The Great New York 100 Mile Running Exposition

Information sheet

 

The Great New York 100 Mile Running Exposition is an informal, small, low-key event that nevertheless promises to be an unforgettable running experience. It is an urban adventure, a running tour of New York City, beginning and ending in Times Square.

 

The start is Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 5:00 a.m. The start and finish line is at the Times Square pedestrian plaza between 45th and 46th St., in front of the Marriott Marquis Hotel. You will be able to leave a bag which will be secure. We hope to have a hotel room nearby at the finish for runners to retrieve their bag, shower and possibly take a nap. (The start and/or finish may be moved slightly for logistical issues, but it will be in the Times Square or Penn Station area.)

 

WHAT’S WITH THE NAME?  First of all, if it’s in New York, it has to be great! And the name takes its cue from the tradition of P.T. Barnum, where everything is great. It’s an exposition because it will expose you to parts of the city you’ve probably never been to before, and will show you what a great city this is to run in. Also, in future years as I hope to grow this race in to a big event with lots of publicity, it will expose the public to the world of ultrarunning and what a great bunch of people you all are!

 

CUTOFF: The cutoff time for finishing the race is 28 hours (9:00 a.m. Sunday). There will also be a cutoff time of 12 hours at the 50-mile mark.

 

COURSE: The course is 100.3 miles. It runs north through Manhattan, over the Henry Hudson Bridge into the Bronx, through parks and greenways to Orchard Beach, over the Triborough Bridge into Queens, through the Queens park corridor, including Flushing Meadows Park/Unisphere, then to Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan. The course will be marked but runners must be alert and attentive to markings and directions to avoid a wrong turn. The terrain is generally flat to gently rolling, with the biggest hills coming in the first 10 miles up to the Henry Hudson Bridge, and the other bridges as well. There are about two miles of trails in Van Cortlandt Park and a short trail section at Orchard Beach, otherwise the course is all paved, although there are some sections where you can run on the grass alongside the pavement, which is allowed (but not on people’s lawns). I’ve tried to minimize running on streets with traffic as much as possible, but NOTE that much of the final 10 miles is run on streets where there may be heavy vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, which is part of the “urban adventure” aspect of the race, so prepare to take extra care in traffic when you’re exhausted near the end.

 

AID STATIONS (very important): There will be aid stations approximately every 5-10 miles along the course. These will be minimal, providing water, sports drink, possibly ice if it’s hot, and possibly some simple food items (fruit, sweet or salty food), as well as some very basic medical items. This will not be like aid stations at most ultras you are probably familiar with.  They will not provide your nutritional needs during the race.  You will have to carry your own food, or buy it along the way. You will pass by many stores, restaurants and delis on the course, and those areas will be marked on the map and the direction sheet. You will also pass by many park drinking fountains if you need extra water. This is part of the urban adventure and fun of an event like this. Keep in mind that many stores may close at night. The aid stations will also not have any extra amenities like cots or anyplace to nap at night. They will basically be someone on a park bench or folding chair with water and Gatorade. They will check you in, make sure you’re ok, help you with directions if needed and give you encouragement and support. But in this race, you will have to be largely self-sufficient. Please only enter this race if you are prepared for that. I will attempt to make drop bags available at at least one aid station, for warmer clothes at night.

 

PACERS/CREW: The race is held on public paths and streets which will be fully open to the public. There are no absolute restrictions on pacers or crew. But we ask that you use no pacers before the 35 mile point (Randall’s Island) and recommend no pacers before the Unisphere (58 miles). Pacers (and crew) can meet you at any point on the course, subway stations for example, but please check in your pacer at the next aid station you come to. Pacers will be required at night, except for runners who reach the 90-mile point by 9:00 p.m. (16 hours race time). Sunset is approximately 8:30 p.m.  If you will not have a pacer at the race, please let us know as soon as possible and we will make every effort to match you with a volunteer pacer. If you wish to run the entire race with another registered runner, please let us know, and no additional pacers will be required, although a pacer is still recommended.

 

MANDATORY: All registered runners must carry the following items with them during the run.

                1. Cell phone*

                2. Direction sheet (to be provided)

                3. Metrocard with at least one subway/bus fare on it**

                4. Cash, no more than $20-25 needed, for food and drinks on the course

                5. At least one water bottle or hydration pack, minimum 20 oz.

*If you don’t have a cell phone, let me know

**Runners, particularly those from out of town, who wish to have a Metrocard provided to them, please send me a request by email at least one week prior to race day.

 

PROHIBITED:

                1. Music listening devices are prohibited at any time during the run, for registered runners and for pacers. This is a genuine safety issue. You will be running on streets that are open to traffic and you must always be fully aware of your surroundings. Furthermore, although you will not be running through any particularly “dangerous” neighborhoods at night, music listening devices are a target for thieves. Anyone not complying with race officials or volunteers on this issue will be immediately disqualified. Of course you may carry iPhones for a phone, but it must stay stowed away unless needed. Similarly, we strongly recommend against using iPhones or other smart phones for non-essential use at night (i.e., Facebook or Twitter updates).

                2. Littering. This includes banana peels and orange rinds. You will pass by trash cans everywhere along the route – use them.

 

DROPS: I genuinely expect all runners to complete the entire 100 miles within the 28 hour time frame. But if you must drop, you must notify race officials, volunteers, or myself immediately. It is preferable to drop at an aid station and tell the volunteers there, but I realize that at some points you pass by subway stations or other locations where it might be better for you to drop. In such a case, you must call me or send me a text at 646-549-0561 – BEFORE you get on the train or bus or otherwise leave the course. Unless injured or seriously ill, you will be responsible for getting yourself to the finish line or home or wherever you need to go.

 

OTHER WORDS: Always remember, safety first! This is not meant to be a highly-competitive event. Take the time to wait at stop lights, and always be careful at crossings. You are doing something amazing by running 100 miles, but drivers don’t know this. Also, be courteous to pedestrians, bike riders, and drivers. You are ambassadors and representatives for your sport, like it or not. But finally, relax and have fun, and enjoy the city and your run!

 

Questions? Contact:

 

Phil McCarthy

10 Hillside Ave., Apt. 5B

New York, NY 10040

646-549-0561

phildillny@yahoo.com