Everything I heard about the New York City Marathon is true – it’s an amazing course, with amazing spectators and amazing runners. I met so many different cool people from all over the world, before, during, and after the race. The spirit of the race is so exciting that you can’t help but smile* most of the time. Everyone is so giddy that you feel giddy too. When the canon goes off to start your corral and they play Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” you sing along and cheer*.
I’ve never seen a marathon with this kind of energy – not even Chicago. Run NYC if you get the chance.
And the other part I heard is true too – the hills on this course make it incredibly difficult. The biggest hill – 150 ft in 3/4 of a mile in the first mile – was not that bad. You’re just starting the race and you have a lot of energy. Plus, you are surrounded by so many people that you can’t really tell you are running up a hill. But the rolling hills in the rest of the race got to me. I made up a mantra “You’re not running out of energy, you’re just running up a hill” and would repeat that to myself. But after the Queensboro Bridge at mile 14ish (100 ft incline over 3/4 of a mile) I couldn’t take the hills anymore. I still ran them, but very slowly.
So I guess that’s my general overview. The race is truly amazing, but the course was very difficult for me. I have a lot to say, and will break it down in to “before,” “during” and “after” the race below, but if you want to skip all of that, I ran an awesome first half in 2:10ish, then bonked and ran the second half in 2:30ish. My overall time was 4:41:04 (10:44 pace).
Before the race
I went to the expo on Friday night with Gina and my sister Christina and her boyfriend Will. Race pick-up was extremely easy. They didn’t make you walk pass millions of booths to get your bib and shirts – it was all right there in the front. And there was no line when we got there at 6:45. I really like the race technical long-sleeved tee, which I wore after the race.
On Saturday we ran the Dash to the Finish Line 5K then chilled for a few hours, before running errands, getting dinner, and going to a stand up comedy show in Manhattan. One of our very important errands was getting a balloon for my spectator crew to carry. I was hopeful that them carrying a balloon would make it easy for me to spot them, and boy, did it ever. I would see the balloon a few blocks before I saw them, making it easy for me to get over so they could see me. Overall, I saw them three times – at mile 8, 14 and 24 and I was so so excited to see them.That was truly the best part of the race. I felt so honored that Christina and Will came all the way from Iowa to watch me race (and hang out in NYC) – I kept telling random people about how they came all the way out. And Gina and Steve were so incredibly supportive and excited for me. And Steven – well, you all know he’s my #1 fan! They all made me feel so special.
So… I highly recommend getting a balloon if you are spectating at a really crowded race!
On to race morning (see, this is getting really long). I was scheduled to take the Staten Island Ferry at 7:00. I knew from other blogger’s race reports that you can really get on any ferry you want (it’s okay if you miss yours) but I wanted to get to there early so I wouldn’t feel stressed or rushed. I woke up at 5:00 am, ate cereal, got dressed, vasolined up, and got on the Subway. I made one transfer and got to the ferry at 6:43. Good timing! The subway was full of other marathoners, so I had a fun time talking to them.
The ferry station was crowded, but I got on within a few minutes and sat outside to take in the great views.
The ride was not long, then we got off and got on buses to take us to Fort Wadsworth. All this time, I was amazed at how easy everything was. Sure, there were tons of people everywhere, but I never felt like I was getting pushed around, or waiting too long. And I felt like I always knew where I was going and what to do – I was never confused.
I think I got to Fort Wadsworth around 8:00 then started making my way to the Orange (bib color) Village.
I forced myself to eat a huge NYC bagel (that I brought with me) with peanut butter and two bananas. I talked to a lot of people (guys from Germany, Americans from Florida and California) then checked my bag. I went to the bathrooms a few times (hardly any lines – that was great!). I talked to more people. I generally tried to be chill and not use too much energy, and keep drinking water. I ate another bagel (there were free bagels, coffee and so on). Our corrals opened around 10:00 so I got in line for that. I met people from the Chicago suburbs and talked to them. I ditched my jacket. Then we inched our way toward the start line on the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge…
The Race!
There was such a fun energy in the start of the race. People were just itching to run (after waiting for so long – I had been up for almost 6 hours already!) and were really pepped up. Right away, I noticed we didn’t have any pacers in our wave. I was in the very last wave – wave #3 – the 10:40 am start. I am not sure if the pacers were with another bib color in our wave (we all started in different locations on the bridge and our courses did not converge until mile 8), but I never saw any, and that was kind of a disappointment. I had a bunch of pace bands on though, and my plan was to try to run 10:00 minute miles for as long as I could.
The start on the bridge was crowded, but to me, I felt like that was the only truly crowded part of the course (sure, I got elbowed and stuff a few times later on, but I felt like I had plenty of space). It was a huge uphill but that didn’t bug me, since I had fresh legs. I got to my pace and felt good. However, I was immediately sweating in the full sun. It was a great day to spectate – maybe in the upper 50s, low 60s? But I was so burned when I finished. You can see it a bit in that picture above of me with the Champagne bottle (Gina had that champagne with her all day in her backpack!). My face is red. And my back is crispy (not pictured).
The energy on the bridge was great, and the view was amazing but two miles on a bridge without spectators is kind of a bummer way to start a race. I was excited when we got off the bridge in to Brooklyn and had spectators. There were tons of them along the entire course and tons of bands too!
Once we got in to Brooklyn, I found the blue tangent line and stuck to that as closely as possible (I was really surprised more people didn’t follow it). I only veered off to get water, use the bathroom (more on that later), see my spectators, and take walk breaks.
I felt decent the first few miles, but never strong. But never like the pace was difficult either. I was enjoying the run, but it just wasn’t one of those super easy ones. The first few miles did fly by though. I kept hearing people cheer for someone named Theodora and I turned over to look at her and thought she looked familiar. I asked if she was a blogger, and indeed, she is!
There were water stations at almost every mile starting at mile 3, so I would stop and walk to drink the water. Later on in the race, I would drink some and pour some down my back. I was incredibly hot the entire time.
I really liked running through Brooklyn, but I was anxious to see my spectators! Steven texted me to let me know where they were, and I saw the balloon right away! I felt such a rush of energy when I saw them, I sped up, and the next three miles were the best ones (8-11). I felt on top of the world and incredibly strong.
But I knew I was going to have to go to the bathroom to make it through the race without crapping my pants. My stomach was cramping up. Must have been that last bagel! I waited until I saw bathrooms without lines at mile 12. I dashed in and out and still was under my time goal (I had banked time).
Right before the Pulaski Bridge, going in to Queens, was when I really started using the “bridge” mantra. When I passed the 13.1 mark in 2:10 I was excited and still felt good.
But I must have been fading already. Because you can see it in my face and posture from these pictures when I saw my cheer crew at mile 14.
Then I think it all went downhill (not literally, unfortunately). I went up the Queensboro Bridge. The only nice thing is that there was a crosswind that cooled me down, but blew me all around. I was so happy to run the downhill portion (I felt my downhills were pretty good, despite my worry). I was really excited for 1st Avenue, which is supposed to be the loudest part of the course! But I just kept running and running (and walking to drink water, eat GUs, etc.) and thinking “I have to run up this, through the Bronx and back down 5th Avenue and in to Central Park?!” I kept telling myself “Only 10 more miles!” And “Only 8 more miles!” But it wasn’t working. I faded hard between 16-18, just like at Milwaukee. What a bummer. I ran as much as possible, and didn’t do the march of death (yay for that!), but my running became so slow. I need to figure this out – why I am hitting the wall so early. I drink a cup of water at every stop and Gatorade at the end. I ate a Gu at 4, 8, 12, 16, 19, 24. This method is not working for me.
So the last 10 miles felt awful (sore back/no energy, but no muscle pain) and I just wanted to finish. I was really looking forward to seeing my spectators around mile 19, but they couldn’t make it. Gina and Steven both called me and gave me wonderful pep talks. Bobbi was sending me awesome motivating text messages. It all really helped. Without that, I am not sure I would have finished when I did.
It’s also true what they say about walking – the spectators will tell you to pick it up and keep running. So I did, but not very fast. I just thought, “I need to make it to mile 24 where my spectators are, then I can walk the last 2.2!” (Yes, this is what I thought in my delirious state of mind.)
When I finally got to mile 24 and saw everyone, I stopped and gave Gina a big hug (and she gave me some Swedish fish). She got the crowd cheering for me, saying “Look at this marathoner!” That gave me some energy to run, but I shortly stopped to eat my fish. Then a French guy named Oliver saw me walk and he turned around and gave me a look then motioned that I had to stay with him. Let me tell you – I would have finished in over 5:00 if it had not been for Oliver. We ran the entire last 2.2 miles together. And we couldn’t even communicate – I don’t speak French and he barely spoke English! I gave him a big sweaty hug when we finished. Then I started crying a little bit. And called Steven. And Bobbi to thank her for her awesome texts. And Erin to say I wish she had been there.
I felt so happy to finish. I wish I would have PR’d (and run under 4:30 so my name would be in the paper), but I was just happy to be DONE! And excited to have participated in such an amazing race.
I felt very proud despite my awful last half.
I wish I could remember more details of the actual race to share with you, but I cannot right now. But the spectators and volunteers were AMAZING! It is louder than Chicago. If I remember more this week, I will share.
After the race
You get your medal and space blanket immediately, but then you have to walk through Central Park forever to get your baggage and exit. I should say hobble, instead of walk. I was definitely hobbling. My feet were killing me for the last 10 miles. A volunteer stopped me to ask if I needed medical attention. I was surprised – isn’t that what everyone looks like when they finish a marathon?! Ha ha.
I got my baggage, talked to some other cool people, and finally made it out of Central Park to see my spectators. I was very bad and did not drink or eat anything until an hour+ after the race. I didn’t feel like I could!
I was so happy to see everyone! I gave big sweaty hugs (I should note, I was sweating from the beginning and smelled DISGUSTING) then took off my top and cleaned off a bit to put my Team Kimbot shirt on.
And I put flip flops on. I had blisters on almost every toe and one was bloody. Eww! Gina had some Gatorade, Swedish Fish and vegan cookies for me. Christina had some marathon presents for me! We hobbled our way to the Subway – marathoners ride free on race day! – and began the long journey back to Queens.
I had fun talking to them and hearing about their race day adventures. That could probably be a blog post of its own! I cannot express how grateful I am that they were all there, and did so much to see me and support me. It truly made the day for me. It would not have been the same without them. Knowing I would see them kept me going and made me feel like I could finish, even when I just wanted it to be over!
After we made it home, we took a quick group pic then everyone told me I had to shower or leave.
I knew I had incredible amounts of chafing on my upper body and some lower body. Luckily, my shower was not awful. I should have reapplied vasoline! I think I sweated it all off before the race started!
We ordered Chinese food and I gobbled mine down. Then Gina and Steve had another surprise for me – vegan cupcakes! They really are too nice to me! I am lucky to have such amazing** friends.
I didn’t think I could eat an entire one, but they were so good that I did. And we had champagne too! It was the perfect way to end the night. I should note, I hobble around all night and have swollen feet, but I feel okay.
Conclusion
Reading through this, I feel like I missed a lot of detail and did not capture the spirit of the race well. But this is all I have in me right now. I will try to remember more later.
I think I need to take time off from running marathons and focus on losing weight. Running is so much easier for me when I am lighter. I feel like I have so much more in me, but am not taking care of myself very well. That will be my focus now. No more marathons for awhile.
Thank you for all of your support during my training and all of the “good lucks” before the race! I was thinking of many of you!
*Well, I actually tried to hold back the smiling and cheering to conserve energy.
**How many times did I use the word “amazing” in this post?