The NYC Marathon!
Well race day finally came and went. I got up at 5:30am to get ready for the bus ride to Staten Island. I drank my first bottle of Accelerade, ate a bagel, and ate a Clif Bar before leaving the hotel. I walked the two blocks to the bus stop and got on board. I ended up sitting next to a guy from Akron that went to UofA a few years before I did. The bus took off in a caravan with a police escort down the Westside highway. I did get to see Ground Zero from the window of the bus as we went by. It was really weird seeing the big hole in the ground. I can't believe that those huge towers took up such little space. It was really sad. I ate a Clif bar and drank my 2nd and 3rd bottles of Accelerade on the bus.
Our bus got stuck in traffic so we didn't get to the SI until around 9AM. That meant I had about 40 minutes to drop off my stuff and get to the so called VIP tent. The Orange baggage drop off took 10 minutes to get to and I couldn't find the VIP tent. By the time I found the tent, it was already time to start lining up. I ate a quick bagel, took a pee and headed to the starting line. By the time I got over to the line, there was a line to get in line...what a mess. People were going to the bathroom anyplace they could...and being the runner that I am, I joined them! Things finally got moving so I finally got in line and started moving towards the bridge. It was already getting warm...so much for the 50 degree weather. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The high ended up being 68.
Someone sang the national anthem, there was a loud bang and we were off. They started playing New York, New York and it was really cool taking off over the bridge. I started out at a nice pace to warm up and was running with crowd. I wasn't dodging in out and and just kind of taking it all in. The views looking off the bridge were awesome. Some folks were taking pictures from the bridge, while others chose to pee off the bridge.
We were off into Brookly after the bridge and my my side of the road was all in the sun with no shade at all until the merge at mile 8. The crowds were amazing...many people deep and all cheering. I kept good pace, but started to feel a bit tired right after the 10k mark.
Mile 1: 8:58
Mile 2: 7:30
Mile 3: 7:27 (1.02 Miles)
Mile 4: 7:36
Mile 5: 7:31
Mile 6: 7:44
Mile 7: 7:38
Mile 8: 8:57 (had to pee)
After the merge we finally got into some shade and I started to feel better. I got into "run how you feel" mode like Gilbert preaches and got back into a good rhythm. I had to take a pee break right before the merge which slowed me down a bit. I couldn't believe the number of international runners. It is truly an international event. I am still in the heart of Brooklyn on the way to Queens.
Mile 9: 8:18
Mile 10: 8:02
Mile 11: 8:41
Mile 12: 8:37
Mile 13: 9:04
Mile 14: 9:36 (1.07 Miles)
Mile 15: 9:21
Now it's time to head over the Queensborough Bridge and into Manhattan. I had already started to walk a bit the last few miles as the times show. The bridge seemed like it went on forever and I walked a lot through it. I heard from friends how loud the crowd was as you come onto first avenue, but I never thought it would sound so loud and feel so great. It gave me a lift for about a mile and then I was back to the run walk. I started to feel like I couldn't get enough fluid. I was taking two cups of gatorade and water at each stop. I was totally thrown by that since I trained in the heat of Austin all summer and we only drank every 3-4 miles. Going up first avenue was a bear. It looks flat, but it is a slight uphill all the way to the Bronx. The road was really wide though and the crowds were strong all the way up to the bridge.
Mile 16: 16:57 (1.4 miles) the garmin got wacked while inside the bridge
Mile 17: 9:10 (1.04 miles)
Mile 18: 11:46 (had to stop to get a band aid for the blister on my right little toe)
Mile 19: 10:15
Mile 20: 10:07
Finally into the Bronx...the crowds were really nice on this little stretch in the Bronx. I was high fiving the kids and trying to have some fun with the race during this stretch. I was still having a hard time and was really thirsty throughout the rest of the race. I was drinking two cups at every water stop. BTW, I ate my Carboom every 45 minutes.
Now on to the last 6 miles. Again, it seemed like all uphill heading back towards the park. There was finally some downhill relief when we actually entered the park. We ran South through the park to 59th street and then headed west along Central Park South. We went through Columbus circle and then North into the park. I saw myself on the big screen at the corner and made sure to raise my arms. I had been jockeying around this freak from Britain that was wearing a "man thong" with his ass hanging out and a British flag around his neck. I couldn't let him beat me. Even though I was dead tired, I focused and was able to "butt-kick" as my coach Gilbert taught me for the last part of the race I passed the thong guy and many for folks like they were standing still. I looked at my watch before I crossed the line and I was going at a 7:11 pace.
Mile 21: 11:13
Mile 22: 10:52
Mile 23: 11:56 (1.08 Miles)
Mile 24: 11:20
Mile 25: 10:37 (1.03 Miles)
Mile 26: 4:15 (.499 Miles)
Final chip time: 4:03:35
My splits are based on my Garmin watch which flaked out in the back half of the race due to the tall buildings. It gave me a total distance of 26.1 miles. All in all, it was a rough day, but very satisfying because I fought through it and finished again and in a decent time. I wasn't one of the many people on their knees or laying on the side of the road during the last 6 miles. I felt really bad for them. Now it is time to put the race behind me and get ready for Freescale 2005.
I gathered my stuff...thank God for being only UPS truck 30 and the Orange exit which was about at 80th street. I packed my birckenstocks at the last minute on Saturday night and they were a welcome sight. I took off my running shoes and walked back in socks and my sandals. I probably looked foolish, but I was able to walk. I think the two mile walk back to the hotel really helped me. I took an ice bath and was ready to head to dinner.
I met up with Sean, Peter and Sean's folks and two sisters at this wonderful Brazilian steak house for dinner. I thought I would want to eat like a beast, but I wasn't really famished. I did eat a lot, but not enough to feel sick. Sean, Peter and I then headed to a local pub for a few beers. I decided to pack it in around 9PM instead of heading to the marathon party. I was exhausted and had to get up at 6AM to get back to Newark to catch my flight home.
All in all my 5th marathon was a great experience! Every marathoner should have the privilege of running NYC.
Our bus got stuck in traffic so we didn't get to the SI until around 9AM. That meant I had about 40 minutes to drop off my stuff and get to the so called VIP tent. The Orange baggage drop off took 10 minutes to get to and I couldn't find the VIP tent. By the time I found the tent, it was already time to start lining up. I ate a quick bagel, took a pee and headed to the starting line. By the time I got over to the line, there was a line to get in line...what a mess. People were going to the bathroom anyplace they could...and being the runner that I am, I joined them! Things finally got moving so I finally got in line and started moving towards the bridge. It was already getting warm...so much for the 50 degree weather. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The high ended up being 68.
Someone sang the national anthem, there was a loud bang and we were off. They started playing New York, New York and it was really cool taking off over the bridge. I started out at a nice pace to warm up and was running with crowd. I wasn't dodging in out and and just kind of taking it all in. The views looking off the bridge were awesome. Some folks were taking pictures from the bridge, while others chose to pee off the bridge.
We were off into Brookly after the bridge and my my side of the road was all in the sun with no shade at all until the merge at mile 8. The crowds were amazing...many people deep and all cheering. I kept good pace, but started to feel a bit tired right after the 10k mark.
Mile 1: 8:58
Mile 2: 7:30
Mile 3: 7:27 (1.02 Miles)
Mile 4: 7:36
Mile 5: 7:31
Mile 6: 7:44
Mile 7: 7:38
Mile 8: 8:57 (had to pee)
After the merge we finally got into some shade and I started to feel better. I got into "run how you feel" mode like Gilbert preaches and got back into a good rhythm. I had to take a pee break right before the merge which slowed me down a bit. I couldn't believe the number of international runners. It is truly an international event. I am still in the heart of Brooklyn on the way to Queens.
Mile 9: 8:18
Mile 10: 8:02
Mile 11: 8:41
Mile 12: 8:37
Mile 13: 9:04
Mile 14: 9:36 (1.07 Miles)
Mile 15: 9:21
Now it's time to head over the Queensborough Bridge and into Manhattan. I had already started to walk a bit the last few miles as the times show. The bridge seemed like it went on forever and I walked a lot through it. I heard from friends how loud the crowd was as you come onto first avenue, but I never thought it would sound so loud and feel so great. It gave me a lift for about a mile and then I was back to the run walk. I started to feel like I couldn't get enough fluid. I was taking two cups of gatorade and water at each stop. I was totally thrown by that since I trained in the heat of Austin all summer and we only drank every 3-4 miles. Going up first avenue was a bear. It looks flat, but it is a slight uphill all the way to the Bronx. The road was really wide though and the crowds were strong all the way up to the bridge.
Mile 16: 16:57 (1.4 miles) the garmin got wacked while inside the bridge
Mile 17: 9:10 (1.04 miles)
Mile 18: 11:46 (had to stop to get a band aid for the blister on my right little toe)
Mile 19: 10:15
Mile 20: 10:07
Finally into the Bronx...the crowds were really nice on this little stretch in the Bronx. I was high fiving the kids and trying to have some fun with the race during this stretch. I was still having a hard time and was really thirsty throughout the rest of the race. I was drinking two cups at every water stop. BTW, I ate my Carboom every 45 minutes.
Now on to the last 6 miles. Again, it seemed like all uphill heading back towards the park. There was finally some downhill relief when we actually entered the park. We ran South through the park to 59th street and then headed west along Central Park South. We went through Columbus circle and then North into the park. I saw myself on the big screen at the corner and made sure to raise my arms. I had been jockeying around this freak from Britain that was wearing a "man thong" with his ass hanging out and a British flag around his neck. I couldn't let him beat me. Even though I was dead tired, I focused and was able to "butt-kick" as my coach Gilbert taught me for the last part of the race I passed the thong guy and many for folks like they were standing still. I looked at my watch before I crossed the line and I was going at a 7:11 pace.
Mile 21: 11:13
Mile 22: 10:52
Mile 23: 11:56 (1.08 Miles)
Mile 24: 11:20
Mile 25: 10:37 (1.03 Miles)
Mile 26: 4:15 (.499 Miles)
Final chip time: 4:03:35
My splits are based on my Garmin watch which flaked out in the back half of the race due to the tall buildings. It gave me a total distance of 26.1 miles. All in all, it was a rough day, but very satisfying because I fought through it and finished again and in a decent time. I wasn't one of the many people on their knees or laying on the side of the road during the last 6 miles. I felt really bad for them. Now it is time to put the race behind me and get ready for Freescale 2005.
I gathered my stuff...thank God for being only UPS truck 30 and the Orange exit which was about at 80th street. I packed my birckenstocks at the last minute on Saturday night and they were a welcome sight. I took off my running shoes and walked back in socks and my sandals. I probably looked foolish, but I was able to walk. I think the two mile walk back to the hotel really helped me. I took an ice bath and was ready to head to dinner.
I met up with Sean, Peter and Sean's folks and two sisters at this wonderful Brazilian steak house for dinner. I thought I would want to eat like a beast, but I wasn't really famished. I did eat a lot, but not enough to feel sick. Sean, Peter and I then headed to a local pub for a few beers. I decided to pack it in around 9PM instead of heading to the marathon party. I was exhausted and had to get up at 6AM to get back to Newark to catch my flight home.
All in all my 5th marathon was a great experience! Every marathoner should have the privilege of running NYC.
posted by Paco at 10:00 PM
2 Comments:
What was your goal pace for NYC? I don't remember. You're right about the sneak nature of the course, though. It has a lot more elevation changes than it would seem.
7:40 was the goal pace
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