Queens Half-Marathon
A couple of weeks ago Christy and I traveled by Fung Wah to NYC to run in the Queens Half-Marathon. For those slow on the uptake, that’s a 13.1 mile jaunt through the 2nd most uninteresting borough in New York. And if you’re not familiar with the Fung Wah, a.k.a the wild chicken trucks, then I suggest you make yourself so. $20 each way on a Chinatown-to-Chinatown express bus from Hell. Two companies, Fung Wah and Lucky Star, run ruthlessly competitive bus services throughout the Boston to D.C. corridor. The buses are known to catch on fire sporadically and murders related to organized crime infiltration have been alleged. I was looking forward to the adventure. Christy was somewhat more apprehensive. We arrived without incident.
Onto the weekend’s big event…
Some of the recognizable sites of Queens? Shea Stadium, LaGuardia Airport, the park with the flying saucers on stilts, and McDowell’s restaurant where Prince Akeem, heir to the throne of Zamunda, found his bride.
We ran past none of those.
Although we did run along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway for about 100 yards. I run better on exhaust fumes anyway. In other words, the venue was lovely.
If you’re anxious to see the official results, you can click here. But to best capture the spirit of the race, I’ve posted the below photos that show the exciting finale over the last tenth of a mile:
 As I pass the 13-mile marker, I kick it into high gear. The little guy behind me attempts to keep up. |
 I surge past Baron Von Red Shirt. Commence dust inhalation, Baron. |
 Von Red Shirt decides he’s not going to let me win this mad dash. |
 The little guy is quickly disappearing into the background during the final sprint. |
 Sadly, Von Red Shirt hits the finish a length ahead of me. |
 Only a second later, I hit the finish line. |
 No time has elapsed and yet I have advanced across the finish line. I am traveling faster than time. |
 The race is over and I put on my best “I think I might vomit” face. Still no time has elapsed. I’m supersonic. |
| FIN |