Running – Sharyn O'Halloran

The Unique Bodily Demands of an Ultramarathon

Ultramarathon pic — Ultramarathon
Image: active.com

Since 1993, Sharyn O’Halloran has been an instructor at Columbia University, where she currently serves as a George Blumenthal professor of political economy. During her free time, Sharyn O’Halloran participates in distance running, and has run multiple ultramarathons.

The ultramarathon, a race exceeding 26.2 miles and often extending as far as 50 or 100 miles, makes unique demands on the body. Ultramarathons cannot be approached like a normal marathon, where runners maintain a reasonably consistent pace throughout, and spend as much as 85 percent of the race at their maximum heart rate. Ultramarathon runners typical spend close to half the race at that level of intensity, but may also walk or hike regularly. The more varied terrain can cause injuries as well, which range from blisters to stress fractures.

The nutrient intake during an ultramarathon route also differs from a conventional marathon. Because these races can last as much as a full waking day, aid stations stock more than just water, sports drinks, and gel. Substantial food such as burgers, burritos, and sandwiches, and even calorie-dense fare like candy and soda, can often be found at these aid stations. Runners rely on both salty and sweet foods as a means of retaining water and rebuilding energy during an ultramarathon.

The Course of the New York City Marathon

New York City Marathon
Image: tcsnycmarathon.org

An authority on political science, Sharyn O’Halloran serves as a professor at Columbia University. She is both a George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics and a professor of international and public affairs. Outside of her career, Sharyn O’Halloran is a distance runner who has completed a number of organized races, including the New York City Marathon.

The 48th New York City Marathon took place on November 4, 2018. Long regarded as the standard for marathons in major metropolitan areas around the world, the New York City Marathon traverses all five boroughs of the city.

The 2018 marathon began on Staten Island and finished in Manhattan’s iconic Central Park. Beginning with its most challenging section, the course undergoes a rise in elevation of more than 150 feet as it traverses the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

From that point on, the majority of the course becomes relatively flat. However, runners encounter significant climbs near the end of the race as they reach the Queensboro Bridge and traverse downtown Manhattan.

The New York Road Runners Five-Borough Series

The recipient of a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of California San Diego, Sharyn O’Halloran is an experienced professor who has taught at Columbia University since 1993. An avid runner, Sharyn O’Halloran has completed all five races of the New York Road Runners’ (NYRR) Five-Borough Series.

The Five-Borough Series is comprised of the United Airlines NYC Half, the Popular Brooklyn Half, the NYRR Queens 10K, the New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and the NYRR Staten Island Half. The 2019 series begins on March 19 with the half marathon in New York City. The half marathon begins in Brooklyn before moving across the Manhattan Bridge, through Times Square, and concluding in Central Park. The dates for the other four runs have yet to be determined, but participants can expect to run past iconic New York sights, such as Coney Island’s boardwalk, Yankee Stadium, and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

The last of the five runs is the NYRR Staten Island Half, which celebrates what’s special and unique about the community as participants run through a course overlooking the New York Harbor and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The half marathon also serves as an ideal tune-up race for the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon.

NYRR members who have completed at least four events in 2018 earn automatic entry into the United Airlines NYC Half.

Myths about Running in an Ultramarathon

Sharyn O’Halloran has been working in public affairs and political science for more than 25 years. The George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics at Columbia University, Sharyn O’Halloran has authored numerous publications and given dozens of speeches around the world. Outside of her work, Dr. O’Halloran is an avid runner and participated in her first ultramarathon in 2013.

Here are several myths about ultramarathons that may hold back some athletes:

– You need to be in the best shape of your life. If you are waiting until you are in the best shape to run an ultramarathon, you likely will never run an ultra. While being in less-than-perfect shape may make the experience more difficult, having excess weight does not mean you can’t cross the finish line. Determination and mental strength are more important for ultras than having the perfect body.

– You have to be young. When many people go to their first ultramarathon, they expect to see young runners who are right out of high school or college. But runners do not have to be young to compete. A large number of older runners compete in many ultramarathons.

– You’ll slow down. As you train for an ultramarathon, you may hear that you should find a slow pace and slow down more as you run. While you may slow down as you become tired, you can work on your endurance to ensure that you maintain a comfortable pace throughout the race.

Brooklyn Half Gets New Sponsor

An accomplished educator, Sharyn O’Halloran has served as Columbia University’s George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics for over a decade. An avid runner, Sharyn O’Halloran has completed several long-distance races throughout her career, including the Brooklyn Half Marathon.

In December 2017, New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced a new arrangement with Popular, Inc., a top 50-rated bank that will serve as the sponsor for the Brooklyn Half Marathon for the next three years. In addition to being the official bank of this year’s Brooklyn Half, Popular will also take on the role of strategic partner for a number of other local races, including the United Airlines NYC Half, NYRR Queens 10K, and NYRR Staten Island Half.

The lead-up to the Brooklyn Half will start on May 16, 2018, with pre-race activities lined up for three days before the event. The race itself is set for May 19, 2018, and will start at the Brooklyn Museum. The 2017 race saw more than 27,000 people complete the event.

Health Benefits of Marathon Running

Sharyn O’Halloran is a published author and award-winning George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics at Columbia University. When she is not teaching, writing, or researching, Sharyn O’Halloran keeps fit by running and competing in marathons.

The concept of the marathon comes from the story of Pheidippides, a soldier who ran the 26 or so miles from the Greek town of Marathon to Athens to announce victory over Persia in 490 BCE. After announcing the victory, he fell over and died. Though the long-distance journey was fatal to Pheidippides, running marathons can have many health benefits.

Runners tend to lose weight, especially during training season while they are working towards the longer run. With proper form, running can protect bones and joints, and evidence has shown that runners are less likely to have diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Runners also see many mental health benefits, including reduced depression. Marathons have a social and community aspect which can greatly improve a person’s general health, and long-distance running is itself quite meditative, which can help release stress. Marathons are also very difficult and require a lot of training to get through safely, so completing one is a major accomplishment and may boost one’s confidence.

An American Woman Wins NYC Marathon for the First Time in 40 Years

For more than two decades, Sharyn O’Halloran has worked as a professor at Columbia University in New York City. She serves the school as a George Blumenthal professor of political economy and a professor of international and public affairs. An avid runner, Sharyn O’Halloran was accepted to participate in the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.

For the first time in four decades, an American woman was the winner of the New York City Marathon. With a time of two hours, 26 minutes, and 53 seconds, Shalane Flanagan topped the women’s field ahead of Mary Keitany, a Kenyan marathoner who won the race in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

The 36-year-old Flanagan was the second-place finisher in 2010, which was the last time she participated in the event. Prior to the 2017 NYC Marathon, Flanagan hadn’t run competitively in a marathon since she finished sixth place at the Rio Olympic Games.

Miki Gorman was the last American woman to win the New York City Marathon. She did so in 1976 and 1977.

A Brief History of the New York City Marathon

Sharyn O’Halloran, the George Blumenthal professor of political economics at Columbia University in New York, is a leading professional in topics relating to economic growth, international trade, and political representation of minorities. In addition to numerous publications, speaking at various seminars, and teaching, Sharyn O’Halloran is an avid marathon runner and was one of 16,211 runners accepted into the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.

The TCS New York City Marathon began in 1970 and was organized by Vince Chiappetta and Fred Lebow. It was held entirely in Central Park and only had 127 entrants. Of those, just one was female, but she ultimately dropped out of the event due to sickness. The entry fee was $1, and the 55 who completed the marathon were given recycled bowling and baseball trophies and inexpensive watches to commemorate their success.

Within six years, the event had grown to include over 2,000 entrants and moved from Central Park to the city streets. The new course went through five boroughs in New York City and included five bridges. Miki Gorman and Bill Rodgers won the event that year and surpassed previous event records while doing so. In 1978, Grete Waitz, a Norwegian track Olympian, set the marathon world record of 2:32:30 at the event.

Today, the race continues to serve as an exercise in community spirit as it takes thousands of entrants through one of the most diverse cities in the world.

2017 TCS New York City Marathon Awards 16,211 Bibs to Registrants

A graduate of the University of California at San Diego’s doctoral program, Sharyn O’Halloran works as the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economy and a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University in New York City. An avid runner, Sharyn O’Halloran participates in numerous races. In early 2017, received acceptance into the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.

When the first New York City Marathon began in 1970, runners raced entirely in Central Park. Participants paid $1 to enter the race, and winners received inexpensive wristwatches as well as recycled bowling and baseball trophies. Six years later, the race expanded its route to include the area’s five boroughs. Since then, the marathon has grown in number of runners and partnerships, including a collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which joined the efforts in 2014.

In March 2017, runners found out if they were selected to run in the 2017 TCS New York City Marathon, scheduled for November 5. As the world’s largest marathon, it received the largest number of registrations in its history with 98,247. This represents a 20 percent increase compared to 2016. Of those who entered, 17 percent, equal to 16,211 runners, received a bib through a drawing. An additional 34,000 runners will garner entrance through other means, including running on behalf of a charity, achieving a qualifying time at a sanctioned race, or finishing nine New York Road Runner races and volunteering at one in a one-year span.

Ultra Marathon Training Tips

A Columbia University professor, Sharyn O’Halloran, PhD, teaches political economics. A dedicated runner in her spare time, Sharyn O’Halloran has completed an ultra-marathon.

An ultra-marathon is considered anything longer than 26.2 miles. If you intend to run one, consider these tips.

Keep drop bags organized. An ultra-marathon allows racers to have one or two bags filled with personal items along the route. Two-time national 50-mile trail champion Michele Yates recommends breaking nutritional bars into bite-sized pieces in advance and placing them in bags to ease accessibility. Using bags with clear pockets also helps identify gear and food quickly.

Run two long days in a row. Running back to back long days prepares the mind. Specifically, it gives you a chance to prepare a plan of action for running on tired and sore legs. When planning these training days, determine how long you expect to take to complete a race and divide the hours between the two days. You can vary the hours as well. For example, if you think you can finish a race in six hours, run three hours one day and the same time another day. The next week, complete four- and two-hour runs on back-to-back days.

Try out equipment before a race. An ultra-marathon requires additional gear, such as headlamps that aid in visibility when starting and ending a race. It is important to get comfortable with these items before a race. You may find you will need other essentials, like a bandana to keep your headlamps from becoming uncomfortable.