5M – BEYOND DEFEAT

RACE REPORT: 092 Pride Run 5M – 31:04

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin

Posted in All, Fitness, Race Reports, Running 4 Comments

Pride Week in NYC is always a bit crazy and fun. There is one factor that seems to remain the same every year… the heat!

My stupid knee was acting up all week since I thought it a good idea to skateboard to work Monday. After all my super sleuthing in trying to figure out where my knee tracking originated I think skateboarding is my final conclusion. Its a pretty jarring activity for the knee and leg in general. I guess I’m retired. Who wants a skateboard?!

My youngest brother Jeff decided to run the race as well. He made it into the NYCM lottery and so I advised him to get familiar with race protocol and run a few small races for the experience. We had an easy run over to 102nd street as I gave him a few pointers about positioning and some ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts.’

We linked up with Erica, Robert and Antonio before entering the corrals. It was overcast and didn’t seem too hot, for the moment. The energy in the crowds was great. People really enjoy this race and you can totally tell.

Baker Bros aint no joke!

We bid farewell and good luck to Jeff as we (Robert, Antonio and I) entered our corral. I think I have spent 75% of all race starts next to them. A little fist bump and then the gun went off.

We set it off at a pretty quick pace to start. We were easily pushing a 6 minute mile or quicker. Since my knee felt great right off the bat I just went with it. Making our way up the west side of Harlem Hill I had Robert flanking me to the left and Antonio pulling away up ahead. It was still pretty thick as thieves but beginning to thin out as Harlem Hill took its toll on some runners.

Water was all I really cared about. The sun had come out and it was blazing. I grabbed two cups at the first station, drinking one and pouring the other all over myself. I immediately felt better. Onward!

I had no idea of my pace as I was running ‘naked.’ I figured we were rocking along somewhere in the low 6’s. By now Robert was ahead of me by 1-2 seconds while Antonio was ahead of him by 1-2 seconds. I was hurting pretty bad. Not my legs, but my internal engine as I really haven’t been running that much, especially speed. Just hang on…

I have never been a fan of this particular course due to the left turns on 72nd Street. They are both like 45 degree turns and I feel as though I slow down tremendously taking them.

I finally caught up to Robert and joked with him, “What the hell did Antonio eat for breakfast, he’s cookin!” Along the Engineer’s Gate straightaway I saw Grace and Megan cheering. After saying hi to them they reprimanded me, “Stop talking Baker, you should be running!” Indeed. Next, I saw Abs who took this pic.

I saw Erica 500 meters from the finish who was snapping some pictures. I hammed it up as usual.

I finished in 31:04. It’s off my PR by 40 seconds or so. This makes me really happy. All season I have been healing my knee and doing 1/4th of the training I was doing last year due to it. To pull off some decent speedwork is a great sign AND I beat my 5M time from 2 weeks ago by like 16 seconds!

Sex/ Age	Bib	Overall Place	Age Place	Finish Time	Pace/ Mile	AG %
M35	662	96	14	31:04	6:13	70.16%

Jeff cruised in shortly after we did. He rocked a 7:14 pace which is impressive for his first race.

I was hanging with Robert and Antonio when this older runner came up and said, “Hey, I see you out here running all the time. You must do triathlons too? Figured I’d come say hi.” His name was Pat and we chatted about our races before he headed out. THIS is what makes our sport so great people. Don’t be shy out there. You know as well as I do that you run by the same people over and over again. We are all one giant Runner Army. Say hi.

RACE REPORT: 091 Portugal Day 5M – 31:20

Posted on June 17, 2013 by admin

Posted in All, Race Reports, Running 2 Comments

This race, The Portugal Day 5 Miler, would mark my return to running. My knee has been doing great but this would be a test to see if it was ready to take on speed again.

So how does one train for the Portugal Day 5 Miler?

For Susan’s birthday we headed out to Citifield to watch the Mets take on the Cubs. Susan (and Bojana) are from Chicago and both have birthdays within a day of each other so the timing was perfect. Upon arrival all of us stormed the hotdog vendors as we were famished. Others in attendance from the infamous Runner Army squadron were Abbe, Bojana, Meghan, Erica, Kelly, and Neal. It turns out my friend Ahern happened to be at the game too so he came up to the nosebleeds and sat with us!

It was a really fun time even though the Mets got clobbered. Susan and Bojo were happy.

Back in the city we decided to ht up Pony Bar to keep the festivities rolling. I had a plate of fried pickles. So far my nutritional choices for the day were sub par.

Next, a group of us went to grab sushi for dinner. Even though I love me some sushi, it is not on my pre race meal plan, but I ate it anyway.

It was a really long day. I was in bed by 11PM and slept hard.

RACE DAY

When I woke up I felt like I had been hit by a bag-o-bricks. The good thing was, I had no appetite or urge to eat since I had gorged on crap the previous day. I was fueled up and ready to go!

On my easy run through the Park to the start I ran (ha) into Elizabeth and Juan! They guided me to my destination.

My start corral was a mob scene! It was a Male Team points race so all the speedsters were out in force. The girl who sang Portugal’s national anthem and ours had such a beautiful voice. As she sang in a foreign language my mind totally drifted out of thought and I had this weird nirvana kind of moment. Space Case!

Every time Peter Ciaccia is giving final instructions I laugh out loud imagining Matt6 impersonating him to a tee.

The gun went off and we blasted through the start like a stampede of cattle. Running a 6 minute pace as a packed group of runners is tedious business. One wrong step and we go down like dominoes. I also try and watch guys up ahead in case they go down.

I saw Josh cheering to my left immediately. (Thanks for the awesome pictures!)

The first mile clicked off really fast thanks to it being so crowded. We were pushing 6-6:05 pace which thrilled me because my knee was fine! For the first time in 4-5 months I was running fast. I had a huge grin. Even though this run was going to kick my ass (because I haven’t done any speedwork) I was going to enjoy the moment.

That first water station couldn’t have come sooner. I was so thirsty.

As we hit the north part of the Park it started to thin out. Miles 2 and 3 came by and I could see my speed slowing. Hold it together for 2 more, that’s all its going to take.

Abbe was at Engineer’s Gate giving some cheers. I also saw Elizabeth and Juan again as they were in the cheer squad for the Whippets. Then, I saw Lora cheering, as well as Josh again. SO great seeing a barrage of friends out there helping you!

I cruised through the finish with a 31:20. I was so damn psyched to be racing again. I felt amazing.

Sex/ Age	Bib	Overall Place	Age Place	Finish Time	Pace/ Mile	AG %
M35	805	206	40	31:20	6:16	69.6%

RACE REPORT: 079 Front Runner’s Pride Run 5M – 30:55

Posted on June 27, 2012 by admin

Posted in All, Race Reports, Running 2 Comments

The Front Runners New York Gay and Lesbian Pride Run (woo that’s one hell of a long title) is part of New York’s Pride Week. It’s a blast. People tend to not take the race so seriously and come out to support Gay Pride, dress up, and act crazy in general.

I started my morning with a 2 hour bike ride (150 HR Tempo) so I was pretty warmed up by the time I got to the start. I also had a 4 hour ride queued up for the following day so ‘Jello Legs’ would be the theme of my Monday morning.

I was just chill in out in my corral in a cute little shady spot when I saw Abbe. She has gotten way fast so now she is either in the Red or Blue Corrals. This time she was in the Red, so I went to the back of the Blue and we talked. It was something out of a movie, but replace the red tape with the Berlin Wall or something a bit more dramatic. “When will I see you again my dear?” “At the end of the race in about 30 minutes.” “Farewell!”

Back towards the front of the Blue Corral a lot of the Front Runners were assembling. I was watching for my pal Kevin, but saw him nowhere. Then, I saw Josh, who came over and chatted. I told him how I was tired and he said to just have fun.

SIDENOTE: Josh has started doing triathlons with plenty of time before he peaks out. Like 10 years. (Triathletes be afraid as he is a sick swimmer and even faster runner.) Josh, let me coach you on the bike, we may have a shot at getting you an Ironman win! I’m not even kidding here, I have on my serious face.

Back to the present. The gun went off and I just started running. My legs felt a bit heavy so I just ran as best I could. I didn’t have a watch on so I had no idea of my pace. Sometimes that’s a fun way to roll.

Mile 1 was AFTER Harlem Hill. Thankfully the hardest part of the race was over by then. I hit the mark running a 6:12 and was like, “Oh, okay I guess my legs aren’t that heavy.” I decided to try and maintain or go faster at this point.

Between Miles 2 and 4 I was running in a race pack of 3 with a Central Park Track Team member and a WSX runner. We were jockeying for position back and forth and it was quite fun. Sometimes I would lead, sometimes them.

Rounding the bend from the 72nd Street transverse to Park Drive East I heard my name from a mile away. “Baaaaaaaakeeeeer! Goooooooo!” It was Elizabeth cheering on with a few of her Dashing Whippets teammates. As I passed by, full of new found energy she sent me off with a, “Baker go win this thing! GO!”

I blasted forward making my way up Cat Hill thinking… “Win this thing… hmmm, well I know for sure Josh and his boys are up ahead killing it with sub 6 paces so that’s not gonna happen.” At the top of Cat Hill Maura was cheering too!

As I come past mile 5 we got where all the speakers and the ‘party’ was from the start. I was doing great until I heard them blasting “We fell in love in a hopeless place.” by Rhianna. I was thinking a few different things:

– Where is the DJ, I’m going to tackle him.
– If this gets stuck in my head after the race I’m going to find the DJ and tackle him.
– If I hear that song 1 more freaking time I am going to tackle who ever is responsible for playing it.
– Where is this ‘hopeless place’ you fell in love? Is it scary like a dungeon or more like a desert island?

I cranked through the finish with a 30:55. I was really sweaty and it was burning my eyes something fierce.
After saying good race to my fellow competitors and asking Josh if he won I went to cheer on the gals. (Abbe, Elyssa, Bojana, Erica, Sharon, and Jess)

Sex/ Age	Bib	Overall Place	Age Place	Finish Time	Pace/ Mile	AG %
M34	136	45	13	30:55	6:11	70.13%

We had color coordinated so that we had a rainbow spectrum. After the race we invaded my new neighborhood and ate at a diner as a stinky group of runners.

Congrats to everyone who raced this weekend! (You know who you are!) There were some big races and a lot of my peeps crushed it!