Hey everyone!

The race company chartered a bus from NYC up to the race, which was over an hr drive, for $35 that was worth it for me.. I just had to be in NYC by 6AM, which meant getting up at 3AM, leaving at 4AM to catch train.. The bus left NYC around 6:25, we arrived at the start at 8AM , race didn't start til 9 AM so had plenty of time.. The runners on the bus were given their bibs on the bus..

We found out the porta potties haven't arrived yet, the race company ordered 15 and no potties.. And I'm someone that usually goes at mile 1 lol.. I''m already sweating bullets and the race hasn't started yet..Expected temps was 85 by the time the race ends..

I am in a virtual running group on FB, over 100 people in this group, they have alot of meetups during the year, I finally got to meet and run with 10 of them today, felt like i've known then for 10 yrs the way we joke around..

The race started at 9:15, I'm usually run aroun 11:30 or so, not getting anywhere fast at that pace, I run for the enjoyment, and to support my local running store by buying plenty of running shoes \ clothes..This wasn't going to be a flat half, I'm not a fan of hills and the hills today make Central Park seem flat.. I'm a slow starter, but felt good at the start, wound up doing the first mile at 11:00, that's fast for me with or without a porta potty stop..So, what do I don on mile 2, run 10:06, and both miles up hill, I knew I was in trouble.. much too fast for me..

By mile 4 I caught up to a few girls from that FB page, and ran with them for the next 4 miles.. All of which seemed up hill lol..

I finally spotted a few porta potties, they showed up! Just in time lol..these things will be going back clean since nobody really got to use them..

I finally finished at 2:54, my slowest half but with that course, I was actually pretty happy..Great time and met alot of great people.

Here is a pre race pic, I'm the guy in back on the right with the white sunglasses..

When I got home, my mother inlaw, a 82 old Filippino woman, asked me how it went.. Told her I didn't win, she looked at my wife and said. "John didn't win", sounding really concerned, my wife rolled her eyes, we go thru this every race lol..

Thanks for the report, irishguy.  I usually go out too fast, too...way to hang in there.  And, yeah...meeting these people make running so much more fun.

Way to hang in there after a rough start! Nothing like hills and heat, that's for sure. Glad to see you jump right in here with a race report with pictures! Well done! (love the MIL comment... she sounded generally concerned)

Congrats, Irishguy! Sounds like a great meet-up, and a good time, despite the heat, hilly course, late-arriving Port-a-potties, and delayed start of the race. It was a long day for you, with having to get up at 3am to get to the bus on time, but it seems that it was all worth it. Your MIL is terrific!

Thanks for the great RR (race report)!

Jay

Great job and fun report Irishguy.

I grew up in Cornwall, NY, 5 miles south of Newburgh. I'm amazed they held a half there. Who sponsored it and where did the course start and finish? I'm pretty sure I know every street in that city overlooking the Hudson.  Spareribs

Thanks everyone!

Mariposai - I did read that thread, thank you anyway but not this year..

Spareribs     -  The race started at the end of Broadway, not the best of areas either I have to say.. We immediately a left on Grand and went out and back thru Old Post Road, that was some hill..then turned back..Nice race, if my friends run it next year I'll probably go back..Beautiful area up there, but have to say the scenery gets boring after awhile with all those hills lol..