Kenya’s Linet Masai pulled of an impressive win Saturday morning at New York Road Runner’s Women’s Only Mini 10k, with a time of 30:48. The race is steeped in history and tradition. Run for the first time in 1972, the Mini 10k is named for the miniskirt, which was a symbol of renegade women’s fashion, at the time. The initial rendition of the race had less than 100 participants. Saturday’s iteration had over 5000 ladies participating.

Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe, both visibly pregnant, came out to Saturday’s race to show their support for women runners. Paula ran the course, although she was not competing. Kara was not feeling up to the run, though she greeted the runners from the podium at the start line and held the finish line ribbon.

More photos of the event can be seen on the run-nyc.com album page.

In addition to the Linet, the field of Saturday’s elite runners included several Olympic athletes. According to NYRR:

When Linet Masai of Kenya crossed the finish line in Central Park to win the 2010 NYRR New York Mini 10K, she became one of the few runners to have mastered all three of her sport’s disciplines. Already a world champion at 10,000 meters on the track and a two-time silver medalist at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Masai has now added a victory in the world’s original all-women’s road race. And she has done it all by the age of 20.
Just past the race’s halfway point, in the tough Harlem Hills section, Masai broke away from the strongest field ever assembled in this race’s 39-year history. The pack behind her included four-time Mini 10K champion Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands, 36, who had led early; Kenya’s Emily Chebet, 24, who had defeated Masai by one second to win this year’s World Cross race in Poland; 2010 Boston Marathon champion Teyba Erkesso, 27, of Ethiopia; and Werknesh Kidane, 28, also of Ethiopia, a former World Cross champion and a World Championships silver medalist on the track.

Congratulations to all of the participants of the 2010 New York Mini 10k, and to NYRR for organizing such a great event. Full results available on the NYRR event result page.

[Photos: Jacob Breinholt]

The sun was out early, in Washington Heights, on Sunday March 7th, and so were New York City runners. Nearly 6000 runners turned out to participate in the Coogan’s 2010 Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K. The temperature was on the brisk side, but it was perfect for running.

The famed New Balance Track and Field armory was the start and finish of the race. The course went north on Fort Washington, into Ft. Tryon Park, around the Cloisters, then back down Ft. Washington.  As difficult as “out and back” course logistics can be, the NYRR staff pulled it off in perfect form.

Derese Deniboba of NY won the mens’ race with a scorching time of 14:34. For the women, Claudia Camargo was the first to cross the line, scoring a 16:35.

Congratulations to all those who participated in Sunday’s race. Full results can be found here.

Photos from the event can be viewed here.

(All photos by: Zach Tolbert)

New York Road Runners, is presenting the perfect opportunity for fitness conscious “global citizens” to lend a helping hand. Saturday morning, February 20th, NYRR is organizing a 4 mile walk/run to benefit the earthquake ravaged country of Haiti. The walk/run starts at 9:00 AM. In addition to the 4 mile race, a kids race will take place at 10:30. According to the NYRR:

All entry fees collected by NYRR will go to New York City’s Haiti Relief Fund, administered by the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which is directing 100% of donations to reputable organizations providing relief in Haiti.

Online registration for the event is currently open, until 11:59 PM EST, on Wednesday night (February 17), after which participants will only be able to register on the morning of the event, in Central Park. Online registration may be done through the NYRR event page.

As an additional bonus for NYRR members trying to gain entry for the 2011 New York City Marathon, NYRR has announced that it will award double “9+1″ credit for this race. That means that the run for Haiti will actually count as two races toward the nine required for guaranteed entry to next year’s marathon. For additional details, including course map, please see the New York Road Runners’ event page.

In years past participants of the New York City Half-Marathon gained entry on a first come-first serve basis. New York Road Runners decided to switch things up this year and hold a lottery for those who do not qualify for guaranteed entry. The registration format mirrors that of the New York City Marathon. Runners who have completed a Marathon, or Half-Marathon, in the times proscribed by the New York Road Runners, will qualify for guaranteed entry. Others, will have to put in the lottery.

The Lottery for the 2010 New York City Half-Marathon is currently open, as of December 1, 2009, and will stay open until 11:59 p.m. EST on January 5, 2010. Qualifying times, for guaranteed entry, as well as more information regarding the lottery, can be found on the NYRR event information page.

The New York City Half-Marathon has also moved from August, to March, with the 2010 Race scheduled to take place on March 21st. This change of schedule seems wise, given that a large portion of the course tracks the West Side Highway, where there is little or no shade. The 2009 Race, which took place on a particularly hot and humid summer day, had a modest number of participants that ended up suffering from some sort of head induced fatigue.

In addition to an earlier date, and registration date for the New York City Half-Marathon, the New York Road Runners have extended the registration period for next years New York City Marathon, as well. The lottery for the 2010 marathon opened the day after the 2009 race, and is currently open. Application information for the 2010 New York City Marathon can be found on the NYRR event page.

[photo: 2009 NYC Half-Marathon by: Jacob Breinholt]

Meb Keflezighi winning the 2009 New York City Marathon (Photo: Jacob Breinholt)

After a 27 year drought, an American won the mens’ New York City Marathon. Meb Keflezighi brought home the title, with a roughly 40 second margin between himself and the second place male finisher. In addition to an American taking first place, Ryan Hall, finished fourth. For the winner, Meb Keflezighi, this race was also a personal best, at 2 hours, 9 minutes and 14 seconds.

It was an amazing sight to watch Keflezighi cross the finish line, kiss the ground and go straight over to his family. Keflezighi, originally from Africa, immigrated in the 90′s to later become a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Meb Keflezighi at the finish line with his family at the  2009 New York City Marathon (Photo: Jacob Breinholt)

The womens’ race took a turn for the unexpected, only a few short miles before the finish, when Paula Radcliffe, 3 time winner of the New York City Marathon, started to fall back, after leading the pack for the majority of the race. Paula, who was favored by most, to win her forth New York City Marathon, this year, ended up finishing off the podium in fourth place, and was visibly upset at the finish.

Women’s winner Derartu Tulu with Paula Radcliffe and NYRR CEO Mary Wittenberg at the finish line of the 2009 New York City Marathon (Photo: Jacob Breinholt)

Derartu Tulu, of Ethiopia won the womens’ race with a time of 2 hours 28 minutes and 52 seconds. Although the womens’ race kept a fairly tight pack until very late in the race, Tulu finished with a solid margin.

Derartu Tulu, of Ethiopia  crossing the finish line as victor of 2009 New York City Marathon (Photo: Jacob Breinholt)

A few fun facts about this year’s New York City Marathon, provided by NYRR:

43,741 runners competed in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon
2:09:15 Keflezighis time as he became the first American man to win since 1982
2:28:52 Tulus time as she became the first Ethiopian to win the NYC Marathon
11,410 pounds of ice were at the ready at marathon medical stations
2.5 million people will read the marathon results section of tomorrows NY Times
For more fast facts about the marathon, click here.

For more photos, click here.

The Norwegian Festival is this weekend in Central Park. Organized by NYRR, there is literally a race for everyone. The festival takes place in Central Park, this Saturday, with the main location being at the Central Park Band Shell. the festival will have a 1.7 mile race that spans the 72nd Street Transverse, to the lower loop of the park; a 13.1 mile half marathon, that consists of two loops of Central Park Drive; and, a kids race, to top it all off.

For those who were thoroughly frustrated by the transportation breakdown at the Queens Half-Marathon, on the 20th, this will be the perfect opportunity to show up and run a stress free 13 miles. As of Monday, September 28, online registration is still open.

Check the NYRR official event page, for further details, including start times, and course map.

[Photo: Jacob Breinholt/Run-NYC]

The NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix continues this weekend, in the Boro of Queens. The 2009 Queens Half-Marathon will take place on Sunday morning, September 20th. The race starts and finished in Herman A. MacNeil Park, at College Point. The course makes a loop through Queens, while winding through College Point and Whitestone. Click here for the official Course Map.

The start time will be at the bright and early hour of 7:00 AM. Race day registration will be available starting at 5:45, near the starting line. Registration on line can be done through the NYRR website.

This race will be an excellent opportunity for runners who are training for a fall marathon, to get in some distance training in a race setting. Stay current on NYC’s fall race schedule with the RUN-NYC event calendar.

[Queensboro Bridge (photo: Raj)]

It was fantastic weather for running, Saturday morning. The overnight rain kept things cool, and the clouds were still blocking the sun. These conditions made the 2009 NYRR, Fitness Magazine Fitness® Mind, Body, Spirit Games, 4 mile race, even more enjoyable.

The race was a NYRR club points race, and were divided up by gender. The mens’ race started at 9:00 AM, and the women’s at 10 AM. Both heats were had very exciting finishes that came right down to the final stretch.

Before the women’s race, Kara Goucher happened to be out for a run in the park, and Mary Wittenberg of NYRR, noticed her passing by. Goucher was a good sport about giving an impromptu address to the women runners, who were already all lined up in the starting chute.

The winner for the men, was Bado Worku Merdessa, with a scorching time of 19:08. For the Women, it was Aziza Aliyu, beating out Katrina Janosikova by less than a full step. Aliyu scored a 22:22, time.

In total, there were nearly 5000 finishers. As always, NYRR and Fitness Magazine put on a great event. Congratulations to all of the finishers. Full results can be found here.

Click here for the photo gallery.

Held at Van Cortland Park, in the Bronx, the NYRR Henry Isola Cross Country Classic offers plenty of room for runners of all ages and abilities. The NYRR is organizing the event, which is a distance of 4 miles. The race begins at 11:30 A.M., and race day registration is available, at the venue, beginning at 10:00.

This is a great opportunity for those participating in the 9+1 program, for next year’s NYC Marathon, to run a scored qualifier, that does not take place in Central Park. The race starts near the statue of the Tortoise and the Hare, in Van Cortland Park.

The course for this race contains a lot of diverse terrain, including trails and hills. An NYRR Course Map can be found here.

More details about the race, including entry fees, directions to the event, and peripheral race day activities can be found on the NYRR Website, here.