Monthly Meeting Recap: January 2020
Meeting recap by Christine DiGangi; photos by Larry Sillen
(Apologies in advance for any misspelled/misheard names. We’ll happily correct any errors.)
The Prospect Park Track Club has members-only meetings the first Monday of the month at Da Nonna Rosa. Special thanks to those who joined us this evening, despite the conflict with the season premiere of “The Bachelor.”
Pizza (aka, the best part of the meeting!) Pictured: Ravioli pizza (left), and a vegan veggie pie (right)
The meeting time is 7 p.m. This is actually when the pizza line begins. The meeting does not start until members have had ample opportunity to cash in on what is perhaps the greatest benefit the club offers: complimentary pizza. (Beverages are also available for purchase.)
Today’s spread features:
Sausage and broccoli pizza (squares)
Small cheese pizza on gluten-free crust
Regular, giant NY cheese slices
Olive and artichoke pizza (squares)
All the veggies pizza (squares)
Ravioli pizza slices
Vegan veggie pizza slices
President Tom, calling the meeting to order.
The first pies disappeared by 7:07. It’s a full house tonight. President Tom is sporting a spectacular vintage satin PPTC jacket with his name embroidered on it.
By 7:10 p.m., the generous staff at Da Nonna Rosa has replenished the pizza, and the room is now standing-room-only.
At 7:16 p.m. Tom blows a whistle. The meeting begins.
Opening Statements
Tom began the meeting, noting it was the first of the club’s 50th anniversary year. The first event of the year was Harry’s Handicap, which Tom said was one of many that will share the motif of our 50th anniversary. One of the next ones will be the annual awards night.
“The awards dinner will be a “red tie affair. Adam will supply red ties.” (Adam: “I did not say that.”)
Every event we have will have something to do with our 50th anniversary, including a 50-mile and 50K race in December. That will be a one-time thing.
Now onto the normal agenda.
New members introduce themselves
Members share stories about recent races
Members and committees make club announcements
One of PPTC’s new members, introducing herself.
New Members
Sixteen new members introduced themselves and shared why they joined the club and any running goals they have.
Reasons for joining included:
Liked the energy of the club
Friend/partner influence
Heard good things
Wanted motivation to start running again
Saw the marathon training group in the summer and asked, “What’s going on here?”
Realized runners “are my people”
New to Brooklyn and want to find new places to explore
Decided to become a social runner because I work from home
I have a coworker in PPTC and she’s cooler than me, so…
Running park loops alone is really boring
Grew up hating running and now I’m like OK let’s give this a real shot
Appreciate how PPTC supports the community
Goals included:
Running first marathon
Still figuring that out
Want to try running farther
Want to try running faster
Recent Races
Chris set a personal record at the California International Marathon (CIM). Shout out to Ted for pacing him through 20 miles after training on nothing but the elliptical. But back to Chris: He only had 9 weeks to train because his foot was in a boot, but he still bested his 17-year-old PR.
Adam ran a 50K over the weekend put on by the New Jersey Trail Series, and he recommends their other races including the Febapple Frozen Fifty (Feb. 22). “I highly encourage people to go out there. It’s a good time to spend 5 or 6 hours in the woods.” BTW he placed 7th overall.
Richard recently raced a 1-miler and placed first in the physically challenged division.
Stephanie recounted the recent Running for Ayotzinapa 43 race, in which Noah placed 3rd overall and Crystal took home an age group award.
Linda shared that Matthew won his age group at the Joe Kleinerman 10K.
Regina fundraising for a PPTC-sponsored portapotty in the park, which would be a welcome addition for all runners who train there.
Announcements
Regina is raising money for a PPTC-sponsored portapotty in Prospect Park. She passed around a box (decorated with an image of our future club toilet) for donations. Several people contributed.
Murray hyped up Leatherman’s Loop, asking those who have previously participated to stand up. “Isn’t it the most fun you’ve had in 10 kilometers, almost ever?”
As Murray detailed some of the course’s features—two stream crossings and numerous mud pits—members around the room chimed in:
“Bagpipes!”
“Mariachi band!”
“Quite a high return on mileage investment, yes.”
The Leatherman’s Loop lottery opens at 12 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10.
Chris announced the start of the new Club Points Training Group, which focuses on distances from the mile to the half marathon. There are two options for workouts on Wednesdays—6:15 a.m. and. 7:30 p.m.—and anyone with a base mileage of 20 per week or more is welcome to participate, Noah said. Email clubpoints@pptc.org if interested.
Jennie announced that PPTC is a sponsor of the Run Collective’s Runner Safety Awareness Week at the end of the month.
Crystal had a couple of social committee announcements:
Ice Cream & PJ Run on the 12th at 1 p.m.
Trivia Night on the 30th at 7 p.m.
Adam also had a few announcements:
NYRR Club night is the 30th, and two of PPTC’s runners, Joelle Reeves and John McElroy, have been nominated for age group awards.
PPTC Awards night is Feb. 21, and the link to nominations will go out this week. Nominations will only be open for about 10 days, to ensure timely delivery of the cowbells that are awarded to the winners.
Finally, the Ultramarathon Training Group (UMTG) begins workouts tomorrow. UMTG is capped at 50 runners, but all club members are invited to join for the occasional workout. “If you want to show up and run real fast and maybe throw up on a hill, please join us.” UMTG meets most Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Grand Army Plaza (GAP).
Holly announced that the grants committee awarded $8,000 to eight different entities in the fall grant cycle, bringing the total awarded in 2019 to $12,000. The grants committee welcomes anyone who wishes to join. The bulk of the work involves reviewing applications.
Jana followed this announcement mentioning that the social committee is also welcoming new members for the new year.
Finally, Stephanie plugged the Cherry Tree 10 miler—“our annual 10-mile race in the dead of winter”—which occurs on Feb. 16. Though it is known as “The Race for the Hardcore,” the less-intense among us will delight in knowing there is a relay option and that the start time is 10 a.m. The race committee will post volunteer positions in the coming weeks.
Taylor from Back on My Feet, explaining the program to club members.
Guest Speaker
As we do from time to time, PPTC invited a guest speaker to the monthly membership meeting. Today we welcomed Taylor and Derek from Back on My Feet (BOMF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating homelessness through running and movement.
Taylor offered an overview of the program:
BOMF partners with local facilities to support people experiencing homelessness, starting with a 30-day commitment to running. Following an orientation, members must achieve a 90% attendance rate for the 30-day running program. There are three runs per week, and the attendance requirement helps members develop a sense of commitment and consistency necessary to re-establishing independence in their lives.
After successfully completing the 30-day run commitment, members can access resources like housing and employment assistance, as well as financial literacy and career workshops. Some people work toward going to school, while others’ primary goal is to secure stable employment or find a home. Once they complete that program, members become alumni. Though they’ve achieved independence, they can remain a part of the team that helped them get there.
Derek, an alumnus of Back on My Feet, telling his story to club members.
Derek is an alumnus of Back on My Feet and is now an alumni services coordinator for the organization. He is an alum of the Times Square team, which focuses on veterans dealing with substance abuse and chronic homelessness. He shared his experience with us:
“Five years ago…I was sitting in the facility, feeling very down on myself. Other members of the facility walked in and they were very happy, very sweaty, in shorts. ‘Why are you guys so happy?’ And they were like, ‘Oh we just ran 10 miles.’”
He was surprised people could be so happy after running 10 miles. His roommate encouraged him to join, and Derek wasn’t interested initially. “You get new sneakers if you join.” So Derek joined, and it took him a while to stick with it, but he eventually completed the program.
“If someone had told me five years ago that something was going to change my life and was going to run a marathon, I would have said, ‘Get away from me.’ … Everything I learned I can pass on. People say, ‘Where’s the proof?’ You got me, and I can introduce you to a hundred other people like me.”
Back on My Feet Brooklyn meets at the corner of Nostrand and Park Place Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:30 a.m. Why so early? Because there are no conflicts at 5:30 in the morning. That makes it a good time to develop consistency.
Everyone circles up at 5:30—“If you see people hugging at 5:30 a.m., that’s Back on My Feet”—and there’s a round of names and answering the Question of the Day. Then there are announcements, an overview of the route, and a warmup before the run. Runs (or walks) last about 40 minutes, and no one runs alone. When everyone regroups, there’s a cool-down before saying good-bye for the day.
The goal is to get a 1:1 member-volunteer ratio, so if you’re interested in volunteering, attend an orientation to get started. (Anyone who attended this evening’s PPTC meeting received the equivalent of orientation.) Volunteers are encouraged to commit to one run per week, for the sake of consistency.
Back on My Feet also organizes Saturday training runs for races, if you’re interested in participating in those. (BOMF members can get bibs to local races and set a goal of completing those events.)
That’s a wrap on the first meeting of 2020. See you next month for pizza and all the running things.