When we moved to Nashville nearly 6 years ago I started running. I had not been a runner before, but really got to love it there (thanks to Misty and everybody at East Park Community Center).
So when we moved to NY I joined the NY Road Runners and have been doing some races in the spring with the goal of hopefully running the NYC marathon in 2014. But then I won a spot in the lottery for 2013 and decided I would give it a try.
I downloaded a training program from the internet and trained for 16 weeks leading up to race. I had wanted to join some running club, but it just did not work out with our situation and schedule and so I trained and ran by myself. Which was not too bad except for the really long training runs. They were loooong!
The last 2 weeks before the marathon you kind of rest and relax more than run and I was anxious for November 3rd to come. I was ready. I wanted to run.
Ben got me a nice ride to the start area from Manhattan, but I still had to get up at 4:45am in order to start my race at 10:30. I took the train into the city and met a very nice German lady who since has become my running partner here in Larchmont.
From Grand Central I took a cab to the bus and then I took the bus to the starting line and the waiting began. That is really the only bad part about this race. You have to be at the start area really early because later on they close down the roads and you can't really get there. It was cold that day and made the waiting no fun. I also did not know anybody - but that changed soon and I found some people to chat with.
Needless to say that I was eager to start and ready to run. I had put down a 10 min mile for my coral and I ran that exactly from beginning to finish (final time 4 hours and 21 minutes).
It is really impressive when you start out with 10 thousand other runners (over 50,000 in total) and you run over the first bridge from Staten Island with "New York, New York" blasting over loudspeakers and helicopters hovering next to you filming you while looking at the skyline of NY. Just awesome!
The beginning miles are a little different for every color (they have 3 different color blocks start every 30 minutes) to spread things out and then after several miles it all joins together.
I loved running the race! There were so many people out supporting the runners, giving out drinks and food, kids distributing High Fives, bands playing at different corners. It was really cool.
I also really enjoyed running through the different parts of town and seeing how the neighborhoods changed.
Once we came into Manhattan I had some friends to look forward to and I saw them around mile 17 - thanks Joe and Mark for cheering and Mike for continuing to drink. It gave me a great boost and I enjoyed running down first avenue. But at around mile 20 I started to feel it and I had to start forcing myself to continue running. I did not want to walk - I wanted to run the whole thing!
I thought maybe some gooee (gross runners fuel) would help, but it tasted so awful that I spit it all out. I was really down at that point because I had hoped it would give me an extra kick :-(
And that's when the greatness of this race hits you: this wonderful lady was standing by the side of the road handing out sliced oranges and her friend was giving away pretzel sticks. Oh boy, that was the best orange I have ever had and the pretzel stick was delicious. I wanted to go back and kiss them and thank them for being so sweet (that lady had a whole cooler full of cut oranges with her!).
Coming into Central Park meant that the end was near, but at that point I only wanted to be done and did not care anymore how loud the people were calling my name (written on my shirt) or cheering us on. I actually wanted them to just be quiet!
With the finish line in site I got a very special treat: Ben was right there waiting for me at the grand stands just before the finish line. I got a nice kiss before crossing the finish line and heading to my baggage claim area.
I really wanted to just lay down at that point, but we had to keep moving and that was good. After I got my bag I walked back down towards the finish line, met up with Ben and took the subway and train back home. I was really looking forward to a warm shower/ bath at home and some good food.
It was an amazing day and I look forward to 2014 as I have earned my entry!
Ben got me a nice ride to the start area from Manhattan, but I still had to get up at 4:45am in order to start my race at 10:30. I took the train into the city and met a very nice German lady who since has become my running partner here in Larchmont.
From Grand Central I took a cab to the bus and then I took the bus to the starting line and the waiting began. That is really the only bad part about this race. You have to be at the start area really early because later on they close down the roads and you can't really get there. It was cold that day and made the waiting no fun. I also did not know anybody - but that changed soon and I found some people to chat with.
Needless to say that I was eager to start and ready to run. I had put down a 10 min mile for my coral and I ran that exactly from beginning to finish (final time 4 hours and 21 minutes).
It is really impressive when you start out with 10 thousand other runners (over 50,000 in total) and you run over the first bridge from Staten Island with "New York, New York" blasting over loudspeakers and helicopters hovering next to you filming you while looking at the skyline of NY. Just awesome!
The beginning miles are a little different for every color (they have 3 different color blocks start every 30 minutes) to spread things out and then after several miles it all joins together.
I loved running the race! There were so many people out supporting the runners, giving out drinks and food, kids distributing High Fives, bands playing at different corners. It was really cool.
I also really enjoyed running through the different parts of town and seeing how the neighborhoods changed.
Once we came into Manhattan I had some friends to look forward to and I saw them around mile 17 - thanks Joe and Mark for cheering and Mike for continuing to drink. It gave me a great boost and I enjoyed running down first avenue. But at around mile 20 I started to feel it and I had to start forcing myself to continue running. I did not want to walk - I wanted to run the whole thing!
I thought maybe some gooee (gross runners fuel) would help, but it tasted so awful that I spit it all out. I was really down at that point because I had hoped it would give me an extra kick :-(
And that's when the greatness of this race hits you: this wonderful lady was standing by the side of the road handing out sliced oranges and her friend was giving away pretzel sticks. Oh boy, that was the best orange I have ever had and the pretzel stick was delicious. I wanted to go back and kiss them and thank them for being so sweet (that lady had a whole cooler full of cut oranges with her!).
Coming into Central Park meant that the end was near, but at that point I only wanted to be done and did not care anymore how loud the people were calling my name (written on my shirt) or cheering us on. I actually wanted them to just be quiet!
With the finish line in site I got a very special treat: Ben was right there waiting for me at the grand stands just before the finish line. I got a nice kiss before crossing the finish line and heading to my baggage claim area.
I really wanted to just lay down at that point, but we had to keep moving and that was good. After I got my bag I walked back down towards the finish line, met up with Ben and took the subway and train back home. I was really looking forward to a warm shower/ bath at home and some good food.
It was an amazing day and I look forward to 2014 as I have earned my entry!
5am - getting ready to catch the train
Waiting to run over the first bridge
New friends at the waiting area
Ready to run!
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