NYC Marathon update...
It was an absolutely beautiful fall day. I spent way too much time on my feet Friday and Saturday--there is just so much to see and do in NYC that I couldn't help myself. As usual, I went into this with very little sleep, although I did get more sleep the night before the race. My feet had been bothering me those days but I felt pretty good on race morning (thanks to ibuprofen). I started in Wave 1, corral A, in the green start. You enter your corral, but they wait to walk you up to the bridge start. Once you are allowed to walk towards bridge, it becomes a free for all which is so frustrating. People who have no business being up front, start weaseling their way up there. It is just so crowded! Then you spend the first 1-2 miles getting around the mis-corralled people. I was closer to the start than I was in 2015 and it definitely helped. Runners in green run on the bottom of the Verrazzano Bridge. I was apprehensive about running on the bottom but actually liked it much better than the top. The bad part was that my gps got off in the first mile, but I managed best I could. I felt so strong and admit I went out hard. I felt much better than I did in Chicago. I hit the 13.1 at 1:28:17. I knew that my feet would eventually be a problem but wanted to see how long I could hold on. I also wanted to get the Queensboro Bridge (mile 15-16) over. It is so long, so uphill, and just never seems to end. I was so happy to crest it and get to Manhattan. The crowds along First Avenue are amazing. I also knew this would be one of the few spots I might see dh. I was constantly scanning the crowds which were 3-4 deep. A little past mile 17 I heard him say my name and tossed my throwaway gloves to him. I don't know why I hung on to those gloves so long since I intended to pitch them, but it was oddly comforting to hold them while running. The tendons in my feet were starting to scream. My pace was slowing bit by bit and by 30k I was in survival mode. Mile 23 is rough, mostly up hill. The Central Park part is so nice. It seems long because it is one undulating curve after another, but just an awesome place to run. Since I knew the sub 3 was gone, I was hell bent on keeping it under 3:05. Final finish time was 3:03:44 and I was happy with that. Overall place for women is 122 and 13th in age group. Long trek out of the park and then awhile to get back to hotel. We came home last night--walked through the door at 11pm. I stayed up until 2 am watching the tv coverage I recorded. Then up at 5:20 to get kids ready for school. I am waiting for the crash to happen, but feel remarkably well (except my feet hurt). My legs don't even feel like they ran a marathon.
Some pics:
Mens elite. Lelisa Desisa out in front.
View attachment 363397
Central Park, maybe mile 24ish?
View attachment 363400
I am so glad I didn't have to figure out public transportation. That is dh's job on race weekends.
View attachment 363398
I will add, this was my first race with my Vaporfly 4%s. OMG, love them!
View attachment 363399