CVS Downtown 5k

The Season is coming to an end. The body is telling me so, the last work outs have been tough and its been a little bit of a grind. I have been wanting to do this race, so its just a matter of getting to and through it.

This Race I did a few years back and it doubles as the USA road circuit, so this brings some good competitors. The day started out a little chilly, but the weather quickly heated up and by the time we were ready to race it was a pretty sunny warm day in Sept.

The race started of pretty quickly and the girls were moving, it was one tough 5k, but finished in a respectable place and time. 16.40 for 8th place. This had been my split for the 5k on the way to my recent 10k. So doing this time solo was a little rough.

Now its time for a little down time and get the body some much needed rest.

Results and pics of the race follow:

Results

Mile

Finally I have been successful in up loading these pics, so now I can blog.

Back in Sept I took part in the Farmingdale Mile. This race starts out of the town a little way with a nice downhill start, a little up and back down till 800mtrs and then it is flat and into the main streets of Farmingdale, NY

Last year I ran this race and set the record at 4.44, I was out to break that this year.

They race this event by gender, we started out with a few girls pushing the pace to a 66 first 400 and I was off the pace a little, we got to the 800 at 2.16 and I had it in control now I just needed my strength to get me to the finish line.

I won in official time of 4.39, course record.

Results

Video of the finish:

Beach 2 Beacon 10k

TD Bank Beach 2 Beacon:

First week of August Mike headed up to Newport, Rhode Island for a Cross Country Camp with his high school team. Thursday night I drove up to meet him, I worked in our Riverhead office and then headed out on the Northfork of Long Island to the end, where I cought the Orient Point Ferry. First time on this ferry. I got to the camp and spent the night with them, they were staying at a boarding school. When I arrived that night I meet some pretty cool American running legends.

For those of you who do not know there was a runner around in the last 60s early 70s who is an American legend by the name of Steve Prefontaine. Or Pre. He was a runner out in Oregon who was around in the time of accepting any prize money would mean you were no longer an ameture and lost the chance to represent your country. He Missed a medal at Moscow, by coming 4th, he then was the big hope and heart for running and winning a medal in the following olympics. However he died one night on the roads in a situation that will never be answered, was he drunk or not.

At the Camp we got the honor to meet his coach, Coach Dellinger, roommates and team members from college with this famous runner, along with others that Coach Dellinger had under him over the years.

Friday Morning we got up and went for a run with the group, joined them for breakfast and then listened to the Past Olympians at the camp speak. Then it was time to hit the road for Cape Elizabeth, Maine where I would be meeting my host family to stay with for the weekend.

We arrived and meet the John at the Inn by the sea, which was at the mile mark on the race. John took us to their home just up the road little further, not far from the water. Getting that far north the area started to look more like Canada. Plus the road signs were in KM as well as Miles.

We meet the rest of the family, wife Sue, and daughter Emily. They were very lovely people and Sue and Emily were also running. They also had some other friends staying who were doing the race also, so it was a nice full house.

After relaxing a little Mike and I went for a jog, they lived pretty much on the course so got to run a part of it. Then John took us to see the course, which was very helpful, as it was hillier then the description gave, but looked nice. I enjoyed the views then, not sure what I would see on the day. After checking in for the race we headed home for a nice pasta meal.

The next morning I was up early to get my fuel and wake up for the event. Since we were 1mile from the start there was no rush, but the race did start at 8am. John and Mike dropped me of at the elite tent where I had seats and toilets for just the elite group. It was a nice cool morning perfect weather to run in, especially after all the humidity I have been running in for the past few months.

Race was slightly delayed for some reason so 8.10 we were on our way, with a nice downhill start everyone went out pretty quick, I tried to stay relaxed and came through the first mile in 5.15. After that I was eyeing up each women in front and picking them off. I had no idea where I was placed, but I just kept it going. Then I saw Catherine Ndereba in front of me, now this is an athlete who has won this course 5 times and has 2 silver Olympic Marathon Medals. So now I had this target in front of me with 2miles to go I hit a new gear and I was rolling, I equalled my 5k road pb and set my 4mile pb in 21.30, and 5mile in 26.50. I just had to keep it rolling to the finish. I could see the clock and knew I was on a pretty decent time, now where did this place me?

Start of the Race:

Coming up to the finishing line:

Video of the finish:

Passing the next women with Ndereba in my sights now:
More Photos here

Results Here

I made my way to the elite athlete tent to get some water and I bags. Mike made his way from his VIP tent to tell me I was 5th! I had been hoping for a top 10 finish! 5th I was stoked, also the time of 33.25, was a huge pb.

The course was amazing, the day was perfect. People from Cape Elizabeth were all over the course, they were supporting people everywhere.

Now it was time to cool down and enjoy the beautiful day, we waited for the awards and then headed home to get some home made ice cream from the store just down the road from where were were staying. I also went to check out the water, still in the middle of summer the water was pretty chilly, I just went in to my knees, for a nice ice bath, if it was warmer I may have jumped all the way in. We headed into the town of Portland for a little walk around to see the town - very nice little town.

Then it was off to our lobster feast with out host family, everyone got a Maine lobster - and if your going to have lobster what better place then Maine, so I am told, and now can agree. Plus all sorts of other food and Maine brewed beer and wine. It was a lovely evening and great way to end a good race.

Next day Mike and I got up and went for a run, had some breakfast and headed into Portland to check out the brewery, unfortunately it was closed til later and we did not have time to wait. So we headed to Maine running store to see how they do things. Then it was time to hit the road for our 6hr trip back to Bayport, NY

Womens 5k

Arrow Exterminating Long Island 5K Championship

Long Islands Womens only race brings the best of the runners from Long Island to compete against each other. This race use to draw a lot of international interest as well with a decent prize purse, however over the years this has been reduced so now its just the Long Island Women to battle it out.

Of course the day was hot and humid, I have run this course three times before and its always the same.

I started out with Katie Dicamillo, we both were heading along at a good clip, however by the first mile I found that I was on my own, just following the lead cyclist again! I ended up running 16.40 which is a personal best on the roads.

Results

BELLMORE STRIDERS JULY 4TH 4MILER

July 4th is a great holiday which brings a weekend packed with races. I decided that I was going to run the Bellmore Striders 4miler a few days before. I did this one a few years ago (2007) and won the womens divison in 22.44. This year I went one better and won the overall race.

This is a race that normally gets some fast guys as they put some money on the line.

It was a stinking hot and humid morning and by race time it was already into the 80s. So I warmed up and tried to stay cool before the race.

At the start of the race I just hung back a little, as there are always the fast guys and high schoolers that like to make a quick start. I slowly made my way up through the pack. At the mile I was about 8th, but the group was all there and I made my way through them, coming up to the second mile I had just one more guy to run down and he had slowly been coming back to me. I got onto his shoulder and he tried to go again, but I put in a little surge and he was gone. Then it was just the roads, the lead biker and myself! for the next 2miles - and the heat. I now had to make sure I hung on and stay relaxed so that I didn't fade in the heat!

I was the overall winner in 21.51, which apparently a record time, by 54 seconds, (a record that stood since 1988). It is also the 4th time a women has won a mixed race outright on the Island - these include the more prestigious races

Here is a link to photos from the race:

http://sbrli.com/

Here are the results:

http://flrrt.com/results/bell10.txt

Here is an article that Newsday where going to run in the paper, though it seems to have only made the online version, as we have not seen it in the paper yet! (this is the Long Island Newspaper)

http://www.newsday.com/news/joy-petrina-first-woman-to-win-bellmore-race-1.2093090

Next on the schedule is the Womens 5k run

Races

I have recently competed at the Bostons Twilight Series in Boston, June 5 and June 12. I competed in the steeples on the 5th, where I placed 3rd in a time of 10.11, this was my first competitive steeple I have done this season and the result was decent. The weather made it tough for us all, with the humidity being pretty high. The last few laps were definitely tough to get through - well tough to get over the barriers.

Here are the results: (meet #3)

http://www.nbbtwilight.com/

Event 8 Women 3000 Meter Steeplechase ================================================================ Name Year Team Finals ================================================================ 1 Shayla Houlihan Women Talk S 10:03.73 2 Roisin McGettigan New Balance 10:07.36 3 Leonora Joy-Petrina Saucony/Sayv 10:11.16 4 Jacqueline Wentz MIT 10:13.28 5 Stephanie Reilly NB Boston 10:20.55 6 Andrea Parker Women Talk S 10:26.19 7 Dana Buchanan New Balance 10:55.66 8 Lesley Higgins New York AC 11:02.58 9 Lydia Willemse Canada 11:13.21 10 Stephanie Perleberg Women Talk S 11:44.38

Watch the Video Here:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

June 12th I headed up again to Boston, again thanks to friends, Mango, Mark and Amy for their Hospitality for my trips up to Boston for these past three races.

This time was for the 5k, with completely different conditions this time, we had the rain fall, I was hoping to get the race done in between showers, but this was not the case. It was just a steady rain, nothing to heavy and it was calm and cool, so it was better then the previous week.

This race I do not have a video for you to watch, since the weather was not co operating, they did not get good footage, I do however have an interview for you to watch, the camera ran out a few minutes in, so they had to hunt for another camera, and I went for my cool down in the mean time.

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

The race was a solo effort. With a personal best of 15.50, 35 second pb! I knew I was in shape to run this sort of time, it was just going to be how the conditions and the race turned out, since it was a solo tempo, I was pretty pleased to be able to pull of this time. I was hoping that some of the girls would come with me for the start, but right some the gun I knew I would have this to myself and I just had to be careful not to get out too quick, of course I was out a little quick, but I managed to kept a consistant pace going and didn't fade too badly, and right when I needed them I started to pick of the trailing runners so they pulled me through the last km.

Results: Meet # 4 http://www.nbbtwilight.com/

Event 12  Women 5000 Meter Run ================================================================     Name                    Year Team                    Finals  ================================================================   1 Leonora Joy-Petrina          Saucony/Sayv          15:50.96     2 Erin Dromgoole               NB Boston             16:33.92     3 Lindsay Ritchings            Pacers                16:38.54     4 Kristin Barry                Dirigo R.C.           16:43.27     5 Jenn Deal                    NB Boston             16:50.86     6 Erin Richard                 Hansons-Broo          16:55.29     7 Jodie Schoppmann             Unattached            16:55.78     8 Leah Brogan                  NB Boston             17:12.01     9 Allison McCabe               Greater Bost          17:19.55    10 Jenna Wrieden                Unattached            17:31.70  

Next race TBD

Memorial Day

Mike and I finally had a day off together and the weather has been nice so we decided to explore more of Long Island. We found this park which is part of the Greenbelt trail:

Click on the link to see the location

Blydenburgh County Park

We walked around the edge of the lake which was about a 5mile hike of rolling hills. It was pretty quite around the place, a few other people walking, some horses out walking as well. The lake had people rowing on it and some fishing. We stopped of for our lunch on the shore of the lake and watched the rowers and people on the other side of the lake. Here are some pics from the trip.

This was the starting point of our hike.


New Blog, My 3k steeple in MA.

Boston Twlight 3k

Friday 14th May, Mike and I headed up to Cambridge, MA. We stayed with a friend of ours who is a Grad student at Harvard University. It took us about 4 hrs to get up there and we left after work. So I was ready to sleep once we arrived.

The next morning we got up and I went for jog along the River Charles, with the rest of Boston, it was a beautiful morning and they sure like to run up there. After the boys got back from there run we headed into Harvard square for a little walk. Went onto the Harvard Campus and took our pic with Mr Harvard himself, so apparently if you rub his foot you get good luck (I sure did wash my hand after this pic!! - almost as bad as kissing the stone in Ireland)

Now My race was up at the University Lowell - which was a 45min drive north of Boston. So we headed up and got in my normal pre race preparation and before I knew it my race was about to go off.

I had the fastest ranked time in the race, but there were girls that should help push the pace along. We started out nicely and I sat in the group as they lead me for 800mtrs through the pace I wanted, but then I was on my own. Which was a bummer, but what can you do - start lapping people, so after lap four thats what I did. I ran 9.22.75, which was second from my PB, and just quicker then what I did indoors this year before I got injured. So I was pretty please with that, knowing that I am back in good shape.

Here are the results:

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/10/ma/May15_NewBal_set1.shtml

Now for those of you that want you can watch the race: Courteous of flotrack.org

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

There are also some pics @ http://nbboston.shutterfly.com/4304 - my pics are numbered from 76 on.

Now as you are aware I am part of a Saucony Hurricane program, here is a pic with Mark and I - he is also a Hurricane and is the husband of Amy - who was the assistant coach and training buddy at Stony Brook my last year there. They moved to Boston so I dont have her as my training buddy any more.

Well thats all for about now. My next race is June 5th, which will be a steeples at another one of these twilight series. Untill then its back to the roads and some solid training!

Hope all is well with you all.

So Sunday April 18th I went out and did my first race since my leg gave me trouble. I decided to do a 4mile road race rather then getting on the track. So I found the Jigsaw 4 Mile Run/Walk, East Islip. 11miles from our place, so Mike ran there, as he had a long run to get in for the day. He has done a few long runs now with a destination in mind, for Easter he ran from our home in Bayport to his parents in West Babylon 20miles away.

The race started at 9.30am, an hour before it looked like it was going to rain and I was going to need gloves and arm warmers, but lucky by the time the race start came round the sun came out and it warmed up so that I only needed gloves - which was lucky, since being sponsored by Saucony I can only wear there products, and their arm warmers are made for people with bigger guns then mine, XS are lose. Mike and I were putting together ideas so that I could wear them if needed, we had come up with Mikes NZ Sweat bands to hold the arm warmers up. Lucky the sun was shining on us.

The race got underway and the men were out quick, I made my way through the ones that went out too quick, but the guys I wanted to hang with had pulled away too much and I just got to see them in the distance and try and pull them in as much as I could. So for a good part of the race I was on my own.

This Race also had an additional aspect to it, the Irish Mile - Which Mike looked up, is a form of measuring used in the 1600s, countries had different measuring rods and the Irish Mile was 1.27miles. The first Man and women to this point got a $50 gift card to the competitor of Sayville Running Co, and also a $50 gift voucher.

This is a pic from the 2mile mark:

I went on to win the race for the women in 22.08, any other year would have been a course record (overall) So this year it was just a womens record - I was just making sure the guys around here were not slacking off!

Here are the results:

http://www.flrrt.com/results/jig10.txt

And the the finishing pics and the awards ceremony.

Next up will be some track race - I'll let you know when that is.

Saucony

So I have mentioned to you all, but I am going to share this with the blog. I have been given a sponsorship with saucony: Check out their products at www.saucony.com. I am running in the Guide 3 which I am finding to be a wonderful shoe to run in.

I am also still getting help from Sayville Running Co: https://sayvillerunning.com - Mike is adding to the blog on the website with shoe reviews, so thinking of getting a new pair keep a eye on this site. Also see anything good their for Kaylees Tris and I will see what I can do to get her nothing but the best! :)

Daylights savings is coming up in a week which I am very excited about - its going to be lighter when I run after work and we have been given some warm weather after the white winter, so been enjoying stepping out with a few less layers on!

Boston Terrier

So Friday I headed up to Boston to race in the Boston Terrier Invite. I went up with the Stony Brook team, which consisted of Holly (another Kiwi) and Lisa. We got up there and had some time to chill at the hotel before heading to the track for Lisa's race, she was competing in the 1k. Holly and I were both in the 3k.

Our race was one of the most packed races I have competed in, everyone was bunched together for a good chunk of the race and it was hard to really settle into a good rhythm trying to stay off the inside rail, waiting for someone to make a move, but no one did we were going through at a good constant pace, and since it has been 4years on the indoor track I was trying to get use to it again.

After 1mile we were on the pace I wanted and got out of the mess a little, this is where I should have made a bigger move, but with not much racing behind me I was a little hesitant, so stayed with the group. Finished strong and ran an indoor pb. Only 2 seconds of my best 3k, so for my first race I was pretty happy with it. Now I have the itch to do more. So we were planning on doing a 5k, but we are going to see if we can find another competitive 3k. But I want a really good 5k, so will just have to wait and see what we can find first.

Here is the results and the video of my race, they get the names a little mixed up, but the guys doing the video were friends of the brother who owns Sayville Running Store so I think they were just trying to promote the store a little! I wearing a red uniform.

Women 3000 Meter Run ================================================================     Name                    Year Team                    Finals  ================================================================   1   665 Reilly, Stephanie      Unattached             9:20.08     2     3 Salucci, Toni          adidas Ralei           9:22.61     3   548 Joy - Petrina, Leo     Sayville Run           9:23.06     4    38 Champa, Mallory        Boston Colle           9:28.62     5   584 Van Dalen, Holly       Stony Brook            9:28.62     6    51 King, Jillian          Boston Colle           9:28.76     7   600 Stephens, Heather      Syracuse               9:31.99     8   409 Greany, Shelby         Providence             9:33.00     9   589 Hursey, Katie          Syracuse               9:34.58    10   596 Penney, Lauren         Syracuse               9:34.59    11   379 Donovan, Jenn          New Balance            9:35.10    12   404 Champagne, Mary Ka     Providence             9:36.58    13   476 Anderson, Kristin      Riadha                 9:37.97    14   594 MacKay, Rebekah        Syracuse               9:47.68    15   380 Dromgoole, Erin        New Balance            9:47.86    16   384 Kennedy, Laura         New Balance            9:50.80    17   149 Conlon, Aileen         Central Park           9:51.76    18   159 Hernandez, Monica      Dartmouth              9:53.70    19   418 Roecker, Samantha      Providence             9:54.62    20   441 Roche, Morgan          Quinnipiac             9:55.31 

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

New Ride

Kia Ora,

So Mike and I have our little Tercel and a Monte Carlo, which his dad gave us, but its being a bit of a pain to keep running, so in the New Year Mike and I were going to start looking for a new car. Then Mike was driving home from coaching when the Monte decided it had enough and putted out, slowly enough for Mike to pull of the main road and to some side streets. I then had to go and pick him up - it was now new car time.

So we started the looking, we had an idea of what we wanted, just some little car that will be cheap on gas. We cam across this little one, the Yaris Sedan, we originally wanted to look at the Yaris hatchback, but they had now so we took it for a test drive, looked at a few other places and decided this was the one for us.

So after a haggling on prices and payments and dealing with car dealers which is something Mike or I do not want to have to do for a very long time, after one of the real idiots at this place nearly lost the sale for us.

If you noticed it is also a manual, they are still around this place and this just happened to be one. I really didn't think we would find one, after Mike decided he wanted a manual. But her it was for us.

So this is our sweet new ride, which today will tick over to 100miles to its name! its so odd owning something so new, its kinda scary.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying summer, its warm her today, above freezing, its tshirt and sandals weather! :)

Happy New Year

Hello,

2010 started of well, lets hope this continues.

Mike and I headed into NYC for the Emerald Nuts NY Midnight Run in Central Park. The day started with me going of to work for a half day, while at work the snow started to fall, and stick pretty quickly, this was going to be an interesting day. However the roads were pretty clean and the snow let up when I was heading home. After a little nap Mike and I got ready and headed out just before 5 to catch the train. With plenty of time just in case the roads were crazy with the weather, but we had no troubles. Got the train into the city, subway to New York Road Runners to pick up our numbers and t shirt and winter hat and a bag of nuts.

As we were walking towards the start of the event the snow/rain started to fall again. While looking for a place to shelter from it all and try and stay warm we were stopped by a camera man doing the Fox 5 News for that night, he got his reporter and asked a few questions. So we got to be on the 10 o'clock news that night, could not find a video for it yet, but people DVRed it for us.

Finally it was time to warm up, the crowds were not too bad, they had a stage set up where people could dance and thats were most of the people where. NY was not as mad as I thought it would be, I think being away from Time Square was the best thing, but even the trains and subways were nothing worst then normal, which was good. (maybe due to the weather it was a little quieter as well.) We went over part of the course, which was going to be tough with slick roads. With the help of Mike we made our way to the front of the pack to start the race and at the stroke of midnight as the fireworks went of, 4,500 people headed of for a four mile loop of central park.

The snow had let up so it was nice weather to run in, just not so good under foot. Here is an article form the race:

http://www.letsrun.com/2009/midnightrun0101.php

And this is the bag and the prizes I got in my pack on the night, I have to wait for the rest of it to arrive.

Mike had a good one, he was kind of doing a tempo and helped pull me along which was good. He finished about 10th we think, it was a fun run so only the top people get the results, as they do have an elite field they try and get together. They do not have a timer for everyone.

After this we started our trip home, back on the subway and the train and back to a nice warm bed.

Today is now spend lounging around with not much sleep last night and I can not sleep in.

Hope you all had a very happy new year and enjoyed all your celebrations.