2013 ING NY Marathon Part 3 - The Race Recap!

I parsed my NY Marathon experience into a 3-part series. This is only the race recap (Part 3).

To read Part 1 (The Expo and Marathon Eve Dinner), click here.
To read Part 2 (Getting to the Start on Race Day), click here.

This recap is going to be a little different than the way I've presented race recaps previously. Most of the story is told in pictures interspersed with my thoughts as opposed to a play-by-play narrative. So if it seems like I'm jumping around a little, I probably am! I've tried to capture the highlights as best I could. :-)

Before I start, I had some hamstring weirdness on Thursday before we left CA. To the point where I almost had to end my final taper run after only 20 minutes because of the pain. I decided there would be no running Fri or Sat for me and tried to put it out of my head. The last thing I needed to worry about was some random taper pain BS.

Race Strategy: I usually use 3 min run/1 min walk intervals when I run marathons, but on race day, I had this strong desire to RUN (plus it was freaking freezing). I didn't question it. This was my NY experience - just go with it! I ran straight through the first 3 miles although I slowed considerably a few times depending on the density of runners around me and some short purposeful slow downs to keep my pace in check. Hamstrings were cold and cramping right from the Start. There was a moment around mile 5 where I thought I might not get through the first 10K because of the pain, but it was really just a fear I was having. I kept working with it. Staying positive. Reminding myself to stay relaxed.  Once the water stops started appearing in Brooklyn near mile 3, I slowed to a walk for 30-45 seconds every mile (which is how often there were water/Gatorade stops on the course). Around mile 8 or 9, I had a little freak out about how little walking I was doing and thinking maybe I was just asking for trouble later on but I didn't let those thoughts bother me. Whatever Vera. Look around you..... you're running the NY marathon!

"You don't have to train tomorrow".

I really want to take a moment to acknowledge the spectators! The crowds were absolutely amazing. They were 3-4 people deep for miles and miles and miles. They don't care that you don't know them. You're running and loving the city they live in with pride! Woo hoo!  I saw some really funny spectator posters. Many of which ended up on this hilarious post from BuzzFeed: The 35 Best Signs From the NY Marathon. I wish I would have seen the Breaking Bad ones! I distinctly remember the Poops Only sign (#23 on the list) because it was early in the race, around mile 4 I think (I remember thinking "oh it's going to be one these kinds of crowds - GOOD!" I felt old when I saw all the Ryan Gosling posters and thought "why would anyone care about that guy?" Haha.

It's been hard for me to describe to people who ask just how much energy and power the NY crowds were giving out to marathoners that day. It's nothing like I've ever experienced in my life, race course or other setting. There is a sense of togetherness or maybe it's oneness and the most unbelievably inspiring and joyous spirit.  Like everyone is there to hug the runners as they move through the crowds. Seriously. There is nothing like it.

Something I was not prepared for was the impact of the long straightaways on 4th St through Brooklyn and 1st Ave (Upper East Side to Harlem). Endless mass of runners for miles in front of you. It really wears on you to run straight for soooo long. It's funny because I didn't give it any thought or consideration. Lesson learned! :-)

Brooklyn here we come!

View of Manhattan (left) from Verrazano Bridge

Coming into Brooklyn was amazing! I can't wipe the smile off my face and I'm already choking back tears. There are cheering crowds EVERYWHERE! Live bands are playing in several locations along 4th Ave. Security was so so so heavy. There must have been at least 4 or 5 police officials every block or so. All of the side streets are taped off and the intersections are loaded with security.

Brooklyn, Near Mile 3 at 87th St/4th Ave.

A random memory I have of running through here: Girl in front of me asking a street cop where we were. "Brooklyn Heights" he says in a classic Brooklyn accent. I remember hearing the subway from the street. The brown median in the pic below here covers the subway. It just struck me as something different that I definitely don't hear on a regular basis. Probably not even a second thought for people who live here! :-)

Near 4th Ave & Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn (just before mile 8)

Mile Marker 9.

There were quite a few porta-potties just before the halfway point (Pulaski Bridge) so I took a quick 90 second break here.This bridge crosses over the Long Island Expy, landing us in Long Island City.

Mle 13. Pulaski Bridge towards Queens. Halfway done already????

47th/Vernon in Queens, approaching mile 14.

Hitting Mile 16 on the Queensboro Bridge.

The Queensboro Bridge was tough. Asphalt is pretty tore up. A bit of an empty feel to it made more difficult by the fact we'd been running through with thousands of spectators cheering us on for 15 miles by this point. Runners are starting to get tired and breath heavy. Lots of people walking here. Runners stopping to take pics of the East River. It was a gorgeous view to the South, but my phone and my camera were almost dead and I wanted to be sure I had enough juice for a few pics through Central Park and maybe a couple more at other places closer to mile 20. I wondered if I might regret not taking pics for the blog and maybe I do a little but I really just wanted to get off the bridge. I could feel it draining me mentally.

This is one of those unexpectedly taxing long turn-less stretches I mentioned. You can literally see the sea of runners for 3 miles ahead of you from here (1st Ave). Fuel stop along this stretch around mile 18.

1st Ave in Manhattan, coming up on the Upper East Side

The spectators along 1st Ave give no indication of letting up or even that they've been standing there longer than 30 minutes. I'm in awe. You guys are out here just to cheer on the runners? F*ck yeah, Spectator Supporters! Maybe that's the sign I'll run with from now on!

Random memory: Couple with shirts announcing they are running in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary at the end of the Willis Ave Bridge as we were entering the Bronx. This was also my first sighting of a runner down. I also overhead a cop encouraging a woman to continue. "You've gone 20 miles already! Ya' gotta keep goin' now." Agreed!

Jumbo screen at Mile 20.

I typically struggle between miles 19-22. This race was no different. My legs were feeling pretty tired so I kicked on my interval timer and started using 3 min run/ 1 min walk intervals regularly. I knew it would help my physical and mental state to start taking regular walk breaks. There are no pics of Harlem but I thought the parts we ran through were beautiful. The volunteers and spectators were super friendly and supportive through this section. There was a small choir singing for us at the corner of 138th St/5th Ave as we were coming off the Madison Ave bridge.  The wind was really starting to kick up as we ran up 5th Ave through Harlem towards Central Park.

Overhead a runner near here yell out "I can smell the horses. That means we're almost there!" LOL. She was right. It did smell like horse manure all of a sudden. So if you find yourself running the NY Marathon and you smell horse crap, the end is near! ;-)

I turned my phone back on at Mile 24(I had to turn it off to save the battery around mile 8) to see if Hubby made it to the Finish. I had a text from him earlier that said no one was being allowed near the Finish so he was going to try and find a place along the course where he could see me. Our original agreement was that I would text him at mile 25 so he would know when to look for me. His newest message said he thought he was at Mile 25. I get to Mile 25 and I don't see him. My spirits drop a little. Damn. What if I missed him?  I keep scanning the crowds, hoping to catch him. Finally, after what seems like 3 miles but was really only 1/2 a mile, I see him, yelling out enthusiastically to runners as they passed by him.  He doesn't see me yet (but I know he's looking for me in a yellow shirt and I never got rid of my red long-sleeved shirt).  "HEY" I yelled out as I ran up to him. "You're so busy yelling at everyone else, you're going to miss your wife!". He finally sees me. Our eyes lock and I'm instantly in tears. I want him to run the rest of the way with me but that is obviously not possible. And I have no idea how long it's going to be until I see him again since I don't really know what's waiting at the Finish. A quick kiss and I'm off.

And now the moment I've been waiting for for 4 long years.... The Big Finish!!! The camera battery was basically dead by this point so I was frantically trying to snap as many shots as I could. Only a couple came out with any clarity but here it is!!!!

I snapped this selfie once I crossed. I promise I did not actually carry that woman in pink in my hat for the whole race. ;-)

And here's my submission for cheesiest freaking post-race picture ever in the history of finisher photos. LOL  I distinctly remember thinking "Vera, don't crinkle up your face. Hold back and take a normal picture". As you can clearly see, there was no holding back here. It just wasn't physically possible to contain my happiness and excitement.

Getting out of the Finishers area is a LONG HAUL. We were given a pretty nice recovery bag with fuel and hydration and a mylar blanket to help keep us warm but damn, I was SO COLD. So now my muscles are tired, I'm shivering like crazy and my feet hurt so bad all I can think about is getting to Hubby and getting off my feet.

While the Finish line is at 67th St in Central Park, we had to walk all the way down to 77th before we were permitted out of the Park (runners with checked bags had to walk even further). Runners who chose the No Baggage option had pink bracelets we were told to wear on race day so Race Officials knew to let us out of the Finish area "early". Much to my displeasure/dismay, "Early" did not mean "Soon".  By the time we got to 77th where we could exit out onto Central Park West, I had already stopped to sit down for about 5 minutes. I had to get off my feet. This meant sitting on the ground because there was no place for us to sit. Hubby was at the Family Meeting area which started at 67th St so I knew I had almost another mile to go before I'd get to see him.

Once we were on Central Park W heading back towards the Family Meeting Area, I was hearing volunteers announcing something about warm parkas up ahead. Then I saw some other runners wearing these big orange things. My first thought was "I didn't see anything about those during registration so I probably don't get one because I know I didn't pay extra for it". Luckily, these parkas were being given to all the Finishers (I just wish they could have been handing them out earlier in the Exiting process).  I saw the tables where they were handing out the jackets, walking up to a volunteer who was so so so sweet....she wrapped me up tight and secured to velcro for me and pulled up the hood. Instant warmth. OMG. This is exactly what I needed. I think I stopped at a bench to sit down for a couple more minutes. Hubby was texting me to just take my time but I just really wanted to get to him so I didn't let myself sit for too long.

Image Credit

Finally, I get to the 67th.....but the Family Meeting Area starts here with the letter Z. Hubby is standing at L. I told him later that night that had a I known they were going to go backwards with the alphabet that I would have asked him to stand at Z!  I'm not sure how much farther down I had to go, but seeing the "L" sign was like finding Nirvana. Our journey of course was not over because we still had to take the subway and walk back to the hotel!!

We snapped a quick pic in the Subway station before the train got there. It was fun to see all the other runners walking around the city that night in their bright orange parkas!

The walk back to the hotel from the subway station was long and cold but we made it. And enjoyed a vegetarian version of our first ever NY Pizza!

So there you have it! My first NY Marathon experience. All I can say is.... I LOVE NY!

2013 ING NY Marathon Part 2 - Getting to the Start on Race Day!

If you missed Part 1 (the Expo and Marathon Eve Dinner in Central Park), click here!  I decided to separate my journey to the Start from the race recap because getting to the Start is a marathon all on it's own! :-)

Once we were back in the hotel room Saturday night, I laid out all my gear and packed plenty of snacks/fluids to take with me to the Start Village. I chose the "No Baggage" option so I would be able to exit the Finish area sooner. We were given special clear plastic bags we were allowed to pack our personal items in but that bag would not be transported to the Finish. Since Hubby was meeting me at the Finish (and I know myself well enough that I would only be focused on getting to him as soon as possible when I was done), there was no reason to check anything. Everything I brought with me would either be donated, carried with me on the course, or eaten.

Since it was going to be close to 40F that morning (and windy!!!), I wore a fitted short-sleeved shirt to keep my core warm, 2 long-sleeved shirts, shorts and an old pair of sweats I didn't mind tossing into the donation pile! I also had gloves, a hat and a BondiBand to cover my ears. For snacks and hydration, I packed water, Gatorade, and a Cliff Bar and a Balance Bar (not knowing that would be plenty of opportunities to buy food and fluids on my journey to the Start Village). I also had a hand-held water bottle and my fuel belt that I would take with me on the course itself. NYRR does not allow Hydration packs or vests on their courses since the Boston bombing earlier this year. Not to worry - there would be water stops every mile on the course after mile 3.

Okay, I'm packed and ready to go. Time for bed.

I tossed and turned, watching TV until about midnight. It was the excitement and thoughts about being a part of it all that kept me up. "I'm running the NY marathon tomorrow. I'm actually here. This is happening. I'm running the NY marathon tomorrow". Over and over and over these thoughts were running through my head. I wasn't nervous about not finishing or my time. Since this was my first NY marathon, my first time running around the city and because I'd run a 7 hour marathon with a beginner from our Galloway group just 3 weeks prior, I had to take the time pressure off of myself. My only goal for this race: Enjoy the Hell Out of Yourself.

Once I fell asleep, I was able to stay asleep for the most part. Set two alarms to go off at 5:30. Showered, dressed, kissed the hubby (while fighting back tears) and made my way to the Subway station. NYRR strongly recommends using official marathon transportation to get to the Start on Staten Island. Getting the most out of this experience was really important to me so I chose to take the Ferry from the Whitehall terminal in Manhattan. Boy was I glad I did! What a unique way to get to the Start!

The subway ride would only be 20 minutes but what a hilarious ride it turned out to be. The station I got onto the train from was only about 5 or 6 stops from the ferry terminal so there was already standing-room-only when I boarded. Within a few stops, we were packed in like sardines with more and more runners jamming themselves onto the train. I heard several jokes about needing "shovers" like they have in Japan. Haha. I'm not sure it would have helped. I've never been up close and personal with so many stranger's armpits in my life. Thank goodness everyone seemed to have taken a shower that morning!  As it turns out, only the first 5 cars can fit in the Whitehall terminal station so anyone who wasn't in the first 5 cars before we approached the terminal wouldn't be able to get out. The train operator was great about making it very clear that you needed to de-board and move up to one of the first 5 cars. I think everyone made it. Luckily, I was already in one of those cars so I didn't have to try to fit in anywhere else.

We arrive at the Whitehall terminal just before 7am. My ferry time was 7:30a. My Wave start was not until 10:55a. Plenty of time! I was elated to see the Ferry coffee shops were open and there were plenty of places to sit (and bathrooms - the line got a little crazy at one point but not too bad overall). I had a feeling I should take advantage of opportunities to sit where and whenever I could.  I grabbed a coffee, plopped myself down in a chair, ate my Cliff Bar and took in as much of the energy as I could. Security was present, but not scary or overwhelming. The ferry boarding process was easy and organized. I watched the 7am group board, then the 7:15 crowd..... my group is up next!

Boarding the Ferry.  Security presence is getting heavier now.

I knew the Ferry ride was going to be about 30 minutes but I wasn't sure what to expect when we got to Staten Island. I decided to stand so I could take pics along the way. The Statue of Liberty was visible the entire trip. We had 2 boat escorts: the police and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard boat was the scariest because it had a huge upright machine gun on the bow.

Viewing highlights from the ferry:

Whitehall terminal

Coast Guard escort

Statue of Liberty as seen from the Ferry ride

It is much colder and very windy on Staten Island. Runners who did not have to be at the Start early were hanging out in the terminal here to keep out of the cold. Even though I'm on Staten Island now, I still have no idea where the actual Start is relative to where we are or how we're going to get there but at least I'm surrounded by other runners!  Most if not all of the smaller restaurants and delis were open. Runners were sitting anywhere there was open space it seemed.

Unloading from the Ferry. I was wondering when and where the crowds would start assembling!

This didn't last long. NYPD and Homeland Security came through and asked most everyone to stand up.

I'm starting to feel like maybe I could use the restroom before leaving here. There must be a regular bathroom....where could it be?  Oh I know. Looks for a big ass line. The line starts off looking like it's a straight shot into the restroom but no.....  first you have to pass it, then make a U-turn....then you're facing the right direction again.

Bathroom lines in the Staten Island ferry terminal

Since it was only about 8:15a at this point, I still have plenty of time to hang out and stay warm. I think I waited in line for about 45 minutes. By the time I got out, the women's line was even longer. Maybe an hour. 

Okay, on to the next step! Where the hell is this Start Village anyway?  I follow my fellow runners out the door and see another line leading to an endless line of buses. More standing. More waiting. And it's f-f-f-f-freezing!  Thank goodness I brought a mylar blanket with me. Despite the layers I had on, the gloves and the ear cover, the mylar blanket shielded me from the wind perfectly. The wait to board the buses was about 20 min. I think it was about a 20 min drive from here to the Start Village.

Line forming for the buses that take us to the Start Village. Buses are lined up along the street.

De-boarding the buses near the Start Village:

NYPD is lining the street here (everyone in dark colors on the far left)

Bag searches and metal detectors. A sign of the times in this post-Boston era. :-(

Making our way to the Start Village - finally!!

Approaching the Start Village.

As we approached the Start Village, I could see the Wave 3 runners heading out across the Verrazano bridge but I still couldn't see exactly where the Start was. There were quite a few tents set up in the Start Village so I wandered over to see what was happening there. Dunkin Donuts was handing out orange/pink beanies, maybe donuts and coffee too?  There was a bagel tent (it was 10am now so I grabbed one to eat since I was feeling a little hungry and just one hour from my start time!). I also saw tents giving out Gatorade, water, tea and coffee. 

View of the Verrazano Bridge from the Start Village

Just as I'm starting to wonder when I should head for the Orange flags (this was my Wave color), a voice comes across the very loud PA system. It's time.......

Since I wasn't exactly sure what the corrals would be like, I decided to dump the personal belongings I wasn't going to be running with which included leaving my sweats in an assumed donation pile. I make my way down a side street lined with Orange flags. The excitement and anticipation I'm feeling is almost indescribable. Don't cry Vera....Keep it together! This is it!!

Walking to the Orange wave corrals/staging area

Orange wave corral staging area.

Entrance to the Orange corrals, organized by bib number.

Once we stepped beyond this entrance, we were actually in the corral which was looking this!:

We start moving forward, make a left towards the bridge.....almost there now.

Last reminder of the course in case you've forgotten by now?!?

 There were buses scattered all over the place here. I'm assuming this was for both security and runner wave organization purposes. There is a helicopter flying overhead continuously and spotters on raised platforms.

Stepping onto the bridge now!!!! (That's the toll booth in the background. $14/car? Yikes.)

I'm still not 100% sure where the actual Start is here but all of the sudden, we swing out to the left and BAM! We made it!:

By this point, friends and family are sending me texts. I'm so overwhelmed by the whole thing and that I'm finally standing at the Start of the ING NYC Marathon, I almost don't want to the start-cannon to go off (which we were warned about several times as being loud and completely normal!) because I just want to sit in this energy for a little while longer. 

Okay runners...... last chance for gear and wardrobe adjustments. 3....2...1.....  GO!

To Be Continued in Part 3 - The Race Recap is coming soon!

2013 ING NY Marathon Part 1 - Expo & Marathon Eve Dinner

Yikes. How does time pass so quickly? It's hard to believe the NY Marathon was over 2 weeks ago already! I guess it's time to get these recaps posted before the memories completely escape this aging brain of mine. :-)

I was accepted into the 2013 ING NY Marathon on Guaranteed Entry through the lottery system. I first entered the lottery back in 2010, the same year I ran my first marathon at Walt Disney World. I knew this race was a big deal in the running community back then but only from an observer's point of view. Each year, the marathon came and went, and each year, I was not accepted. When this event was cancelled in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy, it never even occurred to me that the New York Road Runners would be able to accommodate 2012 and 2013 participants with the 2013 event. In fact, after 3 years of trying to get into the race, I didn't even apply for 2013. I was shocked when NYRR emailed me in May to find out if I would be registering under the Guaranteed Entry program. Uh..... YES!!!! And so my journey to the Start began.

Hubby and I arrived in NY Friday night (race day was Sunday). I've been to the City one other time in my life. It was a whirlwind 36 hour business trip that left me hungry to come back. This would be hubby's first time here. Our hotel was on the outskirts of Korea Town, just a stones throw from Madison Square Garden and the infamous Macy's on 34th St. Here's a view of the Hotel Stanford from a double-decker bus tour we ended up taking later in the trip. How funny that the tour drove right by it!

The Expo was a short 15 minute walk from our hotel. I was totally unprepared for the crowds or the line to get in!

I was so excited to pick up my race packet. As soon as I stepped inside, a rush of emotions washed over me and it was all I could do to keep from crying. I almost didn't let hubby take this pic of me holding my bib because I thought I was going to lose it right there on the Expo floor.

After packet pickup, we hit the Asics booth to see what kind of race merchandise was still available. Of course, since it was nearly noon and the Expo would be over in 5 hours, there was hardly anything left for Women that wasn't an XS. Here are a few other highlights from our brief time at the Expo.

Hubby and Summer Sanders at the RW booth

Me and Bart Yasso at the RW booth

Hubby (in red) at the FDNY and Burn Center booth.
The retired firefighter on the left was on the cover of a magazine, standing with former Pres G.W. Bush right after 9/11.

We headed back to the hotel so I could rest up before the big Marathon Eve dinner in Central Park near the Finish line. I have made mistakes in the past when traveling for races where we have walked around waaaay too much in the days leading up to the event!  

Going to the dinner would serve as a dress rehearsal for Hubby since he would be meeting me at the Finish after the race. NYRR sent out a link to a public transportation website where you can enter your Start and End location and it will provide you with several options (subway, bus, etc) and approximate travel times. We were less than a 10 min subway ride from Central Park! Of course, we had to take pics since this was our first ride on a NY subway together!

When we first arrived, the line to get into the tent was humongous and we almost bailed on it completely. If not for the fact we paid $40/ea ahead of time, we probably would have found someplace else to eat. But I'm SO glad we hung around. We got in line, stood there (moderately frustrated with pre-race anxiety!!!) for about 10-15 minutes when a couple randomly walks up to Hubby and me to tell us they have VIP tickets we can use to just walk right up to the front of the line and skip the waiting. Whoa. Really? We thanked them profusely and headed to the main dinner tent.

The tent was hopping with loud music and energized runners! Security was tight of course. Everyone and their belongings were being searched before we could enter. Once we were inside, enthusiastic volunteers served us some salty but otherwise delicious salad and a couple of pasta varieties. Four other runners joined our table - two of whom we learned had never run a marathon before; NY would be their first!

Marathon Eve dinner tent in Central Park

After exchanging marathon and training stories with our dinner buddies, we headed back to the hotel, snapping more "marathon support" pics around the city including a big banner across the Macy's building on 34th St and the Empire State building that was bathed in orange and blue lights that night in honor of the race!

With my body and mind fueled by the spirit of the marathoners at dinner and the city, I knew I was as ready as I was going to be. Time for sleep. Tomorrow is going to be one of the biggest days of my running life!

To Be Continued.......