prospect park is not the tour de France

Rose wrote: I was so offended by the $60 registration fee

+1, Plus many members of the BRRC! WTF is up with that price?!? Sheesh!
(you're right, it did fill up fast, guess people have more money to burn than I do).

FYI, some people in the BRRC are planning to run their own long run that same weekend, I can find out more info if you like, PM me.

Sorry, me above.

Anonymous wrote: On one hand I agree that they charge what they can, but like you said, they nailed the field max in like 3 days, so how can you say they were wrong?

I'm also guessing, however, that this race costs quite a bit more than the average event to put on, seeing as how it's requiring street closures from 59th to Ground Zero, including the West Side Highway.

That's what they said in their response to me, that it was going to be very expensive to pay for the street closings, etc. But they only charge $15 or so for the other half-marathons, and streets have to be closed for those too, right?

I think running and racing should be accessible to everyone, and charging $60 for a race means a lot of people aren't going to be able to afford it. I guess I'm worried that this will set a bad precedent -- now they know that a lot of people will pay $60 to run a half-marathon.

Anyway, the truth is you would have to pay me to run that far, that early in the morning. So it's pretty easy for me to take a stand on this one!

I don't think it's as bad as that. Running is certainly accessible to everyone, and local races with nominal ($20 or less) entry fees far outnumber the more expensive megaraces. NYRRC takes a lot of heat for various things, but I do think they do a great job of providing reasonably priced racing opportunities throughout the year. If that means that the premiere races will cost more in order to fund their other races and charitable activities, then I'm fine with that.

Besides, the idea that 10,000 people are really going to "race" is ludicrous. If someone wants to pay $60 to go out and run 12 minute miles, where the only goal is finishing, then a) that's not racing, and b) more power to them.

Also, while I do back off the idea that street closures are the sole reason the race is costing so much, keep in mind that it's one thing to close streets in the Bronx, Staten Island, or between Coney Island and PP, and an entirely other thing to close from Central Park South, Times Square, 42nd Street, and the West Side Highway.

I have no problem with those salaries, these guys are running a major organization, and one that for the most part does a great job, and is responsive to their members in my experience. Those salaries look inline with non profit executive postions.

As for the cost of this race, it is the only premium priced event that NYRR does other than the Marathon, that I can think of offhand. NYRR has plenty of races priced at about $11. if you sign up in advance, less for teens and seniors, and a bunch of races benefitting central park and various charities that cost a bit more, usually closer to $20.

This is being positioned as a premier event like the marathon, thus the pricing. Again, I think $30-40. would have been more in line, but if you can't afford it, there are plenty of nyrr and local options, and the traditional august half marathon is usually awful anyway, it was 89 at the start two years ago. Run Grete's in October and Brooklyn in March. Much, much better.

I don't always like running in this weather either, but it does have it's rewards. I do really believe that the harder I push myself now, the better I will be come the races I care about, Grete's and my fall marathons. Still, if your training in this weather, watch your fluid level and pay attention to what your body is telling you.

Kosher Dave, are you a member of BRRC? If so, do you do their workouts and what do you think of them?

steve wrote:
Kosher Dave, are you a member of BRRC? If so, do you do their workouts and what do you think of them?

Yes, I'm a member. I really like the club. It's not as big or as well organized as some of the Manhattan clubs, but they do a good job, have a few local races and have a lot of good runners and some fun weekly runs (Tues/Thurs +long runs on the weekend).
I like their runs, if enough people show there are several good little groups with varying paces. Something for everyone.
The website has been updated recently, and they are still working on making it more user friendly. (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Midfield/2472/)

PPTC (http://www.pptc.org/) is also a good club, though I'm not a member of that one. They do races in PPark every other wednesday, most people walk off with medals, so it's a nice ego-boosting set of events.

prusik wrote: [quote=kosherdave]PPTC (http://www.pptc.org/) is also a good club, though I'm not a member of that one. They do races in PPark every other wednesday, most people walk off with medals, so it's a nice ego-boosting set of events.

We're very nice peeps. You can usually catch a few club members doing a long(ish) run in Prospect Park on a Saturday morning - they meet at 8 o'clock by the Peristyle (too early for my lazy ass). :oops: And we took over the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot from NYRRC when they didn't want to do it any more.

Also, the Cherry Tree race in the spring is a good one. Great technical Ts included in the modest price!

prusik wrote:
Spring? The middle of February isn't quite what I'd call Spring but you're right - it's a fun race (if you can deal with 3 laps of Prospect Park). Ever notice how the hill gets steeper each time around?

hahaha, is it that early? That explains the long-sleeved tech t's.
Besides, no one wants the bad press of saying we're running in Winter! :P

Anonymous wrote: Can you guys give an indication of the faster end of the paces for group runs for both BRRC and PPTC? I'm in about 17:30 5K shape off of base work right now and would like to have some company for long runs and/or tempos.

Damn, me again.

steve wrote: I don't always like running in this weather either, but it does have it's rewards. I do really believe that the harder I push myself now, the better I will be come the races I care about, Grete's and my fall marathons.

I know, after struggling through July and August, that first run on a cool September day is pure bliss. But it's kind of like hitting your head against a wall because it feels so good when you stop.

prusik wrote: [quote=Anonymous]Can you guys give an indication of the faster end of the paces for group runs for both BRRC and PPTC? I'm in about 17:30 5K shape off of base work right now and would like to have some company for long runs and/or tempos.

I think you'd need to slow down a tad for the PPTC crowd.

a few tads :P

steve wrote: I like the Cherry Tree race and the steiner series a lot. I wouldn't mind getting involved with one club or another but neither does organized speed workouts which is pretty much all I need from a running club. I've done them with the Harriers (not the hash) but they are on the UES and that's it's own problem.

PPTC did a couple of members-only speed training sessions this summer (they weren't offered to the public). PM me for info to save dragging this out here.

And what's wrong with the HHH? On, on! Down, down down!

The amount if inconsiderate behavior, lax parenting, obliviousness, and sheer idiocy that takes place in the park simply boggles the mind. Here are my favorites:

1) Bikers with headphones
2) Bikers on cell phones
3) Bikers with headphones, on cell phones, with a dog trotting alongside, leash threatening to become entangled in spokes or to sever a pedestrian's limb
4) Children riding aimlessly in circles back and forth across the road
5) Children riding (alone or with parents) without helmets
6) Families or other groups stopped or sitting in the middle of the ped lane, their bikes/strollers/dogs spread out liberally across the lane

The list could go on and on.