[40] Volunteering at Wall Street

Volunteering? I thought someone said "Volun-BEER-ing"?! All kidding aside, I earned my Plus One this evening by hustling down to the Financial District to work as a Start/Finish Marshal at the American Heart Association's Start! Wall Street Run/Walk. After a couple of cooler, rainy days, I was a bit worried about having to stand in the rain for several hours without much movement. Thankfully, by the time I got to the World Financial Center's Winter Garden, I was greeting with a warm, cloudy sunset, a bright orange volunteering vest, emergency card, and free NYC Marathon Poncho (just in case)!

[Start/Finish Marshal]
If I fail professionally (and manage to finish my body transformation), I could always get a job as a ring girl for boxing. I was assigned to hold the sign at the base of the Runner's Corral, and direct people to the correct staging areas (walk or run), the bag drop, check-in (for the stragglers), and the porta-johns (which were blocked from view by a stupid Escalade). The wind gave my arms quite the workout, but I did my best to greet and direct. Commenting post-race on FB, I met someone who recognized me (largely due to my green Yankees cap and almost going airborne with the large sign)! I wish I could have found the person who actually took a picture of me. I didn't want to skimp on my duties by asking someone to take my photo.

My good deed for the evening was helping a distraught runner get her D-Tag onto her sneakers after the safety clip locked into place. It required creative lacing, but my rescue mission was a success. If I volunteer for the same position next time, I may take a baggie full of safety pins because a couple handfuls of runners left theirs at home (or managed to lose them in the two block walk to the staging area).

After the race started, we packed it in and headed to the finish line. I never realized how frustrating it can be to keep people moving through the finishing area. Even if you cheer them on and ask nicely, few people smiled, said thank you, or even did as they were instructed. Some random, out-of-towners who participated in the race asked to take a picture with me. I think it was the vest. Something about Safety Orange is rather sexy.

[Extra Credit?]
The following night, my volunteering confirmation popped up in my inbox. It's printed out and ready for the ole running file!

[2012 NYC Marathon 9+1 Progress]

One Race? Done!
One Volunteering? Done.
Run through September. Filed under "Unfinished Business".
Next up? Celebrate Israel Run on Sunday, June 5th in Central Park. Japan Run for Hope's revenge challenge.

[39] Japan Run for Hope

Race: NYRR's Japan Run for Hope [ Gallery]

Distance: 04.0 Miles, 06.4 Kilometers

Date/Time: May 8, 2011, 8:30 AM
Location: Central Park, NYC [Course]
Weather: 53 Degrees, 72% Humidity, Wind 3 MPH, Fair.

Bib#: 8526

Corral: Silver (8000-8999)

[Times]
Clock Time: 50:23
Chip Time: 43:08 (Pace: 10'47”)
Nike+ Time/Splits: 44;20” (Pace: 10'58”; 425.49 Cal)

• Mile 1: 10:56 (10'56”)
• Mile 2: 20:57 (10'01”) *Fastest
• Mile 3: 32:59 (12'01”) *Slowest
• Mile 4: 43:53 (10'55”)

[Places]

Overall: 4,258/5,079
Gender: 1805/2,385
Age: 436/1,074
AG (Age Graded) Stats

• Time: 43:05
• Place: 1978
• Percentage: 44.66%

[Race Packet Pick-up]

This was my first time to go to NYRR HQ and check out their facilties. The process they have in place is quiet efficient and quick (plus, going mid-day on a Thursday helps, too). Within five minutes, I had my bib, tag, pins, and free t-shirt, and I was on my way out the door. I wanted to drop by the shop and finally pick up that blasted Sponge Bob Square Pants Bikini Bottom Track Club T-shirt, but they were closed. :( This will be one of my homework assignments for National Running Day on June 1st (also coordinated by NYRR).

[Race]

May was a lazy month for me. Minimal training, but lots of walking. I should have known better. Turns out, working a job and a half greatly minimizes my training time, especially with a busted treadmill and May showers all over the place. On top of that, a serious work related matter kept me up half the night before, so I was far from well rested, but I dragged myself out of bed and showed up anyway. 

Like many races, this one was a wave start, but before I even crossed the State gates, I knew I was no where I needed to be. The first mile was my warm up, mile two made my feel good, but when I hit mile three, I felt like an albatross was thrown around my neck. I pushed through and finished, but I was disappointed with my time. I stopped for a photograph at the "Finishers' Circle" before stocking up on free goodies, watching the raffle, and meeting the two guest Japanese Olympic Marathoners! Best quote from the finish refeuling station: "Sexy Green Tea for the Sexy People!" Yes, ma'am, I'll take a six pack, please!

Looking at the photos, I learned two things: 1) I must run outside more often and develop some sort of tan base before the Queens & Bronx halves this summer or I will die, 2) I should not wear white t-shirts with my severe lack of tan.


With Reiko Tosa (left) and Yoko Shibui (right)

[Meeting Japanese Olympic Marathoners!]

Due to the Tohoku Earthquake in March, Japanese marathoners, Reiko Tosa & Yoko Shibui, were unable to compete in upcoming races in Japan. They were invited to compete as ambassadors of Japan, and both finished in the top four (Shibui 1st; Tosa 4th). After the awards ceremony, many Japanese participants and supports went over to take a photo with Toda & Shibui. I screwed up my courage, ran into one of my students (and her parents), and managed to get my picture taken with them! Both women were surprised when I asked in Japanese. I suspect they were bracing themselves to speak in English!

During the awards ceremony, they were also holding a raffle. The grand prize being a trip for two to Japan! I nearly died when they called out "Silver... Eighty-five... twe----lve." So close and yet, so darned far! Thankfully, the prize when to a young twenty-something who had never been to Japan, so bittersweet as it may be, I am happy the prize will go to someone who may fall in love with Japan like myself!

[Second Verse, Same as the First]
My second attempt at this route will be the Celebrate Israel Run by NYRR & the JCRCNY on Sunday, June 5th. They are using the exact same route, counterclockwise from the band shell, up the east drive, across at the 102nd Street transverse, down the west drive and finishing on the 72nd Street transverse near the band shell. I need to amp up the training, especially outside on changing elevations.

[2012 NYC Marathon 9+1 Progress]

One down. Eight to go. Next up? Volunteering at the American Heart Association's Start! Wall Street Run on Tuesday, May 17th.

[37] My Plus One

No. Not that "Plus One". I speak of the "+1" portion of the 9+1 Guaranteed Entry for the 2012 NYC Marathon. My scrambling to get time off for the American Heart Association's Start! Wall Street Run was in vain as the race closed minutes before I could sign up.

Or so I thought.

While poking around the NYRR's volunteering site, I noticed that a volunteer opportunity was available for the AHA Start! Run. This lead to an apostrophe... I mean epiphany.

As most of the volunteer opportunties for NYRR clash with my work schedule, I figured I would have to wait until summer time to knock out the volunteering requirement. Since I already had the night of May 17th free anways, I set a positive spin on what started out as a frustrating situation. Instead of registering as a walker and running purely for the just self-satisfaction (and receiving no-NYRR credit for guaranteed entry), I might as well be a girl scout and do a little do-gooding for my fellow runners. I signed up to be a Start/Finish Marshal, both of which are essential functions of the race's behind-the-scenes magic.

[Start Marshal] (from NYRR Volunteering Packet)

1. Assist with the smooth and successful start of the race.
2. Manage corral entrances (if there are corrals)and check runner bibs; ensure that runners enter corral corresponding to their bib color and that they enter the corrals at least 10 minutes before the race when corrals close. Runners who come after this point must go to the last corral regardless of bib color.
3. Keep the emergency lane clear for emergency vehicles, cyclists and other park patrons. Alert pedestrians and runners entering the race site to approaching bicycles and vehicles. Be vocal and upbeat in directing runners to the start and off the roadway!
4. Assist in cleaning area and breakdown as needed.
5. Calling in medical emergencies. Take note of your location so that you can give an exact location IF you need to make a medical call.

[Finish Marshal] (from NYRR Volunteering Packet)

1. Responsible for keeping spectators off of the race course and out of the emergency lane pre-finish.
2. Responsible for keeping the post-finish area clear by keeping the runners moving once they cross the finish line.
3. Direct runners to medical, food, post-finish fluids, and baggage areas as necessary.
4. Cheer on runners as they finish!
5. Alert pedestrians and runners exiting the race site to approaching bicycles and vehicles.
6. Assist in cleaning area and breakdown as needed.
7. Calling in medical emergencies. Take note of your location so that you can give an exact location IF you need to make a medical call.

If my schedule permits, I would like to do more volunteering for NYRR (maybe for all those races I can't get into). The challenge is living in Westchester county. When possible, I want to run if I make the trek into NYC (at least until I get my 9+1 completed). I definitely want to volunteer for the 2011 ING NYC Marathon, even if it means a stupidly early morning and hours of standing around. I find it interesting that volunteering for the NYC Marathon doesn't count toward the volunteering requirement. Maybe it is because the event is so large and requires so many volunteers that it would make it too easy for everyone to get in through the 9+1 Option. Also, volunteering for the smaller races might be a sign of dedication for those who want in (or want to support their friends who are running).

I am kicking around signing up to volunteer at the Brooklyn Half, too. I just need to find a place to crash (or at least stash my car) near the event site. Watching the sunrise at Coney Island sounds like fun, but I need to be able to get there and back via personal transportation. I've never been to CI, and it would give me a sample of what is to come, should I get into it next year!

[18] ING-sane Entry

While working on my health goal on Lululemon's goaltender, in the 5 Year Health Goal, I indicated that I would run the NYC Marathon by November 2015. I haven't got the slightest idea what possessed me to write that, but it just came out. Last year, I never thought I would even dream about running a half-marathon, but as of last week, I logged my second one with a time better than I originally expected.

Before you get all huffy, I know. Although I've run the equivalent of a full marathon by completing two halves, it is not the same as running a full marathon in one go. The New York Road Runners have paired up with ING New York City Marathon to provide an incentive program to run and volunteer for races. Their 9+1 Program is quite appealing. Run nine NYRR races and volunteer for one within a calendar race year, and one is guaranteed entry in the 2012 NYC Marathon.

After registering for the Japan Run in May over the weekend, I starting going over the 2011 race calendar. In a perfect world, where I can find people willing to trade weekend shifts with me, I would like to register and run the following races to meet my 9 race requirement:

1. 05/08: Japan Run (@9AM; 4Mi; Central Park) *Registered 3/5
2. 06/25: Front Runner's Pride Run (@9AM; 5 Mi; Central Park)
3. 06/26: Achilles Hope Possibility (@8:30AM; 5Mi; Central Park)
4. 07/16: Central Park Conservatory (@9AM; 4Mi; Central Park)
5. 08/27: Harlem 5K (@8:30AM; 5K; St. Nicholas Park, Harlem)
6. 09/17: Fitness Magazine (@9AM; 4Mi; Central Park) or 09.24: Fifth Ave Museum Mile (Various)
7. 10/30: Poland Springs Marathon Kick Off (@8:30AM; 5Mi; Van Cortlandt Park)
8. 11/20: Race to Deliver (@8:30AM; 4Mi; Central Park)
9. 12/10: NYRR Jingle Bell Jog (@9AM; 4Mi; Prospect Park, Brooklyn)
10. 12/31: Emerald Nuts Midnight Run (@12AM; 4Mi; Central Park)

I would love to sign up for the Queens Half or the Bronx Half, but I am not too sure about my endurance during the summer time for such a long distance. Queens falls right smack in the middle of Summer Program, so I am 99.9% sure it is out of the question, but there is a possibility for the Bronx Half. I have to be back at work by 4PM on 8/28 anyway, so I think I may be able to squeeze this one in. I would prefer avoiding the Midnight Run in Central Park unless I can find someone to run it with me, but most of my friends in the area go home for the holidays, so it might be a tad lonely. Plus, I need to volunteer for one of these races as well.

I guess it will really boil down to how well I can manage my time. I may have to make some sacrifices if I am serious about getting into the 2012 NYC Marathon. Also, I am planning on registering for the Disney Wine & Dine Half on October 1, 2011, so I am going to have to be rather crafty with my schedule changes. Looks like I am going to have to work on my negotiation skills. ;) It seems I have found a creative outlet for dealing with my rejection from grad school and my failure of the JLPT. It will be a ton of work, but it will be a very healthy lifestyle in 2011!