91.7 is the total mileage for running 5 Half Marathons, and one Full Marathon in New York City, check my math... something that I accomplished in 2010. I recently received some items in the mail to commemorate this achievement, and thought that it would be a good topic for my next blog. So...... yeah.
This started back in 2009 when I was qualifying for the 2010 New York City Marathon through New York Road Runners by participating in their 9+1 Program. 9+1 seemed to be the easiest, and most reliable way to gain entry in to the marathon for the following year. I ran a number of smaller races in Central Park that year as part of the 9 qualifying races. I only ran one half marathon with NYRR that year, and that was the Staten Island race. I enjoyed the race that day, and broke 2 hours for the first time. Still, I couldn't help but feel that I had missed out on the other borough races earlier that year. I made a vow then and there that I would run all 5 borough half marathons and the ING New York City marathon in the same year. Quite ambitious, but certainly not out of the realm of possibility for a mere mortal such as myself.The NYRR Half Marathon Series started in January 2010 with the Manhattan Half. 2 1/2 loops of Central Park in pretty decent weather actually. We had a large contingent of RVRR members that ventured in that chilly morning, and it was nice to participate in numbers. Breakfast (of course) followed at Le Pain Quotidien. It didn't really satisfy, but inexplicably we returned there after the 2011 edition??
The 2nd race of the series was the Brooklyn Half. Now, I had heard from a few different people (and overheard a few conversations) that the Brooklyn Half was the majority favorite race in the series. Now I know why. Easily my favorite of the series. The first half of the race is 2 loops of Prospect Park, and then a straight shot out to Coney Island. The road out to the beach is straight, flat, and shady. A godsend. Finishing on the boardwalk, you can smell the beach before you see it. Unlike Manhattan, I ran this race alone, but dearly wished that my group was there.I had enjoyed the first two races in the series, but this joy would begin to turn with the next race in Queens... in July. We had a decent group heading in for the Queens Half, and as such we stayed at a hotel near the course due to any early gun time. The rising NY temperatures in July forced a change in the start time to 7am. It didn't really make a difference as it was in the 80's when the gun went off, and quickly hit 90. I walked a number of times during this race. I don't well in the heat... at all, and this day kicked my butt. Happy to be finished in Flushing, I checked off my list and made a mental note that my first race in Corona Park would also be my last. One program note here, our very own Michael Dixon (the white Kenyan) won the race! Staggering in its own right, but the soaring temps made the feat all the more impressive.
The downward turn continued with the Bronx edition of the series. The race itself was enjoyable. Lianne and I ran together the whole way, and that's what I like to remember most about the day. The part I try to forget about is the traffic driving in, and the unbelievable lack of parking. It's quite nerve racking to drive over an hour in the pre-dawn darkness to race in the Bronx only to spend 45 minutes relentlessly searching for a parking spot that would not elicit a ticket, or worse having your vehicle towed to an impound lot. That is NOT the way to spend a day in NY. Breakfast with the gang at the Riverdale Diner. Old stompin' ground for past club president Ray Petit. Decent french toast. :-)
The last race of the series is Staten Island. One year removed from my first foray in to the NYRR Half Series, and I'm back to the Staten Island Ferry for the start. Another solo race for me, but I was pumped and ready to go. This race takes place in October, approximately one month before the NYC Marathon, and a lot of people turn out for this race as a final tune up before the Big Dance I was just looking to run solid, to run strong, and get an "easy" 13.1 under my belt and shoot my confidence level over the moon. Instead, disaster struck at mile 4. I had bad stomach cramps and started walking. I tried to run after a minute or two but it was no good. My calves started cramping and i realized that I was in trouble. Somehow, I had a stomach virus that decided to hit me in the middle of a race. NO warning signs whatsoever.
I walked the rest of the course and finished in just UNDER 3 hours. Oooofff. Any ideas I had about a confidence builder had just been smashed, blown up, destroyed.... vanished. I was devastated. I barely made the drive home as I was now experiencing a bad headache and the stronnnnnng desire to pass out. I was out of commission... bed-ridden for 3 days, and did not run again until the following week. I was scheduled to run 16 miles with Lianne and Shannon, but was only able to get in 8. Again, not the best mental boost leading up to the biggest sporting event of my life. I had great words of encouragement from Lianne and Shannon, but I was still very nervous that I would be unprepared, and would falter somewhere in the Bronx on Marathon Day.
As it turns out, that "week off" was a forced blessing in disguise. My legs were rested for a full week... I had put in the hours and miles up to that point... my body just needed to regroup before I asked it to do something so revolting and unthinkable. At least that's how I rationalize it now. Somehow, it paid off for me around mile 20 on that glorious Sunday in November. I felt great up until mile 18, and even then it was "only" a tired feeling. I should hope that most people feel tired at mile 18, and not just me. Mile 20 is when most people hit the wall, but I had no such experience. I was expecting it, but it never came and so I pushed and pushed and passed at least 1,000 runners as they were dying in Manhattan and throughout Central Park.
And so I finished my first ever marathon... my first NYC Marathon. I drank in the sights and sounds, remembering the crisp blue sky, and broke down after crossing the finishing line in 4:08:00. I did it. I actually did it!!! What an amazing feeling. Money well spent, time well spent, and not a single regret.
I'm proud to say that I am in a somewhat elite group of runners that, like me, decided to push themselves and achieve a goal that is not all that difficult, but does take some forethought, some planning, and some idea of deriving the most out of what you've been given. I can happily say that I am the only member of RVRR that accomplished this quirky feat in 2010, and I take solace in the knowledge that this solid mid-packer can lay claim to something that no one else in the club can.
Thank you New York!
Car Back!
Dragon
