April 14, 2014
She bests Colleen De Reuck's U.S. Masters (age 40+) half-marathon record by 12 seconds in New York City
NEW YORK - About one hour into the 11t
h edition More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half Marathon on April 13, there was an air of excitement and anticipation around the finish line. As fans awaited the arrival of Deena Kastor, the question wasn’t so much whether she’d win, but whether she’d break the course record of 1 hour, 13 minutes, 25 seconds she set last year.
h edition More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half Marathon on April 13, there was an air of excitement and anticipation around the finish line. As fans awaited the arrival of Deena Kastor, the question wasn’t so much whether she’d win, but whether she’d break the course record of 1 hour, 13 minutes, 25 seconds she set last year.
Kastor went one better. As for the event record, “break” wasn’t quite the right word: She crossed the finish line in 1:11:38, smashing her own mark by nearly two minutes. But she also managed to accomplish something that had recently eluded her: After having missed Colleen De Reuck's U.S. Masters (age 40+) half-marathon record by a mere seven seconds in Dallas last month, Kastor chopped 12 seconds off the mark this time. The 41-year-old distance great was all smiles as she came down the final stretch, and after breaking the tape, she took a bow and handed her medal to a young girl watching from the sidelines.
Kastor, who added this record to the list of more than 10 American open and master’s road-running standards that she already held, faced early competition from eventual runner-up Tsehay Getiso, who finished in 1:15:07, but by the five-mile mark, Kastor had pulled away. She insisted afterward that new records were not her mission.
“I knew I was in good shape, but you never know what the day will bring,” Kastor told NYRR afterward. “It was actually great conditions this morning, but I think it was the spirit of the event that brought it out in me today.”
Despite the lack of challengers for the final eight miles, Kastor said she had no trouble staying motivated. As one might expect at the largest all-women’s half-marathon in the country, she felt plenty of support from fellow female athletes and spectators alike, and it’s that spirit of camaraderie that promises to keep her coming back.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” Kastor said. “Last year was my first year coming out here, and I want to make it an annual tradition.”
“To me, this feels like girls' weekend in New York City,” she added. “If we can do that with a celebration of health and fitness and ultimately the friendships that bind us together, it’s wonderful this sport can do this.”
The 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist was slated to fly out the following day, and during her remaining hours in the city, the self-professed foodie planned on partaking of the local cuisine.
“Whenever I come here, I love to catch some great restaurants,” she said, gushing about the octopus she’d had the night before at Tessa, chef Cedric Tovar’s just-opened Manhattan eatery. “So I'm eating my way through the city and enjoying that spring has finally arrived here. It’s been a beautiful weekend and another great New York Road Runners event.”
11th More/Fitness Magazine Women's Half Marathon
New York, NY, Sunday, April 13, 2014
1) Deena Kastor 41 ASICS CA 1:11:38
2) Tsehay Getiso 21 AODF ETH 1:15:07
3) Aregash Gubae 22 WTC NY 1:18:35
4) Muliye Gurmu 30 WSX ETH 1:25:08
For full results and race photos, visit: http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2014/more-magazine-fitness-magazine-womens-half-marathon/race-recap
this article Courtesy of Running USA wire
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