get to the javitz center and it's whip the ID out, hope they don't ask to look in my knapsack because the zipper is broken and will be a pain to re-zip, and surprising the lines aren't that long. i head to where my number is, i pick up the race bib, scan my chip and head to get my goody bag. the longsleeve tee this year is really really nice. i spend all of about 15 minutes at the expo...head for the shuttle that'll drop me off at 44th and 8th, 2 blocks from the port authority. i make the bus home with 5 minutes to spare. i have to say that 42nd is surreal...reminded me of Bladerunner, all neon and crowded. it's not easy to manuever the sidewalks of nyc when everyone has an umbrella.
i realize on the bus ride home that i forgot to sign up for a pace group. a really big mistake.
chill with mom at home on friday. saturday i run the required 2 miles. head for church to meet mom who asks the priest to bless me (very embarrassing, but Mom is proud so i go along with it). then it's put my feet up and channel surf. Mom's got cable...
it's 4:15 am sunday morning. i'm up, showered, dressed and ready to go by 5:30am. off to nyc public library for the mass exodus of busses to the start line in staten island. halfway to the city, i remember that i forgot my race food (2 powerbars that i'll stuff in my shorts). i also remember that i haven't experience necessary bathroom stuff (use your imagination) and i'm feeling bloated. we stopped at a shoprite along the way (grand concourse) and no powerbars. now, i'm contemplating having to eat the powergels that'll be given to us at mile 18-19...but i'm nervous because i didn't train with them and don't know if they'll make me sick. we're finally in the city, in the Bronx, we pass Yankee stadium, we pass the projects where we used to live, very strange how everything seems smaller. we head downtown and the sidewalks gradually become crowded with runners. we're on 5th ave and head to grand central to one of the kiosks that sell candybars, newspapers and POWERBARS! they even have the flavor i trained with...i promptly buy 2 and a bottle of water...we head to the restroom and lo and behold...no lines and it's got tp! everything falls into place, they drop me off to join the masses at the public library waiting for the shuttle busses. i board a bus after shuffling on the line for a block. off i go to Staten Island with a bus full of people, accents from around the world.
at the athletes village, masses change into running gear, eat, drink, talk, stretch, and gawk at some of the more adventurous runners...
-there was The Brit (a man dressed as a stormtrooper!) when asked if he ran with the helmut on, he said, "yes, i put it on and hope..." we all chuckle and wish him luck.
-there is a guy dressed as a rhino....with a save the rhinos sign. i passed him at about mile 5...he had his head off.
-there were twins dressed as ballerinas (complete with pink tutus)
-a cowgirl
-a girl dressed as a giant bug
-a guy dressed as superman
-and along the bridge i ran with some guy dressed as Elvis ;-)
-the staten island trees were filled with disgarded clothes. it was a little too warm...but the day was still good.
it took my group about 30+ minutes to reach the start line...after the gun went off.
i made a portopotty pitstop at around mile 8... ran at a good clip until i got to the pulaski bridge...too many walkers...then the queensboro....too many damned walkers and it's tough on the knees having to weave in and out. on the bridge i pass someone dressed as santa claus. (these folks are freakin' nuts)
by about mile 20, i want to stop. but i don't. i want to lay down somewhere. but i don't. in fact, the only time i stopped running was for that early bathroom break...the walkers frustrate me. i want to stop. my knees are yelling obscenities....i keep running. i've slowed down quite a bit now. the plantar fasciitis is making me want to cry. i keep going. i run through water stations and gatorade stations drinking (i squeeze the cup and squirt in my mouth: minimal spillage, maximum ingesting). mile 22, i hook up with a guy named B and groove into his pace. after following him for about a mile and a half, i thank him for helping me, i tell him his pace will bring me to the finish line, he replies, that it's me that will bring him to the finish line...we run the last brutal 4.2 miles, pushing and pulling eachother.
let me tell you. that last 2 miles into central park is hell...pure and simple.
B and i crossed the finish line, shook hands and thanked eachother for the support. (i think to myself, "never again will i run a marathon..." 15 minutes later, i'm plotting how i can improve my time for the next one...
(go figure!)
i cross the finish line holding my dad's yankee hat. i ran with it the entire way. looked down at it often, when i needed a little help. then comes the finisher's shuffle. i keep moving because i know if i stop, i ain't moving again...i'm given a heat blanket, i head for the ups truck with my bag of warm clothes.
i see mom, sis and friend with signs, in english and spanish (i love my family!)
i hug mom and ask them if they brought a wheelchair with them...then i say, nah...i'm fine, i can run another 20! (the folks standing next to them laugh..
btw...the park is jam packed with people, the street is packed with people and runners...it's NYC at it's best.
i plan to meet them at 85th. i can barely walk. but i finished the race in good shape, i ran through the finish line, i didn't get sick, feel sick or anything like that... i saw lots of folks vomiting, some passed out, some getting medical attention.
i wolfed down the food given to us. i changed on the sidewalk...at this point i could care less if someone sees me in my underwear. i put sweats on, change my top, at this point i could care less if someone sees my sportsbra...i head for 85th doing the Tim Conway little old man shuffle. my knees are hurting badly, my right heel is in probably the worst pain i've ever had...
i meet my party, we hail a cab to the parking garage, and head home.
i think, i can't believe i just did that!
hehe..
purty darned cool.
ciao&meow
and holy-take-a-week-off-from-running-before-i-begin-training-for-the-next-marathon.
ps. NYC spectators rock! kids shared their halloween candy.
how cool is that?!
thanks for all of the support and great comments.
now, it's time to chill with my cats...i missed them