Connecticut Runners

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New Haven 20K (Read 329 times)

    Since a lot of people here look like they are planning to run the New Haven 20K I thought it might be worthwhile starting a thread for it. Parking: came up in another thread. If you get there a bit early it should not be a problem. Assuming you can run 20K you can no doubt find a street spot someplace within walking distance! But do allow some time as many of the roads will be closed and several thousand people will also be searching for spots. Course support: they have water and whatever this year's sports drink will be. One warning, the volunteers while well meaning often think their job is to be as quiet as possible. So if you want to be sure you get what you want make sure you ask for it. Ask loudly or many of them will continue to stand their totally mute. Unofficial support: several families will set up unofficial water and sports drink stations along the route especially in the 7 to 9 mile range. I have used them in the past with no ill effects. Hills: if you are looking for a fast course by CT standards this is it! The RD claims there are only two small hills along the route and it is true! You should clock a pretty good time if it is not too hot and as of now the weather report looks pretty good. Post race: they post the race results very, very quickly! Stick around after you finish and it is likely the sheet with your time will show up soon thereafter. Basically, once they get a page worth of results it goes up on the board. While you are waiting you can wander around the booths. I highly recommend picking up a loaf of bread if they are handing them out again this year!

    Live like you are dying not like you are afraid to die.

    Drunken Irish Soda Bread and Irish Brown Bread this way -->  http://allrecipes.com/cook/4379041/


    My legs are killing me

      The bread at the post race party is great but the beer is even better! Big grin
        Last year the bread was provided by Chabaso.. and was awesome (I stole a second one to take home). The beer was provided by Red Hook, but by the time I dragged myself across the finish line the beer line was allllllll the way across the green!
        mgerwn


        Hold the Mayo

          OK, I'm registered for the 5K! I took a ride up to New Haven today, registered at Trailblazer and picked up my shirt, then went for a run around the course to get a feel for where things are. For those who haven't run it, the 5K course starts out on Elm Street, heading south-east toward State St. The 20 K also starts on Elm, two blocks up from the 5K start, and heads in the opposite direction. Both courses are extremely well marked (already), on telephone poles and trees on both sides of the course. Continuation signs are the now-famous Doonesbury character, in red outline, on 8 1/2 X 11 white paper. When the courses turns, there are bright red arrows posted on the telephone poles and trees at the corner, directing you which way to go. There are also several NHPD police sawhorses on the sidwalks, so these will probably be out there as well. No reason to get lost on this course, unless you never look ahead!! - no markings on the road pavement itself. The 5K turns left onto State, then left again onto Edwards (this is where the first small hill is - it's nothing to be concerned about) before the course turns right onto Livingston, then left on Willow to Whitney. Willow is the other small hill, but again, it's not anything to worry about. A left on Whitney and you are headed back toward the green and the finish. (See notes below about the Whitney / Temple fork - I missed this split the first time I ran this course many years ago, even though it was well marked). The two small hills combined are a total climb of about 120-130 feet - this is a FLAT course. Plus, Whitney is a very gradual decline, giving up most of the climb you made in about a mile. For both the 20K and the 5K, two notes about the finish: 1 - Whitney comes to a fork in the last half mile before the finish - make sure you stay to the right of the fork (follow the signs). 2 - After the fork, at the last 1/4 mile, there is a bridge under repair, and the road is blocked with concrete barriers (one lane of the bridge has been removed). I don't know how race organizers plan to handle this, as the course is marked with signs to go right through here on the left sidewalk. The left side of the bridge is still there, and could be used if they move the jersey barriers out of the way, but if they don't it's going to be a tight squeeze here for the middle of the pack runners. My advice is to make sure you take the right (and correct) fork (Temple Street) when Whitney splits into Whitney and Temple there, and then begin making your way toward the left sidewalk. If you have to jump up onto the grass here you'll be in a better position than everyone trying to move over from the right at the last minute. I did not check the 20K course. I was planning on driving it, but due to several construction projects going on and the Yale students moving in I could not get down all the streets I needed to. Links to RunningAhead maps of the courses (verified against official course map): 5K: http://www.runningahead.com/maps/bb66012a50c74b44860162a48f7bf453 20K: http://www.runningahead.com/maps/63f8f33f65144d92b763f9c041b71da0 Parking - there is a small parking lot next to the Trailblazer store (296 Elm, corner of Park Street) that, according to the attendant there today, will be unlocked and unattended all day Monday - free parking! I don't expect many New Haveners to park there, as the price sign and booth will still be there. It's only a 3-4 block walk down Elm from there to the Green. Last note - if you are coming down to New Haven tomorrow, once you get into the New Haven Green area, expect a LOT of traffic. This is freshman parents' weekend at Yale, plus it appears to be move-in weekend for the students (I don't know if ths is the official one, or if parents are just taking advantage of the long weeend to bring more stuff up, but there were a ton of pickups, SUVs, and minivans from out-of-state loaded with all kinds of stuff parked everywhere they shouldn't be.) I'm sure by Monday morning they'll be back onthe road, but tomorrow could be similar to today. See you all at the race on Monday! I'll be the guy with the (flying) monkey on his back. Big grin
            So... how'd everyone do? I finished, broken rib and all.. and if those other 1109 people who finished ahead of me didn't run.. I totally would have won!


            Ex-Smoker turned Runner!

              roc congrats on finishing I don't think I could of done with with a cracked rib!
              -Jen
              2010 Goals! Get back into running after having my son miles miles miles!


              My legs are killing me

                Rocca, I ran a 2:06 on very tired legs (I ran 12 on Saturday). Not my best time for sure but good practice for NYC. Are you going to run Hartford?
                  Probably not. I already registered for it.. but the last month of not running because of the rib really threw off my training, and I don't think I'll be there by the 11th. At least I'll have my shirt as inspiration for next year.
                    What a great race! Well run and a nice course. I am very happy with my 1:37:16 considering this was supposed to be "just a training run" for NYC. My only complaint was the line for the beer was too long Big grin I think it was probably a little preparation for the crowd in NYC. Obviously 5,000 is a lot less than 40,000, but compared to the local road races with 150 runners this was a major event.
                    2010 Goals: Danbury Half Marathon: <1:42:00; boston="" run="" to="" remember:=""></1:42:00;><1:42:00; nyc="" marathon:=""></1:42:00;><3:45:00; finish: run amuck and warrior dash! finish:="" run="" amuck="" and="" warrior=""></3:45:00; finish: run amuck and warrior dash!>