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posted 02/05/11 at 2:00am
on Black History Month � Honoring Female Athletes
Millrose Games recap
 | posted by LHiggs, a Women Talk Sports blogger About LHiggs: Former competitive fast-pitch softball player and dancer turned steeplechaser with a best finish of 2nd in the NCAA mile and a finalist in the 2008 Olympic Trials 3000m steeplechase...more |
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I had the distinct pleasure of spending 6 hours court-side at Madison Sqare Garden this past Friday. And by court-side, I mean so far to the side that what I really was doing was laying on cement, breathing in construction dust.
It was all worth it, though, for the opportunity to run not one, but two races on the legendary Millrose Games track, in a track meet that has long since surpassed 100 years.
The first race I ran was the 4x800. There were about 20 people in the stands at this point. Okay, I exaggerate. More like 50. But half were probably other competitors and parents of competitors.
Why are the stands nearly empty? Running is obscenely popular in New York City. New York Road Runners has 40,000 members. They have a huge kids program called the Mighty Milers. New York City is easily accessible by train from all directions. It's a track meet in Madison Square Garden. Where are all the people?
Perhaps one problem is the increase in network and online coverage. Why sit in Madison Square Garden for 5 hours when you can sit in front of the TV for two? I know why - because being there is more real. However, I can see why someone might prefer the comfort of their own home.
By the time I raced the 1500, the stands had filled out quite a bit. Still, though, it was nothing compared to the availability of seating in the arena. By the men’s famous Wannamaker Mile, you would think the crowd would peak. It was still pretty disappointing, though it was cool that everyone who was there was on their feet during the final lap, and there was a collective sigh of disappointment when Lagat suffered his first defeat on the miniature track.
I think everyone who actually gets themselves to the Garden is happy that they are there.
Personally, I think the solution is for NYRR to sponsor tickets to kids so that parents take their kids and they can have a good time watching the sport in a classic setting.
But, back to my experience. My team, the New York Athletic Club, put together a 4x800 relay for this event. The NYAC has been around for 140+ years, and actually put on the first ever indoor track meet in the US, where the first pair of track spikes were used on US soil. They also put on the first outdoor US championships. Needless to say, participation in this meet 104 years after it started is hugely important to our club.
We had a pretty intense race that came down to a kick. We got beat. It's always a bummer to not win a race, but we were happy that we put on a good race for the people that were there and represented the club well.
Running on this track is incredibly awkward, though, and I was not overly thrilled with my leg. I did my job, I closed a 4-second gap and handed off to our anchor in contention. However, I felt a little stiff and unfulfilled with such a short race and not running even as fast as my high school best.
So, I sat down on my bag in the bowels of Madison Square Garden and contemplated a move that I was only entertaining as a joke earlier in the day. What I really wanted more than anything at that moment was the opportunity to run again. So, I asked one of my representatives at the NYAC if he could help me get added to the 1500m field.
This was a calculated risk. I had already run a race and had finished a fairly lengthy cool down that included going up and down stairs and a disturbingly long and steep ramp. On top of this, my personal best in the 1500m was 4:24 and the rest of the field had a worst of 4:15. However, I had been bitching and moaning so much about no one giving me an opportunity to run a fast mile for the past week, that I knew I had to grab the reins of any opportunity that I could.
While my NYAC rep was thinking about who to talk to, I ended up having a conversation with Larry Rawson and Mike McNees (the current acting CEO of USATF). during this conversation I mentioned that I was trying to get in the 1500m field. Mike McNees immediately went to bat for me.
This was huge. I am trying to imagine a scenario where the former CEO of USATF, Doug Logan, would have gone to bat for any athlete, much less an athlete like me. I can't. For the first time since I have been a member of USATF, I felt like the organization had the best interest of all athletes in mind.
Fifteen minutes later I was in the field. I returned to my duffel bag and settled down for a mini-nap before I had to restart my warm-up. Fifty minutes out, I ran outside and up the street to a Starbucks and downed a double shot of espresso. I got on the line with some fantastic athletes, held on for dear life, and finally ran a new personal best in the 1500. My former best was from Mt. Sac 2001.
I feel very grateful that a race as prestigious as Millrose would allow someone like me this sort of opportunity and I'm glad I didn't panic and miss the moment. Sara Hall completed the second ever high-school/Pro double at Millrose, meaning that she won the elite women’s 1500 a decade after winning the high school girl’s mile. I didn’t see much else of the meet, but there are clips of ESPN footage on YouTube. Below is my race:
The first race I ran was the 4x800. There were about 20 people in the stands at this point. Okay, I exaggerate. More like 50. But half were probably other competitors and parents of competitors.
Why are the stands nearly empty? Running is obscenely popular in New York City. New York Road Runners has 40,000 members. They have a huge kids program called the Mighty Milers. New York City is easily accessible by train from all directions. It's a track meet in Madison Square Garden. Where are all the people?
Perhaps one problem is the increase in network and online coverage. Why sit in Madison Square Garden for 5 hours when you can sit in front of the TV for two? I know why - because being there is more real. However, I can see why someone might prefer the comfort of their own home.
By the time I raced the 1500, the stands had filled out quite a bit. Still, though, it was nothing compared to the availability of seating in the arena. By the men’s famous Wannamaker Mile, you would think the crowd would peak. It was still pretty disappointing, though it was cool that everyone who was there was on their feet during the final lap, and there was a collective sigh of disappointment when Lagat suffered his first defeat on the miniature track.
I think everyone who actually gets themselves to the Garden is happy that they are there.
Personally, I think the solution is for NYRR to sponsor tickets to kids so that parents take their kids and they can have a good time watching the sport in a classic setting.
But, back to my experience. My team, the New York Athletic Club, put together a 4x800 relay for this event. The NYAC has been around for 140+ years, and actually put on the first ever indoor track meet in the US, where the first pair of track spikes were used on US soil. They also put on the first outdoor US championships. Needless to say, participation in this meet 104 years after it started is hugely important to our club.
We had a pretty intense race that came down to a kick. We got beat. It's always a bummer to not win a race, but we were happy that we put on a good race for the people that were there and represented the club well.
Running on this track is incredibly awkward, though, and I was not overly thrilled with my leg. I did my job, I closed a 4-second gap and handed off to our anchor in contention. However, I felt a little stiff and unfulfilled with such a short race and not running even as fast as my high school best.
So, I sat down on my bag in the bowels of Madison Square Garden and contemplated a move that I was only entertaining as a joke earlier in the day. What I really wanted more than anything at that moment was the opportunity to run again. So, I asked one of my representatives at the NYAC if he could help me get added to the 1500m field.
This was a calculated risk. I had already run a race and had finished a fairly lengthy cool down that included going up and down stairs and a disturbingly long and steep ramp. On top of this, my personal best in the 1500m was 4:24 and the rest of the field had a worst of 4:15. However, I had been bitching and moaning so much about no one giving me an opportunity to run a fast mile for the past week, that I knew I had to grab the reins of any opportunity that I could.
While my NYAC rep was thinking about who to talk to, I ended up having a conversation with Larry Rawson and Mike McNees (the current acting CEO of USATF). during this conversation I mentioned that I was trying to get in the 1500m field. Mike McNees immediately went to bat for me.
This was huge. I am trying to imagine a scenario where the former CEO of USATF, Doug Logan, would have gone to bat for any athlete, much less an athlete like me. I can't. For the first time since I have been a member of USATF, I felt like the organization had the best interest of all athletes in mind.
Fifteen minutes later I was in the field. I returned to my duffel bag and settled down for a mini-nap before I had to restart my warm-up. Fifty minutes out, I ran outside and up the street to a Starbucks and downed a double shot of espresso. I got on the line with some fantastic athletes, held on for dear life, and finally ran a new personal best in the 1500. My former best was from Mt. Sac 2001.
I feel very grateful that a race as prestigious as Millrose would allow someone like me this sort of opportunity and I'm glad I didn't panic and miss the moment. Sara Hall completed the second ever high-school/Pro double at Millrose, meaning that she won the elite women’s 1500 a decade after winning the high school girl’s mile. I didn’t see much else of the meet, but there are clips of ESPN footage on YouTube. Below is my race:
- Filed Under:
- Track & Field
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This post is related to an event on our Calendar:
- 104th Millrose Games - Madison Square Garden
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