Just for Fun: 10 Reasons to Run in the Rain

 
The rainiest March on record for New York City has inspired me to come up with ten awesome reasons to run in the rain. So without further delay, here they are:

1.      You can run for miles and miles and have most of the road/trail to yourself.
2.      When you come back covered in mud you feel even more hard core than you would after a dry run.
3.      When you tell people (specifically non-runners) that you went for a run in bad weather (bonus points if the wind gusts were over 40mph or there were significant downpours) they think you are really committed and even more awesome. They could also just think you're crazy... but that's OK too.
4.      You get to puddle jump like when you were a kid… you’re already wet anyway, right?
5.      Sweat, what sweat? It's just rain water! ;-)
6.      The road has an odd mirrored effect which makes your shadow/reflection look pretty cool.
7.      When you do pass the occasional runner or cyclist there is a good chance they will smile at you and you might even get the occasional thumbs up or “Way to go!”
8.      You won’t get overheated like your would on a dry day and no need to carry water, just open your mouth towards the sky.
9.      You are never tempted to start walking or slow down just to “take a break for a minute”-- You will get to your warm, dry home faster if you speed up (read: brand new personal record).
10.  When you get home you have never been happier to have a nice, long, hot shower. 

Bonus Reason: You are NOT on the treadmill!*

So get outside, even if it is raining. In fact, enjoy all your outdoor activities in the rain, be they hiking, soccer, baseball, running or just a nice trip outside for puddle jumping. 

*Many thanks to Chris M. for the bonus reason! 

Calling all Mountain Bikers

Hey Mountain Bikers,

I'd like to direct you to a great blog that has in turn directed me to a lot of good resources... NYC Mountain Bike Blog. I love reading about their weekend rides and they always provide great ideas for future outings... plus kudos to them, they ride in the snow!

Some of the resources I have discovered through this blog are as follows:

The New York City Mountain Bikers Meetup Group - This is a group "for anyone that shares a passion for mountain biking and trail riding." They welcome all levels and offer a great deal of diversity in their rides and locations.

New York City Mountain Bike Association - Founded in 2005 their mission is to build and maintain trails in the five boroughs of New York City, advocate for the sport, and foster a community of mountain bikers in the City. The website has information on trails and other resources.

I encourage you to follow the NYC Mountain Bike Blog and check out the two websites.

Happy Riding! 

Side Note: Lily has more facebook friends than you do! (Rainy Day Activity)

Yep, that's right Lily (a black bear) has over 94,000 facebook fans (myself included).

I originally started this blog because because I don't believe there are enough resources out there for people who want to get outside in New York City. But, I also started Outside in New York because I believe that the more people learn about the outside world the more the more they will want to protect our natural resources.... Well, while I am all for getting outside and learning first hand, I am not about to go crawling into a mother bear's den! So I can't think of a better way to learn about these fascinating creatures:

The NABC (www.bear.org)  set up a webcam in the Lily’s den in Ely, Minnesota. She gave birth a few weeks ago and there was something of a baby bear pool going on over the date of her whelping (? not sure of the term for bears, going with the term for dogs) and how many cups she would have. 

You can watch her and cubs here (link). I warn you it is VERY addictive but also incredibly cute. I love it when her cubs make noise; it is a completely fascinating sound, an odd mix between a dog's bark, horse's whinny, cow's moo and rodent's squeaking.

You can become her facebook fan here (link).

Additionally click (here) if you want to join the NABC and support their mission.

Happy Watching!

A Race Anyone Can Win

Jack Rabbit Sports (one of my favorite stores) is holding a race on April 13th in Prospect Park that ANYONE can win. That's right anyone... if you run a 6 minute mile or at 12 minute mile, it doesn't matter... we'll all be evenly matched.

Jack Rabbit writes,  

This race will not be won by the fastest runner, but by the person who knows themselves best.  When you register, you need to predict your finishing time.  The race will be chip timed, but there will be no clocks on the course and runners are not allowed to wear watches.  After the race, you’ll see what your actual finish time was and just how close you came.  The people that are closest to their predicted times win.

Because this race is not about speed, we will not have separate categories for men & women or different age groups.  Instead, the top 5 most accurate runners will win a $30 coupon to JackRabbit, the next 10 most accurate will win a $20 coupon, and the next 10 most accurate will win a $10 coupon.  Winners will receive coupons via email or as a store credit.

The proceeds of this event are going directly to benefit Prospect Park.  Instead of printing yet another race tee shirt, we’re going to pool the proceeds from the race and put them towards a project in Prospect Park that will benefit the running community.  

Crucial Information: The race will begin and end at the Bartel Prichard lot at the intersection of 15th St and Prospect Park West in Prospect Park at 7:00 p.m.  Please plan to arrive no later than 6:45p.  Bag drop will be provided.  The start is very close to the F train stop at Prospect Park. The race course will be approximately one loop of the park.

The race is capped at 400 registrants.  Online registration will end at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 12th or when the race is full. Online registration is $20 at www.jackrabbitsports.com/anyonecanwin.  Pre-race packet pickup will be available at the JackRabbit Union Square store on Monday, April 12th or at the race start beginning at 6:00pm.  If space is still available, race evening registration will be $30 on-site.

I love that Jack Rabbit is donating the proceeds of this race to benefit Prospect Park... Personally, while I love race tees, I have enough of them and I always agree with supporting our city's parks. Way to go Jack Rabbit!!

Please go and checkout Jack Rabbit's website. This store proved to be a great resource for me when I had just started running. Their staff was always encouraging, welcoming and friendly. Additionally, they were knowledgeable about their products and general resources for runners in and around the city. They are great for runners, cyclists, swimmers, yoga fanatics and general fitness enthusiasts.

Overall, I think this race sounds like a fantastic idea... I'm slow, so this may be my only opportunity to ever win anything. I'm so excited! See you out there!

Calling All Triathletes!

The Multisport World Conference and Expo will be coming to New York City on April 18th, 2010.

The Expo is FREE and open to anyone who likes to complete in triathlons or likes to swim, bike or run. I went last year and really enjoyed it... and I am certainly no cyclist and not a competitive swimmer.

They will be offering seminars on such topics as injury prevention, developing faster running times, and nutrition. There will also be running, swimming and cycling clinics-- I did the running clinic last year and LOVED it. For more information on the clinics click (here) and for more information on the seminars click (here).

The event will also feature two speakers: Troy Jacobson founder of Spinervals and National Director of Endurance Sports Training for Lifetime Fitness, and Jordan Metzl, MD, a nationally recognized doctor of Sports Medicine at the Hospital for Special Surgery. For more information on the speakers click (here).

Please also note the USAT Northeast Region Annual Membership meeting will be taking place at the expo.

The expo will take place at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center (JCC) which coincidentally hosts an awesome indoor triathlon each December (a great opportunity for first timers who are a little worried about the open water aspect of triathlons).

The JCC is located at 334 Amsterdam Avenue (at 76th Street) New York, NY 10024

For more information and to register click (here). My best advice is to register early... this event was PACKED last year!

Update (4/17/10): Jordan Metzel will no longer be speaking at Multisport. But they have added many other experts to the web-page including Dr. Paul Weiss, Jordano Quaglia, Dr. Mark Klion, Andrew Kalley, Scott Duke, Peter Duggan, Nicholas Amico, Niel Cook, and Sarah Currie. For more details on the speakers click here.

8 Places to Grab Your Running Gear

Looking for a place to get your running clothes, sneaks or fuel packs?

Check out NYCGO.com and read Runners' Buy: Best NYC Trotting Gear which is complete with a map of all locations.

Personally I love Jack Rabbit sports and Super Runners for their running evaluations and general knowledge of the sport. I also appreciate that at Super Runners when I buy a new pair of sneakers I can try them out for 30 days and return them if they aren't exactly what I need. (Note: Jack Rabbit may have the same policy, I just haven't been told of it.) Additionally, I have also had great success with Asics shoes and therefore enjoy going to their store.

Hope this article helps you find all the equipment and apparel you need for an awesome run!

Side Note

Side Notes is a series I am starting where I will highlight events, deals or places of interest outside of the general Tri-State Area. I am not expecting to post Side Notes in regular intervals... just as I come across things of interest.

I have a friend, Cole, who is in the process of riding 3000 miles down the Eastern Coast in 30 days on his bike. His ride is 100% self supported (no easy feat) in order raise money and create awareness about the Haitian earthquake and the ongoing need for disaster relief.

Cole is currently in the middle of the second week of his four-week ride. He's had some bumps along the way but is doing very well so far. To learn more about his ride and follow him on his journey check out Ride for Haiti.

To Cole: Best wishes for a safe and fulfilling journey and Godspeed!

P.S. If you know of things that should be highlighted in Side Notes please e-mail them to me and I will be sure to get the word out.