54:53.
That was my time for the Ted Corbitt 15K in Central Park. Nine-point-three miles at 5:53 per mile.
It was 29 degrees at the start, which was good racing weather once we got moving and less good standing-around weather. PPTC had a cheer spot planned near Cat Hill so people could see runners twice. A few of us had also arranged brunch for after the race.
The 15K was the last New York Road Runners club points race of the season. I was the third PPTC man across the line, behind Ted Brakob in 52:30 and Sean Quealy in 54:14. The five-man open team finished seventh at the race.
My time also put my name on the PPTC 15K club records list. It landed between a 54:52 and a 55:25, which was an appropriately crowded place for it.
I had not built the fall around this race. Chicago and New York had been the two marathons. The 15K was a hard effort inside a larger winter block. I was running more than 60 miles a week, lifting, rolling out, and spending enough time in Epsom salt baths that those had become part of the schedule too.
The next targets were already clear: the New York City Half in March, then duathlon nationals and worlds in April.
PPTC had its own target. The men had been leading the Open B division since the summer. We finished the year headed to Open A, joining the women there. The club photo after Ted Corbitt was about that result, not just any one time.
Three days later, I learned that PPTC tracked volunteer points.
This was exciting news.
I sent in my list: helping organize and dye eggs for the spring egg hunt, pacing the run to the cake place in Crown Heights, buying coffee for the summer picnic because I did not know how to expense it, going to social committee meetings, and co-hosting a brunch after another race.
“Do I get points for some / all of these? If so that's sweet!”
I signed the note “hearts, Chris.”
The answer was yes. My reply was immediate.
“Heck yea I love PPTC!”