Monday, July 1, 2013

Front Runners Pride Run 5M

Friday morning, Wylee, our very cute puppy-child (He's actually 8, but we call him puppy) got super sick and I spent most of the day freaking out about it. He was diagnosed with a serious ear infection that really messed up his equilibrium which caused him to wobble when he walked and fall down a lot. Do you know much fun it is carrying a scared 60pd dog up and down stairs or in a cab to go to a vet by yourself? Spoiler alert: It's not (although he is good sitting in a car, for the record). It was a long day to say the least and after all that, looking at 5AM wakeup calls all weekend was not as exciting as I thought it might be. Progress report: he's doing much better, thank goodness! 


But moving on to the race- can someone please explain why races in June start at 9AM?! It's too late and it's too hot. That seems like a winter race start, not summer. Luckily, we had some overcast this year, but it was still pretty brutal. I did, however, forget most of the frustrations thanks to multiple sprinklers being on the course and the famous popsicle at the end made up for a lot of it. 

I love that this race course is unique, almost as much as I hate it. It starts of at the 102 Transverse (where the race day festivities are set up) and you go counterclockwise through the top and middle loop of Central Park. This means Harlem Hill is in your 1st mile and Cat Hill is in your 2nd to last. That's just plain cruel, in my opinion. 

I was excited to run into Gabby at the start, Megan at the finish and a couple of TNTers on the course. It's always nice to see familiar faces and catch up. I had been spoiled, then on my own for a couple of races. Even though I can be a fan of the huge NYRR anonymity, it really makes a difference to see people you know. 

Sadly, I didn't experience any of the exciting energy I was expecting to see, especially after the SCOTUS decision earlier this week. But I'm also a slow runner, and I didn't get a chance to participate in any of the post- race fun, so maybe I missed it, which totally bums me out. I did talk with a runner who had run the race the past 4 years and he also noticed it was a lot more subdued than years past. Maybe they were all holding out for the parade. I did notice there were a lot more people dressed up, though. Last year, I wore my gold sparkle skirt and felt very alone, this year, I would've been more comfortable! 

I'm hoping next year I can get to the after party at Boxer's. I also say every year I'm going to join Front Runners (funny story, when I first started running I thought that meant they were only really fast runners) so hopefully this is the year for that, but more on that later. 

My absolute favorite part of the morning was being greeted by the smell of bacon when I got home. I wasn't expecting breakfast! It was the greatest surprise ever :) I'm a lucky lucky girl.


Did you do anything special for pride?

11 comments:

  1. Mmm, bacon!! Boo for a sick puppy (but glad he is doing much better). And seriously 9 a.m. start during the summer?? Blech! Yay for running into familiar faces.

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  2. Poor Wylee! I'm glad he's doing better. I always called my dog a puppy, too. And my horse is a pony, lol. Anyway, being in AZ, I hate being in the sun because we have sun for months on end, so I would prefer all races take place in the dark, even if it means racing at 4am. I'm a fan of the Disney early start times.;)

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    1. Thanks! Me, too. It was super scary.

      I love the dark, too and I have no idea how you rock that heat!

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  3. We've been having 8am start times down here in the deep south, and that isn't much better. I don't know if I'm less of a fan of waking up at 5am or running in the 90 degree weather, but both make me long for October. And btw, that singlet race shirt (its not another cotton T-shirt, people) is freaking awesome!

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    1. Right?! Who's coming up with these start times? I'd rather wake up early and get it over with.

      Yea, I'm a fan of the tech singlet a lot! Maybe one year you should come up for it :)

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    2. Well I just found out how cheap flights are in to NYC right now from NOLA. It's like $126 round trip in to LGA. If they keep that up, it's doable! Are there any other cool races coming up that I should consider coming for?

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  4. I hope Wylee is doing better! I would have been so scared if my dog was wobbling and falling over, glad to hear it's only an ear infection!

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    1. Thanks, Danielle! It was super scary. I'm still not totally over it.

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  5. The sucky thing for me about Pride here --- it's the same weekend as the biggest golf tournament of the year that is the Must Do thing of the summer. Plus Pride is a 3+ hour drive from here. Some day I'll get there though!


    That course just sounds miserable to me right now - late start and hillSSSS?!?! Too much!!! But I'm a wimp.

    Question: do all taxis in NY let you bring pets? We don't really needs taxis here, so I've never thought about how I'd get my girls to and from the vet if I were in a legit big city.

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    1. That's how I feel about all the other Pride events. One day I'll get to go.

      I don't know if all taxis allow it, but when I called the vet, they gave me the # to a car service that they work with. Plus, I'm in BK and it's hard to hail cabs in my neighborhood.

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