Alright, here we go! We are two days away from the biggest block party in the world. The TCS NYC Marathon is upon us and we are so excited to welcome every single runner to Queens! Our volunteer water station will be located at Mile 14 and the marathon route in Queens will be lined up with Queens-based running clubs, friends, and family.
What led up to this race? The past few weeks of training! The TCS NYC Marathon is not the only marathon left and we’ll see teammates in more races such as the Philadelphia Marathon, the California International Marathon, and more. It’s going to be a beautiful month!
NYRR Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5 Miles with great runners here too Víctor and Kiran. #polandspringkickoff . #run5miles I love it and I enjoyed . It’s fun time with big smile.lets gooo. @nycruns @brooklynmarathon 🏅@nycmarathon @nyrr @queensdistance @ineos159challenge @chimarathon @chimarathon @berlinmarathon @berlinmarathon @prospectparktc @5borughs #nycrun #bostonmarathon @bostonmarathon @londonmarathon @tokyo2020 @tokyomarathon @cheereverywhere.jpg @runrocknroll #nycmarathonrunners #nycmarathon #nycmarathontraining @wmmajors @nycmarathonrunners #happyrunning #nycmarathon2019 #tcsnycmarathon #tcsnycmarathontraining #chicago #nyc #statenislandhalf @runrocknroll @kipchogeeliud Island . @themiamimarathon @lamarathon @thesfmarathon @brooklynmarathon @runsra_cim @njmarathon @dallas_marathon @grandmasmarathon @chevronhoustonmarathon @austinmarathon @run_mercedes @afmarathon 👍💪💪 #brooklynhalftraining #brooklynhalf2019 ##statenislandhalf @runrocknroll @kipchogeeliud Island . @themiamimarathon @lamarathon @thesfmarathon @brooklynmarathon @runsra_cim @njmarathon @dallas_marathon @grandmasmarathon @chevronhoustonmarathon @austinmarathon @run_mercedes @afmarathon 👍💪💪 #brooklynhalftraining #brooklynhalf2019 #brooklyn 💪💪 #rnrdenver 💪.#brooklynbridge . #rnrdenver #mondaymotivation #medals #mondaymedal@thesfmarathon @afmarathon
QDR 30K Fall Marathon Tune-Up and 10K
First up in October was our first race that feature NYPD protected road closures. We can’t thank them enough for coming out to support us. Yes, it’s there job to be there and close the roads for us, but they cheered us on and were even counting how many times we passed by! One could tell that they were very much into the race.
Drop which Neighborhood in Queens, NY you’d want to RACE in the comments 💨 🏁 – 📸: @hellgaterr _ #queensdistance #bayside #elitefeats #strategyproductions #horseandduckstudio #qdrfallmarathontuneup #teamspirit #queensbasedfam #inspiring #queenskidsdontplay #runners #thankyou! #diversity #allpaceswelcome #teamwork #lafamilia
The 30K featured three-10K loops around Crocheron Park and on the Joe Michaels Mile path in Bayside. It’s was a surprisingly chilly morning for early October but it was great for the runners. This also meant a windy long stretch on Joe Michaels Mile but thankfully runners got into groups to run together.
After running for more than two hours, we were greated by Dan Huang, a sports physician and owner of Level Up Sports Chiropractic. We really appreciate the many hours Dan volunteered in Bayside giving runners post-race massages. For more information, check out Level Up Sports.
I can’t believe I just did that! 20 miles at sub 9 pace at the @queensdistance 30K Tuneup! @nycmarathon I’m sooo coming for you. And a big thanks to this guy👆🏼@coachmedinanyc and @marie11201 for helping me reach my goals.💪🏼 . . . . . #runcoachExtraordinaire #fyeah #TCSNYCMarathonTraining #queensdistance #CMsub4 #fastertogether #coachmedinanyc #grateful #proud #longestrun #AMR #marathontraining #fit #instafit #nuunlife #womenwhorun #runnergirl #fitness #runner #runlikeagirl #instarunners #igrunners #teamwr #run #running #runnersofinstagram #runnersofig #instarunnerstribe #nikerunning #nikerun
Group Runs, and Training Sessions
As always, our weekly schedule has held up well, even when group run leaders are gone! Lillian, who leads the Thursday AM Long Island City group run ran the Berlin Marathon last month and stayed longer to explore Europe. During her stay, Desmond led the morning runs. In the Astoria #FunFridayRun, Jona was also on vacation and Ashley took the lead for the Fridays she was gone. Now that Caroline is teaching and can no longer lead the Monday Evening group runs in Central Park, others have met to continue that tradition. Team work really goes a long way!
Astoria Park Track recently opened to the public and we are already thinking about hosting track sessions there soon after the marathon. Like all our other group runs, everyone is welcomed to attend. From beginners to experienced track runners, we’ll have sessions to work on strength, endurance, and form. More to come later! For now, here’s the current schedule of weekly group runs.
New track, who dis!? Thanks to the quick work of @nycparks and local leaders, today we joined the community in breaking in the newly revamped track at Astoria Park! Start your Friday with group runs led by @jonarunsthecity at 6:15am! #queensdistance #itsinqueens #backinaction😎 #nycparks #astoriapark
Monday – 2 – Morning Miles in FMP, Even group run in Central Park
Wednesday – 1 – Speed Session at QCC
Thursday – 3 – Morning group run in LIC, Evening group run in Flushing, Evening Tempo run in Forest Park
Friday – 3 – Morning Miles in FMP, FunFridayRun in Astoria, Kessel Run in Forest Hills
Saturday/Sunday – Long group run or races!
This month we also hosted the Last 13.1 of the TCS NYC Marathon long run. We started off in the summer running from the Queens Center Mall to the Rockways and now our series of Destination Runs for this cycle comes to an end. We will have more group runs in the near future!
Almost there! Ran the last 13.1 of the @nycmarathon with my fellow @queensdistance runners today. With two weeks to go, the streets were buzzing with runners trying to get in some final mileage. My training has not been perfect, actually far from it, but my heart is in it- and if my body gives out, I hope my heart will get me across that finish line❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤💖 . . . . . #firstmarathon #trustyourtraining #heartsinit #runner #stressfracturesurvivor #TCSNYCMarathonTraining #queensdistance #CMsub4 #fastertogether #coachmedinanyc #grateful #AMR #marathontraining #fit #instafit #nuunlife #womenwhorun #runnergirl #fitness #runlikeagirl #instarunners #igrunners #teamwr #run #running #nikerun #runnersofinstagram #runnersofig #instarunnerstribe #nikerunning
Races
From short to long distance races, we covered them all. Early in October, Woodside-Sunnyside Runners and Sunnyside Post hosted the Sunnyside Post Mile. There was the weekend long Runner’s World Half & Festival and Atlantic City challenge held between October 18 through October 20. There was also the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon where Nicholas got a nice bottle of bourbon with “Queens Distance” lettered in the front. There was also a fan-favorite, the Army Ten-Miler.
One thing I think we can all attest to is that we were inspired by Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-2 hour marathon challenge held in Vienna on October 12. Even though it was not an official world record, he showed us that humans really are not limited when they set their minds on a goal. This inspired many on their own races in the second half of October and will keep inspiring us for a long time!
Coincidentally, the INEOS 1:59 challenge was held the night before the NYRR Staten Island Half. The inspiring feat spurred some last minute motivation to one more NYRR Club Points race of the year. It may take the longest to get to Staten Island especially early in the morning, but we love attending there. We have car shuttles that take groups of us to the start line, but one of the best part of the race is taking the Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan. It can definitely be cold and sometimes miserable, but the views make up for it. And, also, we’re all collectively experiencing it and in some ways brings us closer together.
With this last club points race, the Five-Borough challenge is complete! Huge congrats to everyone who participated, who experienced these races for the first time, and who ran the races to get into their first United Airlines NYC Half!
Chicago Marathon
Check out the blog post we have for the B.O.A. Chicago Marathon! Just one of many highlights in October but one we looked forward to for many months!
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
2 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
QDR Wednesday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
3 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
4 – QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel
5 – NYRR Grete’s Great Gallop 10K
Sunnyside Post Mile
6 – QDR 30K Fall Marathon Tune-Up
NYRR Harry Murphey Cross Country 5K
Wineglass Marathon
7 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
9 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
10 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
13 – B.A.A. Half Marathon
11 – QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel
12 – INEOS 1:59
International Chicago 5K
Congrats to all the Chicago International 5K finishers! Many countries were represented today and we are very excited to see them all represented tomorrow! • About 30 Queen Distance Runners will be toeing the line tomorrow at the @chimarathon 🙌🏼💛 • #queensdistance #queensdistancetravels #chicagointernational5k #chicago #fam
13 – BOA Chicago Marathon
#chicagomarathon Had our hearts full and I can’t deny it… I am still getting teary eyed!!! It was a day we will NEVER forget. There was no better way to announce that baby girl Betancourt will be coming in April than with both mommy and daddy PRing today!!! 21 mins PR for me, 10 for Joey and so so so much love from the crowd with these bibs from @race2remember !!! So much love from the teammates, friends and family… will be probably gushing indefinitely about this, but now it’s time for shower and nap!!! This #badassmotherrunner is TIREEEEED!!! 😴 👶 ❤️#nohumanislimited – – – @nyrr @queensdistance #pregnancyannouncement #pregnant #tcsnycmarathon #bestoftheday #runners #run #fitmama #marathon #marathontraining #runhappy #runchat #NYRR #runnerscommunity #igrunners #womenrunning #runitfast #runner #runnerspace #fitfluential #runnerslife #runlikeagirl #runtoinspire #runnerspace #fitfam #fitness #fitfamily #runnersofinstagram #runchat #getouttorun
NYRR Staten Island Half
Army Ten-Miler
14 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
16 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
17 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
18 – QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel
7 Bridges Marathon, Chattanooga, Tennessee
18-20 – Runner’s World Half & Festival
19-20 – Atlantic City Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K
19 – Urban Bourbon Half Marathon
NYCRuns Brooklyn Marathon & Half Marathon
Baltimore Run Festival
QDR – Last 13.1 of the TCS NYC Marathon
20 – Yonkers Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
21 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
23 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
24 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
QDR Thursday Evening Tempo and Track Session: Forest Park
25 – QDR Friday Morning Group Run: FunFridayRun Astoria
QDR Friday Evening Forest Hills: The Kessel
26 – People for the Pavillion 5K
27 – Marine Corps Marathon
Poland Spring 5M
28 – QDR Monday Evening Group Run: Central Park
NYRR Marathon Monday Course guide at the NYC Marathon Pavilion
30 – QDR Queensborough Community College Wednesday PM Track Session
31 – QDR Thursday AM Long Island City Group Run
QDR Thursday PM Flushing Group Run
QDR Pre-Marathon Dinner – Sac’s Place