NYC Marathon 2008

I haven’t written much lately, because in truth there hasn’t been much to write about.  I haven’t done much running, but today that has finally changed.  I did my 5^th (4^th consecutive) NYC Marathon and I am feeling great.  I did this race completely on experience and not on preparation.  I had maybe 100 miles of training for it between the months of August through October, with my longest run being an 11 miler only the weekend before.  I had no idea if I would be able to finish it.

Marathon day started out much like any other.  Once you have done the NYC Marathon a few times, each one just bleeds into the next.  You take the same bus to the same start and freeze your ass off for the same amount of time before the race finally begins.  As per usual over the last 4 years I traveled to the start with my friend Larry.  I really need to give him credit for helping me to get through the race as it was with him that I trained with over the last few weeks before the run and it was by listening to his sage advice that I was able to run a nice and easy and consistent race.

The Athlete village was crowded as always.  This year we managed to find space inside a tent to shield ourselves from the wind that was blowing that morning.  We laid down some blankets and made camp for the next 3 hours.  The hours before the start are always the toughest for me.  I get so cold waiting for the race to begin.  I occupied my time by snapping pictures, eating and tweeting.  Eventually time gave way and it was time to store our belongings in the baggage cars.  It was during this walk to the baggage cars that I noticed one significant change.  The urinal trough that spanned about 50 yards was gone to be replaced by a line of port-o-sans; it seems as though some traditions are bound to die out.

 Another change to this race was the wave start.  Instead of everyone going off at once, there would be separate waves of runners with 20 minutes in between them.  I was in the first wave with the faster runners.  When I signed up for the race, I thought I would run close to a 3 hour marathon.  I had no chance of that now, so I lined up towards the back of the pack of the first wave.  I didn’t want to be caught up in the mad dash across the Verrazano Bridge and start out running too hard.  I just took it easy and ran a comfortable pace.  I even stopped to take a picture of the fireboats spraying water in the harbor. 

I’ll just get into the highlights of the race at this point.

·         I remember stopping around the 6 mile mark where my family was waiting for me.  I kissed my kids and told them I loved them.  My brother-in-law asked me how I thought I would do and I replied I had no idea.  Part of me just wanted to walk home from there.  I was only about a half mile away from home.  I kept going though and concentrated on maintaining my pace and running an even race.

·         I had to stop to pee like a million times.  I was luckily able to find port-o-sans without problems.  My bladder was definitely hyperactive.  It seemed like every other mile I had to stop.

·         I remember feeling good as I got to the 13 mile mark, which is good since this is one of my least favorite points of the NYC Marathon course.  I also knew though that it wouldn’t be much longer until I headed to the 59^th Street Bridge and made it into Manhattan.  I knew if I could get to Manhattan still feeling good I would be able to finish the race.

·         My friend Larry who was in the second wave caught up to me on the 59^th Street Bridge.   I thought of increasing my pace to keep up with him, but knew that would be foolish. 

·         I dreaded reaching the 17 mile mark of the race, because I knew the road would turn from asphalt into concrete.  This is always so much harder on my legs.

·         I t felt great to get in and out of the Bronx.

·         I really knew I had the race once I started running down 5^th Avenue.  I also knew I was running a properly executed race as I was able to begin increasing my pace as I headed south into Central Park.

·         With about two miles to go I really had to pee again, but I couldn’t get to the port-a-sans.  I decided to just tough it out.

·         I had a nice finishing kick as I reentered Central Park at Columbus Circle and was extremely pleased with another NYC Marathon Finish.

It took forever to get my bags after crossing the finish line.  Then again it always does so this was no surprise.  I call it the post marathon death march.  Everyone is just walking around with all these mylar blankets and are all quiet.  Plus it is quiet in general as the crowds that lined the avenues aren’t present.  Every now and then you see someone off to the side of the road waiting for medical assistance.   I finally got my bags, and changed into warm clothes and headed for the Subway.  As I was exiting Central Park I ran into my friend Larry again.  He was just about to start running back to Brooklyn.  I wish I had a backpack with me so I could have joined him.  I had too much stuff to carry so it would have been impractical.

I took an ice bath when I got home and had a small snack.  Then I rode my bike to a post marathon party about 2 miles from my house.  It was fun to recount the war stories about the marathon and of races past and to plan for races in the future.  I drank too much (4 beers) and ate a lot and just chilled out for a few hours.  I didn’t stay that late since I still had to get home and deal with the trash and I wanted to tuck my kids into bed.

Later that night when I got into bed with my wife, I was still feeling energetic so I smiled at her and said “How about some Victory sex?”  I was feeling real good and satisfied with my accomplishment and was up for a little more endurance activity.  Unfortunately, she was too tired to oblige me so I just took an Ambien to force myself to sleep.  I was working the next day and needed to get my rest.