Running Brooklyn

With the changes going on in my life, I took the last minute opportunity to run the Brooklyn Half marathon. I figured it would be  a nice way to see Brooklyn before I left. For a NYRR race, it was huge. I think there were more than 25,000 runners in the race. They had to set people off in 2 waves. Not surprisingly, I was in Wave 2. It was packed.

Waiting in the corrals at start of #brooklynhalf vine.co/v/bE0E1J0QXzg
— caitlyn kim (@caitlynkim) May 18, 2013

I finally got to cross the start line about 38 minutes into the race. The course went around Prospect Park. This was the green, pretty part of the race, running past some pretty brownstones, and watching people and their dogs playing in the park as thousands ran by. Then came the boring stretch: Ocean Ave. We were on that for about 5-6 miles until we hit Coney Island. I kept waiting to see signs of the beach because then I'd know the finish line was near. Alas, all that running straight ahead never seemed to get us to the beach. Until....finally I could see the boardwalk and then we hung a right and crowds were there and you could see Luna Park and all the rides. We got to run on the boardwalk. It was fun.

GR, MR and I ran it from work. And GM also ran. And even with the large crowds -- and the fact that it took about 20 minutes to leave the finish area -- I was able to meet up with everyone.

My only complaint was getting home from the finish. The subway was packed and it took about 1:15 for me to get home. It only took about 30 mins to get to the start at Prospect Park. Oh well.

We Run DC

Finally. After years of trying for the Tiffany's finishers necklace, I'm finally the proud owner of one. I earned it, not running the half in San Francisco, but running the inaugural Nike Women's Half Marathon DC.

Having run around much of the DC area, I was pleased with the course. It was really quite nice.

There were some stretches on highway on or off ramps that I could have done without, as well as other long stretches without much shade.  But, for someone who started out as a skeptic, I was pleasantly surprised by how well run the race was. My biggest complaint was that finishers' shirts were not going to be given out until you actually finished the race. To me this screamed, horrible backlog as soon as you crossed. It wasn't the case. There was a bit of a line, but I still got through in about 7 mins. The race had plenty of water stops and even (smartly) had shot blocks in groups of three, rather than gu. (YAY!!)

Like any Nike race, it was crowded. For TG and I, the race didn't really thin out until around mile 11/12.

There were some unique touches. They had a collage of every runners name made that lined the side of Barnes and Noble on Thomas Jefferson. So I also had a very valid excuse for stopping in to Baked & Wired. I found TG and XO's name, as well as yours truly on the mural.

The best part of the race was crossing the finish line, seeing the young ROTC cadets in their tuxedos and silver trays with blue Tiffany boxes. The necklace was pretty, and it's a "medal" I'll wear. But as always, it was fun to run with TG, even if I held her back, and catch up. And of course, have post-race drinks.

I finished the race in 2:21:07. Not bad, considering how little training I actually did for the race.