As you know I’ve run the NYC Marathon 3 times! (2019, 2023, 2024).

I did qualify for it this year and it was a hard decision but I decided NOT to run it but instead to support my friends (as they did for me).

So four of us took the train to Manhattan early Marathon Sunday.

We met Kevin and left our luggage in his and Deirdre’s room and then headed by subway to our first stop in Brooklyn to cheer on Stan, Sherry and Deirdre.

Our first minor snafu was that the NYRR tracking app was not working and so we were stressing about that and missed our subway stop.

We did arrive at mile 7 in plenty of time.

With signs and bells in hand, we caught all three!!

First, Stan who was happy to see us.

Both Sherry and Deirdre were doing well at this point too.

I think Deirdre was happier to see Kevin. LOL.

I was a little worried about how sunny it was and the temps were warmer than predicted. Even we were warm (and we were not running.).

Next stop had us back on the subway to Manhattan where we’d wait to catch our runners on First Ave at mile 18.

We mistakenly stationed ourselves next to a Gel station hence feet sticking to the ground and we also somehow missed Stan.

Great news was that Sherry (who got injured during her training) was looking great.

Deirdre, however, needed a group hug…

Each of the three times that I ran this race, I started in Wave 4. The runners around me were planning to finish in 4 hours.  They rarely walked.

I definitely felt out of place.

Today was my first experience watching those runners from the last wave.

I have a new admiration for these slower finishers. They were happier, driven, persistent and so appreciative of our support and being out there and running this race. They would finish and they didn’t care how long it took. No one out there was checking their paces or looking at their watches.

After mile 18, we were able to walk to Fifth Avenue and rush to catch Sherry at mile 23. She was smiling because she had a much better race than she expected… walking at a consistent 13:xx pace the entire time. (Amazing!)

Now the sun was starting to go down but the runners thought at this point that “they were almost there.”

I knew better because the last 5k is HARD!! UP 5th Ave, into the park, Up 59th St., back into the park…

We saw the sweeper car go by and then ambulances as they were taking down the water stops and opening the roads.

This made me sad but the runners, they just proceeded onto the sidewalk and off they went focusing on getting through that finish line.

Eventually Deirdre arrived… she was struggling and so Kevin walked with her into the park.

We wanted to catch Sherry and Stan who may have already finished so we walked quickly through the park (in the dark) until we exited onto Central Park West.

Not sure why we rushed because it takes forever once a runner finishes to get out of the park.

Eventually we found them and we all took the subway back to the hotel.

We had dinner reservations so we headed to the restaurant and the marathoners arrived after their showers.

Deirdre and Kevin joined us for an additional celebratory meal the next day.

Final thoughts:

Honestly, I’d have preferred to have run the marathon than support it.

Finally I would have had training partners and local friends to share the before and after on race day. (I didn’t have that in any of my 3 NYC marathons).

FOMO all day!

Who knew back in February that it would have turned out this way?  Who knew that I would be healthy and they would run the race too.

That being said, I DO NOT INTEND TO RUN THE NYC MARATHON. (That ship has sailed, as they say.)

In fact, I do not intend to run ANY more marathons!!!

I’m glad that I went and supported my friends. It was a fun and rewarding experience. I’m so proud of the grit and determination that my friends showed.

And I did run during the trip…

25 more half marathons until I reach 100… a more realistic feat, I think.

Happy Running! How do you feel about spectating a marathon vs running one?  Please Share.

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Jenny (RunnersFly) and Jenn (Runs with Pugs).

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and tomorrow:

I’m also linking up with: co-hosts Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs