2013 Cherry Tree: hardcore, indeed

Here are the results for the individual and relay events. Photo credit: Anne Perzeszty

We bill the annual Cherry Tree 10 Miler and 3 Person Relay as "The Race for the Hardcore", and Sunday's 2013 installment showed why.

The thermometer was a few ticks below freezing when the gun went off at 10 a.m. - not a big deal, really. The wind was the bigger story, its gusts of up to 50 miles per hour bringing the chill to the low teens. (Many reported the worst was the ascent up Zoo Hill.) We considered ourselves lucky, though, as the week began with the prediction of another significant winter storm.

650 individual runners and 134 relay teams completed the three loops of Prospect Park. Mike Cassidy (52:18) of Greater New York Running Club and Lauren Perkins (1:03:35) of the New York Harriers took home top solo honors, while four relay teams (two from Central Park Track Club - New Balance and two from Front Runners New York) broke the hour mark.

We're still thawing out our fingers, so we'll leave it at that for now. Expect to see more here and on our blog in the coming days.