Hot Chocolate 10 Miler 1997

HOT CHOCOLATE 10 MILER 1997

Pre-race Activities

Photo 1: A perfectly color-purple-coordinated Rasheed Azim lets us know who is NUMBER ONE.
Photo 2: Edwin Fajardo (on the right) is still irate over the characterization by this web site of his being a party animal. Hey, we haven't even told the story about how he passed out completely and ended up the next morning in ... was it in Sweden? or Brazil? Probably both! ... Meanwhile, his more serene teammate Sam Li (on the left) was trying to offer pre-race excuses about a 24-hour virus. Unfortunately for him, he was wasting his time because, as you know, we report just the facts (and nothing but the facts).

The Official Starter

This race was noteworthy for the fact that our Tyronne Culpepper was the official starter, being an honor conferred on the NYRRC Member of the Month.

Photo 3: Tyronne was dressed to kill for this occasion, as this picture shows. This track suit accentuates the tall long lines of his body.
Photo 4: Although Tyronne was supposed to be the official starter, the New York City Parks Commissioner Henry Stern grabbed the horn and started the race anyway. The moral of the lesson? Who do you think wins when a rank amateur media person goes up against a professional (that is to say, a politician)?
Photo 5: In spite of this setback, Tyronne still got some material comforts, specifically a t-shirt, a book and (most importantly) a $50 gift certificate, which are being presented to him by the NYRRC Membership Coordinator Nancy Rowe. This important ceremony was witnessed by exactly one person (namely, the photographer).

Cat Hill

One of the difficulties with taking photographs at races is that people zoom by too quickly and the resulting figures are blurry. Therefore, we stationed ourselves this time near the top of Cat Hill to capture the moments when people are at their slowest speed and greatest distress..

Photo 6: Alan Ruben is leading the Central Park Track Club ... again.
Photo 7: Ramon Bermo is bitten by the running bug. After having said during the week that he was injured and/or fatigued and/or needed a break, he could not refrain from racing again.
Photo 8: Jud Santos ran this race in a pack of runners. This obviously helped him, because he does not look as spaced-out as when he is not running.
Photo 9: The purple people-eater Rasheed Azim charges up the hill
Photo 10: Victor Osayi is being stalked by teammate Harry Morales. Behind them is local elite cyclist Noel Commess, showing that even non-runners can run fast (hey, Ross, are you listening?).
Photo 11: John Landry looks BIG compared to teammate Edwin Fajardo on the side.
Photo 12: Sam Li is the definition of PAIN!
Photo 13: Stacy Creamer looks like she is taking a Sunday stroll. Hey, this looks too easy! Where is the exertion?
Photo 14: Aubin Sullivan running with her pony tail swinging in rhythm.

West 86th Street

This is halfway up another hill on the west side, about seven miles into the race with three miles left to go. Now is the time to make your move if you still have something left. Now is the time to grieve if you have nothing left.

Photo 20: Alan Ruben is running in one of the chase packs. This is a money-race, so he has to keep a sharp eye on his age-group rivals.
Photo 21: Sid Howard, grise éminence, is motoring ahead, right behind a New York Flyer
Photo 22: Harry Morales finds himself trailing Sid Howard once again, being the same old story for the last 15+ years except once.
Photo 23: Hey, check out the hang time for Air Osayi. See, no feet!
Photo 24: John Landry concentrates on using his arms to power up the hill.
Photo 25: Edwin Fajardo shows some serious concentration here. No fooling around here. The party can wait.
Photo 26: Now, what is that expression on Sam Li's face? A grimace of pain, or a smile of recognition?
Photo 27: Jackie Cortes showing us how easy it is. See, no hands! By comparison, right behind is Stacy Creamer who is all-arms powering herself up the hill.
Photo 28: Terri Sonenclar needs her hands and feet. See, no gloves!
Photo 29: John Gleason scrutinizes at the ground carefully and tackles the hill one step at a time.
Photo 30: Even the unflappable Sylvie Kimché looks as if she needed to exert some effort.
Photo 31: Aubin Sullivan is very steady and looks no different than before (see Photo 14 above).

E86th Street, Straightway to the Finish Line

Photo 40: Ramon Bermo is coming around the corner for a sprint finish. Ramon, think positive now: "I WILL NOT BE BEAT! I WILL NOT BE BEAT! ..."
Photo 41: Rasheed Azim bounces towards the finish line.
Photo 42: And is this orange-less person trying to sneak past the camera? Yes, we caught her, with that guilty-looking smile. Oh yes, it is that Audrey Kingsley once again, running her umpteenth race this year! We are puzzled by the fact that she took her left glove off. Why?
Photo 43: John Gleason sneaks in a peek and a beaming smile.

Post-Race Activities

Photo 50: A happy family (dressed in royal purple) picture with Gordon Bakoulis offering a congratulatory kiss to Alan Ruben, while Joey Ruben is perfectly happy sitting in the stroller. But what is Ross Galitsky doing in this picture? And why does he have a race number if he is not a runner, as he always tells people? And what does he have in his bag?
Photo 51: Jackie Cortes sparkles for the camera. Do you think that she is happy, or what?
Photo 52: Harry ("Hairy"?) Morales shows us what his opinion of the wintry cold is, as Sam Li clutches his heart and shuts his eyes in disbelief at the sight. Harry would eventually offer this photographer a few choice words from his extensive translator's vocabulary.
Photo 53: The most unlikely three musketeers: Harry Morales, Sam Li and Stacy Creamer.

Field Notes: No, it was not easy for the photographer out there. The major lesson was this: BRING GLOVES NEXT TIME!