#TuesdayTopics: Race Recap: NYC Runs Central Park Half Marathon

By | March 15, 2022

spoiler: I finished. Photo (c) Darlene

as you can tell, I had absolutely no fun at all and did not remotely hit my goal of finishing smiling 😉

This was fun, but can someone lop off a few of the hills in the Park? Linking up with Kim and Zenaida to discuss the February 2022, NYC Runs’ Central Park Half Marathon and my two remaining spring races.

I feel like this might be the first race recap where I don’t have to caveat it with but covid, so this may all be moot. Yay. Vaccine check was done before bibs were mailed, but other than that it was a relatively normal race. It helped that it’s a tiny race and I’m very curious what other, larger ones will look like

For as much as I love the half distance and run in Central Park all the time, I’ve only done two halfs in the Park: Lebow 2018 and 2019. This was also my first NYC Runs Half Marathon as they do relatively few of those. Plus I got to do a race with Darlene, which hasn’t happened since the marathon. We were spoiled that year with three of the same races: NYC Half, Albany Mohawk. We also ran Brooklyn in 2018 but hadn’t yet met.

Initial layering, somewhere around mile 3-4

just keep truckin’

the end is in sight!

I won’t lie, I was thrilled to be done

 

The Good?

I mean all of it really, but especially NYC Runs’ awesome free race photos. I love NYC Runs races. ~1,250 finishers is just fine and not every race needs to be a cast of thousands. There’s room for both kinds of races. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been worried about possibly finishing last, but I didn’t. 53 people behind me! I’ve finished last before, I personally do not care but hate to think volunteers and race staff are out there for pokey me.

The logistics for this race for anyone considering it or the Cocoa Classic Half, which is the same route, are good. Race Central with bag check, shirt/bib pickup is 102nd, a quick walk to the start at W. 96th Street. My one quibble with NYC Runs remains – I wish they’d mail shirts as well as bibs, but that wasn’t an issue as I was checking a bag for the brunch walk after. Plentiful water and gatorade, and hot cocoa at the end.

My time: 02:43:37.  Hair slower than both Lebows, faster than all but Brooklyn, NYC Half and Malibu per my unofficial tracker, since I can’t get into Athlinks. While I was happy with the race overall, I’m beyond thrilled with that given the training cycle and Central Park’s hills. I didn’t have a goal time, just wanted to finish under 3 which was my this was probably not a good idea Bermuda time (which turns out was 2:57). I was so far ahead of “schedule”, I caught Darlene by surprise at the finish. As NYC Runs says, “Win Your Race” and I did. I finished, I was literally singing as I crossed the finish and I came out of it with only the expected aches and pains from running a hilly AF half.

Speaking of training cycle, let’s look at the long runs since the beginning of the year:

  • 6.23
  • 7.05
  • 7.58
  • 9.03
  • 10.16
  • 7.46
  • 9.01
  • 7.2

Anyone spot the problem? As Darlene just said, “Do Those Long Runs“, but again, I knew this going in. My go/no go was whether I could finish the race without injuring myself. I knew I could and did. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good, always in running, but especially the last two years. I’d have deferred if I felt I was at risk of injury, but as I learned from Frozen Penguin (cancelled for snow & ice last year, construction this year!) there’s no guarantee with deferrals either. This race was actually the make good from the Frozen Penguin cancellation. January/February Halfs are hard weather wise, and there’s no guarantee I won’t ease up this December either, so time to just get the race done.

from my watch.

NYC Runs doesn’t have a tracker or splits, so the time doesn’t map exactly but it’s close enough. If you’d asked what I was trained for, I would have said 15K/10 miles. And shocker, shocker, I had a strong eight miles. My “race plan” was to run until the first Harlem Hill, where I was allowed to walk and then run until Cat Hill. After the second Harlem Hill, I was walking more than I anticipated. I expected the hills to be a challenge, but not that I’d run out of gas on the flats. But looking back at my long runs, it makes sense.

The main reason I don’t feel disappointed v. Malibu? Malibu’s altitude gain: 374 FT. Central Park?
720 FT (Apple Watch) and 471/591 (Strava). Not sure whether either is entirely accurate, but the point remains that Central Park’s hills are a beast. As Darlene said, it should be pace per hill, not pace per mile.

The Funny?

The wrap around jacket was shades of the NYC Half. I brought it with the intention of it being disposable as I knew it would get warm. Like the NYC Half, I took the jacket off, but was so afraid I’d need it later (despite bag check with a parka!), I didn’t want to toss it.

The annoying?
While this course is better than Lebow’s three Harlem Hills, I don’t love it. I would much rather two long loops, than 2 3/4 short loops. Unless I can train properly, I think this is my last Central Park half, the hills are not something to tackle undertrained. I also do not love loops. It’s a mental challenge. I won’t say never, Fred usually taunts me, but I’m not eager to do another without a good reason. This is probably a part of why I’ve never had an interest in SHAPE, despite the frequently purple shirts.

The future?

As I mentioned when I did Firecracker for July 4th, I really love small NYC Runs races. So what are my next two? The large Cherry Blossom 10M and the 25,000! runner NYC Runs Brooklyn Half. I have no goals for Cherry Blossom since I know the blossoms will be a distraction-to say the least! I’m formulating some goals for Brooklyn now that they’ve finalized the course and I can plan. I actually have no races on the calendar for the rest of the year, although I know I’ll do NYRR Pride Run.

Still want to do a destination race in the fall and thinking about Amelia Island and Portland.  I’m so hopeful that we can make travel plans again.

15 thoughts on “#TuesdayTopics: Race Recap: NYC Runs Central Park Half Marathon

  1. Kim G

    Anytime you can finish a half marathon in Central Park with a smile, you know you’ve done something right! I honestly can’t remember my last double digit run – which is both sad and scary. When I am ready to go back to training for half marathons I know it’s gonna hurt, lol.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      We need to find a fall 10K in NY or CT. This is the year we’re meeting up. I love the Half distance, but 10K is so much more manageable

      Reply
  2. Darlene S Cardillo

    Love this recap. I feel like I was there.

    You did do long runs (they were all over 5!) and if this were a goal race, you probably would have added a 11 and 12 miler.

    What Kim said. Any race you finish with a smile is a good race.

    See you again soon!

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      Glad to get the 12 in for Brooklyn although I logically know I need at least one more. Let’s hope the heel behaves for that

      Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I feel like I know them from regular running, but the reality is I’m creative in avoiding them when they’re not mandatory. Oops

      Reply
  3. Wendy

    Congrats!!! I would never think about big hills in a city park, but everyone comments on them, so I guess they are real! Looks like so much fun. I’d love to do a half there.

    I’ve got a few longer races coming up in April and I’m sorely lacking in long runs, lol. Hoping to kick out some big miles this weekend. Hoping.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I love Frederick Law Olmstead’s work — just not the hills. They certainly make sense when thinking about their creation as battle vantagepoints after the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Brooklyn. BUt please think of the runners 😀

      Reply
  4. Zenaida Arroyo

    Well done, Cari! I’ve never run in Central Park so I love reading race recaps like these. I also love races that give free pictures to the runners.

    Reply
  5. Catrina

    Reading your recap makes me want to go to New York and run a race in Central Park. Awesome, Cari!

    Crossing the finishing line with a smile is a big win. You did really well, especially considering the lack of long runs before the race.

    Reply
  6. Jenny

    Congratulations! You did great. Yes, I remember those Central Park hills. Sounds like a really fun experience overall, and you ran a race with Darlene! And I love the races you have planned- you have a lot to look forward to.

    Reply
  7. Liz Dexter

    You finished strong and smiling and proud of yourself and I love that so much: it’s all we need! So pleased for you, if late reading my blogs!

    Reply
  8. Jessie

    Congratulations on finishing with a smile! It sounds like a fun day. I agree that the big races can be fun, but I actually prefer the smaller ones, so much easier logistically!

    Awesome job Cari!

    Reply
  9. Deborah Brooks

    I love this recap and finishing with a smile and a sense of accomplishment is all that matters. Nice job out there. Sounds like a fun day with friends. I am excited to see you at Cherry Blossom soon

    Reply

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