New York City Marathon
Sunday, November 6, 2005Race report from Shari...
Date: Sat Nov 12, 2005
Subject: NYCM Report
I won't take time to describe the course, the support and the wonder of running the NYCM because it's been so well done by others on these lists and on Ron Horton's site. What I WILL do is tell you what NYCM was for me! I shouldn't have run NYC this year, but I did it. My first 3 marathon times were 5:45 and 6 hours. This one took over 7 hours. Here's what is was for me.....
THE GOOD, THE BAD, and THE UGLY
THE GOOD.....
Finishing, which was all I had hoped to do.
Having the wonderful, love of my life boyfriend Dan there with me every step of the way. He got the weekend off his new job as Sergeant in Manhattan to be with me. He went to Saturday night dinner with a bunch of strangers and wore his honorary Penguin name tag. He called me on my cell right before the start and periodically to track my location. He met me at Mile 17 with tears in his eyes and gave me a much needed hug and words of encouragement. When I started to bonk around mile 20 he continued to call me every mile or so to keep me going. At the finish, he was there waiting and picked up my bag for me, gently removed my running shoes and wrapped me in the mylar blanket. When we couldn't find a cab and I told him I didn't think I could make the few blocks to the subway he hailed a "bike taxi" to take us back to the hotel, even though it was outrageously expensive. He got ice to pour into the tub over my legs before my shower, then topped off the night by taking me out for a steak dinner!! When I lay in bed that night groaning that I would never run another marathon, and that I would never even RUN again he just chuckled because he knows me too well!
Meeting up with Sue McNulty (also from Buffalo) and her husband Ben right off the shuttle from the airport.
Meeting with Penguins for dinner Saturday and meeting up with Daniel, Nancy, and Bonnie at the start.
Running over the Verazano bridge and the first few miles with Bonnie, until she left me in her dust (hehe).
Seeing Karen B. at the expo and more importantly at mile 18. She immediately knew it was me because I wore my pink Penguin hat and a pink tank top. Without hesitation and in spite of my obvious state of stink and sweating she hugged me and said I looked great! When I complained that my feet hurt she gently reminded me that they SHOULD hurt because I am running a marathon! LOL
Reality check...seeing an Achilles runner, a young woman with 2 prosthesis legs. Suddenly my feet didn't bother me so much....
Putting my name on my shirt was the BEST advice!!! It made a huge difference to hear that and I smiled almost every time.
Going back to work and having a banner on my desk, signed by my coworkers AND getting flowers and cake! I told them I FINISHED, I didn't WIN! LOL
THE BAD......
Really, the whole marathon experience was very positive. The logistics, while daunting, were not unmanagable as I had made a visit to NYC this summer. The organization of the race is incredible. The one BAD thing was the nasty rude bus driver we had to the start of the race. At a place where traffic was stopped a man pleaded with the driver to let people off to go to the bathroom as others around us were doing (we had a 45 min. line to get on the bus and over an hour bus ride). The driver REFUSED and became very volatile, telling his dispatcher that we were RIOTING and threatening to kick the doors down (not true, of course)!! At one point the driver said he didn't care if we relieved ourselves ON the bus because he doesn't clean it, but that no matter what he would not let anyone off! The one male runner who pleaded his case finally just got off the bus, even though the driver told him that if he got off the bus he would not be allowed back on. THEN another runner made a statement to the driver about what a jerk he was and the driver kicked HIM off the bus. Initially the runner did not get off and the driver stopped the bus in the road and said if HE didn't get off he would NOT drive ANY of us to the start! The runner got up to get off and the driver threw a cup at him and said a few choice words!! I sure hope those 2 guys were able to get on another bus to the start... Now I know that they have rules to follow, as the driver stated, but it seems that this was a unique situation and he could have shown some compassion and empathy, as other drivers around us were. To give you a little more insight into what kind of person this driver is, when we were on the Verazzano bridge I noticed him burst out laughing as he looked out his side window. I looked to see what he saw and there was an Achilles runner, with one leg and no arms, on a wheelchair propelling himself backwards with his 1 leg and surrounded by his escorts.... I wanted to go up to him and smack him, but by this point I figured nothing I could say or do would change this man! His bus # was 8576 and I wonder if I should report it to the organizers??
THE UGLY....
The course is difficult and I was not prepared for it. Truly, I was not prepared for ANY marathon course. My training in July got derailed by a callous/sore left ankle/sore right hip flexor injury.
The summer was HOT and I had a really difficult time running in the heat that we are not used to getting in WNY. Then when the weather cooled and I picked up my running I twisted my ankle stepping on a garden hose (of all things) and lost a few more weeks. SO...my long runs consisted of 5, 10, then 15 miles. That's it and the 15 miles was 2 weeks before the race. I should NOT have been at the start. At least that's how I felt next to all the other runners who I KNEW had prepared and deserved to be there! So...WHY was I there? Because I had already deferred NYC 2 years in a row and did not want to do that again. Also, my previously mentioned boyfriend is there in NYC working. I wanted to be there but doubted I would finish. My very first marathon was Disney and I had only run 15 miles because of shinsplints, BUT I was younger, 20 pounds lighter, and overall in much better shape. SO....there I was at the start, truly not knowing if I would finish. Mind over matter took on a new meaning....
The first 10-15 miles were fine. I had a great time and really enjoyed the crowds. I was able to do my run 5/1 run/walk routine up to 15 miles. Shortly after that everything went downhill quickly. My bottom of my feet were KILLING me, on fire, aching so much. I took some Tylenol and it helped for a while but not nearly enough.
When I saw Dan at mile 17 I told him I didn't think I could finish. But I saw the tears in his eyes, the look of pride and amazement and heard his words of encouragement and I just HAD to keep going. Then I saw Karen B. at mile 18 and got a boost from her. I began to walk more than run. The bridge into the Bronx was awful and the crowds had thinned out. The Queensboro bridge was awful! My feet were screaming. I knew I was in the BMZ at mile 20 when my cell rang and I wanted to yell at Dan for calling me so much! LOL By this time it hurt more to walk but I could not actually run, so around mile 21 I began to "shuffle". It wasn't a run or a jog or a walk. I SHUFFLED for the last 5 miles! By mile 21 I called Dan and said that I had decided I could finish, because if I quit I would be in just as much pain as I would be if I shuffled for 5 more! From mile 20 on I can't tell you how badly I wanted to walk off the course and tell someone that I was done, to take me to the finish... I cried some around mile 21 and 22. By mile 23 I knew I would make it and I just wanted to get there. I knew Dan was waiting and I actually passed some walkers while I was doing my "shuffle". I crossed the finish line, didn't even look at the clock, and almost forgot to get my medal. I didn't feel much emotion at the finish, as I had already ran felt them all during the race. At the finish I was numb, physically and mentally. Thank goodness Dan was there, I don't know how I would have found my things and made it back to the hotel.
SUMMARY (Or What I Learned)
Mind over matter and the human body are powerful, amazing things! Yes, I was sore for a few days but I completed a marathon on barely no training and here, one week later am no worse for the wear and tear.
That said, this is NO way to do a marathon! My time was over an hour longer than my slowest marathon when I trained. It was grueling.
The last 6 miles were pure hell. If I had not had someone waiting for me at the finish I probably would have quit.
I don't really feel too much sense of accomplishment because of my lack of training. I just feel I did something foolhardy and didn't really earn the right to be there. I earned the medal, yes, but I did not earn my place at the start.
I will NEVER do a marathon in this way again. I WILL do more marathons and I WILL train for them!
Shari
Buffalo, NY
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