Sunday was the ING NYC Marathon. First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for their support and also Team Hole in the Wall for allowing me to participate in what was the most amazing experience of my life. Words can not describe how awesome this was, but I’ll try.
After several months of training, it was time for the party! The party started at 5:30am when it was time to meet the bus to head out to Staten Island. We got to Ft. Wadsworth around 7:00am and waited in the cold at Charity Village until it was time to line up in our corrals. Since I was in the last of 3 waves, my corral didn’t open until 9:55…fortunately we had a tent to shield us from the wind so the 38 degree morning wasn’t as bad. The gun went off for my group at 10:40 and we were off. Let me tell you something about the Verrazano – guys are gross and they pee off of it because they can’t make it the almost 2 miles across without having to go. I didn’t witness anyone doing that, but I heard rumors that that’s what they do…so I was told to stay in the middle of the bridge to avoid getting peed on. For those men that had to go and could hold it found somewhere to go the second they got off the bridge. That I did see. Once we were off the Verrazano, we were in Brooklyn. People were lined up on the streets cheering everyone on, high-fiveing as many runners as they could and even handing out tissues because our noses were running! I had my name on my jersey so strangers were calling my name cheering me on…it was hard to stop and walk in Brooklyn. I passed a girl with the greatest slogan on her shirt; it said “arrgggg…I thought they said RUM!” I want that shirt. By the time we were out of Brooklyn, we were halfway done with the race! I finished the first half with my personal best 1/2 marathon time – under 2.5 hours. Let me tell you, I was stoked! We crossed over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens. My favorite sign in Queens was decorated like a MetroCard and said “unlike the MTA you run.” When we got to the Queensboro bridge I decided it was time to walk for a bit so I would have plenty of energy to take on 1st Avenue. I think a lot of other people were thinking the same thing on the bridge. As I was walking I got a little misty eyed thinking about what I was doing and about the kids I was helping. What can I say? I’m a girl – sometimes we get emotional. When we neared the end of the bridge it was time to start to run again. Rounding the corner from the bridge onto 1st Ave was also amazing. There were so many people screaming and cheering for us. The Team Hole in the Wall cheering section was at mile 17. When I got close I saw my dad at the front of the section and then I saw my mom. Then Pete, the coordinator of the team, called my name over the bullhorn for everyone around to hear. Once I got past them, all I could smell was the beer that the spectators were holding. They must have stepped out of the nearest pub to cheer us on before going back in. Man, that really made me want to finish so I could have one! We followed 1st Ave up through Harlem and into the Bronx. We were only in the Bronx for a little over a mile, but it wasn’t as energetic as the rest of the burrows. We went back into Harlem on 5th Ave. We only had about 5 miles left and I was starting to feel it. My feet hurt, my legs hurt, I was exhausted. I knew I only had a little more to go so I kept pushing it. Once I got to mile 23, I had to walk. A lot. I walked and walked and walked, then I ran for a little bit. I did that for the next 2 miles. Once we were out of Central Park I knew I only had about 3/4 of a mile to go. I stepped up my game and did a slow jog until I crossed the finish line. Someone handed me my medal, I stopped to get my picture taken with it, then I was handed a bag filled with snacks, water and gatorade and then they handed me my mylar blanket. I followed the herd to pick up my bag from bag check and then left the park. Despite the blanket, I was freezing. It was in the 40s and starting to get dark. I was in shorts and a short sleeved jersey. I met my parents at a local sports club so I could shower and put on some warm clothes and then we headed to the team after party for some snacks. After that, it was time to go home and crash!
My official time was 5 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. My place was 39,545 out of 44,829 runners. I didn’t beat Subway Jared but I did beat the Chilean Miner.
I signed up today for the lottery for next years Marathon. Anyone else want to sign up?!?
p.s. I slept with my medal in my hand on Sunday night because I was so proud of it. I know, I’m a dork.
You are my idol! Like, seriously.