Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Tune This!

That's right Hellgaters, the annual NYRR 18 mile, ING NYC Marathon Torture... oops! I mean, Tune-Up race got underway at 7am on Sunday, September 28, 2008. It proved to be another battle of human versus humidity in what has been a long and soggy marathon training season. Despite the desperate atmospheric conditions, our own Hellgaters pushed themselves to the limit and hopefully recognized the extra fitness they gained by finishing during an unforgiving huricane season.


Seventeen (plus Diego who is missing from the Hellgate results page) of our team completed 3 whole loops of Central Park. This is some feat! Please note racers surged up and down Harlem Hill 3 times, rolled over the West Side's Larry, Moe, and Curly 3 times, and last but not least clawed up the infamous Cat Hill 3 times. All finishes were battles hard won and well deserved. And once again teammates posted some amazing times that earned them age place awards!
  1. Phenominal Phil - 8th overall and 3rd place age group
  2. Kwick Kaufmann (a.k.a. Ben) - 21st overall and 3rd place age group
  3. The Andrei Express - 27th overall and 6th place age group
  4. Jim-Running-Away-Ryan - 9th place age group
  5. Swift Soula - 8th place age group

Check out all the AMAZING results at the NYRR website!


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Conquer Yonkers!

The rally cry for the weekend was "Conquer Yonkers!" And Hans and Aurelio did just that! Hans, known to many in the club as the perpetual runner, defeats marathon and ultramarathon distances around the world. For some reason he seems to return to the Yonkers Marathon nearly every year. Maybe it's the pull of the race track or the challenge in the hills, but no matter what keeps him running Yonkers, he always posts an amazing, awe-inspiring time!
Aurelio is also known throughout the club as a tough competitor who not only pushes himself, but gently (and sometimes not so gently) pushes the rest of along no matter what our goals or times. We also know that Aurelio has been in the hunt for the elusive sub-3 hour marathon! We all had faith that the day would come when he would acheive his goal. Yonkers proved to be his marathon!
Congratulations to Hans and Aurelio for placing 6th and 7th overall at the 2008 Yonkers Marathon! Hans also placed 1st in his age group with a time of 2:51:11. Aurelio placed 2nd in his age group with a time he has waited for of 2:55:27! Check out all the marathon results!
We also have to mention the Yonkers Half Marathon as well! Ximena and Fernando ran strong into 1:41 and 1:43 times in the half. Great work! (A link to the half results will be posted as soon as they are found - the flrrt.com website is not giving up any Yonkers results right now.)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Kings of Queens

Hellgate sure knows how to tell everyone who's boss in the home borough! Our own Phenomenal Phil coasted in at College Point this weekend to become the 30th Annual Queens Half Marathon Overall Winner! His amazing 1:13:26 was over 2 minutes ahead of the 2nd place runner! Congratulations, Phil! Well done!

We also have some other winners on the team! Ben posted a solid 2nd place age group award with an incredible time of 1:19:34 followed by Andrei who steamrolled into a 6th place age group award at 1:22:13! Then with the help of Diego and Fernando the men's team placed 3rd overall! In total 12 men participated Sunday and ran strong!

On the ladies' side, Yvonne ran/swam through the 87% humidity to cross as the first female Hellgater in her comeback half marathon race! This new mama is gunning for the Philadelphia marathon, and it appears her training is on target! Following Yvonne was Diana, Chiemi, LuAnn, Rafaella, and Jaime who all overcame the miserable weather for the Ladies' team! Well run gals!

And on a bittersweet note, Diana ran her until-she-returns-race with Hellgate, and despite fighting an illness, she ran in a commendable and memorable race. Good luck with your travels, Diana! Hellgate can't wait to have you back in another year or 2!! We'll miss you!

For all results please see the NYRR website and check out the cool video which follows the winner in his Hellgate singlet, Phil, throughout the race (in addition to a few quick peaks of other Hellgaters). See if you can find all the Hellgaters in the NYRR photos too!

Great job everyone!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

CLUB POINTS @ FITNESS GAMES!

With school back in session, it's time Hellgate teaches the other clubs a lesson or two! More club points are up for grabs at the
Fitness, Mind, Body, Spirit Games on
Saturday, September 6, 2008!

4 mile distance
Men's Race at 8:30am
Women's Race at 9:30am
Kids' Races at 10:45am
See the NYRR website for more info. Online registration is closed now, but sign up at the NYRR office Thursday or Friday or at the race on Saturday! (MAKE SURE YOU PUT DOWN THAT YOU RUN FOR HELLGATE ON THE FORM.)
Good luck runners! Let's score big!