History
Leadership
Board of Directors
NYRR Youth Services
Glossary
NEW YORK
ROAD RUNNERS
Senior Management and Directors
NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
­NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
About NYRR
New York Road Runners was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed
to bring running to the people. Over the past 54 years, NYRR has grown from a local running
club to the world’s premier community running organization. NYRR’s mission is to empower
everyone, of all ages and abilities—beginners and competitive athletes, the young and the
elderly, adult professionals and underserved schoolchildren—to improve their health and wellbeing through the power of running and fitness.
NYRR’s races, community events, instruction and training resources, and youth programs give
hundreds of thousands of people each year the motivation, know-how, and opportunity to
start running and keep running for life. NYRR’s premier event, the famed ING New York City
Marathon, attracts the world’s top pro runners and committed amateurs alike while also raising
millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for the City. But NYRR is
equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs
that educate and inspire more than 100,000 kids in underserved communities in New York City,
all 50 states, and around the world.
NYRR is proud to be a part of the World Marathon Majors—an alliance with the Tokyo, Boston,
Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, and Bank of America Chicago marathons—to advance the
sport, raise awareness and increase interest and involvement in participatory and professional
marathon running globally. A signature element is the WMM series, which offers a $1 million prize
purse to be split equally between the top male and the top female marathoner in the world.
Headquartered in New York City, NYRR implements a unique nonprofit model that teams
contributed and earned income to make all its efforts possible. To learn more, please visit
www.nyrr.org.
Timeline
1958–70: In June of 1958, NYRR was founded as the Road Runners Club–New York Association
with about 40 members. The founder of the Road Runners Club of America, H. Browning Ross,
encouraged the group, which met at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx and elected 1952 Olympic
marathoner Ted Corbitt its first official president. (Corbitt will be inducted to the NYRR Hall of
fame during this year’s Marathon Week ceremonies.) Through the 1960s, NYRR remained a tight
band of committed runners; there were about 250 members in 1970 when the group staged the
first New York City Marathon in Central Park.
1970s: Marathon co-founder Fred Lebow took over as president in 1972 and helped lead the
“running boom” that was sweeping the country. In 1976, spurred by Lebow’s vision, NYRR took
the marathon out of the park and into the streets of the city’s five boroughs with a field of
2,090 runners. NYRR also launched the Fifth Avenue Mile, the Empire State Building Run-Up, the
NYRR New York Mini 10K (the first all-women road race), and the JPMorgan Chase Corporate
Challenge. In 1978, Lebow hired Allan Steinfeld to assist him in planning, organizing, and
executing NYRR events. NYRR membership topped 31,000.
1980s: Lebow and Steinfeld recruited the world’s best athletes to headline races, including
Bill Rodgers, Frank Shorter, Joan Benoit Samuelson (all 2013 NYRR Hall of Fame inductees),
Alberto Salazar, Lasse Viren, Mary Decker Slaney, and Grete Waitz, who eventually won the
New York City Marathon a record nine times. Leading the way in professionalizing running,
NYRR was among the first groups to offer open prize money in races.
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1990s: Along with success and popularity, the 1009s brought heartbreak to NYRR. In 1990,
Lebow was diagnosed with brain cancer. He fought heroically, working with doctors at New
York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and inspiring cancer patients worldwide by
running during chemotherapy. With his cancer in remission, Lebow produced perhaps the most
poignant moment in NYRR history when he completed the 1992 New York City Marathon in
5:32:34 with Waitz by his side. On October 9, 1994, just four weeks before the 25th New York
City Marathon, Lebow succumbed to the disease. Steinfeld took over as president and Marathon
race director.
1998: NYRR dramatically increased its commitment to youth programs, which in 1998 brought
running and health programs to some 30,000 children in New York City and elsewhere.
1998: Mary Wittenberg was hired as NYRR’s first director of administration. An attorney
and the winner of the 1987 Marine Corps Marathon, Wittenberg oversaw NYRR’s business,
administration, and operations.
2001: NYRR showed the world how running can heal and transform a shattered city and country
when it staged the New York City Marathon in the wake of September 11. Held just two months
after the attacks, the race unified the city and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for relief
efforts.
2003: NYRR signed a multi-year deal with ING, one of the world’s largest financial service
companies, to be the first title sponsor of the New York City Marathon. The race promotes
both organizations’ desire to improve the sport of running globally and their commitment to
excellence and community. NYRR continued to grow—membership reached 40,000—and to
extend its services and influence locally, nationally, and internationally.
2005: Wittenberg was named Steinfeld’s successor as president, CEO, and ING New York
City Marathon race director. The first woman to hold these positions, Wittenberg now oversees
NYRR’s 160 full-time employees; more than 55 races annually; classes, clinics, and lectures in
running and fitness; four websites; a quarterly magazine; and NYRR youth programs.
2006: In January, the ING New York City Marathon joined four other leading marathons–
Berlin, Boston, Chicago, and London–to form the World Marathon Majors, a two-year series
showcasing the sport’s top athletes and awarding an unprecedented $1 million champions’ prize.
(The group expanded to six with the addition of the Tokyo Marathon in 2013.)
2006: NYRR hosted the USA Cross Country Championships in the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park
and inaugurated the NYC Half, which starts in Central Park, continues through Times Square,
and finishes in lower Manhattan. The inaugural race had some 10,000 finishers.
2007: NYRR hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials Men’s Marathon, which determined the U.S. team
for the 2008 Beijing Games. On a course comprised primarily of loops in Central Park, Ryan
Hall broke the U.S. Olympic Trials record with his 2:09:03. The next day’s ING New York City
Marathon had 38,607 finishers, the most in any marathon to date.
2008: World record-holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain won her third ING New York City
Marathon in as many tries. NYRR youth programs reached a landmark by serving 100,000
children weekly.
2009: The 40th running of the New York City Marathon set an all-time marathon finisher record
at 43,660 runners. The first of them was Meb Keflezighi of Mammoth Lakes, CA, the first
American to win the race in the 27 years since Alberto Salazar won his third title in 1982.
2009: NYRR entered the social media realm with an array of Facebook fan pages and Twitter
feeds.
2010: In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, NYRR and the Department of Parks &
Recreation co-sponsored the four-mile Run for Haiti, which raised more than $430,000 for New
York’s Haiti Relief Fund; with 9,423 finishers, the race was the largest four-mile in history.
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2010: NYRR launched Running Start, a free collection of online fitness videos developed
by NYRR to help teach youth the fundamentals of running through age-appropriate games,
activities, and drills. Created by expert youth coaches and exercise physiologists, Running Start
offers activities that can be used individually or incorporated into an existing routine.
2011: NYRR introduced the Official NYRR ING New York City Marathon Training Program, a
revolutionary online plan that is personalized based on a runner’s experience, age, sex, race
times, and current training, and that adapts as the training progresses. One-on-one e-coaching is
available from NYRR’s experts. More than 640 runners signed up within the first month after the
program became available. The race’s 47,340 finishers were another all-time marathon record.
2012: NYRR signed an historic five-year deal with ESPN/ABC7 for a comprehensive year-round
national and local television package, the cornerstone of which is the ING New York City
Marathon, which this year will be televised nationally for the first time in almost 20 years.
2012: On the Run, the organization’s first-ever weekly running lifestyle show, debuted in
September. The program offers insider access to pro athletes and inspirational local heroes and
reports on community running programs and the running industry.
2012: For the first time in event history, the ING New York City Marathon was cancelled. In
the week before the race date, Hurricane Sandy had damaged much of the East Coast and left
many New Yorkers without electricity and some without homes. Thousands of runners gathered
in Central Park for informal marathons on November 4, and many assisted with recovery efforts
in hard-hit areas like Staten Island and Coney Island. NYRR made a donation of $1 million and,
together with our partners, a $1.2 million donation of ING New York City Marathon supplies
to the Mayor’s Fund for the Advancement of New York City, to be used for Sandy relief and
recovery efforts. Also donating to the Mayor’s Fund were the Rudin family, who gave $1.1 million,
and ING, which gave $500,000.
2013: Throughout the year, NYRR has remained focused on helping the city recover in the
aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Contributions to this cause have included collections of donated
goods at our races, donations of race proceeds from this year’s Staten Island Half, and the
creation of Staten Island Day (October 13), which included live music, carnival games, a 1.5-mile
fun run, and other free family activities. A donation of more than $100,000 was made to Sandy
relief efforts after the event. We continue to rally the community to support recovery efforts.
2013: On May 18, a bigger, better Brooklyn Half entered the ranks of destination races when
some 20,000 runners—about 7,000 more than ever before in the race’s 33-year history—ran
from the Brooklyn Museum through Prospect Park to a unique finish on the world-famous
Coney Island boardwalk. The race was broadcast on WABC7 New York.
2013: The total number of children served per week by NYRR Youth Services reached 200,000.
2013: In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, NYRR donated $146,000, raised
through the sale of “I Run for Boston” T-shirts, to The One Fund Boston, which was formed to
assist victims and families affected by the tragic events at the race.
2013: NYRR partnered with one of the world’s top security firms and continues to work closely
with the NYPD and state and federal partners to provide enhanced security measures, further
strengthening an already comprehensive security plan. Both visible and behind-the-scenes
security enhancements will be in place during ING New York City Marathon race week, with the
goal of implementing the needed security features while causing minimal impact on the race.
Changes include added baggage inspection areas, prohibition of potentially dangerous items at
all race venues, and increased police presence during Race Week and on the course.
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NYRR SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
Mary Wittenberg
President and CEO, New York Road Runners­
Race Director, ING New York City Marathon
As president and CEO of NYRR and race director of the ING New York City Marathon, Mary
Wittenberg is responsible for setting strategy and overseeing the business and operations
of NYRR. Pursuing a consistent growth strategy, Wittenberg and her team have elevated
NYRR’s prominence and impact as they seek to lead a global running movement by making
running more accessible to a broader audience.
Wittenberg, the first woman to lead NYRR, and her team have expanded the organization’s
commitment to the five boroughs of New York City through youth running events and community health programs—creating an unrivaled urban running model. Under her leadership,
NYRR has broadened its horizons, fueled by a year-round calendar of classes, clinics, and
events. Off the race course, the organization’s media reach includes digital, broadcast, and
print vehicles. The ING New York City Marathon and its impact have grown dramatically: In
2011, the race had 47,340 finishers (the most of any marathon in history), $340 million in
revenue for our city, and more than $34 million raised for charities. They’ve also created new
events like the NYC Half.
Wittenberg joined NYRR in late 1998 and became its first chief operating officer in 2000. In
2005, she became president and CEO as well as race director of the New York City Marathon. Prior to joining NYRR, she was a partner in the law firm Hunton & Williams in Richmond, VA, and New York City. Wittenberg is a graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo and
holds a law degree from Notre Dame University. She won the 1987 Marine Corps Marathon
and competed in the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. She and her husband live a short run
from Central Park with their two basketball-playing sons.
Peter Ciaccia
Senior Vice President, Event Development & Broadcast Production /­
Technical Director of the ING New York City Marathon
Peter Ciaccia is NYRR’s executive vice president of Event Development & Broadcast Production and the technical director of the ING New York City Marathon. He is responsible for the
planning, design, management, and execution of more than 60 running events annually, as
well as the technical direction and production of the ING New York City Marathon. Ciaccia
also leads TV, video, and live entertainment production, overseeing more than 50 special
hospitality events of various sizes, along with the development of new events for the company. He holds a certification in FEMA & ICS planning and is a certified USAT Race Director,
and he maintains close working relationships with city, state, and federal officials on all matters pertaining to event planning.
Prior to joining NYRR, Ciaccia held executive positions within the music industry for CBS
Records, Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment. For 10 years, he was the owner and president of
PC Management, Inc., a firm that specialized in artist development and international touring.
Ciaccia has a lifetime passion for fitness; he has completed more than 30 half-marathons,
marathons, and ultramarathons. He holds the unofficial title of best-dressed NYRR staffer.
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NYRR Senior Management
Michael Capiraso, executive vice president, operations, administration and strategy
Peter Ciaccia, executive vice president, event development and broadcast production/
technical director, ING New York City Marathon
Linda Franken, vice president, finance
John Gassner, vice president, business development and strategic partnerships
Jim Heim, vice president, event development and operations
Kerin Hempel, vice president, strategy and planning
Bob Laufer, general counsel/ING New York City Marathon wheelchair coordinator
Maria Note, vice president, human resources
Michael Rodgers, vice president, development and philanthropy
Cliff Sperber, vice president, youth and community services
Veronica “Ronnie” Tucker, vice president of marketing and digital,
brand marketing and communications
Chris Weiller, vice president, media and public relations
Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO/race director, ING New York City Marathon
Directors
Gordon Bakoulis, director, editorial
Tom Kelley, director, race scoring
Andre Mutovic, director, information technology
Harry Neuhaus, director, business development and strategic partnerships
Chrissy Odalen, director, programming and administration, youth and community services
Paul Ortolano, director, event administration
Beth Salisch, director, merchandise
Philip Santora, director, volunteer and community strategies
Bari Schwartz, director, strategy and planning
Liz Seward, director, creative services
Dale Shumanski, director, hospitality and special events
Andia Smull, director, brand management and communications
Robert Smy, director, digital and social media
Michelle Doti-Taylor, director, business development and strategic partnerships
Michael Traverso, controller
Dr. Stuart Weiss, medical director
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Board of Directors
Emeriti
George Hirsch, Chairman
Michael Frankfurt, Secretary
Grant Behrman
Richard Byrne
Raul Damas
Doug Feltman
Norman Goluskin
Michael Gross
Juanne Renee Harris
Tom Labrecque, Jr.
John Legere
Claudia Malley
Adam Manus
Bryant McBride
James Milne
Martin Oppenheimer
Steve Pamon
Steve Roth
Anne Beane Rudman
Dr. Norbert Sander
Eric A. Seiff
Allan Steinfeld
Toby Tanser
Mary Wittenberg, President
Vince Chiappetta
Brian Crawford
Nina Kuscsik
Carl C. Landegger
Arno Niemand
Elizabeth Phillips
Peter Roth
George Hirsch – Chairman of the Board of Directors
George Hirsch, 79, has served as chairman of the NYRR Board of Directors since 2004. A
lifelong runner, Hirsch ran New York’s first-ever five-borough marathon in 2:49. He has been
the worldwide publisher of Runner’s World magazine, the publisher and president of New York
magazine, the vice president of Rodale’s magazine division, and the publishing director of Men’s
Health magazine. In the 1980s, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives; his campaigners
included Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers.
Hirsch served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness from 1986 to 1988 and was vice
chairman of the New York City Sports Commission. He has provided television commentary
for prominent racing events such as the Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Trials, and major
marathons including Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. He marked his
75th birthday by winning his age group in the 2009 ING New York City Marathon in a time of
4:06:14—a mere two weeks after running the Chicago Marathon in 3:58:42. He continues to
shock runners half his age and younger by passing them in NYRR races, in which he routinely
places in his age group.
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NYRR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
2012–2013 School Year
Across the country and around the world: more than 200,000 children were served locally,
nationally, internationally through running programs, initiatives, and events.
In NYC, more than 85,000 children in 625 public schools and 25 community centers were
served through our three main running programs: Mighty Milers, Young Runners, and the
Developmental Track & Field Series.
•Across the United States, Mighty Milers ran 4.5 million miles and earned 122,017
“Marathon of Miles” medals
•NYRR staged 43 meets for more than 6,200 students from 160 New York City public
schools in the Developmental Track & Field Series
•Overall, NYRR staged 60 youth events for more than 27,000 participants
•1996 Olympic 400-meter hurdles gold medalist Derrick Adkins, an NYRR staff
member, inspired some 60,000 kids at more than 300 assemblies in New York City
public schools presenting his “Olympic Mentality” approach to academics, sports, and
life
•In the past two years, NYRR has given out 34 scholarships ($1,000 each) to New
York City girls who completed our Run for the Future program (17 in 2012 and 17 in
2013)
•NYRR has made a five-year commitment to Partnership for a Healthier America to
expand Mighty Milers by 100 schools and distribute youth running resources to 2,500
schools
•NYRR partnered with local organizations to participate in 174 community health and
fitness events in New York City, reaching 61,724 people
•NYRR led 358 fitness sessions for senior citizens that served more than 10,000
attendees
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GLOSSARY
Age-graded results — If you want to know what the best race of your life is (so far), this tool
will give you a pretty good idea. It’s a system that removes age-related slowing from race times.
Times run by competitors who are 35 or older are adjusted to compensate for typical slowing
due to age, while open-division participants’ times remain the same. This lets any runner compete with anyone else who’s run the same distance, at any age and of either sex—including his
or her own past selves. An age-graded percentage (which shows how a time compares to the
world record) will also let times at different distances be compared.
Age-group competition — A way for a runner to compete in a “race within the race” among
competitors of his or her approximate age. NYRR races offer awards to the top three finishers in
each five-year age group above age 30 for both sexes—men 40–44, women 65–69, and so on.
(If you can’t beat ’em, wait ’til you get out of their age group!) NYRR race results list the top 10
finishers in each age group.
Athletes with Disability (AWD) — Entrants with physical or other impairments that affect their
ability to walk or run, many of whom use mobility aids like wheelchairs, handcycles, prosthetics,
leg braces, or crutches and/or have guides accompany them on the course. Don’t assume that
they’re slow: The wheelchair racers and handcyclists are the fastest athletes on the course, and
in the 2002 New York City Marathon women’s race, blind athlete Marla Runyan took fourth place
in 2:27:10!
Carbohydrate loading — A pre-race diet regimen, usually used before races of a marathon or
longer, in which athletes eat more carbohydrate-rich foods than usual for several days to avoid
depleting their glycogen reserves late in the event and hitting the infamous “Wall.”
ChronoTrack B-Tag — A lightweight strip attached to the runner’s bib containing a transponder
that sends a unique identification number to antennae in mats placed at the start, along the
course, and/or at the finish of a race. The B-Tag can provide participants with an accurate record
of their net time and splits (see also gun time/net time, split). It’s also an improvement on older
methods of automatic timing, which involved threading a disk or tag through your shoelaces.
Dehydration — A condition that occurs when fluid levels in the body get too low. Heat and
high-level physical activity can both accelerate dehydration, possibly leading to fatigue and heat
illness. Avoid these unpleasant results by drinking water and/or sports drinks in the days before
a hot race, and by drinking at the aid stations along the course.
Electrolytes — Essential to the normal functioning of cells, electrolytes are chemical substances
that contain ions such as sodium and potassium. They’re lost through sweat, and if enough are
lost, cramping and slowing can result. Fluids containing electrolytes, which include many sports
drinks, can replace those lost during activity.
Fartlek — A type of speed workout, developed in Sweden, that consists of periods of running
for indefinite lengths of time at different speeds. The effort levels and distances are typically
decided on en route, without the prescribed structure of a standard interval workout. (“Fartlek”
translates from the Swedish as “speed play.”) For beginners, a fartlek session could include periods of easy-to-moderate running and of walking. Advanced runners might sprint for 45
seconds or so, then jog for about the same time, then run a moderate-paced two minutes, then sprint up a hill, and so on.
Glycogen — Carbohydrates stored in the muscles and liver. This is the fuel that you use in an endurance event, and running for two hours will use up most of it—at which point you’ll experience the profoundly distressing condition known as “hitting the Wall.” (Carbohydrate
loading can help delay that.)
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Gun time/net time — Gun time is measured from the official start of a race until a participant
crosses the finish line. Net time is the time it takes a participant to get from the start line to the
finish line, recorded by the B-Tag. Most races now list results based on net time, but in NYRR
races and most others, a runner must cross the finish line first to be declared the winner, even if
another runner has a faster net time.
Hitting the Wall — A common term for the very unpleasant result of running out of stored carbohydrates during an endurance event. For marathoners, this often happens around the 20-mile mark. Also known as “bonking.”
Hyponatremia — This rare condition, caused by low blood sodium, can occur when a person
takes in too much fluid or loses too much sodium. It can lead to nausea, fatigue, vomiting, weakness, sleepiness, disorientation, and in very severe cases, coma or death.
Injuries — Common running injuries include:
Achilles’ tendinitis — heel pain caused by inflammation of the Achilles’ tendon
ITB syndrome — pain and inflammation of the iliotibial band, a ligament that runs from the hip along the outer thigh to beside the knee
Plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the tough band of connective tissue (fascia) along the bottom of the foot; symptoms are pain in the arch and heel
Runner’s knee — a.k.a. chondromalacia patella: a painful wearing-away of the cartilage under the kneecap
Shin splints — an ache along the inside edge of the shin bone caused by minor damage to the ligaments that connect the calf muscles to the bone. Luckily, this painful problem—which often afflicts beginning runners who overdo their introduction to the sport—is easily healed by rest.
Stress fracture — a hairline bone-break, usually brought on by repetitive stress, such as high-volume running.
Interval training — Workout sessions that use periods of rest between hard efforts to maximize
the anaerobic benefits. A runner doing 400-meter repeats might take one minute of rest (the
“rest interval”) after each run to recover before the next hard effort. Hill-repeat workouts, strides,
and fartlek are all types of interval training.
Junk miles — Miles run for no real training purpose, usually to help the runner achieve a weekly
mileage total. (“Fred told me he’s running 80 miles a week!” “Yeah, but at least 10 of that’s just
junk miles.”)
Kick — An acceleration used at the end of a race. A “kicker” is a runner who often relies on a fast
finish to win a race after following one or more “front runners” for most of the distance. Miruts
Yifter of Ethiopia, who won the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, was
known as “Yifter the Shifter” because of his blazing kick. His equally quick-kicking compatriot
Kenenisa Bekele replicated that double in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Kilometer — Approximately 0.62 of a mile. A marathon is 42.195 kilometers.
Lactic Acid — Produced during intense exercise, lactic acid is a byproduct of the body’s demand
for oxygen exceeding its capacity to take in oxygen. After about 300 meters of all-out running,
an athlete will begin to experience muscle tightness and an inability to maintain top speed due
to the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. In extreme cases, the situation is known variously as “the bear,” “rigor mortis,” and “tying up.”
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Marathon — A running event named for the Greek town where the vastly outnumbered Athenian
army defeated the Persian army in 490 B.C., and from which, according to legend, the Athenian
messenger Pheidippides carried news of the victory by running about 24.5 miles to Athens.
Upon arriving, he announced, “Rejoice—we conquer!” (in ancient Greek), and then died from his
exertions. The town was made the starting point of the commemorative race that Baron de Coubertin instituted in 1896 at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens. The race’s distance was
standardized at 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195 kilometers) after the 1908 Olympics in London.
Masters division — An age-specific division for older athletes. In most running events, the
masters division is for participants ages 40 and over; there are typically divisions for each fiveyear age-group thereafter: 45-49, 50-54, etc. The age-group concept was popularized by the
muiltifaceted Ted Corbitt, who also revolutionized course measurement, ultramarathon running,
and physical therapy.
Overpronation — An excessive inward roll of the foot after landing, which can cause injuries in
the foot, shin, and knee. Runners can find out if they overpronate by looking for excessive wear
on the outside edges of their running shoes’ soles. Different shoes or orthotic inserts may help
with this problem.
Pace — In road racing, this usually means time per mile. For example, running at 8:30 pace
means that you’re covering each mile in eight minutes and 30 seconds. One of the most important skills for runners to develop is a sense of pace, which will let them distribute their effort
economically over a race’s distance.
Pickups — Periods of faster-paced running within a longer run. (See Interval training.)
Plyometrics — Exercises involving explosive use of the muscles while they lift the athlete’s body
weight: Hopping, jumping, skipping, and bounding are typical elements of a plyometric session.
The goal is for the muscle to exert maximum force in minimum time, with the goal of increasing
speed and power.
PR (personal record) or PB (personal best) — An athlete’s fastest time at a given distance. “PR” is the American version; “PB” is the British equivalent.
Racing flats — Lightweight, non-spiked shoes worn by road runners in races and fast workouts.
Repeats/hill repeats — A kind of interval training that consists of a series of relatively short runs
done over a specific distance, such as 10 runs of 400 meters apiece, with rest intervals between
them. Hill repeats use the same idea, but they’re run on an uphill (or, more rarely, a downhill)
slope, often in specific preparation for a hilly race. (Running wisdom has it that you can only
train for hills by running hills.)
Runner’s high — No drugs are required for this “high,” which is a sensation of euphoria caused
by endorphins released in the brain during or after strenuous exercise. The feeling is often of being perfectly balanced and in tune with one’s body, able to run fast and painlessly. If it happened
whenever people ran, there’d be very few non-runners.
Split, split time, negative split — A split is the time it takes to complete a given part of a race
or workout. Most big races have clocks at various points along the course—usually at mile or
kilometer marks and/or at the halfway point—so that runners can gauge their pace by the split
times. Running negative splits means completing the second half of a race faster than the first
half. (In this case, we’re positive that negative is positive.)
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Strides/striders — runs of about 50 to 100 meters, done at race pace or faster, with jogs between them. Serious runners often do them as part of their warm-up before a race or a hard
workout, to get the legs accustomed to the fast pace that will soon be required. Although the
strides are run at high speed, the distance is short enough that there’s little sense of effort.
Strides can also be done as a part of another workout—at the end of an easy run, for instance—
as a way to increase top-end speed.
Surge — A mid-race acceleration used to try to pull away from a competitor or group of
competitors. In the 1956 Olympics, Vladimir Kuts of the USSR used surges to break away from
his rivals on his way to a 5000-meter/10,000-meter double victory. Hendrick Ramaala of South
Africa, the 2003 ING New York City Marathon champion, was famous for throwing down a major
surge on First Avenue at around mile 17.
Taper — A reduction of running mileage and intensity during the weeks leading up to a race.
Most marathoners taper for at least two weeks prior to their goal race, with the week before the
race devoted mostly to rest, and running limited to easy jogs.
Tempo run — One of the key components of most competitive runners’ programs, a tempo run
is a “comfortably hard” run over a set distance or time at a steady effort. For example, a runner
training for a 10K might run five miles at a pace 10–20 seconds per mile slower than the pace
that she’s going to try for in the 10K.
VO2 max — The maximum amount of oxygen that a person can use during exercise, usually
expressed in liters of oxygen per minute. A higher number indicates a greater level of physical
fitness. (A way to estimate your VO2 max without elaborate testing is to divide your maximum
heart rate by your resting heart rate and multiply the resulting number by 15.) The late 1972
Olympian Steve Prefontaine, who liked to say that he won races because he was tougher than
his competitors, had the highest VO2 max ever measured among American distance runners
(84.6), which might have been as important as his toughness.
MEDIA GUIDE
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