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August 2019 Recap

Ahhh the heat and humidity this past August was intense. Yet, there we go training and racing in this heat because it’ll bring gains for our fall goal races, many of which are marathons.

This month we hosted two races and destination runs, along with weekly group runs and track sessions. Co-founders Kevin and Edwin participated in Take The Bridge: Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge hosted by Distance Project NYC and we’re excited to be able to host the last TTB event on the Triboro Bridge!

So much went on this past month. Make sure to check out the list of events QDR participated in this past month at the end of this post!

Note: this is coming out a few days late into September but we had a long Labor Day Weekend!

Corona Mile & Rockaway Beach 5K & 10K

We held another amazing Corona Mile this year including a very competitive heat which was jaw-dropping; seeing such fast times can really motivate someone to improve their own mile time. This year’s Corona Mile champions and belt winners go to Birhanu Kemaal winning the Elite Male heat in 4:34 and Nuhamin Bogale winning the Elite Female hear in 5:03!

A clear day meant no rain for the multiple heats on race morning, August 3rd. If you were there last year, it was pouring all morning. This year, everyone from toddlers to NY State Senator Jessica Ramos had fun running around the Unisphere, past the Queens Zoo on the semi-circle path, and finishing past the Queens Theater.

Then, on August 17th, we went to the beautiful boardwalk at Rockaway Beach. This out-and-back looped course allowed runners to get the best out of volunteers and spectators along the course. This was also another competitive race with first place in the 10K going to Jack Mulvaney in 34:06 and Alanna Hollborn in 44:16, and first place in the 5K going to Luke McCambrey in 17:22 and Leigh Gerson in 19:12 (also second overall for the 5k!).

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Have a sense of humor through the process. 😅 • Biggest lesson a runner can learn: run within yourself that day. This means assessing how you feel, assessing the mileage and terrain in front of you, assessing the weather, and making smart choices. This skill takes practice – especially if we underestimate things like the weather or our fitness that day. For endurance athletes, especially marathoners and half marathoners, this skill can make (or break) that goal race day. Practice sometimes means hard lessons. If you learn from them, they are ALWAYS worth having. 🏃‍♀️ • • #sundayrunday #marathon #marathontraining #halfmarathon #athlete #runningcoach #runningtips #thesweatlife #igrunners #runstagram #runningmotivation #fitness #runforlife #girlswholift #beachplease #itsnotfitnessitslife #itsinqueens #queensdistance #qdr #runforlife #runhappy 📸 credit: @christopherkeelty

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Destination Runs

There was only one Destination Run in August but it’s a spectacular one that goes to a different state! The Connecticut Odyssey on US Route 1 is an 18 miler, but there were Metro-North stations along the route for those who did not want to run the full distance. With bike volunteers on this course, it was one of the longer runs with great views and a “Welcome to Connecticut” sign near the end!

Interclub Run

We had a unique group run co-organized by Prospect Park Track Club and Queens Distance Runners: the Brooklyn-Queens Long Run! Starting at 6AM from Grand Army Plaza, both teams met to either run a 12- or 15-mile route that went north through Brooklyn, over the Pulaski Bridge, through different neighborhoods in Queens, and then finishing at the Unisphere at Flushing Meadow Park.

We’ll have more of these club and borough group runs because it’s all about growing the running community in NYC!

Group Runs

As always, we host weekly group runs. Make sure to follow QDR on Strava and RSVP to events, as well as our calendar on qdrunners.org. This past month we had a new group run in Flushing on Thursday evenings led by Jenna Marotta and Linda Brennan.

On Monday, August 26th, Caroline Nester led her last Monday evening group run in Central Park from the NYRR Run Center. She will be teaching but will be back later on!

Here’s what a typical week looks like:
Monday – 1 – Morning Miles in FMP
Wednesday – 2 – Speed Session at QCC, Tempo run in Forest Park
Thursday – 2 – Morning group run in LIC, Evening group run in Flushing
Friday – 3 – Morning Miles in FMP, FunFridayRun in Astoria, Kessel Run in Forest Hills
Saturday/Sunday – Long group run or races!

Blog Anniversary

On August 21st we celebrated one year of the QDR Blog. We’ve had so many stories from different QDR athletes that have inspired us. The first blog post was from Marie-Ange Brumelot on her Olympic Trials qualifier marathon race and the latest is from co-founder Maria Wong on her Tokyo Marathon this past year. We encourage you to also read the other posts from others who aren’t just running; there are posts on first triathlon races, coming back from injury, and race recaps.

Races

From the humid Manhattan 7 Miler to the hilly Percy Sutton 5K, there were many NYRR races that QDR members participated in. There was also the TCS NYRR 12 Mile training race which is a great tune-up for anyone who is running a fall marathon. In mid-September, there is the NYRR 18 Miler and then we’ll go in the next points race!
The last big race in September was run by Vikram Singh in Europ at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB)! This 106-mile race is a spectacular ultra but a very tough one. Read about Vikram’s journey to UTMB!


Keep an eye out on our site’s calendar as well as on Strava for more group runs and training sessions. Make sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and news!

Queens Distance


1 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
2 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
    QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run
3 – Summer Streets
QDR Corona Mile
4 – NYRR Manhattan 7 Mile with

Photo courtesy of NYRR

QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
8 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run

On the 8th it was announced that volunteers at QDR races get 9+1 volunteer credit from NYRR! Send us a message for more details.
9 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
    QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run

QDR abroad in Colombia!

12 – QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park

QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
14 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
15 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run

FIRST QDR Thursday PM Flushing Group Run
16 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria

    QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run
Take The Bridge: Brooklyn and Manhattan

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Two weeks ago QDR had a team of three participate in @takethebridge ’s second event of the summer, Take The Bridge Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge, hosted by @distanceprojectnyc. For the two co-founders, it was a new experience, but for Vicky, she was defending her title from the first TTB event and came in a very close second this time around! The pre-race nerves were high and the excitement much higher. Once the gun went off, they all strategically swerved traffic and tourists and took either or both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Join us next week on Friday, September 6, at Astoria Park at 8:30PM as we host the third TTB event on the Triboro Bridge. And remember, if you aren’t running or volunteering, you are cheering! 📷: 1) @dianashoots 2) @edbrookline 3) @grahammacindoe #queensdistance #takethebridge #triboro #nightracing #astoriapark #tbt

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17 –  Summer Streets
QDR Rockaway Beach 5K & 10K

18 – QDR Destination Run #6- Connecticut Odyssey
NYRR 5M
19 –  QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
21 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
22 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run

QDR Thursday PM Flushing Group Run
23 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria

    QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run

Sri Chimnoy Marathon
24 – Reykjavík Marathon

Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run, Walk

End of Summer Half Marathon (Rockaway Beach)
NYCRuns Brookyln Ice Cream Social 5k & 10K
25 – Brooklyn Queens Long Run- Ft. Prospect Park Track Club!
Tobay Sprint Triathlon
NYRR Henry Isola Cross Country (4M)
26 – QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park – Last one with Caroline before she goes to teach.
28 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session

QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
Kosciuszko Bridge pedestrian path opened and Brian was the first QDR athlete to run across it!

29 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
QDR Thursday PM Flushing Group Run

30 – Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run

31 – East River Long Run- Start and Finish at the Triboro Bridge

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Tokyo Marathon Reflections

The following was authored by Queens Distance’s very own co-founder, Maria Wong! We’re very proud of her achievements and how inspiring she is.

Queens Distance


Pre-Tokyo & Training

Four months ago, I completed the Tokyo Marathon – my fastest marathon to date. I PR’ed with a time of 3:06:42 under the tutelage of Coach Medina (CM) and in the first class of the CM Sub-3 program. It was an incredibly hard but worthwhile training cycle with people I trust, respect, and admire. 

Since fall marathon training is in full swing and the Tokyo Marathon lottery has opened, I feel like this is a perfect opportunity to reflect on my experience in Tokyo this past March.

I’ve always dreamed of going to Tokyo since I’ve learned of it and its culture and food. Running the marathon just seemed like a good reason to go. Kevin and I made the choice last summer when I submitted myself to their Run As One program, where I had to have run a marathon between 2:45-3:30 within the past year. 

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Marathon

Let me preface this by saying that my previous attempts at a Spring marathon were abysmal. My training went well with a few hiccups but race day temps always hindered my performance, and thus, my goals were out of reach. I admit that I was (and am still) disappointed that I could not achieve my time goal for both of my Bostons, but I did not want it to happen for a third time. This is why Tokyo was a good choice. During this time, I was also training for Chicago with Coach Medina for the first time, so I was getting used to the hard workouts and summer heat and humidity. 

Fast forward to October, my Chicago marathon performance was hindered by stomach problems that I developed early into the race. Kevin and Edwin were kind enough to pace me, and Edwin stayed with me all the way to the end. I didn’t achieve my time goal again and managed to finish with a side stitch. Was I disappointed? A little. I wasn’t sure I could really even run another marathon and had already made up my mind to skip Boston next year. So again, Tokyo was a good fit.

Two weeks later, I started training for Tokyo with the CM Sub-3 group. There were good days and bad days, easy and hard days. Most times, I could barely hold a pace that I knew I could run. It was grueling but I had great company all the time. Everyone was just as motivated as I was to get to the starting line, fit and prepared. 

Expo, Takoyaki, and Rabbits

At the end of February, Kevin and I finally embarked on our first trip to Asia together. To say that we were excited is an understatement. We tried to fit in as much as we could: visiting sites, playing with rabbits, exploring the city, riding the subways, etc. My mind has expanded since I’ve visited Tokyo, in a good way. 

Back to the marathon, the number/bib pick-up was unlike any other I’ve experienced. It was outdoors, set in interconnected tents, starting with bib/number pick-up. When you enter, you are directed to one of the many friendly faces that scan your confirmation forms. Immediately after that, they scan your face and give you a bracelet (similar to entering a club or multi-day event) that you HAVE to wear until you complete the marathon. Then you walk towards the back to get your shirt and other goodies. The next few tents are Tokyo Marathon-themed paraphernalia, sponsor tents with samples and coupons, and some interactive tents. Honestly, it was all a blur and all I remember is sounds, colors, and a lot of people in an enclosed tunnel. Once I exited, there were picnic tables set up with food trucks all along the way to the exit. Of course, I opted for some takoyaki, which are fried dough with little pieces of octopus in the middle finished with a light drizzle of teriyaki and sweet mayo sauce. It was the perfect snack to end the crazy marathon pickup tunnel through which I just experienced.

The next day, we went to a Rabbit Cafe. It was a wonderful surprise that Kevin arranged that was both exhilarating and relaxing. Since this post is about the marathon, I won’t go into the details of our hour playdate with the rabbits. In short, it was bliss. And it was a well-needed distraction that made me happy and re-affirmed why I chose to go to Tokyo. 

Race Day

On race day, it was drizzling and would be raining for the remainder of the day. (Did I mention that it was also humid and raining during Chicago?) Kevin and I met up with Julie and David to take a photo before we all left to our respective corrals. I felt like I was going to kindergarten all over again. I went to check my baggage and then went on a search for the nearest port-a-potty. I encountered a port-a-potty line that winded around like a snake. In my mind, it didn’t make sense nor did it seem efficient. After waiting for almost 45 minutes, a couple of guys started directing people to unoccupied port-a-potties. It moved quickly for those 5 minutes but I needed to be in my corral in 5 minutes. I literally jumped in, did my business, and ran up a set of stairs to my corral, only to find that there was a separate section of port-a-potties for the Sub-elite. I didn’t even have time to think about that because I just rushed into my corral. I was surprised that there wasn’t more security/volunteers monitoring the corral closing, but I also showed my bib, which ensured that I was in the right place.

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Meet your QDR Tokyo Marathon Class of 2019! This will be the 1st Tokyo Marathon for each of them. Remember the names, because it’s SHOWTIME. Leading off, from Kew Gardens, frequent QDR Volunteer David Dominguez @duhminguez! Batting cleanup, one of our favorite #beyondtheborough members, from the Lower East Side, Julie Tran @eastvillageveg! Finally, standing in at 5 feet, 4 inches, hailing from Jackson Heights, your Co-Founder of the Queens Distance Runners, Maria Wong @mwmaria! We’d like to wish everyone running the 2019 Tokyo Marathon an incredible experience! See you on our stories 🤗 #queensdistance #queensnyc🌎 #itsinqueens #qdrteamtravels #tokyomarathon #maytheforcebewithusall #running #marathon

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As I was standing in the corral, I noticed a lot of other English-speaking runners around me. There were a set of bleachers to our left and one to our right. Once the announcer started speaking in Japanese, I just listened (even if I didn’t understand) and observed what other people were doing. Then all of a sudden, the people in the bleachers to our right stood up and started singing, what I assume to be the national anthem. Immediately after that was done, a huge group of Japanese men (who were dry) showed up to our left and lined up at the start line. The announcer also stated all the runners at the front of our corrals – the elites (because I recognized some of the African names). And then before I knew it, the start gun went off and confetti showered down on us. All I remember was starting my watch and saying to myself, “easy down the decline.”

The first thing I saw and was impressed with was the amount of Japanese women and men around me. They were all very fit, small, and purposeful in their movements. The crowds were loud, but not as raucous as the NYC crowds. My effort felt good and I enjoyed the sights and sounds. I knew that if I looked around too much, I would lose focus. And so, I focused on the road ahead and the backs of runners. There weren’t too many costumes, which disappointed me: Doraemon, Pikachu and a guy in a gold onesie. And then I saw some NYC club singlets: NBR, PPTC, and GCR. It felt like I was home for those few seconds. 

From the start to about 30K, all I heard were the continuous cheers from along the streets: “Ganbatte! (Good luck!)” Since the marathon is in Japan, all the marathon markers were in kilometers and miles were marked every 5 miles. I found that kilometers went by really quickly and I quite enjoyed looking out for the mile markers. It gave me something to focus on besides my breaths and steps. The water stations were also spaced out a little differently than I’m used to: the first at 5K, and then alternating every 2K/3K. It was a lot to think about, but it’s hard to miss the stacks of cups on tables as you near them. They also had an electrolyte drink called “Pocari Sweat” that was more agreeable to my sensitive stomach. It tasted like a lighter version of the Gatorade Ice series. For my fuel, I brought 5 Hammer gels with me, which I took every 45 minutes, or 8K. Dispersed along the course were nutrition choices that were odd to American taste-buds; they had pickled plums, chocolate, and other interesting choices that I didn’t even see. Suffice it to say, I didn’t touch any of those tables.

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Marathon

During the first 30K, I did a quick whole-body check every time I took a gel to see how I was doing. At around 30-32K, I did another check and mentally prepared myself for the last 10-12K. As soon as I crossed the 33K mark, my legs started to feel heavy and tight. I forced myself to focus on my arms and to stay with the people around me. I continued taking water when I needed it and just focusing on matching my arm swing with my foot strike. I remember that last turn at 36K before the long straight-away to the finish. I don’t remember many good thoughts or feelings – just a lot of struggle. The wind was strong, the rain was pelting harder, and I could barely feel my thighs from the cold wind and rain. As we were coming up on the finish line, a narrow section of brick-laid streets felt never ending. Every side street that opened up, I expected to turn to the finish. I just wanted it to end already! Then I finally saw runners turning and my heart did a flip. The turn and finish felt like 5 seconds, compared to the last 1K. And then, it was over. I saw my time of 3:06 on my watch and was happy. I had PR-ed by 4 minutes since NYC in 2017. As I was walking, I saw a blue shadow from my left peripheral vision calling my name. It was Michael Capiraso, eager to take my picture and congratulate me on my accomplishment. I was elated from my effort and time and even more so to see a familiar face. Little did I know, what was looming.

The march to the recovery food was brutal. I was cold and wet. We must’ve walked for at least 800-1000m before receiving a bag with a bottle of water, a bottle of Pocari Sweat and some form of carbs. (I can’t remember what it was.) We walked another 400m before receiving a Tokyo-Marathon-themed towel and heat sheet. Then we collected our baggage and went to our respective gendered changing tents, which was a god-send after being cold and wet for several hours. 

When I finally exited the area and went on a search for Kevin, I felt like a zombie. My limbs felt odd, like they were taken off my body and reinserted into its sockets. Since cell service was bonkers with so many people around, Kevin and I used Facebook messenger and finally met up in the underground station and headed back to our hotel. We later met up with Julie, her brother, and friend to take back to our hotel so she could shower and fly back to the states. We both rested for a while before managing to move around and eat a lot of delicious food before sleeping that night. Before the night ended, I contacted Coach Medina to let him know how I felt about my performance. I felt it was critical for me to let him know right away so that it was still fresh on my mind. Then, I probably had the best sleep in a while.

Our trip home was bittersweet. I loved our stay in Tokyo and wished we could’ve stayed for a couple more days. But my main purpose in going to Tokyo was to better my marathon time and I accomplished it. Along the way, I played with some rabbits, ate a lot of good food, and experienced a culture that I have dreamed about since I was young. What more could I ask for?

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Marathon

If you are considering running the Tokyo Marathon, take a look at the below Pros and Cons list, based on my experience. And as always, if you have any specific questions or topics I didn’t write about, message me and I will try to respond. Thanks for reading!

Pros & Cons

PROS

  1. Very well organized, from the expo to the family gathering area
  2. Clear directions on race course (kilometer/mile markers, turn signs, water/fuel signs, etc.)
  3. Super friendly and helpful volunteers
  4. Very clean (several volunteers were stationed right after each water/fuel station to collect trash)
  5. Easy to read signs pre- and post-race
  6. Very safe (only runners were on the race course; no pedestrians were on the course at any time. Police on motorbikes and police towers were visible on the course.)
  7. The 24-hour one-day metro pass (given in your race bag) is very handy for traveling during race day. If you don’t end up using it on race day, you can save it to use on another day.

CONS

  1. Even though volunteers were super friendly and helpful, they don’t always know the answer to your question and will go around in circles to try to be helpful.
  2. The walk from the finish line to the recovery bags, towel/heatsheet, and changing area felt quite long. As it was raining and windy, I was cold and my body was shaking after a few minutes into the walk. 
  3. The port-a-potty lines could be better arranged, instead of the snaking line that they use now. Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes even if you show up about 1 hour before the race begins.
  4. Please bring your nutrition with you as you will not find any Western-branded nutrition (GU, Hammer Nutrition, Spring Energy, etc.) in Japan.
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July 2019 Recap

W1D1

This past month we’ve seen many runs labeled “W1D1” on Strava and Garmin, signifying the start of marathon training (Week 1, Day 1). There are many marathons this upcoming fall but the W1D1 is specific to the marathon in our very own city, the TCS NYC Marathon! Of course, there are many more fall marathons which we are training for and we are excited to see the training for all of them.

What does this mean for QDR? Besides our upcoming races, our group runs, whether easy, track, or long runs, will help anyone training for a fall marathon. Hope you can join!

Bayside 5K

Even with the heatwave, we went ahead with the Bayside 5K, and quickly learned that runners are a resilient bunch as we beat the heat! An unexpected surprise, the race was broadcasted via Bayside LIVE TV. From the Bib-Pickup at Bell Home and Hardware, to the Post Race Party at Supper Room Queens, we couldn’t be any happier with our 1st go at Bayside. 

At the start.
Photo courtesy of Horse and Duck Studio

Special thanks to our Queens Distance Events Team! It’s no secret that we’ve earned a reputation for moving forward with Race Events in the face of unfavorable weather. Our Mission would remain an impossible dream were it not for our enthusiastic beauties in vests that connect the Running Community to Queens without fail. #qdrdoesntcancel

We’d also like to thank the good folks at the Glen Oaks Volunteer Ambulance Corps, who patiently and diligently scouted the course throughout the morning, informing us of any potential heat-related incidents.

Make sure join us on August 3rd for the Corona Mile and August 17 for the Rockaway 5K and 10K! Sign up on EliteFeats!

Races

PACERUNS hosted a very fun Wakanda 5K in Prospect Park. We also had teammates race at NYRR’s Retro 4-Miler, Brooklyn R-U-N 5K, and, of course, Team Champs! That Club Points race will have a longer recap soon!

The TCS NYC Marathon Training Series 10M was unfortunately canceled due to dangerous temperatures. That is a reminder to listen to your body and to stay hydrated at all times. For some quick tips in running in the heat: drink as much as you need to, try to run very early in the morning or late in the evening, slow down so you don’t overheat, and listen to your body.

Destination Runs

We’ve had three destination runs this month! To Governors Island, Port Washington, and Van Cortlandt.

Make sure to follow us on Strava and Instagram to find out about our next long distance Destination Runs. The very next one will go north to Connecticut on August 18!

Teammates Outside of NYC

Laura and Joseph got married in Greece!

We’ve also seen teammates in Las Vegas and Nick in St. Louis. If you don’t already know him, Nick is a member who joined us right before he left NYC. Since then, he’s been repping Queens on his runs across the country. He even helped create a spreadsheet for members that lists races in NYC and across the country. It’s been great for meeting with teammates at races in other cities.

Even if there are no races, teammates still meet! Christine recently left to California (read her “NYRR A Quarter Mile” post here) but has been meeting with teammates who have gone to California, like Jona and Nick Deuz!


Keep an eye out on our site’s calendar as well as on Strava for more group runs and training sessions. Make sure to also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and news!

Queens Distance


Here’s a list of events this past July 2019 (pictures courtesy of various team members):
1- QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park

QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park

3 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
4 – NYCRUNS Firecracker 5K and 10K
QDR Annual Fourth of July Picnic
Stranger Things Season 3 came out and Kevin would not stop talking about it
5 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
6 – Wakanda Forever 5K
    Finger Lakes 50 Miler
    Destination Run #3 – A Day at Governors Island
7 – QDR Group Long Run: Forest Park Perimeter Loops

8 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
    QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
10 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session

12 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
    NBR Track Meet
    QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel Run

13 – NYRR Retro 4-Miler
14 – Boilermaker 15K
    QDR Destination Run #4 – Northern Blvd Express to Port Washington
15 – NYRR Brooklyn R-U-N 5K

    QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
    QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
17 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session

18 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
19 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria

20 – TCS NYC Marathon Training 10M – Cancelled
    QDR Long Training Run – Loops of the Shovel
21 – QDR Bayside 5K
    NYC Triathlon – Cancelled
    Whiteface Sky Race
22 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
    QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
24 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
    QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park

25 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
26 – QDR Friday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park

    QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria

27 – NYRR Team Championships (5M)


28 – IRONMAN Lake Placid

    Queens Pace 5K/10K

    IRONMAN 70.3 Ohio
    QDR Destination Run #5 – Van Cortlandt Park Ft. Coach Medina NYC
San Francisco Marathon
29 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
    QDR Monday Morning Miles: Flushing Meadow Park
31 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
    QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park

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Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

The following was authored by Vikram Singh, an all-around great person to be around with. Besides running ultras, he has shown great improvements as an athlete and as a person. He won the Marisol Mendez Volunteer of the Year and Most Selfless Teammate awards at this past year’s QDR Club Night Gala event, and those are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing who he is. Read about his upcoming dream race and cheer him on in August 2019!

Edwin


I don’t know how long I’ve been counting trail markers to pass the time. I had hoped that there was a quantified distance between trail markers so I could figure out exactly how much farther I had to go. I had been dragging my feet for the last few hours, barely feeling like I could walk. I knew I would make it to the finish but at my current rate, I knew I wouldn’t finish in time for the final cutoff. “Running 100 miles is impossible. It’s too long,” I concluded. This was the first race I ever trained for, the first race I followed a  training plan for. It still wasn’t enough. Runners who I had passed in the first quarter of the race were now passing me, around 88 miles in. The “good job” type of encouragements, commonly said when runners meet each other in ultras, turned into “hang on”. I was mentally defeated, it felt like my body was gone and I had accepted that I couldn’t make the final cutoff–that this would count as a Did Not Finish (DNF) at the Mountain Lakes 100.

I had used all the mental tricks, warm thoughts, and mantras I had prepared as pickups in tough times. Now, I was in survival mode. I knew that if I quit at an aid station, in the middle of a forest in central Oregon at the Mountain Lakes 100 race, I could get hypothermia. I had been in such a situation the year before in 2016 when I quit at mile 55 in the same race. I ended up spending time shivering in front of a heater, covered with a blanket for two hours after I stopped running trying to get warm. If I wanted to stop, I had to wait with volunteers for their shift to end, hike to a bail out point and then have a volunteer drive me to the start. The easiest way to get through this ordeal was to finish. 

In the nick of time, as I was leaving the final aid station before the finish at mile 97, a man told me that Martha wanted me to finish. Martha was one of the top female finishers of the Volcanic 50k, a race I did two months earlier and whom I got a chance to talk to after that race. She was volunteering at this race and she made sure to cheer for me whenever I saw her early in the race. From that small connection, I now had a reason to forget about DNFing and start trying again. After hours of feeling like I could barely walk, I started running.

On September 24th, 2017, after 29 hours, 47 minutes, I crossed the finish line of my first 100 miler, with just 13 minutes before the final cutoff.  I went through hours of gastrointestinal (GI) issues, running alone through the night, quads blowing out, and then shin splints to finish the race at last place. I didn’t realize at that point but the race also gave me a valuable 6 points towards a race called Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB). 

Qualifying races

In early November 2017, I decided to look up if I qualified for this European race called UTMB. The race follows the Tour du Mont Blanc trail around the Alps of France, Italy, and Switzerland. I’m not sure at what point I became aware of the race but the idea of running through the beautiful Alps had always been appealing. To my surprise, I found out that I was one point off qualifying for the lottery taking place in January of 2018! I earned 14/15 points in three trail races. I needed a race with 4 points to replace one of my 3 point races to get to 15. I basically needed to finish a 50 miler with some significant elevation gain. I immediately decided to see if I could find a race to make up the difference.

Ultra-running, simply defined as running longer than 26.2 miles, covers many branches and races that are drastically different from each other. From multi-day stage races in some of the harshest environments of the world, to looped timed courses (6 hour, 12 hour, 24 hour), to autonomous mountain crossing with no trail markers or aid stations, to last “man” standing types of events where competitors keep repeating a loop every hour till there is one person left (the only finisher). Of the many branches, the most popular and growing branch is mountain running. While Western States 100 could be considered the equivalent of the Super Bowl of ultra marathons in the United States, UTMB is considered the Olympics of ultra marathons. The race attracts some of the world’s best runners and the number of participants, crowds, media, and sponsors is unrivaled compared to any other ultra in the world.

I ended up signing up for McDowell Mountain Frenzy, a 50 miler outside of Phoenix, Arizona in early December to earn my spot in the lottery. To earn a spot in the lottery, you had to earn a total of 15 points within 3 races in the past two years. Races have to pay a fee to be considered for UTMB points so not all races give points. The points system applies to all runners, even professional and sponsored athletes need to get the necessary points. Gorges Waterfall 100K (which I did in the Spring of 2017 to help prepare for Mountain Lakes 100) gave me 5 points; Mountain Lakes 100 gave me 6 points, and McDowell Mountain Frenzy gave me the last 4 points. (Note that for 2020, the requirements to get in the UTMB lottery have been reduced to 10 points within 2 races).

I entered the lottery for the 2018 race but didn’t get in. Lucky, race results and points are good for two years and I qualified for the 2019 lottery without having to seek additional UTMB point races. Since I didn’t get in 2018, I also got two entries for 2019 (if you don’t get in the second year you get automatic entry the third year as long as you have the points). I entered the lottery again for 2019 using my 2017 races. On January 10th, 2019, I learned that I won the lottery for the UTMB race!

Descending down during the Escarpment Trail Run in the Catskills.

The race

Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is a single-stage, 106-mile race with almost 33,000 feet of elevation gain. The race is the highlight of a weeklong festival at the end of August (26th until September 1st) in Chamonix, France. The festival also includes six other races, ranging from 15 kilometers to an approximately 300 kilometers relay race. UTMB is considered one of the most difficult foot races in the world yet it attracts more than 2,500 participants. While this number doesn’t seem high compared to road races, this is a huge number compared to your average popular trail race where participants may be capped at 400-500 runners.

Training

100 miles is a daunting distance but it’s the massive elevation gain that’s the x-factor for this race. In addition, the remoteness of the race requires racers to have mandatory gear throughout the race. I will be dealing with twice the elevation gain I have ever done in a race (Manitou’s Revenge is 54 miles with 15,000 gain) and will have to do it with a pack, carrying more weight than I am used to. My experience ascending Mount Elbert, with QDR at Colorado earlier this year, taught me the usefulness of trekking poles in ascending mountains. I have long hesitated to use poles in trail races but 95% of the field uses them at UTMB and the advantage of poles increases with more vertical gain, so I’ll be using poles! The poles will help reduce the workload on my legs and help save strength for later in the race. Hill repeats will be a greater focus instead of track workouts for training. While I could do short hill sprints at Cat Hill and Harlem Hill to develop power, 45 minutes of climbing repeats is more difficult to get in NYC. I will be using some weekend days to get away to the Hudson highlands and Catskills to get vert (vertical gain) more similar to the race.

Speed hiking is another variable to work on. With the elevation gain, it’s not possible to run the entire distance. Hiking muscles are not the same as running or walking muscles. Simply being a good runner would not mean I’m a strong hiker. Practicing speed hiking would allow me to increase my slowest speed which could save large amounts of time towards the later stages of the race. Spending time hiking would also allow me to spend more time on my feet and gain training benefits in a low impact way.

For any 100 mile race, one has to practice running at night. UTMB, itself starts shortly before nightfall so I will be running two nights in the race. Training at night would be even more important this time around. I will be getting up in the dead of night to do a few runs with my headlamp on. NYC is well lit and the headlamp may not help much in illumination but practicing while I’m already tired and getting use to having the lamp on my head will help me be better prepared for the race.

Chamonix, the start and finish of the race, sits just under 4,000 feet and the highest point of the race is 8,323 feet so attitude is not crazy high but might be enough to bother some people. Other than getting there a few days early to allow my body to adjust, I can’t train for this. Items such as altitude tents are limited in their benefits.

I’ll be using a mental strategy similar to what I use during marathons: I will be breaking up the race into smaller, manageable distances, thinking of the race 10k at a time. My focus will be in the present moment. I can’t be questioning if I can make this massive climb or if I can make the next 62 miles. That is destructive thinking (negative thoughts compound over time) and will not help me take care of myself to the best of my abilities. I have to learn to focus on things under my control, not simply the outcome. This requires a consistent and deliberate practice of mindfulness, which I’ll be practicing 10 minutes daily.  

Complicating my training a bit is the Lake Placid Ironman the month before UTMB which forces me to spend half my available time on cycling and swimming. Cycling in particular may be useful as it would help develop the quads–the muscles that get the most impact on running downhill. Another important training tool, a staple of ultra-running, is the back-to-back days with long runs. The run on the second day will help mimic the feeling of running on tired legs.

The aid stations at UTMB are a step above the U.S. counterparts. Most have sport drinks, water, tea, fruit, chocolate, biscuits, soup, other standard race snacks, and lots of dried meat and cheese. Larger aid stations also have pasta and beer! On the other hand, there won’t be gels or salt tablets that U.S. ultras normally have. I might do a few runs after eating French bread dipped into soup to test what works with my stomach.

Looking Forward

This race will be quite different than anything I have ever experienced before.  The communities around the race come out to support the runners which itself will be quite the unique ultra-running experience. Unlike road marathons, ultras usually only attract some volunteers and a runner’s support crew as speculators. People have remarked that the finish line crowd experience is like if you are winning the race. I’m also looking forward to passing by the mountain towns and villages of Les Houches, Les Contamines, Courmayeur, and Champex, getting cheered by people speaking various languages, seeing the beautiful views of from highest point Col des Fours and the cool views of Mount Blanc, and watching the first sunrise during the race.

For those interested in ultras but not sure if they should take the leap of faith into it, I would start with the “why”. Even with perfect pacing, nutrition, and hydration, the body’s energy levels are unpredictable and hard to explain. You will feel downright awful at some point in an ultra. The longer the distance, the more variables and the higher chances of something going wrong. Expect to reach points where going forward feels impossible but remember your “why” and keep the faith: “it doesn’t always get worse.”  You may be surprised at how your body rebounds in a few miles.

See you out on the trails!

Vikram Singh


Follow Vikram on Instagram and read his other blog posts.

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2019 Queens 10K

A month has passed and we are still feeling the outcome of the Queens 10K.

Part of the Superhero Scream Station at Mile 6!
Photo courtesy of Horse and Duck Studio

Butterflies and positive energy had come to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Whether it was a good race or a not-so-good race, we can all agree that it was a gathering that we will not forget: a high standard was set for the Superhero Scream Station thanks to Jonela Molla and Albert Tan, this NYRR race had the most QDR finishers, and our team spirit resonated throughout the park all morning, and resulted in a serious spike in membership. While the Queens 10K is the only Five Borough Series event not to feature the streets of our unique Borough of Queens, we vowed to stage a climactic moment to the benefit of the event as we set-up our entire roster between the finish line and our iconic Queens Unisphere. 

Our enthusiasm was held to the standard of the “Home Team”, as we cheered until the final finisher of the entire event. From our point scorers, to the volunteers, to the Superhero Scream Station, the commitment we have to each other including the last runner was phenomenal. We are very grateful to have such and inclusive and loving team!

Working Together

The Queens 10K was the fourth NYRR Club Points race of the year. Many teammates help score points consistently and many have goals to be in the top five and help QDR in the Men’s and Women’s A Division. For this race, we were excited for Rabin Shrestha who scored for the Men’s team for the first time and is also the first Nepalese runner to score points for QDR!

Another exciting fact is that this race was the first time that QDR had a 60+ Men’s Masters team! Many of our Master runners are parents, grandparents, runners getting back to the road after a long break, those who want to have healthier lives, and even those who are running for the first time. Whatever the reason, we are glad we can be inclusive to all ages and hope we can continue to grow the QDR Masters team.

Cruz and Jessica Peralta
Photo courtesy of Horse and Duck Studio

Post-Race Picnic

Until the end of the race, the Superhero Scream Station stayed on the course to cheer. Soon after the race, we had our annual post-Queens 10K picnic near the Unisphere. This year we were grateful to share race stories, pizza, bubble tea, and Corona Lemon Ice King with Michael Capiraso! As a busy President and CEO of NYRR, it was wonderful to have spent time with someone who is trying to PR at races just like us, and in our own backyard! Thanks, Mr. Capiraso!

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A day 5 Years in the making, for an event known as the Queens 10K, you deserved Queens Distance at our very best 📣! _ 8th Place: Women’s Team 9th Place: Men’s Team 2nd Largest Club at Today’s Event 1 AMAZING Celebration of our Home Turf! _ Queens is the most diverse urban area in the 🌎, it would make sense that we welcome runners of all paces and personalities and celebrate each runner. Our Mile 6 SUPERHERO SCREAM STATION elevated the energy of the race like never before in our 5 years. From our points scorers across our roster, to willing volunteers taking time to come to our gathering, we fiercely committed to the course through to the last runner. We were grateful to enjoy the company of our teammates and friends of QDR, including @nyrr President Michael for our Post Race Picnic 🧺 Congratulations on taking part in the Five Borough Series Race that will forever earn our highest level of enthusiasm! All 📸: @horseandduckstudio #queensdistance #queensnyc #itsinqueens #queens10k #hometeam #theworldsborough #teamspirit #theworldsrunningclub #thankyou! #love #superheroscreamstation #horseandduckstudio #runners #teammates

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Superhero Scream Station

Words can’t express how amazing the Superhero Scream Station; you had to be there running or cheering to feel the power of it. But, Albert Tan shared some personal experiences that are background to the Superhero Scream Station’s creation (with help from Jonela Molla) and its compelling power to get the best out of everyone. Albert Tan said it best, “… I am doing this Superhero Scream Station to inspire the change. Be the change. We get so much from this community, I want to encourage people to give back. Support those that support you. Not only is it good for the community, but it can be so much damn fun. I cannot tell you how many people told us about how they lost their voice and how much fun they had. Not only do I want non-members to say this, but I also want teammates to say, “I want to be a part of that.” Give people reasons to come instead of excuses to stay home. I want enthusiasm to be a part of this because it really is so much damn fun… Runners are tired at the end of a race, but you turn the corner and see the Superhero Scream Station. Seeing your community, friends, and teammates go nuts to see you while you are struggling for that final stretch. The reaction is almost immediate and it’s an expression that brings me to tears each time I see it. It’s such a raw and beautiful emotion.”

Pre-race photo of the Superhero Scream Station!

The Superhero Scream Station is here to stay and we are grateful for it

Volunteers & Water Station

Besides the Superhero Scream Station, some QDR members and friends were located at the water station providing water on a humid morning! Remember to thank everyone who made the race a success!

Club Points Results

The Men’s team came in 9th overall and the Women’s team came in 7th overall! Congrats to the Men’s team and the Women’s team top five finishers:

Women’s Team – 7th place overall:
Nina Manso, Deki Yangzom, Caroline Nester, Teresa Escobar, Kaitlyn Richert

Men’s Team – 9th place overall:
Esteban Rosales, Daniel Rivera, Edwin Guzman, Rabin Shrestha, Alessio Asaro

A special round of applause to our teammates who placed in the Masters age groups. For this race, QDR had a Masters 60+ Men’s Team! Way to go everyone!

Masters 40+ Women’s Team – 8th place:
Katrine Stroyberg, Leslie Duran, Poonam Rai

Masters 40+ Men’s Team – 9th place:
Winston Mei, Victor Fajardo, Rafael Guzman

Masters 50+ Women’s Team – 14th place:
Ji Soo Kim, Nora Lew, Jennifer Lawrence

Masters 50+ Men’s Team – 19th place:
Rafael Guzman, Min Jiang, Olegario Burgos Dominguez

Masters 60+ Men’s Team – 14th place:
Olegario Burgos Dominguez, Johnny Gonzalez, Cruz Peralta

See you at Team Champs!

Queens Distance