NYC Marathon 2008- Very much Fun.

Mile 21 - 10:23
Mile 22/23 - 10:43 (3rd Gu I think)

Back into Manhattan and onto 5th Avenue. It's funny, during my training run on the end of the course, I figured climbing back up 5th with the park in the distance would be the hardest part of my day. Little did I know, it would turn out to the best! I picked up the pace, which became amazingly simple as soon as I got out of my own head. I felt completely comfortable and probably could have picked it up more, but I figured at this point, I just wanted to enjoy the rest of my day. I even started to pass people. I cheered greetings to the South Africans I passed in Zulu and Xhosa, and realized that THIS was what the day was about.

In my pity party, I had not taken a Gu, so I took a Gu around Mile 22 I think. I had started to drink Gatorade during my walks, so I was worried how it may react with the Gu, as I usually stay away from the sweet drinks on my long runs, but it turned out fine.

Around this time as well, the 4:15 pace group passed me. I briefly considered trying to hang with them until the end, trying to make up the minutes spent chatting it up and feeling sorry for myself on 1st. But I reminded myself that not only did I NOT have a time goal, I had told myself before the race started, that if I wasn't going to break 4 hours, there was no difference between a 4:03, a 4:14 or a 4:20. If 4 hours wasn't in the cards, then I was going to enjoy my day, stop on 1st, visit with my friends, and soak it all up. Ok, so fine, maybe that IS having a time goal, but it's sort of having one, without having one, right??

At 110th, I knew I was only 1 mile from the park. I knew I was going to see my friends again, and I knew I was going to make it. This picture, between miles 23 and 24 and one of my new favorites, sums up how I was feeling at that moment (thanks to Bob for his amazing pictures, as always!).

Mile 24 - 10:41

Mile 25 - 10:12

Mile 26 - 10:14

I knew once I was in the park I was going to be fine. My crazy friends were hours into their Mimosas, hanging out behind the MET, and I am not sure if they have ever been so happy to see me. I am also not sure if they had the tambourines out when I saw them on 1st, but they were not to be missed in the Park!! I think they were a little insulted I didn't stop, but I was on a mission.

I was a bit worried about the downhill at Cat Hill and how my hip would take it, but at that point, I actually don't think I could feel my legs at all. I was running on pure emotion and adrenaline. Running under the mile 25 banner was the most amazing feeling ever (although it did come with the always present smell of horse sh!t at that corner in Central Park. You think they could do something about that on Marathon weekend, no?)


I missed seeing my best friend from college on Central Park South, and resisted the urge to speed up at the end. There was no need at this point- I wanted to take it all in (however, looking at my splits, I guess I DID speed up). I knew there was a final little climb to the finish, but best of all my friends who had seats in the finish area spotted me and yelled like crazy and I saw them! I knew they had VIP seats, but didn't think I was going to be able to see them.

My non-human friend who just finished KONA a few weeks ago, and is insane, also ran NYC (and a 10 minute PR, crazy lady) and was able to make it back to the finish area to cheer me across the finish. It meant so much to see her.

I honestly don't remember much about crossing the line, just a complete rush of emotion and the incredible urge to sob. Not out of happiness or sadness, just out of pure emotion. I resisted, as I figured that may have been quite embarrassing, and then focused my attention on the new task at hand: How to get from the finish area to beer as quickly as possible.:

Mission accomplished.