult. It wasn't that hot but I never do well in any summer races. I just read in Runner's World that for every 5 degree increase in temp, it could add 30 seconds to your time.

I have run a 4th of July race every year since 1993 so it has become a ritual for me. The perfect 4th for me is a race, kids baseball, BBQ and fireworks. 34 races in the books and 16 to go. The Belmar Five is next week which is always a winner. There is still time to sign up so join me. Bob's 50@50 provides transportation.

Get healthy, be happy and go for a run.