broadway ultra society
917-620-3431
April 2, 2015
Dear BUS Member,
Firstly, I wish everybody a happy and blessed holiday.
I realize that I was taking a brief sabbatical, but I didnt think that part of the BUS Membership was taking a sabbatical WITH me. On March 8, we sent out friendly reminders to Members who have not renewed. The response was very positive, but we still have 78 members who currently have not updated their membership status. Since our membership is on calendar year, please note that June 6 will be the last day of membership acceptance. I hope you still will be part of the roster..I later discovered that I sent out some friendly reminders to a few who actually HAVE renewed. My inadequacies seemed to be ever present. But coming from an Italian and religious family, I have learned the following. The only phenomenon that is infallible is Pope Tomato Sauce on Sunday afternoons. All else is up for scrutiny. I apologize for the snafu.
I also want to greatly thank everybody for the birthday greetings either by e-mail or through Facebook. I tried to send a global reply, but I guess my Facebook page was also on sabbatical. But it still was very much appreciated. Even though my birthday is in March, I have had two surprise parties in my life and both were during the first week of May. I guess because I am somewhat socialistic in nature and like Mexican food.
The first New York Ultra Running (NYUR) Grand Prix event was the Caumsett Park 50K Championship on March 1. Despite snowy conditions, the event featured 119 finishers in the 50K and a 184 in the 25K. The race winners were Zachary Ornelas with event record of 2:52:17 and Sarah Bard at 3:23:29. CONGRATS to director Carl Grossbard and the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) for another top-notch exhibition. I am a big fan of Caumsett, because it brought back elite ultra racing in the Metropolitan area. I believe the first local 50K was the Met Championship at Alley Pond Park in 1974 won by fellow BUS Member, Paul Fetscher. That event was held at several locations including Central Park. The 1977 edition was the National championship and won by Fritz Mueller in 2:58:58. There have been many local 50Ks since those glory days, but I believe Fritz was the only one to break three hours in this area. But then Caumsett was established, and the last 7 winners have all been under the blazing 3-hour mark.
The next Grand Prix races will be the 37th running of the Sybil Ludington Historical 50K & 2-Person Relay on Saturday, April 25 in Carmel and the Long Island Greenbelt 50K Trail Run & 25K on Saturday, May 9 in Plainview. You already should have received race applications to both events in the previous BUS mailing..Sybil starts at 8AM (the relay at 9AM) and is one giant loop on rural terrain. Though the event is 60 miles from Manhattan, you can still get there without a car via Metro North from Grand Central to Brewster....................There have been several trail ultras in our area in recent years, but ONE started it all. And that is the Greenbelt directed by Nick Palazzo with assistance from the GLIRC gang. Nick is one of the few Met runners that have completed a Grand Slam (Vermont, Western States, Leadville & Wasatch) in a calendar year. So, Nick understands what a trail race is all about. The Greenbelt is a challenge but also pure joy. The 50K starts at 7:30 AM at the GLIRC Clubhouse and the 25K starts at 8:30 AM. For more info, please contact GLIRC at 516-349-7646 or www.glirc.org
There are other Spring ultras on the calendar. The noteworthy one is The Great New York 100-Mile (& 100K) Running Exposition on Saturday, June 20 starting at 5AM at Times Square. I believe the event is closed, but you can still be part of the spectacle. Volunteers are greatly needed at ALL TIMES, especially from 7PM Saturday to Noon the next day. Besides staffing, funding is also limited and self-supported. Any donations to the event would be very helpful. Please contact Phil McCarthy at or the race site at www.tgny100.com how you can be involved.
Speaking of Phil, his talents seemed to be never ending. Besides being a former National Champion, an American Record holder and ultra impresario, he is also a performer. Phil was part of a quartet that sang the National Anthem before a Brooklyn Nets game in December at the Barclays Arena. He also performed a piano recital in February......................And Phil is still competing. One event will be doing the ultra Triple D in May. No, he will not preparing an Omaha Steaks recipe on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but running the Dawn to Dusk to Dawn Ultras in Sharon Hill, PA on May 30. This track event is multiple distances (24-Hour, 50K, 100K & 12-Hour) at multiple times (7AM, 9AM and 7PM). There are still openings to participate. An ultra fun day indeed and also accessible by mass transit. Please contact Director Bill Schultz at or the race Facebook page.
The Pajama Romp 6-Hour is still tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at Astoria Park. The event will be a NYUR Grand Prix race and hopefully I will have more definitive info in a month. Meanwhile, look for updates by e-mail.
Take care & cheers.