Tuesday, April 1, 2008

2007 New York City Marathon Story (11/04/2007)


Dear Friends and my Running Fellows,


2007 NYC Marathon race is one of the best ever New York City Marathon.There were a recorded high number of racers (about 40,000 from more than 80, applicants). Competition of the Professional Olympic Trial, Women & Men races like high drama...

Here is a high light photo of the New York City Marathon Weekend.
You can see all the exciting story and detail from here –
http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/home/index.php

Not training as hard as last year I was happy to complete the Sunday race with time 4:07:09 beating my last year time by 26 second! New York City Marathon, the biggest party was over. We must appreciate all supporter's services, cheering which make all the runners feel like a hero in the party and show. I am writing this note to give a special thanks to TRD cheering team and all my friends. Your support makes me feel so special and happy on the day in the race!

I have received many mails and notes from my friends, professors, colleagues in the past weeks. Some of my friends here had been standing on the street a few hours to look for me on the racing day! Some of the friends found me and caught me by a great photo shot! I post some of the notes here to share with you, which is a part of my running story, and hope you would enjoy! See you on the road and join me for the run!

Chuck

Look at the photos at TRD Cheering Zone at 19th Mile, last year and this year. I was so happy and didn't look like running 19 mils at all!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13064790@N06/sets/72157603025205904/detail/

*****
Charles - GOOD LUCK - I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOU. I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU. - Roscoe
Charles: Congratulations -4:07!! It was a good day. - Roscoe.

Roscoe Brown is a friend of mine, my professor in University and a nine times New York City Marathon runner.

Dr. Roscoe Brown (b. 1922) is one of the Tuskegee Airmen, and former commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. He graduated from the program in 1944, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe during World War II. He was one of fifteen pilots who shot down the advanced German Me-262 jet fighter.

On March 29, 2007, Brown attended a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda, where he and the other surviving veterans of the Tuskegee Airmen (and their widows) were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service[3].
http://cuny.tv/series/aalegends/brown.lasso

*****
Hello, there,
I am posting the following message for a friend of mine, Chuck, who is going to run the NYC marathon tomorrow. If you went to the Avon-by-the-sea beach this past summer, you might recall a lean fellow who wore triathlon athlete's spandex uniform looking ready to jump into the sea at any moment, and indeed he's a master triathlon athlete. so Let's cheer him up and wish his best!
Regards
- Song

*****
So, cheers for Chuck! Ladies and gentlemen here, also those of you in Sports Club, if you could be cheerleaders by the road side while Chuck is racing for the championship, holler here!!! To join me at least for an email bluster of supporting!
Cheers!
- Rebecca, Director
Department of Innately Handicapped in Sports

*****
Charlrs:
首先预祝你比赛成功,我从心里对你感到很敬佩和崇拜,很抱歉我不能到现场为你助威加油,这几天我因为肠胃炎住院了一天一夜,出来后在朋友家休息
再次祝福你,比赛顺利成功! 加油哦!
- Teresa
(Ms. Teresa was a Professional Swimmer as a Master Athlete, National Swimming Team of China, and currently is a Swimming Coach in New York)


*****
Hi Chuck,
Are you running on Sunday? I probably will try to watch at cheer-up point Queens Boro Plaza, and throw a towel to you
- Feng

*****
Hi Charles,
Thanks for the email. I will be covering the race, but will be at many different points along the course tomorrow -- it will be quite a busy, hectic day! I am covering the men's professional race, so will need to be at Tavern on the Green around 12pm to catch the big finish. I wish you the best of luck tomorrow -- you will do great! You've trained well and you deserve a great race! best wishes,
- Ailsa

*****
Chuck,
Tomorrow will be Your Day. Go! Go! Go!.
- Henry

*****
Hi, Charles,
Congratulation for doing the Marathon. Pity that Ian and I couldn't
come to give you a cheer. We are in San Francisco at the moment. Have a
good run!
- Xiaohong.

*****
Sorry, Chuck. I could not go and cheer for you, because I was in Athens, Greece (I am sitting at an internet bar in Athens right now). But the interesting thing is, on that day I was watching the Marathon in Athens, and cheered the people in the run here. The end point was at the old stadium where held the first modern Olympic Game in 1896. What I saw is very touch. I will show you the picture after I come back.
Go Chuck. Please write us your story/report.
- Jimmy

*****
Hello, Chuck:
Congrats again for your finishing the race and thanks a lot for the detailed info you 'v given. It was a pity i wasn't able to spot you during the race. but i had a blast there watching the whole race from different locations. It's much more exciting, fun and upbeat than i had thought! I 'll definitely up my running now on. and keep posting your events to the group10, i am sure it will impact our friends' mind and behavior, maybe little by little, in a very positive way. Keep up the good work and i'll talk to you later.
- Song

*****
Hi Chuck,
Great job on the marathon - you must be very pleased! I was happy as
well, although my time was ~ 10 minutes slower than last year. But, I
trained less this year so that was what I had expected.
Regards
- Lara

*****
Ben Goldhagen

posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 12:02 pm



Congratulations Chuck! I love your reports, pictures, and most of all spirit. Best of luck in your future activities. Looking forward to hearing about them.

*******
Scott Harris

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 1:43 pm



Chuck, Congratulations on your improved time!
Thank you for posting the piece on Roscoe Brown. My father was good friends with him. It is great to hear that he is still running marathons.

*******
jud

Chuck, I agree with Ben. You have always been a sincere and gracious competitor, and always appreciative of the gifts you have been given. We could all learn from you.

You (and Scott) must be very honored to know Roscoe Brown. I cannot imagine the hardship he and his men endured during the war, both from the enemy and from their own racist comrades.

Not to mention the fact that he shot down a 262!!!


********
Martin

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:22 pm



jud wrote

Not to mention the fact that he shot down a 262

I wonder how the pilot of the 262 feels about that
anyway, good job Chuck !
Seems you are a great inspiration for a lot of your friends and colleagues. Turn them all into runners !

*********
Hi, chuck:

I like running ...I really didn't run a lot,... I'd like someday to give a try for the marathon, but as you said, it took some months and dedications to train, which I don't have at this moment. If timing comes later on, I'll
definitely reach to you for advice.

Meanwhile, it'd be great if you can put some of your experience into emails from time to time on the list. It's very refreshing from most topics, and very encouraging to some of those who are not very physically active (many Chinese here, especially ladies).
- Song

********

I have been keeping receiving congratulations and mails from friends in US, China...all of the world. Thanks all the support and encouragement. Your support is the best gift to me. What I wish from you is - As my teammate Martin said "Turn them all into runners!" Next time when you visit me in New York City or I visit you in your city let's run together to share our running story!

Chuck