Proper training is what makes a good long distance or marathon runner. For a beginner at this distance it could be a process.
Boyd Carrington will be entering into his first New York City Marathon this fall, and he wants to be in top shape for his 26 mile 375 yard journey that starts in Staten Island and finishes in Manhattan’s Central Park.
As for his training, he recently stepped onto the line for the eighth annual Main Street Mile in Farmingdale, New York recently.
Originally from Barbados, Carrington currently makes his home in Amityville, New York and had a short ‘trip’ north to travel for the mile event. The 40-year-old Carrington covered the course in 4:26, good for fourth place behind winner Ryan Zillmann’s 4:14, runner-up Chris Mammone’s 4:16, and third place finisher Franklin Diaz’s 4:20.
Carrington has been training 60 miles a week for the recent mile but will increase his distance to 75 miles a week in preparation for his debut in the grueling New York City marathon to take place on Sunday, Nov. 4.
The longest distance that he turned in was 13.1 miles better known as the half marathon. It’s always been a challenge for him but it was a success.
“I’d be happy to do a 2:45 (time) in the marathon,” said Carrington, on his debut after competing in the Farmingdale race.
Over the years he ran in a few half marathons, but now he feels a lot stronger than before to step up his distance.
Carrington, who played soccer and volleyball and ran while during his schoolboy days in Barbados, continued his specialties of track and field at Drexel University, where he holds five indoor and outdoor records in the 600, 800, and 1000 meters. He also was a decent 200-meter runner and ran cross country.
After taking some time off following his college days, he resumed at the running sport when he was 35 years old, primarily to lose weight. He went down from 200 to 160 pounds. He lost weight in seven months.
In 2007, he ran the same Farmingdale Mile in 4:39.
Overall, 374 milers mainly from New York State entered into the race last week. Some are preparing for the Fifth Avenue Mile in Manhattan later this month. Carrington is a member of the Bellmore Striders’ Running Club.
Durng the past summer, Carrington became a counselor at the Foudation Camp.
“I had (about 20) kids to get them ready for the cross country season,”he said. “Kids came from all over Long Island. It’s a lot of fun. Sometimes the kids don’t do as much running that they need to do….I like the challenge.”
