. . . and Dave said, "When did 9:30 become the new 8:30? . . . "

West side story
A promise of spring was in the air for the March long training run on Saturday, a jaunt across Central Park and along the Hudson River running path up to the Little Red Lighthouse. With gels, Gatorade, and water available during the out and back course, it was a pleasant Sunday stroll through the parks. Thanks and appreciation to event captain and Member at Large Betty Yung and her team of volunteers at check-in, check-out, and at the aid station, and a big personal thank-you to Dave Kleckner for great company and keeping me going the entire way.

In the heights
In an annual highlight of the late winter running season, ninety Flyers descended on Washington Heights for the NYRR Washington Heights Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K. This one was the March NYRR points race, so settle in and see how our age group teams did.

The Flyer Open Women placed thirteenth in their division, led by the superstar quadruple qualifier Heather Tolford. Heather placed first for the Flyer Open Women, the sixth place 40+ Women, the fourth place 50+ Women, and the first place 60+ Women and won the 60-64 age group in 21:40 (6:59 pace). She also scored in the 85.60 percentile, which places her firmly in the league of national-level competitors. Congratulations, Heather! Stephanie Tang placed second for the Flyer Open Women and twenty-first in the 35-39 age group in 22:25 (7:13 pace), followed by another Flyer blazing star, Denise Iannizzotto, who triple scored with a third place finish for the Flyer Open Women and second in both the 40+ and 50+ Women's divisions. Jillian Hobson placed fourth for the Flyer Open Women in 23:10 (7:28 pace), followed by Mary Beth Ezra in 23:11 (7:28 pace and ninth in the 45-49 age group). Mary Beth also double scored with a third place finish for the Flyer 40+ Women.

Nina Parks-Taylor notched another double score by capturing third place for the Flyer 50+ Women, second place for the Flyer 60+ Women, and fourth in the 60-64 age group. Elaine Rosen placed third for the Flyer 60+ Women and eighth in the 60-64 age group in 25:28 (8:22 pace).

In the men's races, Dan Lam started off with a double score by placing first for the nineteenth place Flyer Open Men and first for the ninth place Flyer 40+ Men, as well as twenty-first place in the 40-44 age group in 18:44 (6:02 pace). Mr. President captured second for the Flyer Open and 40+ Men and twenty-sixth in the 40-44 age group in 18:57 (6:06 pace). Pat Duffy triple scored, placing third for the Flyer Open and 40+ Men, first for the fourth place Flyer 50+ Men, and fourth in the 55-59 age group in 19:44 (6:21 pace). Marc Bochner also triple scored, crossing the finish line in fourth place for the Flyer Open and 40+ Men and second for the Flyer 50+ Men, as well as fourteenth in the 50-54 age group in 19:50 (6:23 pace). Deniz Saat represented for the Millennials, capturing fifth place for the Flyer Open Men in 20:14 (6:31 pace).

Dave Kleckner took the third and final scoring position for the Flyer 50+ Men in 20:31 (6:26 pace). The Flyer 60+ Men placed fifth in their division, thanks to Andreas Werder, first in 22:32 (7:15 pace and thirteenth in the 60-64 age group); Brad Goz, second in 23:43 (7:38 pace and seventeenth in the 60-64 age group); and Howard Tanz, third in 24:11 (7:47 pace and seventh in the 65-69 age group). The Flyer 70+ Men placed fourth in their age group, led by Gary Smeal in 27:46 (8:57 pace and eleventh in the 70-74 age group). Delton Mace placed second for the team in 29:04 (9:22 pace and seventeenth in the 70-74 age group), and Papa Bear himself, Richard Garland placed third for the team and third in the 75-79 age group in 30:28 (9:49 pace). Other age group honors went to Andrea Kent (ninth in the women's 60-64 age group); Deborah McDuffie-Saat (tenth in the women's 60-64 age group); Anky Lam (third in the women's 65-69 age group); Fran Breslauer (first in the women's 75-79 age group); and Steven Estrine (tenth in the men's 75-79 age group).

Rain beats snow
On a warmish and damp Sunday, three Flyers completed the NYCRUNS Central Park Half Marathon: Adolfo Ferrando finished first for the team in 1:40:51 (7:42 pace), followed by Francine Alfandary in 2:21:49 (10:50 pace) and Andrew Paer in 2:44:09 (12:32 pace and thirteenth in the men's 60-69 age group).

Al for one and one for Al
Overall Place Gender Place Age-Group Place Bib Name Gender/Age IAAF Overall Time Pace Gun Time Age-Graded Time Age-Graded Place Age- Graded Percent I'm afraid of jinxing everything by saying that winter seems like it's in its last gasp, but it was a decidedly not horrible February day for the Al Gordon 4-Miler on Saturday. Gregory Hawryluk set the pace for the Flyer men, placing first for the team in 25:55 (6:29 pace). Deniz Saaat placed second for the Flyer men in 25:59 (6:29 pace), and Howard Choi captured third in 28:18 (7:05 pace). Christina Rodriguez clocked in for fourth place for the team in 29:47 (7:27 pace), and Ilse Abusamra finished fifth for the team and nineteenth in the 40-44 age group in 30:44 (7:41 pace).

Meanwhile, Stephanie Tang led the Flyer women through the course, breaking a PR from 2012 with her first place team finish in 28:32 (7:08 pace and fifteenth for the 35-39 age group). Jillian Hobson and Peri Saat placed second and third for the Flyer women in 30:29 (7:38 pace) and 32:17 (8:05 pace). Jeanhie Hahn picked up a fourth place team finish and sixth in the 50-54 age group in 32:46 (8:12 pace), and Diane Klein placed fifth for the Flyer women and seventh in the 55-59 age group in 33:21 (8:21 pace). Other age group honors went to Howard Tanz (fourth in the men's 65-69 age group); David Gaines (sixth in the men's 65-69 age group); Deborah McDuffie-Saat (fourth in the women's 60-64 age group); Fran Breslauer (first in the women's 75-79 age group); and Gary Heard (seventh in the men's 70-74 age group).

I don't see no cherry blossoms – Those must await the coming of spring.
Despite the snow that's arriving again this week, spring really is only a few weeks away. One of the first harbingers of spring for local runners is the PPTC Cherry Tree 10-Miler and Relay, which took place in Prospect Park on Sunday morning. Results aren't listed by club, but Facebook tells me that we had a strong Flyer turnout. You can check out the results put together by the Flyers who were there here.