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My Best Runs Comments

One day before NYC’s historic LGBTQ Pride March makes its way through Manhattan, more than 3,600 runners took on five miles in Central Park at the Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run.

Now in its 36th year, the race represents an alliance between New York Road Runners and Front Runners New York, a competitive and social club for LGBT runners, multisport athletes, and their allies.

Heavy precipitation at the start didn’t dampen the spirits of volunteers and runners—as they say, you can't have a rainbow without the rain!

Instead, it made way for some speedy finishes. Musa Babo Ido of the West Side Runners took first in the men’s race in 25:43 (official), while New York Athletic Club's Esther Atkins was winner on the women’s side in 28:19 (official).

Naturally, Front Runners New York brought a big crowd to Pride Run, but we spotted dozens of other club runners celebrating love and equality in masses.

Mile 1:Start on East Drive just south of the 102nd Street Transverse and head north around the top of the park. Climb the race's toughest incline, Harlem Hill, before the 1-mile mark.

Mile 2:Continue south on West Drive through a series of three rolling hills between the Transverse and the southwestern edge of the Reservoir.

Mile 3:Run downhill for about a half-mile, then turn left onto the 72nd Street Transverse and pass Bethesda Terrace on your left at the three-mile point.

Mile 4:Turn left again and run north on East Drive. Pass the Boathouse, then climb Cat Hill to the four-mile mark behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Mile 5:Continue north on a flat section past the bronze statue of New York City Marathon co-founder Fred Lebow near East 90th Street, then downhill as you approach the finish at the 102nd Street Transverse.

2019 BOSTON (23-June) – A pair of course records fell to the wayside at the 2019 B.A.A. 10K, presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Fancy Chemutai of Kenya set a new women’s course record of 30:36, while Daniel Romanchuk of Illinois re-wrote the record books in the men’s wheelchair division, breaking the tape in 20:17. David Bett (Kenya) and Carla Trodella (Danvers, Mass.) rounded out the day’s winners in the men’s open and women’s wheelchair divisions, respectively.

Today’s B.A.A. 10K, presented by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was the second race of the 2019 B.A.A. Distance Medley, which also includes April’s B.A.A. 5K and October’s B.A.A. Half Marathon. Presenting sponsor Brigham and Women’s Hospital was represented by 550 runners, who have raised a combined $250,000 through today’s event.

Both Chemutai and Romanchuk earned breakaway wins thanks to tactical moves made early in their races. After crossing the halfway mark in 15:25, Chemutai began to leave the rest of the women’s field behind, pulling away as she made her way towards Kenmore Square.

Splitting 8K in 24:33, Chemutai knew she was on course record pace and buckled down for the final minutes of racing. At that point, she had nearly a 25-second lead on countrywoman Brillian Kipkoech and was on pace to shatter Shalane Flanagan’s 30:52 course best.

“I saw it was coming, that the course record was coming,” she said. When asked if that motivated her, she smiled and said, “yeah, sure!”

Triumphantly crossing the finish in 30:36, Chemutai established a new course record. The time also ranks tied for second fastest in the world this year.

“I enjoy being in Boston and enjoyed to win. It was very hot. It was hot,” said Chemutai of her Boston road racing debut. “I was going for the course record, it was in my mind.”

Kipkoech placed second in 31:04, with 2015 Boston Marathon champion Caroline Rotich taking third in 31:58. Top American honors went to Aliphine Tuliamuk, eighth place in 32:27.

The men’s open race was a fierce battle between Kenyans David Bett, Daniel Chebii, and Stephen Sambu, alongside Tanzania’s Joseph Panga. With opening miles of 4:34 and 4:33, the men’s leaders came through 5K in 14:16 and then began to push the pace even more. The quartet broke from the field, and clocked a 4:29 fourth mile, setting up for a final push down Commonwealth Ave. towards the finish.

It was Bett who had the best sprint of the day, making the turn onto Charles Street first and holding off the hard charging Chebii, who would finish a second behind, 28:08 to 29:09. Sambu rounded out the top three in 28:11, followed by Panga (28:14).

Following his win, Bett said he’s already fallen in love with the roads of Boston and hopes to come back for October’s B.A.A. Half Marathon.

“I feel very happy,” said Bett. “I feel so happy for winning. I’m looking forward to coming back again next year. I think before I’ll try to run [the] B.A.A. Half Marathon in October.” Both men’s champion Bett and women’s winner Chemutai are from Kericho in Kenya.

Brighton, Mass. resident Brian Shrader was the top American, seventh place in 29:11.

Since our initial race in 1977, Grandma’s Marathon has grown bigger than just a 26.2 mile race along the scenic North Shore of Minnesota.

It’s a moment where runners of all calibers come together to celebrate the vigor of the human spirit. Where the word “impossible” ceases to exist; a day where 9,000 people are your best running buddy.