Staten Island On The Run: Rise of the virtual races – SILive.com

In 2019, it definitely has been challenging for runners to participate in their beloved big city and national traditional road races.

Basically the races fill up to a point now where entries have to be respectfully turned down.

Other options for participants include gaining entry through running for a charity (which can be quite expensive), acquiring a race number from someone else (which is illegal and can lead not only to the participants being banned but possibly their running clubs as well from future events) or hoping to get lucky in the lottery.

Well 21st Century technology has arrived and the question is can it work?

Recently many high-end races have set up a “Virtual Run” component. In a nutshell, the runner signs up for the race and then has a time window of a few days to run the race distance using technologies like Strava to record the miles, and then the event people are notified of the runner’s accomplishment.

Within a few days or weeks, your finishing medal, shirt, swag, etc. arrive in the mail.

It is my humble opinion that in the 1980s the late NYRR Leader Fred LeBow and others (including myself) would have thought this idea was certifiably insane. However, Virtual Runs have taken off to a very high (and profitable) level, as the NYRR has many of these events throughout the year and even some small-time races (and big ones like Falmouth) have set up the option as well. As far as I know, Virtual Runs have not established a firm footing on Staten Island yet, but you never know. Supply and demand, right?

Here’s more news from around the Staten Island running community:

— Fred Rigolini organizes an informal free run in Clove Lakes Park at 8 a.m. in front of the Stonehenge every Friday. The course is run along the Clove Lakes Park 5K trails. –

News from the Staten Island Athletic Club

The SIAC 3-Mile Fun Run held every Saturday at 9 a.m. at Clove Lakes Park has been a local tradition for more than 60 years. The run is free and open to all participants of all abilities. Held regardless of weather, it is only canceled when there is a local road race taking place. Details can be found at www.statenislandac.org

News from the New York Road Runners

The NYRR is pleased to announce the continuation of the Silver Lake Park runs on Wednesday evenings! Geared towards runners of all levels, these workouts will offer a variety of interval, hill and tempo workouts all designed to help you run faster. Whether your goal is to run your first race or to set a new personal best, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and coaches who’ll encourage you to pursue your goals and have fun in the process! Visit www.nyrr.org/train/classes/grouptraining for more information.

News From Ocean Breeze

The fall is quiet for the most part but we are excited for this year’s miles mania grand prix series. This year the dates are: Jan. 2, 16, 31, Feb. 13, 27, March 11 and Double Points day is March 25.

On Sept. 15, the WaveRunners will be planting trees in Ocean Breeze Park as part of the “Growing Champions” program. Growing Championships is a new initiative that will merge athletics with environmental education, stewardship and leadership program. The WaveRunners will be planting one tree for every national championship won since 2015 and one tree for every 100 hours of community service that the WaveRunner student-athletes participated in during the 2018-2019 athletic season. The running community and others are welcomed to join them for a day of volunteerism.

The Staten Island Running Association

SIRA is pleased to announce that with the support of NYC Councilwoman Debi Rose, that the street crossings of Cheshire Place And Clove Rd will be renamed “Vinnie Hutton Harrier Fun Run Way.”

Many of us are familiar with Mr. Hutton’s track career and community service beginning in the late 1920s, notably with the formation of the Staten Island Harriers, one of our borough’s first running clubs. He helped to create the Lou Marli Thanksgiving Day Race as well as prganizing the Fun Runs at Clove Lakes which eventually evolved into the current SIAC 3-Mile Saturday Fun Runs, which have been going on since the late 1940s.

The event will be taking place on Saturday, Oct. 19. At 11 a.m., commemorative shirts will be distributed while supplies last and A post-event get-ogether will take place at Doc Hennigan’s.

Also, the SIRA Marathon Dinner/Dance Gala will take place on Wednesday evening, Oct. 30 at the Staaten.

For further info check out http://statenislandrunning.org

Richmond Rockets

Two weeks ago, Richmond Rockets VP Lisa Lubarsky completed her first Iron Man, a 70.3 miler in Mont Tremblant in a time of 15:50:21. This follows her biking accident less than a year ago. Also congrats to Mike Bergeron who completed the same Iron Man in 12:47:28.

Kyla Leathers, one of the Rockets’ youngest competitors, finished her first triathlon (the Steelman Sprint & Olympic in Quakertown Pa.) on Aug. 11, in a time of 1:39:36. That was third in her age category.

For more info check out: https://teamrichmondrocket.wixsite.com/website

Monthly Prize Trivia

Please submit your answer to my email below. All correct answers will then be put into a lot where two winners will be drawn randomly. One winner will receive a free pair of ASICS running shoes, while the other winner qualifies for a free session at CRYO Staten Island (CRYOSI.com).

Congrats to Bill Welsh and Bob Guidera, who answered “Silver Lake Park” as the original site of the Celtic Run. Welsh will receive the pair of ASICS shoes and Guidera will receive the complimentary Kryo session.

The Question

Over an electrifying 41 days in 1979, British star Sebastian Coe set three track world records In three different events. Can you identify one of the events Coe set his record in and the time – answer in minutes and seconds – no need for tenths or hundredths!

Good Luck and see you all next month!

Keep Running!!

Questions, comments, upcoming news? Please feel free to email Jeff at rbenja726@aol.com