New York City Marathon #11, Marathon #122
This NYC Marathon was very special to me.
After my injury, I paced the Eversource Hartford Marathon to test my Achilles and see if I could get through a race without pain the next day or another setback. Mission accomplished! I wasn't running at my goal race pace since I was pacing the 4:15 group, but that wasn't the point. It was a test to see how my body would respond.
After Hartford, I was even able to transition back into my regular running shoes instead of my stability shoes. I hadn't done any of the typical hill repeats or speed sessions during this marathon cycle. I didn't want to push too hard and risk another setback. Slowly but surely, my pace was coming back, and I was feeling good.
The NYC Experience
We left for NYC Friday morning. I was both nervous and excited to see what I could actually do with perfect weather and, hopefully, no injuries!
We stayed at a different hotel than we've used in the past, a Marriott in Times Square. They moved us to the "quiet" side of the hotel so we wouldn't be woken up by the city that never sleeps. It seemed like a good plan!
We headed to the Expo, where the crowds seemed bigger than usual. Somehow, I managed not to spend too much money, so that was a blessing!
Friday night, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Trattoria Dell'Arte, to visit our friend Victor. There always seems to be a celebrity or famous runner hanging out there! Victor is pretty cool himself. He runs the marathon and then comes back to work all night. He's my hero!
Saturday morning, we attended the CMAK Sandy Hook Foundation brunch. This year, I volunteered my time to coach 30 athletes training for the NYC Marathon. I provided their training plans, my famous weekly newsletters, and monthly Zoom calls to answer questions and offer support along the way.
I made quite a few pen pals and new connections through the experience. It was such a rewarding way to give back to an incredible nonprofit.
CMAK had 30 marathon bibs this year. I can't begin to tell you how emotional it was to hear Rebecca speak about Chase, one of the angels who lost his life in the Sandy Hook tragedy. He would have turned 21 on Halloween. It was a very moving reminder of why this foundation and the work they do are so important.
Saturday night was quiet. We had dinner at Pasta Lovers Trattoria and were back in our room watching Netflix by 8:00 p.m. I fell asleep, only to be woken up around 1:00 a.m. by the sounds of sirens and fire trucks. I looked out the window but couldn't see anything. The noise continued throughout the night. The next morning, I read that this was part of how NYC manages crowd control. It was Halloween in New York City!
Race Morning: Sunday morning, we got up, boarded the buses, and headed to Staten Island. This year, the transportation was SO organized. We were off the bus in less than 15 minutes! In previous years, this process could take up to an hour.
We somehow managed to find all our Fleet Feet friends, claimed our spot on the grass, and settled in until it was time to head to our corrals. Then the cannons went off. Let me tell you, that sound is something you just never get used to!
Finally, it was time to start.
This year, we were in the Pink Wave, which meant starting on the lower level of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. I was determined not to go out too fast, which is one of the most common mistakes runners make in NYC.
Kim had a NYC-specific pace band, and we had a plan. We were pretty much right on target and found the 3:45 pacer.
My goals for this race were:
1. Qualify for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championship.
2. Qualify for NYC again and/or improve my Boston qualifying time.
3. Finish without breaking myself again!
Well, I guess goal #3 was really included in both 1 and 2!
The Race:
I felt great! We followed the 3:45 pacer, and honestly, it felt like I was running slowly. This is what I call the marathon honeymoon phase. Everything feels great until it doesn't!
It's usually after the climb over the Queensboro Bridge that your legs start catching up with your brain. That's when the real work begins.
I muscled through the next series of bridges, weaving in and out of the crowds. This year, the streets seemed especially packed. I don't remember having to dodge so many walkers or work so hard to avoid running into people.
The water stops felt like survival of the fittest! At one point, I reached for a cup of water, only to have someone repeatedly grab it away from me. Thankfully, a very nice woman running alongside me noticed what was happening and grabbed a cup for me. Thank goodness for kind runners!
Eventually, my legs started getting tired, and I had to back off the pace. In my head, I kept repeating one thing: Don't stop moving.
I couldn't really see my watch face, so I couldn't constantly check my pace. I could only see my progress when it chimed at each mile. In some ways, that was probably a blessing.
I relied on mental toughness and broke the race into smaller sections. Just get to the next traffic light. You'll be okay. Just get to the top of this bridge, and then you can coast down.
My quads were screaming at me, but my brain was yelling even louder, telling them to SHUT UP!
Finally, as I could see we were getting close to Central Park, I felt a moment of relief. It's almost over!
Kim would run ahead, and then, all of a sudden, he'd appear next to me again, making sure I didn't fall apart. It was comforting, but also a little defeating. Seriously, how the hell does he NOT get tired? Ugh!
As I made my way into Central Park, I got a burst of energy. The last few miles were amazing. My pace picked up, and I just kept smiling.
I remember reading somewhere that smiling actually helps relax you. Well, it certainly seemed to be doing the trick! I smiled and ran faster and faster until, finally, I crossed the finish line.
3:48:00!
The qualifying cutoff for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championship was 3:49. Mission accomplished!
I also earned another qualifying time to run this painful, horrible, hilly, wonderful, amazing race again.
What's wrong with me?
See you next year, NYC!
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