NY GIANTS RUN OF CHAMPIONS - RACE RECAP

Since I was on my way home from California last Sunday, Hubby Tom got to run a NYRR race on his own. Which race did he run? The NY Giants Run of Champions 5K race at Giants Stadium!

Tom has always been an avid Giants fan. So why not run a race where the finish line is on the goal line of Giants Stadium?!



NY Giants Run of Champions 5k Race 2014

He arrived at the stadium a bit earlier than expected (6:45 am). The reward for early arrival was ample free parking! Lets be honest; it will probably be the first and last time he gets to park at Giants Stadium for free, so enjoy it!

NYRR offered race day packet pick up and a line was already forming at one of the entry gates.  A worker came over and told the runners that they were lined up at the wrong gate. Everyone had to walk around to the other side of the building but surprisingly enough, everyone stayed in line formation as they made their way around to the other side. Runners can be such awesome people!

After packet pickup, Tom had time to walk around the field to snap some pictures.

Tom's ready to run Giants Stadium

NBC was there setting up for upcoming events, and a people were showing up to audition for The Voice. But runners being runners could care less about the people auditioning for The Voice. They were in race mode and nothing else mattered.

As Tom walked around the field, he recognized former Giants player Stephen Baker the Touch Down Maker. Stephen Baker caught a TD for the Giants in Super Bowl XXV, but today he was there as a runner. Tom approached him and the two struck up a brief conversation.  Mr. Baker asked Tom if he had ever run a 5k before because today would be Stephen Bakers first 5k run. Tom's advice to him, "Don't sweat it, just enjoy it".

As Tom wandered around the field he recognized more former Giants players. There was Eric Dorsey, Keith Elias, Karl Nelson, Bart Oates, Mark Bavaro and Hall of Famer Harry Carson.

Giants Stadium Run of Champions 2014

The runners made their way to the corrals which were located in the parking lot. The race started out with a run through the parking lot and around the Giants Training Center. It continued around and on to an overpass that crossed over the NJ Turnpike. Then you skirted around the outside of Giants Stadium and entered in through the West Gate.  You ran 100 yards across the field where the finish line awaited at the goal line.

Tom said he would of liked to have been able to hang out for a while after the race so that he could have done the locker room tour, but I was the big buzz kill that day. He had to hurry his ass to Newark Airport so that he could pick me up.  I mean, that was why I took the red eye home!  Next year Tom...next year.