Running the Midnight Run has turned into a nice little tradition of sorts. The Midnight Run, in case you don’t know, is a New York Road Runners’ 4 mile race in Central Park on December 31st, at 11:59 pm. There are fireworks right at the start, they lasted about 14 minutes, and apple cider in the Mile 2 water station. There is also a dance party, festival and fun stuff. My husband and I are not big party people so this fits us really well. Plus, we can walk home right after!

The 31s started with some packing (we are moving in a few days, still the Upper East Side, so don’t worry!) and then work. Yes, I choose to work on the 31st because I can’t say no to NYRR! Just check out this team. PlusΒ we were allΒ running!

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from left/top: Caitlin, Jess, Isabel, Kevin, Claudia, Stacey, Nora, Hope, Jose, Elliott, me and Bobby

A few times that night, Bobby and I did a few course strategy sessions for the race at the Run Center. It was quite funny. There were a few first timers and we tried to not scare them about Cat Hill πŸ˜‰

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newly married Maggie and Daniel, picking up their bibs!

Juan came by and by 11:20 we left the Run Center,Β and run to the race start in Central Park! We left out bags, got to the corral, saw a million people we knew and waiting for the gun at 11:59! Then the fireworks started so we went a little to the side to watch them… Juan actually made a cool video which I need to figure how to import, but it was so much fun. I love fireworks so much, maybe a bit more than running…

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HAPPY 2017 GUYS!!!!

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Amazing Shot by Ben Ko. Masterpiece. Juan is right on my side with his Ironman hat!!

Juan was just running with me, so my pace didn’t matter. And I was taking it as a tempo, as I had had few weeks off, no warm up, and LOTS of food at work… The beginning was a bit rough because we started way because we were watching the fireworks, the opening mile was passing a lot of people. Mile 2 was the warm up, Mile 3 had a bit of apple cider and I was starting to feel out my pace and feeling warmed up. Mile 4 felt good, and I really pushed in the last quarter.

Finish time was my slowest 4 miler in years but I still got in 5th in my AG. I usually do these 4 milers in 28:00 (7 flat pace). Had I raced, I would have won the AG, which is CRAY CRAY!

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I was SO HOT. It was the hottest new years ever. Had I not gone to work and planned this, I would have worn shorts and singlet. But I was wearing my subzero tights and I was a hot sweaty mess. oh well.

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Finish line sweaty shot.

Stats Time!

Finish time: 30:30. Average Pace: 7:38

Previous PR: 28:00. From:Β June, 2015

Age Grading:Β 64.98%

Overall Place: 256 of 4,963

Gender Place: 50 of 2,786

Age Place: 5 of 291

We then went dancing a little… just a little

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No shots with our friends… we forgot? Then it started raining so we jogged it home. I always love running past the Met with their new front… it’s just gorgeous, mostly at night when it’s empty.

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I went to sleep at 2:30 am. Which is INSANE to me. Β Such a coolΒ way to start the year.

Wishing you all the best for 2017. Β Lots of LOVE and miles and smiles. Liz

7 responses to “Happy 2017 + Midnight Run”

  1. December/November/October Recaps | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] I started the month in Italy!!! My husband, my parents and I spent two weeks travelling from north to south. It was glorious. I didn’t run one mile, had ALL THE FOOD and still came back in amazing shape. Italian food is magical. I have no idea how they do it; well, clean unprocessed food will do it, but it’s just ridiculous. Two weeks on vacation is INSANE these days, but so totally worth it. And needed. We got back to NYC mid December and, after three weeks of no running, on December 13, I looked at my log and I realized I was at 1406… so close to 1500!! My highest year ever I had done 1240 (and 1237 last year), so I already had my highest mileage ever, but why not go for 1500? Β I did 28 miles that first week back, and after 3 weeks off, 28 is a good way to ramp up! 44 miles the 19-25 week, and 30Β this past last week…. It was hard to get the miles in the last week as everyone was out of town and I hate running alone, but when you have a goal, you get it done! I am also participating in a streak, December 21st to January 21st, which requires a mile every day, for Coach Stuart Calderwood’s 30th anniversary streak. The logistics are crazy but so far, so good! Oh, and did the Midnight Run on December 31st!! […]

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  2. January 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

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  3. February 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

    Like

  4. March 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

    Like

  5. April 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

    Like

  6. May 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

    Like

  7. June 2017 Recap | runningandthecity Avatar

    […] post a recap for the Half I did. I literally started the year racing. Or running on a race course.. We did the Midnight Run, which happens right at the stroke of midnight on January 31st. I was signed up for the Kleinerman 10K because I had a little head cold and decided to focus on my […]

    Like

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