New York City II

New York City I

Belmont Stakes

USA Today Sports/Anthony Gruppuso

The 146th Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York took place Saturday.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome was going for the Triple Crown win. History wasn't on California Chrome's side Saturday. Tonalist passed Commissioner in the last strides to win by a head.  Medal Count finished third and California Chrome and Wicked Strong tied for fourth. During the race, California Chrome suffered a gash to his right foot.

USA Today Sports/Robert Deutsch

The top two horses didn't race in the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness Stakes. Only third place finisher Medal Count raced at Kentucky and California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn didn't like that. Coburn expressed his frustration to NBC Sports after the race saying that those horses that skipped both races took, "the coward's way out." Coburn went on to say, "It says Triple Crown. You nominate your hourse for the Triple Crown. That means three. Even ... the Triple Crown trophy has three points on it ... Those 20 hourses that start in the Kentucky Derby should be the only 20 allowed to run in the Preakness and the Belmont for the Triple Crown." I'm not a horse racing aficionado, but I agree with him. If your racing for the Triple Crown, your horse should have to run all three. To make it fair.

Mt. Hope Cemetery - Rochester, New York

NYCM

Photo credit: Reuters/Adrees Latif

The ING New York City Marathon was canceled on November 2. As a runner, I was disappointed that the race was canceled. But I understand why it was. 

It seemed like runners didn't want to leave New York without running. Thousands of runners got together on Sunday morning and traveled to Staten Island on two ferry boats to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy.  The runners showed up with supplies to give to residents and help residents clean up. 

Other runners headed to Central Park to run marathon. The marathon called, The Run Anyway New York City Marathon, excepted donations of food, clothes or money from runners for Sandy victims. The runners brought their own water and food to support themselves through the run. 

Even though the marathon wasn't officially run, it did take place. So many of the runners brought donations or traveled to Staten Island to help with the relief effort. Reading about what happened on Sunday makes me proud to be apart of the running community. 

Lot S - Rochester, NY

Mt. Hope Cemetery

Favorite photos of 2011

Race listings

My byline has been appearing in the local newspaper since 1999. I've been on TV several times (only in the background of sporting events I was working at). One of my photos was featured in an regional bridal magazine ad. I can now add another cool thing to the list. My name appeared twice in an national ultrarunning magazine.

I received the December 2011 issue of UltraRunning magazine in the mail last week. In this issue, two 50Ks that I ran in late September and early October, the race results were published.

My first 50K, Dances with Dirt in Hell, Michigan, I placed 83rd out of 135 people. My second 50K, Can Lake 50K in Canandaigua, New York, I placed 12th out of 31 finishers. I was the third overall woman.

Runners who finish a ultra will have their names listed in the magazine. I just think it is awesome to have my name appear twice in one issue. My name will be appearing in this magazine again in 2012 and hopefully for many years to come.

ING New York City Marathon

The ING New York City Marathon is Sunday. Sunday is also the day we fall back. So instead of enjoying an extra hour of sleep, I know I will be up and running. I plan on running early so I can be sitting at my computer at 9 a.m. watching the marathon.

This year universalsports.com will be streaming the marathon for free! I think that is awesome. When they stream the Boston Marathon, it isn't free. So I very thankful for the free live feed because my cable provider doesn't carry the Universal Sports Channel. I'm looking forward to watching the elite men and women runners. It is amazing how fast they can run a marathon. The men can finish running a marathon in two hours. At two hours, I just finished a half marathon about five minutes ago.

A couple of years ago, I really wanted to run in the ING New York City Marathon at some point in my life. I'm not so sure now. After entering the world of ultramarathons, I love running in a small group. I'm not a fan of huge crowds. I don't know if I could handle standing in a corral with 40,000 people. The largest race I have ever run is the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. This year between the marathon and half marathon 20,000 people ran. Coming from a small town of 22,000 people that is a lot of people crowded together.

Maybe someday I will try to enter the lottery. Just to see if I can get in. If not, I will always have a front row seat watching one of the greatest marathons in the world from home.

Photo of Devon Crosby-Helms. Crosby-Helms is an ultrarunner who will be running in the ING New York City Marathon Sunday. She is one of my favorite women ultra runners.

Letchworth State Park - Castile, NY

Mt. Hope Cemetery - Rochester, NY