1998 Gridiron 5K

PRE-RACE RITUALS

Photo 1: On this Super Bowl Sunday (Denver vs. Green Bay), former high school jock Tyronne Culpepper took part in the pre-race football throwing contest. His throw went about 40 yards, almost (but not quite) enough to win the competition. Who says runners have no upper body and arm strength? Please note the green Nike jacket that Tyronne is wearing this. He used his $50 gift certificate for being the December 1997 Member of the Month to purchase it. In the photo, Tyronne is whining to the NYRRC Membership Coordinator (back to the camera) about how he was robbed of his chance to start the race back then.
Photo 2: Irene Jackson and Frank Schneiger were among Tyronne's many cheering fans. When Irene saw the web photographer, she asked: "Are you ever going to race again? Or are you just going to take photographs?" The reply came quickly: "This is more fun ... and less painful."
Photo 3: Bola Awofeso and Tyronne Culpepper head towards the starting line. Bola was astonished to see the paparazzi blocking his way, but Tyronne was used to this sort of thing.
Photo 4: Michele Tagliati and his friend Carmine Petracca are part of the Italian connection. So too is the Central Park Reservoir legend peeking behind them. Michele probably borrowed singlet from someone else, because he was not around long enough to have acquired this vintage model.
Photo 5: VIP Jud Santos warms up with a NYPD police escort. Earlier, he had promised his fans: "16 minutes or bust." For motivational reading, he was perusing something from former 800m world record holder Sebastian Coe's coach/dad. Evidently, the key to setting the world record hinges on the ability to compress all of one's baser instincts into 1 minute and 42 seconds. Will Jud have enough lust left for this day?

EAST 95th STREET (half mile in the race)

Photo 11: Sylvie Kimché is a patient veteran who will not make the mistake of going out too fast on this difficult course.
Photo 12: Diane Lebowitz usually sticks to the shorter distances (5K or less).

EAST 95th STREET (half mile left in the race)

Photo 15: Jud Santos ran with his eyes closed. When he saw a preview of this picture, he asked: "Do I really look that slow?" He would finish in 16 minutes as promised (given that this is liberally interpreted as being anywhere between 16:00 and 16:59, and his actual time was 16:55).

Photo 16: Tyronne Culpepper also promised his fans: "17 minutes or bust." He would finish in 17 minutes as promised (subject to the same liberal interpretation of 17:00 to 17:59, and an actual time of 17:58 with one whisker to spare). In the far background, we see his teammate Fasil Yilma (in a yellow jacket). Where is that orange, Fasil?

Photo 17: Moving Comfort New York's coach Gordon Bakoulis ran this race and finished fourth in 18:41. Michele Tagliati, although blocked from view, was right behind her. He would finish in a personal record of 18:37 (but 18:35 by his own watch).

Photo 18: Jonathan Federman gives us a nice runner's picture. Jonathan did not have any great ambitions in this race --- except to pass New York Harrier Diane Kenna.

Photo 19: Sylvie Kimché shows us why patience pays out in the end. Right behind her is Bola Awofeso, whose picture was missed because it takes 7 seconds between shots on the camera. When Bola was told about his missed photo opportunity, he said happily: "I was dying at that point. I am glad that no one will see me like that."

FINISH AREA

Photo 20: Alan Ruben and Gordon Bakoulis obviously believe in equality between the sexes. While Gordon raced this week, Alan pushed Joey around in the baby stroller. Hey, Alan, respect that GO SLOW sign, will you?

Photo 21: Tyronne Culpepper and Fasil Yilma are doing post-mortem analyses. Both of them had personal bests on this day. Tyronne attributed his success to his ability to resist attending parties the night before, and promised that he would make up for it when his friends come over to watch the Super Bowl. Fasil attributed his success to having ran very few short distance races, so that PRs seem to come easily.

Photo 22: Sylvie Kimché would like photographic documentation for her new stylish shades, whereupon she will never be labeled a nerd again. Michele Tagliati was puzzled as to why anyone would ever consider Sylvie a nerd, now or before.

Photo 23: Jonathan Federman and Audrey Kingsley were just coming out of the baggage check area. Audrey finds it amazing that the web photographer always seemed to be present at that singular moment at every race. Her expression says, "Oh no! There he goes again!"

Photo 24: Fritz Muller and Frank Handelman came by to check how the team did. Frank's question, "Did anyone win anything?" was met with giggles. As Fritz and Frank left to resume their run, Frank said to Fritz: "This time, we are going to run fast", which brought a dirty look from the latter, along the line of "So what did you think we were doing before?"

Photo 25: Bola Awofeso almost walked right into the camera. Is this too close for comfort?

Photo 26: Audrey Kingsley is all set for a four-mile cool down to burn off some of the surplus energy. Hey, the race was only 3.1 miles!

Photo ??: There is no picture of Rick Shaver this week, because he was MIA/AWOL. He is hereby warned that slacking off is not acceptable around here.
(Postscript: Rick has apologized to his fans. He promised to be running the next four races in a row. He better believe that we will be monitoring him.)