Brookline Breeze 2010

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of running in the Brookline Breeze for the second year in a row.  Last year, I ran the race in 40:43, and this year I did it in 39:48.  Not a big change, but I am always happy to beat a previous year's time even if it is only by one second.

This is a picture of me at the start of the race.

Before we begin the Brookline Breeze at the BOP.

And here is a youtube video of me crossing the finish line:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4lMvM4DqrA

The Brookline Breeze is a community footrace for the city of Pittsburgh.  Community footraces highlight various parts of Pittsburgh while helping to raise money for that particular community.  An upcoming community footrace (08/28/10) will be in Regent Square called, Run Around the Square.  It is mostly a trail race through Frick Park with some street running.  They also have a variety of bands/musicians playing throughout the course with alcoholic beverages to help boost your stamina.  If you would like to learn more about the community footraces in Pittsburgh you can visit http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks/community_footraces.htm.

I haven't really created a grading method of analyzing races and probably should try to systematically rate them so that I can objectively talk about them while also giving my own opinion of the race.  At any rate, I really want to get this blog posted today so here is my attempt at providing you info about the race.

Brookline Breeze Overview

Registration: I registered by snail mail and had no hangups.  I also believe there was online registration with active.com.
Cost:  $15
Schwag:  T-shirt, canned peaches, bag of pretzels, UPMC mini recipe booklet, emergency contact magnet, & a handout for another race
# of Runners: 448
Course Description: The beginning of the race briefly goes down a very small, short slope and then for the next mile goes up an incline (Brookline Blvd.), with the second mile a mix of small hills on some side streets and a school parking lot (Pioneer Ave., Waddington Ave., Brookline Regional Catholic School, and Kennilworth St.), and the third mile is mostly downhill as you turnaround and head back on Brookline Blvd.
Parking:  in the neighborhood and on the street but beware of being blocked in if you are parked on the course rather than a side street
Motts:  There was Rita's Ice, bottled water, Diet Coke, and oranges available after the race.  I didn't take the opportunity to see what other food was offered.
Honey Pots:  The public park restrooms were locked, but the community building ones were open.  There are only three stalls, but ample t.p.  *Helpful Tip*:  Wait to go to the bathroom just before the start of the children's one mile race.  All of the moms and most of the grandmas will be preoccupied either running with their child/children, getting them lined up, or just waiting for the little ones to begin running.
Water Stops:  There were at least three water stops with one of those water stops utilized both ways on Brookline Blvd.
Community Support:  Various business owners came out and cheered on the crowd.  There was also a lot of encouragement from strangers and among friends/family/neighbors. 
2010 Website: http://www.brooklinebreeze.com/

Improvements:

1)  better sound system at the start of the race (i.e. couldn't hear the announcer and the Star Spangled Banner)
2)  some confusion and congestion when runners were told to go line up, but had to walk through the children's one mile course causing trouble and possible collisions
3)  mark a starting point for walkers since they won't begin walking until the runners have already started
4)  more signage where the packets/goody bags can be picked up vs. the chip timers

Overall:  I had a great experience and will be back for a third year in 2011.  I don't have much of anything negative to say about the race because it went pretty smoothly.  I also would recommend this race for hardcore runners, track/XC participants, newbies, walkers, families, teens (lots of teens in the race of all athletic abilities), and seniors.