Vacation time is about over in running circles. It's time to get back to work.
I ran in my first "guess your time" race last week in Delaware Park. I had no idea what conditions would be like when I sent in my registration form a couple of weeks in advance,
which made it difficult.
Saturday came up pleasant if cold, and the Ring Road was nicely plowed for the most part. I finished 6.6 seconds faster from my prediction, and I was happy about that. Still, I only finished eighth overall. Some people really do have clocks in their head.
Last week the running column had some statistics, courtesy of Fritz Van Leaven. Here are 2011's biggest races in terms of registered finishers:
Race - Finishers
Turkey Trot - 11,880
Around the Bay (Hamilton) - 5,878
Shamrock Run - 3,572
Buffalo Half Marathon - 2,553
Niagara Falls International Half Marathon - 2,208
Flower City Half Marathon (Rochester) - 1,862
It's a Wonderful Run (Seneca Falls) - 1,820
Rochester Half Marathon - 1,657
Johnny's Runnin' of the Green (Rochester?) - 1,655
JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge - 1,508
The race calendar comes from buffalorunners.com, as usual. It looks like February and March have gotten less crowded than in previous years. Something to keep an eye on.
On Sunday, the annual Penguin Run will be held 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd. in Amherst at 11 a.m. Call 549-6307 x201. It's one of the best buffets of the year from a race.
--- Budd Bailey
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