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]

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]

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.

The course for the 5k is as follows: Head north along Edgecombe Ave. At 141st Street, bear right onto Bradhurst Ave. Turn left (West) at 145th Street. Turn right (North) back onto Edgecombe Ave. At 155th Street, take sharp left (south) onto St. Nicholas Place. Turn right (west) on 150th Street. Turn left (south) onto Convent Ave. Turn left (east) onto St. Nicholas Terrace. Proceed straight (south) along top of St. Nicholas Park. Turn left (east) on 127th Street. Turn left (north) on St. Nicholas Ave. Proceed straight (north) on St. Nicholas Ave, alongside St. Nicholas Park. Here is a link to the NYRR Course Map.

This is a great opportunity for those participating in the 9+1 program to run a race that does not take place in Central Park. View all upcoming races on the Run-NYC Event Calendar.

Sunday morning was a very hot day to be running, even at 7 A.M.. Weather and all, nearly 10,000 runners showed up to compete in the 2009 New York City Half-Marathon. The course remained in the shade, for the majority of the beginning, in Central Park. But, once the runners took to the West Side Highway, it was a very warm stretch to the finish. The male winner of the race was Tadese Tola, of Ethiopia. For the women, as expected, Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain was the winner. Paula was a late entry, announced last week. She has been recovering from a foot problem. This was Radcliffe’s first race of 2009. Full results can be found at the NYRR website.

The NYRR did a great job of organizing the race. It was a complete success. Congratulations to all of the finishers of the 2009 NYC Half Marathon. WABC-7 , will be airing coverage of the race, beginning tonight at 11:30 P.M.. Click here for the photo gallery.

Bored of running that same route, day after day? Well, starting Saturday August 8, and for the following two Saturdays, runners will have a unique opportunity to run the heart of the East Side, of Manhattan without dodging taxis.

New York City’s 2009 Summer Streets get underway at 7:00 AM Saturday morning. Park Avenue will be closed to automobile traffic from 72nd Street, going south. Connecting streets will also be closed, so that one could run/ride/skate, all the way from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge and back. Click here for a map of the route.

This is the second year of New York Summer Streets. It should be even bigger and better than last year. According to the City’s website, the 2009 Summer Streets will kick off with a fun run:

Kick-off Summer Streets with a fun run with Team-in-Training at Foley Square at 7:30 am. The group will head north up the Summer Streets route to 72nd Street and into Central Park. The run is open to all and you are welcome to go for as long (or as short) as you would like. You can also bike or skate your way along the route. We’ll be providing over 150 free bikes, 180 pairs of free skates at the Soho Station at Spring Street, the Music and Culture Rest Stop at 24th Street and the Family Rest Stop at 51st Street. Feel like really working up a sweat? Take a free class with Crunch at 12th Street. See the Activities page for a full line up of events. And check back often for updates.

The route will be closed to auto traffic from 7:00 AM until 1:00 PM. So, make sure to get out early, and join in the fun. For more information, please visit the City’s Summer Streets Website.

New York Road Runners Team Championships are also Saturday August 8th in Central Park. Various track clubs from around the NYC area will be competing this Saturday, for bragging rights. The men’s race begins a 9 AM, the women’s is at 10 AM. Click here for a course map.