5th Avenue Mile

After settling in California for 3ish weeks, I made a quick trip back to the Northeast to run the 5th avenue mile. This was a long trip across the country (I had previously considered racing the New Haven Road Race the weekend prior, and am glad I didn't) that I'd probably avoid, but had signed up in June before I knew I'd be in California at that time. I'm not opposed to traveling further away for a race, but figured it'd be better to race in California/West Coast while I'm out there for only a year or so, and fulfill my Northeast bucket list races while I'm back in RI/New England and it's much easier to get around. 

The mile was only $50 or so (expensive for a mile, but not a ton of money to justify still flying out for it), but decided to still race because I had paid about $100 for a Billy Joel concert. Shortly after that he announced he won't being playing at Madison Square Garden anymore and scaling his concerts back significantly, causing all remaining NYC concerts to sell out immediately. So now with $150 down towards this trip and potentially a last chance to see him in concert, it felt more worth it to go. My fitness was coming around at this point but still nowhere near peak. For a mile I wouldn't have particularly high expectations but secretly wanted to break 4:30 on the fast downhill course. 

Flew over early Saturday morning with no time to run before a 6am flight. Flew on JetBlue for the first time which seemed to have good reviews, and I really enjoyed it. Definitely worth paying the extra $10/flight to get an aisle seat as it was easy enough to get up for the bathroom. Unlimited included snacks/drinks was a really nice perk and it did feel like there was extra leg room. Movie selection seemed limited but still found some stuff to watch in Dungeons and Dragons and Zoolander, both quite entertaining. The two people next to me were super quiet and pleasant not having annoying neighbors. Landed around 3:30PM at JFK, and still a long trip from there to Columbus Circle in Manhattan to pick up my bib, meet up with Andrew and get in a pre meet run in Central Park. I incorrectly thought the subway connected to JFK, but instead JFK has an airtrain that connects to the subway system, meaning an additional leg. It took quite a while to get to Manhattan with both legs of transport, waiting for trains and many stops on the subway. Some guy kept almost falling asleep on my shoulder on the subway and it was awkward. Bright side is there was an issue with the payment machine for the airtrain so I didn't have to pay the $10. 

Nice automated display on subway showing the upcoming stops

Andrew picked up my race supplies as I was running late, then I grabbed a bagel since I had so little to eat by then. NYC bagels never disappoint and are truly in a class of their own. We paid for the bounce luggage storage which is a good option for dropping your stuff in a city and running, and I was now comfortable with as I had done it a few times. Typical Central Park loop. I felt great although the humidity was very noticeable after running on the much less humid SoCal coast the last few weeks. Sometimes my feet will bother after a long travel days walking around in my running shoes and that was the only thing that felt off. Strides weren't great, but overall I felt about as good as I could expect. 

Stayed in Englewood, New Jersey which was a bit of pain. Took the subway as close to the GW bridge as I could. Tried to figure out the Bus system but it was really confusing and the bus wasn't showing up. This was my third time trying to figure bus systems for races (Jacksonville and Pittsburgh this spring) and it really feels like they try to make it as confusing as possible. Ended up bailing and taking an uber to the hotel. Unfortunate late night with the cross country flight and ate pretty late. Only slept about 6 hours having to get up for the race. Andrew and I would race at 9:40AM and we woke up around 5:30. Quick breakfast and out of there. Long legs of travel- uber to bus stations, successfully took the bus this time and then took the subway several legs to columbus circle. Andrew had to use Bounce again as he was only staying one night and couldn't leave his baggage in the hotel. I killed the time waiting for him by stretching a bit and jogging over to the finish, although the latter was quite uncomfortable given I was carrying a small bag with a lot of stuff in it. 

Andrew and I got in the remainder of the warm-up and both agreed it was really uncomfortable/unnatural running while carrying a stuffed gym bag. We decided to do some really short loops so we could drop our bags but monitor them so they couldn't get stolen. Racing in the big city is a big hassle! It's a lot easier if you stay really close to the start but the Manhattan hotel prices were ridiculous for that weekend and saved a lot of money staying in NJ. We had warmed up a little early and had plenty of time to use the port-a-potties. This was an all-morning event as each 5 year age group had their own start. Technically I could have qualified for the NYRR championship seeded heat as the standard was 4:28, but I didn't know about this and missed out. I wasn't too bummed given I'd be pretty close to dead last in that field anyway and would rather be competitive in my heat. 

With maybe 15-20 minutes to go, we dropped our bags at gear check and jogged over to the start + a few strides. I can't remember too well how I felt this day. I don't think I felt especially good but I'm not sure if it was terrible either. I don't remember being too confident. 

Fortunately our bibs were marked to be in the fastest section of our heat as there was a seeded group of about 16 guys. Andrew and I had been worried as we couldn't enter a seed but rather was converted to a 10K pace based on previous NYRR races (just Dash to the Finish 5K for me)- which looked like I was being seeded around 5:25. I lined up towards the back of the group, not wanting to start too aggressive. Goal was to get under 4:30- no turns, no downhills but that seemed a little out of reach with my lack of speed lately and the challenging travel circumstances. Some NYRR official kept gesturing at someone in the seeded corral to move, but I could not tell who he was pointing to or what they wanted him to do. Feel like this happens in every big race. Someone's always angry.  

Soon enough we were off. I remember wanting to go out in 66/67 and put myself in a position for sub-4:30 without setting myself up a big positive split. It's tough to properly pace for a road mile as it really feels like an all out sprint. My legs felt kind of heavy and flat at this pace (versus controlled during a longer race) but I still managed to get out fast. Hit the quarter mile in 64, a bit ahead of schedule but a 15 foot drop. 

The second quarter was the toughest with a 16 foot uphill. The fast start and not feeling super comfortable with the pace led to a big slow down even though I was moving up well on the group and in the 3rd to 5th range. I think I hit the half mile in 2:14/2:15. 

The last half mile was just all out racing without much tactics. We had around a 20 foot drop in this quarter mile so it was pretty fast and kept me from falling off the pace. This is likely the quarter mile I really fall off during the Bottone Mile. I actually moved back to 7th/8th as a lot of people were making their moves. 

Final quarter mile is pretty much flat with the finish line in sight the entire way. Not much to recap from the race, ran as hard as I could to the line and got caught by one guy which is pretty typical as I'm not a great kicker in the shorter races. Eyes on the clock to see what I'd hit and unlike Millennium Mile, I was able to get there before the clock hit 4:30. Saw 4:28 when I crossed (or maybe 4:29 but I started a second back) and 4:28 on my watch, but NYRR gave a round-up to 4:29. Regardless, sub-4:30 is sub 4:30 and I was happy this one. Absolutely not working on speed in the slightest, still pretty early in this training block, and the travel made for non-ideal circumstance. But I got it done and took 5 seconds off previous PR off Bottone. According to strava, the total net downhill is 23 feet, which isn't nothing but not crazy either and there's probably 20 feet in there as well. So I'll count as a PR as it's not a massive downhill boost. Full results.

While the effort felt all out and no room to go faster, I interesting was not completely cooked like Millennium Mile or some track races. For both Millennium Mile and my first two 4:25 indoor miles this past January, I had horrible chest burn for 30 minutes-hour post race. 5th ave felt far less fatigued than most races this year. 

Post race Andrew and I did a 6 mile cooldown exploring lots of Central Park. There are so many interior paths (versus doing the popular 6 mile outer road loop) and a decent amount of soft surface as well. Briefly got on some steep technical trails. Was pretty tired but good to explore. Originally I had considered a workout but didn't have it in me. I had the good idea of switching my race shoes/singlet out of my checked bag but leaving there (so I could cool down/not to have to carry bag) which absolutely baffled the volunteers (you guys are putting your bags back?). It's strange to me that 99% of racers seem to warm up and cool down in supershoes, but it is better from a convenience standpoint. 

Absolutely poured the last 2 miles and they ended up cancelling the NY championship heat, so I'm quite glad I didn't end up in that one. Explored midtown a bit after, got some decent food, watched the elite heat. What wasn't so fun was the trip back to New Jersey on a really tight window then getting 3ish hours sleep having to get over to JFK the next morning for my flight. I ubered over to the GW bridge as the the buses didn't run that early (at 5AM) with plans to walk over the bridge to the subway. Only to find the bridge was locked and I had to get a second uber. The freaks were out on the subway too with a guy screaming f-bombs and hitting things with a stick. And then the previous night a military guy screaming at a lady that she doesn't have the intestinal fortitude (whatever that means) to serve, and called her a civilian bitch. Had to throw out a favorite water bottle in the airport because the TSA guy was being a total jerk and the only other option was to go back in line with security (half hour wait). The flight back was not great either as I noticed a guy was my seat. He asked to trade his middle seat with my aisle seat so he could sit with his wife, which I declined for a 6 hour flight. Not sure that was the best move though, as the (obese) wife had a baby that proceeded to scream and cry, kick me and steal my snacks on and off for the flight. 

On the whole though despite a miserable travel experience, I raced well, enjoyed most of my time in Manhattan. Glad to cross off a bucket list race and I'd definitely do it again. Would be much better coming in from New England and not California as well. I think it was pretty lame NYRR cancelled the NY championship heat but otherwise no real complaints.