New York City Marathon Weekend

Debbie Sullivan's Friday Night Dinner at Carmine's
Friday, November 1, 2002

Kathryn and J'net (D.C. Penguin). Carlene is at far left
 

Daniel Wellner's Penguins and Deads Pasta Dinner
Saturday, November 2, 2002

Group shot outside Padrone Restaurant

Deb from Buffalo and Carlene

Roommates Karen B from Tennessee and Kathryn
 
 

New York City Marathon Sunday, November 3, 2002 Race report from Dave G... Date: Wed Nov 6, 2002 Subject: NY Report..(Long) Lucy and I left london on friday Morning Nov 1st for our short flight to Toronto...our plane got delayed at takeoff and we were behind by about 15 min after the first flight.... this wouldn't be so bad if our connecting flight didn't leave 45 min later. we rushed like crazy but customs is a slow beast some days... we arrived at our gate with 2 minutes to spare and they almost bumped us to the next flight.... but the lady was really nice and she let us on. flight #2 took us from Toronto to New York.... Laguardia Airport. We checked the prices of the shuttle buses and decided to just take a cab to the hotel. We were staying at the Sheraton Manhattan which is an amazing hotel. The Sheraton New York was right across the street and was the official host hotel for the marathon. We got to our hotel around 4pm or so and I called Ellen Fernandes at work (a TP Member). She gave us directions on how to get to Ground Zero and then to her office. Both Lucy and myself wanted to visit ground zero and pay our respects... and having seen just how close El's office was and how close we could have been to losing her... it all hit too close to home for me. That day will live in my mind for years to come.... We met up with El and she showed us just how much of the building she works in was destroyed and then she took us outside to see the statue of liberty... what an amazing sight she was out in the distance...truly incredible.. we said our goodbyes to El who had to return to work and so we headed to times square for dinner.... while there we saw the 1/2 price tickets booth and got in line... we ended up getting tickets for the 8pm show that night for Les Miserables...one of my all time fav musicals and the only major one I have never seen live... so we caught some dinner at a local deli and then went to the show... and it was amazing to say the least~! Saturday morning we did the expo and I got to meet Greta Waetze (sp?) a 9 time new york winner.... got her autograph and explored the rest of the expo... then it was on to lunch at the Olive Garden... very yummy~!! more walking around and then a trip up the empire state building concluded our sight seeing. By this time lucy wasn't feeling well and the cab ride back to the hotel made her really sick.... so we called El and told her we couldn't meet her and the other Penguins who gathered at Padrones... Lucy and I had a nice romantic dinner instead at our hotel to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. Got back the hotel and called el to finalize plans for sunday morn. I arrived at El's a tad to early on sunday as Peggy Harper was just getting out of the shower... we chatted for a bit and ordered a car for the trip to the start.... which took forever to arrive. got to the start ok and I was really nervous....but after seeing Kelly and Bonnie from Toronto... and then Millard and Violet... I just sort of calmed down... I even spoke to Nancy Liedel on the phone :) I had a plan for this race..... a damn good one too.... but I learned a lot this day.... Lesson #1 - Always listen to El :) She had warned me about this course and just how tough it was... and she was right... it kicked my ass on sunday~! Especially the queensboro bridge which is an unrelenting 2 mile trip up a hill~! Lesson # 2 - Don't go out too fast.... as most of you witnessed... I got caught up in the shuffle that is the NY Marathon and went out way too fast... running 9:27 miles for 1 & 2 before settling down to just over 10 min miles until mile 8 where I met up with El... at this point I was 8 min ahead of pace.. I slowed it down a bit and felt on a good pace by mile 11. Lesson # 3 - Always carry a water bottle... I have never in my life done a race without one until sunday.. I figured this is the NY marathon... they won't run out.... I had done all my training with gatorade..I run all my runs with gatorade...and what happens? after the 3rd or 4th water stop, they ran out of gatorade until about mile 17 or 18 I think? Needless to say I was drinking too much water and not enough gels or other electrolytes... salt began to form on my forehead and I knew I was in trouble... thus began the charlie horse that hit my quad at mile 14 and that crippled me for the rest of the race... every other mile or more it would almost bring me to tears.... I had to stop, massage it and then stretch it, just to continue walking... running.. at any pace for more than 5 minutes was impossible.... more water in me and I began to feel sick and bloated.... I wanted to throw up so badly.... but just dry heaved... (sorry)... Here is when the demon entered me and I wanted to quit.... so badly I wanted to just walk away.. I already knew I couldn't beat wolf or Ken at this point and I was in such a low point.... the only thing that kept me going was knowing that I have never dropped out of a race... not once... if I start it... I finish it... and so on I went. I met up with Lauren Clark at mile 16 (the wicked bridge) and tried running with her after the medical people gave me some salt.... but as soon as I got a good rhythm going the quad seized up tighter than fort knox... and I dropped back and walked.. Lesson # 4 - don't abandon your plans... I skipped all my walk breaks for the first 3 miles, electing to walk at the water stops instead.... a dumb move for sure and I am positive it contributed to my poor performance... Lesson # 5 - sometimes we discover more about ourselves in defeat than we do in victory..... Despite popular opinion, I believe we can be upset with ourselves for poor performances and still be proud... I didn't make my goal time... but I did learn that the struggles of finishing a marathon... in any time are always something to be proud of.... this was my 3rd marathon... I cried briefly at the first... no tears at the second, but wept quite loudly on sunday when I crossed that finish line... I was never more proud of myself than that moment... It really is such a long, long way... and anyone who finished that race should be proud. I found my wife about 10 min later and I cried some more.... and then I saw Peggy.... I knew she had a tough day and I hope she knows I was proud of her for making that choice to walk off... I think it's a harder choice to make than finishing.. walked back to the hotel with Peggy, El and Lucy and I said my goodbye to them and I headed upstairs to rest.... unfortunately, I was really sick with a wicked fever and body chills.. I was a mess... I had a pretzel to try and get some salt back in me and then I finally fell asleep... we flew back home early yesterday.... And now it's time to rest and the move towards new projects... My tentative plan next year is a 1/2 Ironman and then the Chicago Marathon (With a fellow TO penguin I hope????)... followed by the Barbados Marathon in Feb/04.. That is all for now....sorry this is so long :) TG P.S..lesson # 6 - I will never try and take more than 15 min off my pr time from here on in... for chicago..a 5:30 is my goal :)

 

Race report from Mary D... Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 Subject: NYCM - my story My day started somewhere about 5:30 when my alarm went off, and then Kathryn rang to make sure I was up.  Later Kathryn was so kind as to bring me some body glide of Karen's, as I had forgotten mine!!  I ate my banana and paacked my bag.  We met and walked to the Library to catch the bus.  Dang, no ghostbusters in sight, nor slime oozing. The bus ride was fun but long - gads, we had to run all the way back!!  When we got to the fort we found Ron and camped out.  The funniest sight was the fellow laying down outside the tent reading and smoking a cigarette!  (He probably beat me too!)  I did manage to get in a short nap.  I much prefer races to start EARLY.  Ellen did convince me to put some tape on my shirt with my name on it.  Then Julia, Cher and I started out to the start.  I think Julia told you about the two characters we met at the start.  We got near the start, heard Frank sing and the cannon boom and were across the start in a couple of minutes.  Running across the bridge is most disconcerting as it is bouncing up and down.  I almost fell a couple of times.  At the end of the bridge, I made use of the baricades that Ellen had told us about. NY is huge.  I much prefer smaller, quieter races.  I run well alone.  This was neither.  Within a couple of miles I tore off my name tag.  Did NOT want to hear GO MARY.  LOL  I was with Cher and we both had the same shirt with the flag on the front, so now people started shouting USA, USA.  I was not enjoying myself. It was amazing.  I had had such a good time at towpath, and we were holding ourselves back and doing 10:20 miles.  Here we were working to do 11 min. miles.  About half way, we met Daniel.  Shortly after Cher left and went ahead.  I am SO happy she made her less than 5 marathon.  Daniel ran the rest of the way with me.  He is SO great, and has offered to teach me to snowboard!  He did a running commentary of the city, so I had a good guided tour.  Loved seeing Kathryn, Carlene, Warren, Jess and Dom and Deb and Melanie along the way.  They were a breath of warm air.  Oh yes, the temp got colder as the race got longer! Finally we got to Central park and the finish.  After finishing, Daniel and I hugged and we went to get our warm clothes.  I agree, the finish at NY is HORRID.  So mixed up.  I had to walk forever to get my sweatshirt.  I kept my number so i could use it to ride the subway.  I went to exit the park, and next to the truck was the green exit. (My number was blue)  the lady said I should go on and use the blue exit. I glared, and walked past her, saying ok, stop me!  (I was deeply in the BMZ)  But then I drank an entire bottle of Gu2O and immediately started feeling better.  By the time I got back to the hotel I felt good.  Then dinner and I had Shepherd's Pie and wine.  It tasted so good.   Anyway, I ran the marathon.  I had not liked it the first time I did it, but decided to try it again to see if maybe I would like it better.  I guess I did not.  But I do love the city.  And I will go back again next year to cheer for everyone.  And unless I lose my mind completely I will just visit and not run.  But the city is the greatest.  I loved every minute I spent there.  Oh, yes, I did leave 2 toenails in the city.  Or at least I lost them there. Now I am feeling better, and will be in Iowa in a couple of weeks.  See ya, Marce and Anne!  Will write more about the city later.  Going to bed soon.  Can't seem to catch up on my sleep! Mary D

 

Race report from Kelly... Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 Subject: NYCM Report finally! Part 1 NYCM – the experience of a lifetime….. I went into this marathon feeling really confident and strong. I was nervous, but more about the unknown – the crowds and whether I would like it or be overwhelmed by it. I chatted about this briefly with MaryD who hates it...not a good idea...crusty old broad! Well, I liked it!! Hearing my name was wonderful. Every time I lowered my head (which was more and more near the end) someone would call out KELLY!!! And I would look up and smile… It was just incredible….. Most Pain: My cheeks hurt more that my legs from all the smiling and laughing that I did…. Best quote of the day: from a little thug in Brooklyn who was obviously getting a bit cynical of the cheering “Just do the DAMN thing!"… Made me laugh! Best photo op: About 30 really cute fireman, some on their truck just waiting to be high fived and kissed! There were fireman on every corner!! Best accent: Brooklyn cops – HOWAHYA??? Best snack: A banana from the cutest little 2 yr. old boy that came out on the course, held it out and said “nana?” Best Food: post race breakfast at L’Express in the west village….I have never tasted such good poached eggs and sausage in my life! Penguin Condo Being with the Penguins before the start of the race was really comforting. I got off the bus at Staten Island just beaming and ready. I wanted coffee but otherwise I was drinking it all in and enjoying everything. First thing I saw on my right was the first tent with a big pink Penguin Banner waving in the breeze…. Walked in and was greeted warmly..our Penguin condo…Felt like I was home! Laid out my sleeping bag (more on that later!) and left my bag there to go line up for coffee. 30 minutes later (standing the whole time) I made my way back and enjoyed the company of everyone as they came in…the last being Ellen and Ken who live in Manhattan!  We took pictures, wrote our names on tape and generally chatted the time away. I made everyone laugh (especially Sue from Buffalo) with a story about my sleeping bag which I would be leaving there..Warren and I had fond memories of that sleeping bag from when we first started dating…at which point in the story everyone that is cuddled up in the sleeping bag says “Yuck!” and gives it back to me! The World’s Longest Urinal I decided to go check out the porta-potties and see if the myth of the world’s longest urinal really existed…. Yup! On a slope against a fence was a trough that must have been about 200 feet long that sloped down to a sewage truck where the pee was sucked up through a hose…. Gravity at its finest! I was fascinated but modesty kept me from staring too long and I couldn’t bring myself to take a picture which I now regret!! Decisions…. Now comes a hard decision – I really want to run with fellow Penguin Bonnie, especially after all the training we did, the laughing we did and knowing that we both want the same things out of the day ahead….do I leave the Penguins who are all in a group, lead by Ron Horton and heading out to the start, or do I go with Bonnie, her friend Catharine and family unknown… I choose Bonnie  - YEAH BABY!!! I am so glad I did… THE ADVENTURE - to be continued....   Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 Subject: NYCM Report finally! Part 2 THE ADVENTURE Part 2..... The Start We head out to the Varrazano Bridge eventually, about 2 minutes before race time…we are WAYYYY back, but that’s ok…we aren’t even thinking about time…it is the best, most stress free race I have ever waited to run at this point…. We sing along with the Star Spangled Banner, Frank Sinatra, watch the doves that are let go above our heads, circling back and forth and then are startled by the cannon….. A slow slow shuffle for about 15 minutes (felt like forever) and we finally start moving, the whole time dodging clothes, blankets, coats and the ground is wet with pee everywhere… yuck! This is not a place where you want to fall! The 1st Bridge Ok, this is totally freaky, it is moving up and down…so much that it screws up your steps…. We shed our clothes along the way, stop to take pictures…and the end we see the concrete barriers that Ellen Hasbrouck has told us about as it is a perfect pit stop! We take advantage of it….Bonnie needs mental help so I make the sound of running water to help her out and it works…heeheee! The Bras We start up again and see a gaggle of girlies (British) all running in bras that have been decorated with UK colours in sequins etc… I think BRRRR…..they will be cold… we never see them again… not sure what happened…they probably didn’t make it out of Harlem… The Juggler A man in shorts and a t-shirt (brrr again..) is juggling 6 balls the whole frigging way… I AM SERIOUS…. We see him for about 2 miles and then we can’t keep up with him… Brooklyn for 5 miles… We also see various Achilles runners which leave me in awe…Bonnie asks their names and we encourage them on… At this point the spectators are amazing… GO KELLY GO KELLY!! YOU’RE ALMOST THERE – which is such a lie!!! I tell them that too! From a far distance a see a blob of yellow with a blob of pink hat…gotta be Kathryn Lye with the scream team which means my Husband!! Can’t wait for a big hug from him. I wave and they start jumping up and down and literally screaming…Warren looks so excited to see me and I hug him and cry just ‘cause it is so good to have him there. Hugs all around, I point out another Penguin coming up – Marie who I don’t know and we take off again. There are many people handing out tissues, candies etc.. I turn down a square of paper towel but go back for it after she yells “Portapotties ahead" We stop for more pictures…at one point the road is narrow and the crowds on both sides close and there is a conga type beat (Tracy I totally visualized you with me there) Bonnie, Catharine and I all conga down the road following the beat with our arms in the air which the crowd loves… I think we see the scream team again, but can’t remember exactly where. It felt like they kept popping up magically…and each time it was awesome to see that blob of crazy yellow.. We stop at the next Medical Station for Catherine to get some Tylenol. She has a knee injury and wants to take the edge off. She also gets a massage while she is there and is encouraged by the verdict – “not too swollen..”..We giddyup! We see another fire truck with lots of cute firemen. On the truck is a banner ; “JULIE – WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Julie is running in the race and she is just climbing up to say yes…How cool!! Bonnie and I get vaklempt!! They pop a bottle of champagne, the crowd roars, we snap pictures and giddyup again…. Colour to Black and White Everything now starts to get quiet and somber. It feels like we are in the Wizard of Oz where they leave Oz and everything is black and white…. We are in the Orthodox Jewish area of Brookyn and it is quiet. Women and girls are walking, pushing big, old fashioned type carriages, men stand and stare wearing their fedoras and locks. Bonnie asks “where are all the boys?” There are clusters of girls on each corner looking at us and asking in slightly broken English “from where you come?” When we tell them, they ooh and ahh about coming all the way from Canada. Some of them give us hard candy, occasionally one can’t contain her enthusiasm and yells YAYYYY and claps her hands. Then we see a school on the right with every window filled with boys – that’s where they are! We speculate that they are there to protect them from the potential things they could see with respect to modesty during the race..One window is open and they are cheering…out the door comes a teacher who looks up, shakes his finger and just stands there. The window slowly goes down and all the boys melt back from the window…We are seeing some many cool perspectives of this city… We now cross over the Pulaski bridge into Queens. A good incline and we walk part of it. Crowd support starts to thin just before the bridge and there is none on the bridge which is chilly…coming off the bridge, we make a sharp turn where Bonnie and I do an airplane bank turn…Spectators love this…we start to do this at all sharp turns. Yes, we are hams!! Next - The Queensboro Bridge and Manhattan!!! Congratulations on reading this far!!! Kelly in Toronto   Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 Subject: NYCM Report finally! Part 3 The last part, I promise!!!! Another Fricking Bridge Now onto the Queensboro Bridge which again is a long, long incline and is lonely and chilly…. We meet up with an Achilles Wheelchair athlete being pushed by a guide and is using one foot to push himself. His name is George and he is from Oshawa, Ontario, his guide has told us. He passes us and then we see him at the next medical station being treated and sadly hear the sound of an ambulance coming for him. Achilles athletes started 2 hours before us, so at this point he has been out for about 6 hours…We yell Hang in there George as we go by…We thankfully come off the bridge (though it feels good to run downhill) and welcome the spectators on First Ave in Manhattan! 1st Avenue We had been looking forward to the promised huge cheering crowds…they were pretty thin by the time we got there…but still fun! The bar crowds needed a bit of encouragement which Bonnie was expert at so we had lots of cheers along the way. The spectators were getting tired but still fortified by their beverages. Great live music supplemented by people blasting tunes from their apartments. We sing along to “Yesterday” and the Archies, “Sugar Sugar”. We actually stop to dance to the Archies…can’t resist that! Bonnie [shown at left] is full of energy still, Catharine is having a hard time and hurting.  We pass Ellen and Ken and get big wet smoochy hugs…I just love those guys!! Ken looks like Superman with his mylar sheet blowing behind him. Ellen says “Isn’t this just too much fun?” It is starting to get cold now and I zip up my jacket. We are briefly warmed again by the scream team who bring the requested Lays Potato Chips!! YUM YUM! More sweaty hugs again….Warren says I love you, Kathryn says YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL….Life is sweet.. Here we are now at mile 18 and this is the PowerGel station, apparently situated to help hold off the wall….more and more runners are looking like they already hit it head on… We also get wet sponges which I use to wipe off my face…some wacko running beside me sucks on it and says yuck….I laugh and suggest that it is for wiping off sweat rather than hydration…go figure! And she isn’t even blonde…. Yet Another Fricking Bridge I am starting to get really tired of these bridges. They are windy, cold and lonely….But the views are good! The is the Willis Ave bridge and it crosses over into the Bronx where we run for about a mile… We see the screamers again and my only memory of this part is Kathryn Lye kissing my face all over while I thought yuck, I am so sweaty, she must really love me! Manhattan – Mile 22 – FINALLY! We cross over the 59th Street bridge and I finally get to sing the Simon and Garfunkel song…. Halfway at the top of the incline, we are treated to Barenaked Ladies “If I had a Million Dollars” and we spend some time speculating what we would buy…A limo to take us to the finish was the consensus… Starting to smile less but still feeling really strong… This is the longest run I have done in training… Central Park We are running down the east side of Central Park now and can see in the park. Mentally this is good but we know we still have a few miles. Most runners are walking and looking pretty dismal… Catherine is really struggling and tells us to go on, she will walk. We decide to go and promise to meet her at the finish…giddyup! It is pretty dark now…something which I hadn’t even thought about. DAMN, I would have worn my flashing devil horns if I had remembered… and sure enough, up ahead is someone with a pair on! A guy beside me moans as we run by and complains that we are running too easy. He tries to keep up and I say, just slow down and relax honey! He ignores me…MEN! We keep going, picking up the pace slightly but still take our walk breaks..We are still strong!!! We come out of the park briefly and then back in at Columbus Circle and we see Myra, one of the scream teamers which a sign saying some like determination is next to godliness….heeeheee….I blow her a kiss and we keep going… Kathryn’s yellow jacket again and my wonderful husband, this time I cry…We are almost done… We hear the announcer calling out people’s names and we giddyup again… The Finish woohoooooooooo!!! We pick up the pace even more.. Bonnie says DRINK IT IN…I DO!! We see signs….300 yards to go….200 yards to go…100 yards to go….. The lights are bright and I feel like I am floating in the lights and I am smiling so broadly I must have looked so goofy!!! We fly across the finish line and hug!! Walk thru and get medals put around our necks and big congratulations… The Dancing We dance to “We are Family” by the Sister Sledge (I think) …and wait for Catherine who isn’t far behind. She looks happy and relived, but cold. We get our space blankets wrapped firmly around us and continue on…We pick up our bags and continue on….and on…and on…before finally getting to the meeting area and chip removal. There are lots of Penguins still around and the scream team and we have pictures, hugs and tears….. We did it!! I knew we would, but I had NO idea how much fun this would be…… Off to a epson salt bath and steak dinner with the others…… My biggest dilemma now is WHAT’S NEXT???? I don’t think anything could measure up to this experience….. Thank you Penguins!! All those hill training sessions in the park with the Toronto Penguins, all that good advice and nurturing, the pre-race support…. You were all in my heart during the entire time! I hope you enjoyed yourself! Thanks for reading this far! Kelly in Toronto Kelly gets a finish line kiss from hubby Warren

 

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Page last updated: Nov 11/02