Filed under: NBR Goings On | Tags: group, ideas, meeting, minutes, running, volunteering
Thanks to everyone who came out to the meeting last night! Was super to have all of your input, ideas, and thoughts. Here’s a recap for those of you who weren’t able to make it or just want some more food for thought…
We will most likely have our next meeting in mid to late October.
Aja
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NBR TOWN HALL & PLANNING MEETING • Sunday, April 25, 2010
1. Coming Up
- Club Points Races: Healthy Kidney 10K 5/16; Mini 10K 6/12 (W); Father’s Day 5M 6/20 (M)
- Other Upcoming Races: Auto H.S. 5K 6/12; Burning Man 50K 9/1
- Brooklyn Half Team Volunteering – Saturday May 22 – sign up here
- Gear Available for Purchase – order here
2. Community Meetings Re-Cap
- NYRR Club Council (4/14)
- Check your Marathon Member Profile to be sure team affiliation is correct
- New separate women’s blue start area (initiated at Run as One)
- Possibilities for 2011 or sooner: Women’s Open B Division; sub-5:30 start area
- Corral placement may vary from race to race. Self-police to be sure you’re in the right corral.
- OSA Meeting (4/20): NBR repped its votes about rules being posted at/on track and had one of
the highest voted issues brought up at the meeting. OSA’s next meeting is October 20th.
- Williamsburg Walks (4/21): Will be a 2-day event held over one weekend, June 26-27.
- Greenway Initiative (4/22): Work continues on 14-mile pathway from Sunset Park to Greenpoint
3. Track Meet Update – contact Matt
- Cancelled for this year. Anyone want to take it on for 2011?
- Other ideas: informal night meet, the Franklin St. Mile, informal 5K on WB bridge to get to know other clubs
4. Educational Member Events – contact Cherie
- Injury Prevention workshop a success! Find handout here.
- On the horizon: Nutrition Workshop (May 24th), Hot/Summer Running Salon (June), Long Run Training Discussion (July), Barefoot Running, Running Your First Marathon, Sports Massage
- Suggestions for free places to host these events?
- Contact Cherie if you have any ideas, contacts for spaces, contacts for guest speakers, etc.
5. Social Events – contact Lidie
- May: Brooklyn Half Beach Party; June: BBQ? Brunch?; July: Summer Garden Party
- Help needed for organizing pre-race dinners and post-run brunches!!
6. Gear – contact Allison & Jen
- Gear is in, singlets are on their way
- Suggestions: technical NBR t-shirts, NBR pop-up tent
7. Running Safely! – Olenka
- Reflective Gear, Headphones, Emergency ID (YikesID, RoadID, etc)
- Look on the sites soon for more info on running safety!
8. Team Volunteering & Allocating Marathon Spots
- Next up: Brooklyn Half (need at least 30 people) – Does not count towards 9+1
Earns us team spots for the 2010 NYC Marathon – we are on track for 4-5 spots!
If you sign up to volunteer, it is a commitment. Please be there.
- How Spots Will Be Allocated:
1. Must prove yourself to be an active member of NBR: group runs, meetings, other events
2. Must contribute to NBR: volunteer at events, be a run leader or help the group in other ways
3. Express yourself creatively as to why you want to do the NYC Marathon this year (in writing,
video, music, photography, food, etc.) and include a short description.
- Applications due June 7th. Spots allocated by June 15th.
- Other Allocation Ideas: lottery and/or weighted lottery based on NBR participation, silly contests, etc.
- Other Volunteer Opportunities: OSA Park Cleanup, Rooftop Farms, Soup Kitchen, Compost, etc.
9. NBR Field Trips – Need Leaders!
- Relay Races; Trail Runs & Weekend Retreats; Out-of-town Races
- Idea: 15K in Utica on July 11th (ends at a Brewery)– need someone to lead, but Sherry can help.
10. A Summer Retreat for Runners: August 27-29 – Stafford, CT at the Clearpoint Center
- Includes: Tomato Trot 5K & Red Fire Farm’s Tomato Fest; Hiking, Swimming, Trail Run, etc.
- $200 per person includes: lodging, 4-5 meals, race registration and festival entry
- Limited to 15 people; Registration Opens May 1st – but can make a deposit after meeting
- More info to be posted on the sites soon. In the meantime, email Aja for more info
11. Managing Our Growth
- Challenge: Inclusiveness for all members and kinds of runners
- New Member & New Runner “Orientation”: non-running hour held once a month to welcome
new members into the fold, tell them about the runs, offer running/gear tips, answer
questions, etc. Will be led by 2-3 NBR members, can be different each time. NEED people to volunteer for these.
- Suggestions: Perhaps doing beginner’s runs/new member orientations after regular run has ended, after bridge runs, backyards of bars, McCarren park, targeting Sat. AM runs as perfect runs for new members, having more pace groups on Wednesdays is important.
- Advanced Beginner’s Run added
- Challenge: Administrative Efficiency and Membership Leadership Opportunities
- Responsibilities need to be delegated further. New opportunities available for those who want
to get more involved. Each run and admin position has 2 leaders, unless noted otherwise.
- NBR Run Leader and Admin “Positions”: There are some openings, see box!
- Challenge: Online Efficiency
- Efforts are in place to make sites contain same vital information.
- Would a monthly newsletter help to streamline finding out about events, races, etc.? NO.
- Suggestion: Have additional online discussion group(s) for non-running topics, keep Google group to
race and group run info only
12. New Group Run Schedule & Group Run Management
- Year divided into two seasons Winter/Spring (Nov-Apr) and Summer/Fall (May-Oct)
- Allows more members the opportunity to lead runs and to change runs based on season
- Idea: an interactive calendar where people can post one-off meet-up runs
- 3-month incubation period for new runs before incorporated into new schedule
- Workouts/routes posted ahead of time online?
- Comments: Workouts to start on time; should all include group stretching and strengthening; new members should be better introduced and welcomed into the group
- Beginner’s Run Training Program: Couch to 4M (7/17 CPC 4M)
- Incorporates learning opportunities: gear, form, racing, physical and mental strengthening
- Marathon Long Run Training Program (June/July-Nov) with additional workouts posted online
- Incorporates learning opportunities: injury prevention, training safely, etc.
- Need someone to lead it!
- Monthly New Member & New Runner Orientations
Other Ideas From Group:
- Form Clinic (Owen)
- CPR Training (Fernando looking into)
- Introductory Primer on website
Do you have other ideas? Email us!
Hey Everyone!
First off, thanks so much for your commitment to our Team Volunteering
efforts at the Half this Sunday– we have a great group! It’s an early morning, but our station is right after the 3 mile mark, so we’ll be done by probably 8:30/9am. Feel free to rock your NBR shirts for some
team spirit!
And advanced thanks to Mary and her famed PB+J muffins, without which, I’m sure we would have a much lower turnout.
Okay y’all, brace yourselves…
Sunday Morning Meet-Up Options
OPTION 1 – Meet at the Bedford L
For the majority of us coming from Williamsburg/Greenpoint, we will
meet on the Bedford L platform, at the usual spot, by the cop-in-a-box
at… 4:05am. Specifically, the train leaves at 4:12am, according to MTA’s
TripPlanner.
This will get us our transfer to the A and up to 86th street at 4:46am, which gives us time to find our spot inside the park.
OPTION 2 – Meet in Central Park
If you are coming from elsewhere or have different travel arrangements, please note that our call time is 5:00AM! We are at
Fluid Station #3 – West Drive @ 86th
If we’re not yet there, please note that the the Fluid Station Manager is Louise Kim.
It’s not too late to invite other friends/family, etc. along to volunteer. We could use 2 more to get us into the next bracket. Just let me know, or just show up with them!
NBR <3!
Aja
Filed under: NBR Goings On, Races, volunteering | Tags: fun, goal setting, NYRR, Races, racing, volunteering
Whether you are a member who’s injured, have never come on a run, didn’t get into the NYC Half, or just love muffins… COME VOLUNTEER AND JOIN US AT THE NBR WATER STATION at the NYC Half on the 21st! It’s going to be a blast, mixing up gatorade and screaming for thousands of runners (and a couple dozen of our own) in Central Park on the first Sunday of Spring.
Mary has promised to bring her world-famous PB+J muffins for all of the volunteers but ONLY if we can get at least 25 people!
So far we have about 10.
You DO NOT have to be a runner– so coerce your roommates, significant others, friends who owe you favors, students, and family members to come join us.
This team volunteering opportunity is one of two parts to help us get 2-4 spots for some of our members in THIS YEAR’S NYC Marathon!
Do NOT sign up through NYRR, please sign up here: http://tinyurl.com/nbrvolunteers or email us — I am submitting a list to NYRR.
SIGN UP BY MONDAY 3/15!
NBR <3,
Aja
P.S. Please read full details here
Filed under: NBR Goings On, Races | Tags: charity, fun, Rochester Marathon, running, volunteer, volunteering
Let’s Volunteer as a team for the NYC Half Marathon!
It’s gonna be fun, we’ll get to mix crazy quantities of Gatorade, maybe don a poncho, and cheer on thousands of runners (and a couple dozen of our own!) in one of the biggest races of the year!
Date: Sunday, March 21st – 5:00am
Where: Central Park, Fluid Station #3 (West Drive @ 86th St.)
Sign Up: Do NOT register through NYRR’s volunteer site.
You MUST email us and/or put your name on our volunteer spreadsheet. We’ll be sending a final list to NYRR a couple of days prior.
The volunteers do NOT have to be runners– so drag your significant other, sibling, parent, or unsuspecting friend and add them to the list!
PLEASE NOTE!
This is for TEAM VOLUNTEERING and will NOT count towards 9+1 requirements. Team Volunteering allows our team the opportunity to earn 2 or more spots in this year’s NYC Marathon for our members who (1) didn’t get in and are rarin’ to go and/or (2) have circumstances that would have prevented them from being able to qualify (previous injuries, extensive travel, etc.). It is an AWESOME opportunity that is extended only to clubs. Our team must volunteer at least 10 members at TWO races between now and September 30th.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Aja
Filed under: NBR Goings On | Tags: goal setting, meetings, running, volunteering
Hey All!
Sorry it’s taken me awhile to do this, I blame Thanksgivingitis.
The meeting went really well and we had a great turnout and a lot of great ideas and discussion.
There are a lot of awesome things in store for NBR and LOTS of things we could use help with, so please send your ideas, thoughts, or if there’s any help (big or small or teeny) you can offer. Please keep an eye out for the capitalized “NEED” notes.
Thanks!
Aja
——
MINUTES: NBR Town Hall Meeting 11/23
1. NBR Events Now Through the End of the Year
- Races: 12/6 NYRR Joe K. 10K Club Points! Race is Full!
- Member Events: 12/7 – Winter Running Salon @ Anita’s, 12/14 Jack Rabbit Club Night 15% off, 6-8pm – Union Square Location
- Spring Track Meet Meeting: 12/13 @ 7pm
- Socials: 12/20 – NBR Holiday Brunch @ Lidie & Erich’s
2. Educational Member Events
For More Info and/or Ideas, contact Cherie
- On the horizon: Sports Massage Clinic, Intro to Ultras/Adventure Races, Injury Prevention Clinic, Recovery Salon/Discussion, Sports Nutrition
- NEED: local (free) spaces to host events
3. Social Member Events
For more info and/or ideas, contact Lidie
- NEED Chairs for Holiday Brunch – who can bring some?
- NBR Prom: 1/30/10 – Need “Prom Committee” – email Lidie if you’re interested
- NEED: venue, award ideas, DJ
4. NBR Gear
- Next t-shirt order in January.
- Cafe Press Shop up soon
- JP researching winter gear options
- NEED: Someone to co-head NBR “Gear Department” w/Helen
- email Aja with ideas, etc.
5. NBR Group Runs
- Randy will begin a monthly or bi-monthly series of Beginner’s clinics in 2010
- Wednesday night beginner’s run absorbed into Road Run with several pace groups and a shorter run option available
- Possibly doing a beginner’s intro to Speedwork 15 minutes before 7:30pm Thursday workouts with a discussion on what speedwork is and a head start on the workout
- Cherie may lead occasional out-of-city trail runs
- NEED: 1 or 2 people to lead Tuesday 7:15AM road runs – email Sherry
- NEED: Coaches, people interested in helping/co-leading: Marathon Training, Beginner’s Runners Clinics – email Randy
- NEED: Co-leaders for shorter Wednesday PM runs, and longer PM runs at 8-10min/mi pace groups – email Matt
6. 2010 Race Schedule
- NBR’s targeted races for 2010 = All NYRR club points races, Brooklyn Half, and Brooklyn Cup races
- NYC Half moved to March 21, lottery application begins 12/1.
- Use the spreadsheet to let us know what races you’re doing
- We have 5-6 NBRs running Boston, and an ever-growing contingent of marathoners for NJ Marathon in May
- Brooklyn Cup 2010: A new program spearheaded by Sherry in cooperation with the Prospect Park Track Club to get our clubs to run in Brooklyn-based races throughout the year– at the end of the year points will be awarded for club participation and other points for speed– indviduals and clubs get prizes. Trying to get other Brooklyn or large running groups to participate. NEED to gather prizes from local businesses. Email Sherry with any ideas.
7. The McCarren Park Track Classic – 4/24/10
- NBR’s first super-big event! A community event to benefit the Park.
- We’re in the process of gathering sponsors, finalizing our budget, and permit paperwork.
- Next Planning meeting: Sunday, 11/13 – 7pm
- FYI: Marketing Team = Procuring Sponsors, Money, Website, Registration, Advertising; Operations Team = Day-of, Equipment, Set-up/break-down, Marshaling, race organization, etc.
- NEED: LOTS OF HELP! in Marketing/Sponsorship and Operations – email us.
8. Money Money Money
- Opting not to go officially non-profit at this time; NBR will continue to be fee-free
- Received a $500 donation to NBR, Cristina is applying for a $1500 grant
- Putting up a donation button on website by year’s end
9. NBR NEEDS…
Can you do any of these things to help out NBR? Email NBR, unless otherwise noted
- Website manager/synch: regularly update the events pages – Projected time commitment: 10 minutes/week
- NBR Gear Department Co-Head – Projected time commitment: 1-2 hours a week, when we have shirts in
- Track Meet Sponsorship Team and Operations Team - Projected time commitment: 2-3 hours/week, or less depending on your preferences
- NBR Prom Committee – Email Lidie
- Bloggers: Write blogs on the .org site! Anyone can do this! Email for the login info.
- Twitter Brigade: We need more people to Twitter on NBR’s acct.! Anyone can do this! Email for the login info.
- Google Calendar Manager: add any NBR events posted on FB or Google Group to our Google Calendar – Projected time commitment: 10 minutes/wk. Email for the login info.
- Graphic Designers: support for track meet, ongoing projects
- Flyer Brigade: Flyering on a regular (monthly) basis – Projected time commitment: 1 hour/month
- Ideas for spaces to have events: clinics, meetings, salons, etc.
10. Group Volunteering Initiative
In keeping with NBR as a group who is making a positive difference in our community, in 2010 NBR will have bi-monthly volunteering opportunities partnering with and/or to benefit: Northside Town Hall, Open Space Alliance, NB Compost Project, park cleanups, Greenpoint Soup Kitchen, etc. Ideas welcomed!
11. Website
- The new website is generally well-liked and Google Group well used.
- Working on expanding run descriptions with pace info, etc.
- Adding glossary of common running terms and what different workouts benefit/do
- NEED: someone to create said glossary
- Change name of “Speed Work” to “Track Work”?
- Possibly adding a simple calculator to determine pacing for workouts.
Filed under: NBR Goings On, Races | Tags: marathon, New Jersey Marathon, Races, running, volunteering
The road to the Marathon is long. The road on the Marathon is long. The road to recovery post-Marathon is long. Even those of us, like myself, who did not run the BIG RACE, are still reeling a bit.
So since everything to do with the Marathon is long, I’ll keep it short.
We had 19 ass-kicking North Brooklyn Runners members running the streets of NYC last Sunday and 20 or more NBR volunteers cheering, pouring water, and mixing horrifying quantities of sticky electrolyte fluid at Mile 12 on Bedford and N.12th on the Williamsburg/Greenpoint cusp for 8 hours straight.
We had no fewer than 3 or 4 people qualify for Boston (two of them first time Marathoners), and at least 6 NBRs who are planning to run that Marathon come April. This race got people sick. Sick with Marathon Fever. And the only cure is… MORE MARATHONS!
So whether you’re up for the rag-tag crew forming to run the NJ Marathon in May, joining the ever-growing Boston contingent, or have another spring marathon up your sleeve… you and your need for long, cold weather runs are well met here.
Some Mile 12 photos by Mike E. below and some photos by Karl here.
Also some local NBR Marathon press here.
Everyone is amazing. I <3 NBR!
-Aja
By now you know that Mile 12 is the “official” NBR noise-making point for the Marathon. Wear your NBR shirt, come out, bring friends, shake a poster, play DJ, get rowdy!
Mile 12 = Bedford @ North 12th
The action starts with the bad-ass handcycles & wheelchairs around 9am, followed by Paula & co. around 10:15am, Ryan & the arm warmers around 10:40am, and “everyone else” right after until 1:30pm. The bulk of our runners will be passing by between 10:45am and 12:45pm.
NBR Love to everyone running! Kick ass!
Hey NBR!
There are two non-running NBR events this week plus renegade volunteers and cheerleaders wanted for the Marathon!
Spring Track Meet Meeting – Monday @ 7:30pm
Urban Rustic – 236 N12th Street (Driggs/Roebling)
A note from Matt: We’ll be talking about ideas for sponsors and we need a lot of ideas! Let’s also come up with an official name and date for the event. We’ve been talking to the powers that be in the neighborhood and we have mostly good news to report. Hope to see you there!
Email Matt if you have ideas for sponsors but can’t make it!
Marathon Poster Making Party – Wednesday @ 8:15pm
615 Union Ave., #1L (@ Roebling)
Let’s make posters to cheer on all of our 18+ runners doing the Marathon next Sunday! Cristina (who is also running the Marathon) has volunteered to host a Marathon Poster Making Party! Come after work or right after the Wednesday Night Run– she’s right by the park.
We need people to bring: posterboard, markers, poster paint?, ideas, snacks & drinks to share. Please RSVP if you can make it and what you will bring!
Renegade Volunteers & Cheer Squad – Marathon Sunday – ALL DAY
Mile 12 Aid Station – Bedford @ N12th
We need noise makers, cheerleaders, poster holders, snack bringers, PA tenders, and good spirits at our “official” cheer point in Williamsburg along the Marathon course. With 18+ members running the event and 20+ registered volunteers at the Mile 12 Aid Station, we’re primed to make a scene. If you have ideas for what you’d like to do, email us!
Even if you haven’t yet been to any events, we’d still love to have you out to any of these goings-on this week! And of course we have all of our normally scheduled runs this week as well. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
- Aja
THE STORY
As you may have heard, Marathon day volunteering does not count towards your 9+1 qualifying requirement. I know this is a bummer for many– I just found out about it myself at last week’s NYRR Club Council meeting.
According to NYRR, the main reason they’re not counting it is because they don’t have the infrastructure to support keeping track of everyone on this grand of a scale (6000+ volunteers). I realize this doesn’t seem like a good reason and seems counterintuitive to the whole 9+1 program NOT to include the marathon as a qualified volunteer opportunity, but it’s out of our hands. Hopefully you’re also volunteering because you think it will be fun, and not just because you “have to”, but I digress…
HOWEVER….
After being one of a couple of club reps at the meeting voicing their concern about this whole thing not being well communicated, I was later approached by Edwin, the NYRR Volunteer Coordinator who I’ve emailed with a lot this past year but hadn’t met. In the end because we’ve been understanding, he’s agreed to make NBR a very special and kind exception and will help us out with this.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
If you have planned to volunteer on Marathon Day and need it to count towards your 9+1, here’s what’s up…
- You MUST register on the Marathon website as a volunteer at “our” aid station (#11) – Mile 12 (N12th @ Bedford)
- I will be keeping track of signing in and out our volunteers and confirming that they completed their entire shift (7am-3pm). I can only keep track of those volunteering at Aid Station #11 as that’s where I will be, and what I have agreed on with Edwin.
- If you haven’t already, please post your name here once you’ve registered as a volunteer
- If this volunteer situation doesn’t work for you, let email me off list and we can discuss your other options.
HOW TO REGISTER (click)
NBR Love,
Aja
NBR has long been excited about manning the Mile 12 aid station (Berry @ N14th) during the NYC Marathon. Now we can register! I was hoping I could just collect everyone’s names and submit them, but they’ve asked that everyone register individually through the NYRR website so nothing and no one gets lost in the shuffle.
It’s possible there will be enough of us volunteering that we can extend our reach to the other aid stations at Miles 11 (Bedford @ S4th) and 13 (McGuiness @ Green). But let us first focus on volunteering efforts to Mile 12, which equals Aid Station #11. Again, AID STATION #11 is our first priority.
Also see the bottom of the post for F.A.Q.
- Aja
Please read the below carefully and follow all the instructions!
1. To register to volunteer, follow this link.
1a. If you have already volunteered with NYRR you should have a password. Login.
1b. If you have not yet volunteered with NYRR it will take you through a short registration process. During which, there is a place where you can say you are volunteering in affiliation with North Brooklyn Runners (you’ll type it in).
2. When it asks you if you will be volunteering on “Marathon Sunday” (as opposed to the other pre-race day options), click “yes” and use the drop down menus to select Aid Station #11 as your first choice, and Aid Station #10 or #12 for your second choice. Scroll down and click “Continue.”
3. Review your form. Assuming it’s all right, click “Confirm.”
4. You did it! You’re registered!
5. One last thing…post your name here so I can keep track of who’s volunteering at what station!
NBR F.A.Q. About Volunteering for the Marathon
Q: What are the hours?
A: According to the Marathon website, 7am-3pm for Aid Stations 10, 11, and 12.
Q: Ugh, that early? Is it okay if I show up in last night’s Halloween costume? What will we be doing?
A: Hey, at least it’s not 5am and costumes are always welcomed, no matter the season. The job at each of the 24 aid stations is to assist with the setup, breakdown, and cleanup of the station in addition to the distribution of water and Gatorade to the runners. Also a lot of cheering is involved.
Q: That sounds like things might get a little wet. Will we get to wear ponchos?
A: I hope so! In the photo on the website they are wearing snazzy ING ponchos. I did just look into customized NBR ponchos, but cheap, short runs are hard to find. If someone want to donate the purchase and printing of 100 or fewer NBR ponchos, I won’t say no.
Q: I cannot commit to the NYRR volunteer hours. Can I still come out and help/play/cheer/bring snacks?
A: I don’t know what NYRR thinks, but I think having a hoard of crazy NBRs on the sidelines would be awesome, no matter if you’re up to your elbows in Gatorade or not. So the answer is, “hell yes!”
Q: Will there be a poster-making party pre-Marathon?
A: Name the time and place and people will magically appear with markers, paint, glitter, and posterboard.
