After back-to-back marathons (NYC and PHI) in November, I managed to run four races in the wintertime. The Hot Chocolate 15k wasn't on my schedule initially, but my NYC Marathon was so bad (thanks to the cramps) that I signed up immediately after the marathon. The 15k took place two weeks after the Philly Marathon on December 1, and the race went very well as I finished at 1:09:54 (7:30/mile).Despite a disastrous NYC Marathon, I rebounded quite well in Philly and I completed my mission to pace SC. It was a special race for many reasons, and I'm going to remember this race for the rest of my life. And I probably carried the momentum into Hot Choc... As always, the NYRR served up hot chocolate and bagels at P.S. whatever on 103rd Street, and I was lucky enough to get some marshmallows in my hot chocolate thanks to a nice donor. It was a cold day I kinda needed a hot drink.
Then it was the Holiday 4-Mile two weeks after. I wanted to run that race to detune but I ended up going for it on race day. If you know me well it's just my competitive nature, and since I was running by myself I had absolutely no excuse. My finish time was 27:41 (6:55/mile) and I was able to beat my PR easily (30:07 at Niketown Run for the Parks 2 1/2 years earlier.) Santa didn't run the race this year though.
I didn’t have plans on New Year's Eve so I trekked down to Central Park to have my annual illegal run at the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run. I heard Matt Dillon was in that race, but I didn't see him... I didn't care anyway. It wasn't a timed race and I didn’t register, but I still wanted to do well under the fireworks because you know what. I loved running in the dark and the crowd thinned out as we approached North Meadow. After a bad experience drinking non-alcoholic champagne a year ago on the 102nd Transverse, I skipped this time around. According to my watch I finished under 7 min. pace, and it was a nice way to close out my busy if not crazy 2007 schedule.
Next: Manhattan Half
