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. Plus we were all running!
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 😉
newly married Maggie and Daniel, picking up their bibs!
Juan came by and by 11:20 we left the Run Center, 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…
HAPPY 2017 GUYS!!!!
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!
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.
Finish line sweaty shot.
Stats Time!
Finish time: 30:30. Average Pace: 7:38
Previous PR: 28:00. From: June, 2015
Age Grading: 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
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.
I went to sleep at 2:30 am. Which is INSANE to me. Such a cool way to start the year.
runningandthecity 