Race Report: NYRR Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

Course - Satellite - Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

The Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K was my first foray into country running. You couldn’t have asked for any better weather for a cross country race than the slop delivered on this Sunday morning. I wore cross country spikes for this race and had chosen to use stainless steel spikes instead of rubber pins.

The first mile of the course was messy with plenty of puddles. I ran it fairly well with a 6:40 mile split. About a quarter mile into the race, there is a potion of the course that goes over concrete. This complicates things a bit if you are wearing spikes.

The second mile is where I felt like a cross country newbie. The hills got to me. Sadly, I had even walked up one of the hills. My split was a horrid 8:20 mile. Crossing the Henry Hudson overpass is concrete.

The third mile is when you descend down the hills. Descending down the hills in the cross country trail isn’t the same as running down a paved road. The cross country trail is stepped. Every 20-30 feet you go down a step. This is where you need to be careful and not twist an ankle. After crossing the Henry Hudson overpass, there is long downhill. After the downhill you will make your way toward the finish line about a third of a mile away.My third mile good at 6:40. It was a good rebound. I ran hard through the finish.

Before the race, I had asked the volunteers about the course surface. I wanted to know if there are any hard surface. They said it was all dirt and grass. Which isn’t true. To be clear, there are three areas of the course that are concrete.

I have not had a decent 5K race as of yet. Everytime I run a 5K, something goes wrong. Like today in the woods I had to stop and catch my breath going up a hill. WTF? It’s as if I have a 5K jinx. Take a look at the race data from my Gamin Forerunner 305. You will see a big thud in the middle of the red speed graph.

Flat- Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

Descending- Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

Ascending - Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

Course - Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K

Maps made with SportTracks

Upcoming Cross Country Races

This Sunday I’m running the Kurt Steiner 5K. In preparation for the race, I had purchased a pair of Asics Dirt Dog 2 cross country spikes. The race in the Bronx will also fulfil my goal of running a race in all five New York City boroughs this year.

Oct 18 – NYRR Kurt Steiner Cross Country 5K – Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York
Nov 15 – NYRR Cross Country Championships 5K – Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY
Dec 13 – NYRR Pete McArdle Cross Country Classic 15K – Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY

View the running races calendar for more updates

Upcoming Race: Fred Lebow Cross Country 5K

Sunday October 4 11:30 AM

Van Cortlandt Park
Bronx, New York

Fred Lebow is the man that made the dream happen. He is the founder of the New York City Marathon. Fred was also the president of New York Road Runners Club for twenty years.

Almost 15 years since Fred Lebow’s passing, New York-area runners pay tribute to the co-founder of the New York City Marathon with this annual cross country event.

Location: Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York

Sign in and registration at the Tortoise and Hare statue, 248th Street and Broadway until 11:15 a.m. Bathroom facilities are available here. If traveling by bus or subway, please check http://www.mta.info for any service advisories affecting your plans.
Directions

By subway: Take the northbound IRT #1 train to 242nd Street (the last stop). Exit at the front of the station and walk north. If traveling by bus or subway, check http://www.mta.info for any service advisories affecting your plans.

By car: Take the Major Deegan to the Van Cortlandt Park South exit. Drive west to Broadway, and then north to 252nd Street. Park on Broadway (please do not double park). For a minimal fee, additional parking is available in the parking lot behind the stadium, by the Van Cortlandt Park South exit.
Entry Fees
Members * Jr/Sr Members * Non-Members
On or before September 29 $7 $5 $7
Limited Race Day Entries* $10 $7 $10

Registration