My NYC Marathon

Sunday was a beautiful day.  The sky was blue, the air was clear and temps were forecasted to push toward 60. 

DH gave me a ride downtown, making me feel loved and special.  I enjoyed my ride on the Staten Island ferry, too, reveling in the excitement and anticipation among the other runners.  A text from a friend wishing me luck gave me an extra boost.

I arrived with plenty of time to spare before the start.  But since the weather was pleasant, I didn't mind waiting around at all.  I had a good view of the hovering helicopters that waited for the elite runners in the first wave, and a great cheer went up as they set off.  By the time the second wave started, I was in my assigned corral.  And then before I knew it, it was time for me to line up on the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge ramp.

Amazingly, I had to ditch my long-sleeved shirt by mile 2.  I was just too warm!

I did very well at first, keeping up with the 4:30 pacer for much of Brooklyn.  But around the 8th or 9th mile, I fell behind at a fluid station (boy, did that Gatorade Endurance taste good to me!).  I ran for a while with the 4:50 pacer (I never did see the 4:40 team), but after a while I was too tired, and my right knee hurt too much to keep up with them either.

I got a burst of energy when I entered Manhattan -- but by then it was clear that I wasn't going to make my 5 hour goal.  I knew that I'd finish though, and continued to slog through until the end, walking when I needed to; running whenever I could.

There was a lot more energy in the Bronx this time, with an enthusiastic rapper as we came off the Willis Avenue Bridge, and a boom-box blaring Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" as we rounded one of the corners.  (I'll have to admit that although I usually hate that song, it sure sounded sweet in this context.)

Fifth Avenue was never-ending, but finally I was in Central Park ... and then at the finish.  It was getting dark and I was cold, but in time I gratefully met up with my family and, at last, headed home to a shower, pizza and some good red wine.

Thankfully, there were no surprises like the golfball-sized blister I found on my foot last time (although when I undressed for my shower I did notice some chafing wounds I hadn't really felt).  But I was tired and sore all over, and it was a couple of days before I could walk normally without aching.

But here it is Thursday, and I've already added another mile to my mileage chart.  A real improvement from three years ago!

Despite my disappointment over not finishing in my goal time, I loved the message from NYRR I got on Monday.  It read:

You are incredible—a champion in your own right! You finished the world's greatest marathon on Sunday.

Just like our champions Geoffrey Mutai and Firehiwot Dado, Masazumi Soejima and Amanda McGrory, you achieved something that most people only dream about.

You were part of a record-breaking weekend, in so many ways. More than 47,000 runners. A stunning $34 million raised for charity. Mutai's 2:05:05 in New York is now the fastest performance on a record-certified course in the United States. In fact, the top three men as well as the women's wheelchair champion beat course records.

From Friday night's inaugural Marathon Opening Ceremony to Saturday's Dash to the Finish Line 5K to Marathon Sunday, the weekend was a blur of inspiration. As Jack Waitz finished, we all thought of our beloved Grete Waitz, to whom we dedicated this year's race. We hope the moment of pure elation when you crossed the finish line will stay with you forever.

You're an official ING New York City Marathon 2011 finisher with a time of 5:49:22. We call you champion. Don't you love the sound of that?

On behalf of NYRR—your biggest fans,

Mary Wittenberg
Race Director, ING New York City Marathon
President and CEO, New York Road Runners
Sunday's mileage: 26.2 miles
Month-to-date: 32.7 miles
Year-to-date: 857.2 miles

Thursday's mileage: 1 mile
Month-to-date: 33.7 miles
Year-to-date: 858.2 miles