After 17 Weeks of training, it finally arrived. My THIRD full Marathon race.

I never had the goal of running a full marathon. Never!

Then my Brooklyn Half Marathon finishing time in 2018 qualified me to run the NYC Half Marathon in 2019. Unbeknownst to me, it also automatically qualified to run the 2019 NYC Marathon, as well.

Many runners made me feel guilty for not registering when only 5% of those who enter the lottery get in.

So I registered to run the NYC Marathon in 2019. I trained for it and I FINISHED (smiling).

I was thrilled and I was ONE and DONE!!

I’m not sure when or why I changed my mind.  Did I have amnesia on how much time it takes to train for a marathon and how stressful it is? Was it the pandemic?

But when I entered the next age group, my finish time for the 2022 Fred LeBow Half Marathon again automatically qualified me for the 2023 NYC marathon.

And so I registered.

My friends came to cheer me on and although I didn’t have the race I had hoped, I finished and enjoyed “the weekend.”

Yes, I did say after the race, “Never again.”

But this time, I mean it.

I signed up for my THIRD and LAST NYC Marathon for the following reasons:

• I time qualified and had an automatic entry. Thousands who entered the lottery did not get in.
• If I’m going to run another marathon, why not go BIG and run NYC?
• I am healthy now. Who knows what the future will hold?
• It’s only a train/bus ride away and I have enough points for a free hotel room for two nights.
• It’s a fall marathon. Weather should not be too hot or too cold to train or race in.
• I LOVE NYC.
• A few of my local running friends had done the virtual and were planning to train and run the race with me.
• A few local running friends said that they would come cheer me on.

Marathon Training:

If you follow my posts, you also know that I am not strict about following a training plan. But on July 1, I downloaded the Hal Higden Novice Marathon Plan. It was the same plan that I used in 2019 and 2023.

Then I decided to use the Hal Higden Senior Marathon Plan for the last 8 weeks.

In the end, I just winged it. LOL.

And though I may have re-arranged things (and had an injury in September), I somehow completed ALL my weekend long runs (14, 16, 18, 20)

Due to my injury, work, travel, etc. I did not feel adequately prepared to run 26.2 miles… but last year, I was confident about the race, this year I didn’t care.

The goal for my THIRD marathon was the same as my first –  FINISH!!

Pre-Race Day Activities:

I took the train to NYC early Saturday morning alone.

The original plan included Deirdre, Sherry and Stan (who ran the virtual) and Kevin all spending the weekend with me.

Well, Kevin didn’t get in, Deirdre deferred early due to an injury and then recently both Stan and Sherry deferred.

Yup, I ran due to peer pressure and now I was solo.

I wanted to get tickets for the Ali on the Run live show so that meant I had to take an earlier train than planned and check my bag at the station. It turned out that the show sold out before I could ever click but I kept my same train. Then I got an email a few days later that I did get a ticket!!

So back to Plan A.

I checked my bags at the train station and headed directly to Ali’s live show. Keira D’Amato was the guest and it was so entertaining.

Then, I met Cari for lunch. It was long wait but that gave us more time to chat.

After lunch, I headed directly to the expo at the Javits Center. It was nearby to where we had lunch and I was familiar (from the previous times) about how enormous it would be. I had planned to just grab my bib and shirt, check out the freebies and photo ops.

And that’s what I did. I refrained from buying anything.

And I was lucky that I had Cari as my own personal photographer.

I still hadn’t checked into my hotel so I retrieved my bag and took the subway there. For the first time, I had opted to stay in the Financial District so I could walk to the ferry and sleep later in the morning. (For the past two NYC marathons, I stayed in uptown and took the bus to the start.)

I met Stan and Sherry (who came down to support me) for dinner. I’m a firm believer in not trying anything new on race day (or the night before) but when we went out to an Italian restaurant, I had pasta. I usually eat pizza but I was confident that this would be okay.

We walked back to the hotel but I was not tired yet (and too excited to sleep) so we stopped at a nearby bar for drinks (They had drinks. LOL).

Finally I went up to my room and I got ready my clothes (and throw-a-ways) for the next day.

I went to bed a little later than I would have liked, but because of Daylight Savings Time, I actually felt okay when I woke up at 6:00 am the next morning.

Race Morning:

I lazily stayed in bed until 6:30 am and then had my usual pre-race breakfast (oatmeal and coffee) in my hotel room.

I left at 7:15 to walk over to the ferry. It was a short walk. I had signed up for the 8:00 am ferry to Staten Island so I was plenty early.

I knew the weather prediction for the weekend. And it actually turned out to be pretty accurate (just sunnier).

Fortunately, it was not as cold on race day morning as predicted …in the 50s with plenty of sun and little wind. I was decked out in plenty of throw-a-ways and was not cold at all.

I immediately bumped into Priscilla who was running her first NYC Marathon… We became besties by the time we entered our villages (almost 3 hours later.).

Good thing I left when I did because the the ferry was pretty crowded. I was amazed at how quickly we moved and how organized everything was so far.

Soon we boarded the ferry and were on our way to Staten Island.

Priscilla and I climbed up to the top deck for the best view and it really wasn’t that cold.

After we got off the ferry, crowds were screaming insanely… totally unexpected.

Next we had to board a bus to get to the start.

OMG!! Zillions of buses…this was where the delay was and it seemed to take forever to get onto a bus.

And once on a bus, there was so much bus traffic that we could have walked the 2 miles faster.

After we got off the bus, we had to wait in yet another line to go through security to enter the Start Villages.

Again due to the superb race organization, it moved quickly and before I knew it, Priscilla and I were heading to the Start Villages!

You were assigned either Orange, Pink or Blue and a corral – colors corresponded to where you start (top or bottom of the bridge) as opposed to your wave which corresponded with your start time.

Priscilla was assigned Blue and I was Pink so we hugged, became FB friends and separated.

Last year, I got to hang out, get my Dunkin Donut hat while basking in the marathon excitement.

Nope! My corral was opening in a few minutes.

I grabbed a bagel since my breakfast had digested hours ago.

No time for coffee/Hot cocoa…

Minutes later, Corral 3 runners started …

and then they announced Wave 4 corrals opening.

I entered, got rid of my throw-a-ways (which I hadn’t needed) and used the porta-potty.

Soon it was 10:55 am and we were moving. Cannons fired, confetti was thrown and speakers blasted Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York. I was already moved to tears… as I crossed the start line of my Third NYC Marathon!!

The Race:

I have to say that last year, I had a hard time writing my race recap. I felt that the race went “horribly” both mentally and physically. I did everything right and yet my body failed me..

I had a completely different attitude this year. I knew that it would be my last time running a marathon. I didn’t feel that I had trained well but had hoped that I trained enough so that my legs would carry me across the finish line.

I was so grateful to those who supported in person and virtually that I was determined to enjoy the race and make them proud.

There is no greater marathon than NYC!! I thought that it was even more spectacular than my previous two attempts.

That being said… it was hard!! Harder than I thought it would be. (However, I do not need redemption. LOL)

Miles 1-2

The first part of the race took runners to the highest point of elevation: crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge out of Staten Island (borough #1) into Brooklyn (borough #2).

We ran along Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. The crowd support continued to be amazing. I collected many high fives here and lots of cheers. I was glad that I had put my name on my bib. I was surprised at how many spectators and volunteers called out my name and cheered me on.

After the first 2 miles on the bridge, there were water/Gatorade stops at almost every mile. I don’t run intervals, but my plan was to WALK and DRINK at every water stop even if I was not thirsty.

But I was thirsty. It was SUNNY!! I rolled down my arm sleeves but it was too hard to get both them off completely so I just left them rolled down until the end.

As I mentioned, I was already feeling tired after the bridge so I changed my plan from walking only at the water stops to just walking whenever I needed to…

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but at mile 3, the neuroma on my left foot started to throb… WTH, it hadn’t hurt in years.

Around mile 4 or 5, I decided to take my first fuel.  My fuel of choice is GU and I had brought 5 of them.

The Brooklyn crowds really rocked.  Music and screaming around every bend. But I was tiring and the miles just dragged.

I knew that my friends would be on the left side cheering for me at mile 8. This really kept me going.

Then around mile 6, my foot stopped hurting!! Yay!

And though I was running on the right (with the pink starters), I crossed under the ribbon and ran on the left with the blue starters in case my friends were at an earlier mile.

Yes, I spotted them at a water stop at mile 7!! I was so happy that I didn’t miss them.

We turned from Fourth onto Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn around mile 8.

And all of a sudden all the groups Pink, Orange and Blue starters were running together.

There were a good amount of rolling hills and inclines in Brooklyn so I just kept plodding alone, running, walking, running, walking.

I ate a 2nd gel around mile 9 or 10 and continued the same run walk ritual. My legs were protesting and so I did start to worry about not being able to finish the race.

The last miles in Brooklyn brought us over the Pulaski Bridge into Queens (borough #3). For this bridge, I did walk the incline and run down it.

At mile 13.1 (or halfway) I spotted our local running organization.. They were timing part of the race. I yelled hello.

Miles 14-16

Next came the Queensboro or 59th street Bridge. And what a long one… with no spectators! Of course here came those doubts… could I actually do this??

Miles 17-20

At this point, you left Queens and entered Manhattan (borough #4) to run down First Avenue. I continued the same walk, run making sure I was taking in all the sights, reading the signs (so creative and funny) and high fiving all the enthusiastic kids.

I was again looking forward to seeing my friends around mile 18.

I spotted them and ran toward them… I think I gave them hugs (who remembers?) and continued to run for a bit (or at least until I was out of their sight. LOL)

In addition to water stops (of which 2 had SIS gels), there was volunteers that would spray you with Bio Freeze, offer you salt tablets, Vaseline, etc.)

I finally succumbed to drinking Gatorade instead of water because I thought it would prevent any cramping (I still have nightmares of those awful leg cramps last year.) and I knew I was heading up and down bridge #4.

Unfortunately I don’t like Gatorade and as it, had in the past, made me very nauseous. (Blech.)

After crossing the Willis Avenue Bridge (again, all the bridges were hard!), you entered the Bronx for a mile.

Although you were in the Bronx (borough #5!) a short time, there were really energetic spectators and lots of music. I work in Queens often, so the atmosphere seemed familiar.

So after a quick couple of miles through The Bronx, we crossed the Third Avenue Bridge and headed back into Manhattan for the final 5 miles on Fifth Avenue, up 59th St. and into Central Park.

After this bridge, we were close to mile 20… This was where there were signs with names of those people that you were praying for who had died or were currently suffering from cancer. (There was a sign there with my friend’s name and I stopped to  look for it).

Miles 21-23

You ran through Harlem when you first entered Manhattan from Queens. The crowd support was almost as crazy as Brooklyn!

We continued running up Fifth Avenue and it was a false flat. The incline was a killer at this point in the race and now my lower back ached, my quads started to throb.  I was toast but…

I was finishing this race…no matter how long it took me. Even if I had to walk the rest!!

I probably looked pretty dead at this point but the crowds yelled words of encouragement. I so appreciated it and tried to (fake) smile.

Fifth Avenue seemed to go on forever. Thank God for the spectators. I can’t tell you how many times they called out my name and told me how great I was doing.

And then I saw my friends for the third time!!!  It definitely gave me an energy boost.  This time, I barely stopped to greet them. I wanted to get this race over with…

Miles 24-26.2

I had no time goal. I just wanted to finish. I thought I might finish in daylight but it wasn’t looking good at this point.

So despite the pain, I tried to walk faster. After being out there for close to 6 hours, I finally entered Central Park…yes, the hills of Central Park.  The crowds were insane.

Believe it or not, I don’t remember the hills being tough. But this time, I actually saw the “cat” on Cat Hill. I have to say, you do see a lot more when you are walking rather than running and staring at the ground.

I was so glad to be nearing the end of the race (though it was far from over.)

Eventually we turned up 59th street heading toward the final stretch of the race. And it was uphill… of course!

We turned right into the park and I wanted to finish strong but my legs weren’t having it.

It seemed like an eternity but I finally saw the finish line… and I barely had enough energy to get across it.

But I DID IT!

I completed my THIRD NYC MARATHON!!!!!!!!!!

Getting out of such a big race is a long slog. After you got your medal, runners received heavy recovery bags filled with snacks (large bottle of water, Gatorade, protein drink, apples, power bars and more)..

Then there was a long slow walk to poncho pickup. It was actually too warm for that fleece poncho but I put it on because everyone else was and it was too awkward to carry.

It was another LONG slog to exit the park… at least 10 blocks more!! Finally at 77th St, I left the park and walked down Central Park West. The road was still blocked from friends and relatives.

This year, I told my friends to meet me at 74th St and then we would walk to the subway on 72nd.

Post Race:

Unfortunately, we couldn’t walk back to my hotel.  So I had to walk down the subway stairs (ouchy) and squeeze into a crowded subway.

I quickly showered and joined my friends in the hotel bar for a celebratory drink.

And then we walked to a nearby restaurant and had a delicious dinner.

The Next Day:

I got up early, had breakfast in my hotel room and went for a walk while waiting for Sherry and Stan (who also stayed overnight in the hotel).

We checked out of our hotel, took the subway to Penn Sta. and checked our bags there.

Then we headed (by subway) to the HSS Recovery Zone in Central Park where Sherry and I enjoyed 10 minutes in Normatec boots. Ahhhhh. Felt so good!!

By this point, I had worked up an appetite and we decided to have brunch at a nearby restaurant.

After brunch, we took the subway back downtown to go to the Edge Observation Deck (since our marathon bibs gave us free admission).

It was very cool and the weather again was perfect.  Stan’s son works nearby so we stopped by for a visit after. The views from his office on the 67th floor were just as impressive.

Unfortunately this weekend had to end… and we picked up our bags and boarded the train to return home.

Believe it or not, my job scheduled me back in the city the next day.

More opportunities to wear my medal and claim the freebies. LOL

I walked to the top of The Vessel:

And then enjoyed a (windy) night visit to The Edge Observation Deck:

Additional Race Reflections:

I can’t say enough good things about this race. I may have focused too much on not being to run it faster and having to walk so often. But since that day, I am trying to only think about the positives and how I lucky I am to have had this opportunity.

And I didn’t quit! (I had thought about it many times. LOL)

The Good:

• Abundant communication beforehand about all aspects of the race
• Organized packet pick up.
• HUGE expo with lots of samples and items to buy.
• Many things to do (for free) before the race -podcasts, lectures, runs, etc.
• Many freebies after the race (Levain cookies, Shake Shack burger, andmmore)
• Organized, easily accessible and sufficient buses to the start.
• Ferry/bus option to get to the start
• Dunkin hats, coffee, bagels, bananas in the race start village.
• Bins everywhere to discard clothing
• Organized and easy access to corals.
• Sufficient number of port-a-potties. In the village, corrals and along the course.
• Prompt wave starts with canons, confetti and Frank Sinatra
• Sufficient number of water/Gatorade stops – several had SIS Gels
• Lots of medical support along the course
• BioFreeze and Vaseline provided along the course, as well.
• Spectators handing out paper towels, candy, food, drinks, etc.
• Well marked course with mile markers and timing at each mile and clocks at each 5k.
• THE MUSIC, THE CROWDS, THE SUPPORT
• Great weather
• No blisters!! No chafing!
• Cool medal
• So many photos (almost 125)
• Post finish line support of food bag and a fleece-lined poncho
• Post race recovery tools
• Friends before, during and after!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bad:

• The bottleneck at the buses in Staten Island
• The bridges (LOL)
• The long walk out of the park
• Price of the photos (not that I would buy any this time)

The Ugly:

• I wish I had trained better.

Would I recommend this race?

OMG! YES YES YES.

What can I say? This is an amazing race. Crowd support is incredible. From the Expo to poncho pickup, the organization was perfect. Everyone has to run New York at least once! (or in my case three times.)

Final Stats and Thoughts:

As you all know, I sorta trained for 17 weeks for this marathon. I nailed almost all of my long run distance runs. But used run walk intervals in all of them. And I really slacked off on those weekday runs.

Based on my NYRR pace per mile. I was predicted to finish at 4:30. (I had no expectations of reaching that time…)

A PR was unlikely but I hoped to be a little faster than last year.

And I was!

If you read my recap above, these positive splits are no surprise. To be frank, I simply ran out of gas.

2019:

2023:

2024:

 

It was a great experience. I am glad that I took on the challenge.

How am I feeling and What’s next?

I think walking around NYC the next day helped because I didn’t really have any soreness days after.

Will I run this race again?

Now I say NO!!!

Having to walk so much of a marathon was not fun..

I have a time guaranteed entry for 2025 and friends who will be running it.  I could go and cheer.

That’s sounds like a better plan.

My next races are 10ks.

There’s nothing big scheduled until February’s half marathon in Florida (I may even wait until April.)

Last but not least, THANK YOU!

So I couldn’t end this post without thanking so many awesome people that encouraged me on my NYC marathon journey.

To my running friends. THANK YOU for all of your wisdom, words of encouragement and support during those LONG weekend runs.

Thank you to my Topo running shoes!

Thank you NYRR and those 7,000 volunteers.

To my friends (including virtual friends and bloggers), you guys are the real MVPs. THANK YOU for supporting me on this crazy journey and for cheering for me during the race. It means more than you’ll ever know!

Happy Running! Ever run this race or another marathon? How did you feel about your experience? Did you meet your goals? Please share.

 

 

 

 

 

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m also linking up with these ladies and you should too.

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I’m also linking up here:

 

 

Today is a Free Topic.

When you are training for a marathon, is there anything else to talk about?

When I ran the NYC Marathon in 2019, it was my first marathon.

I said I was ONE and DONE!!

And I meant it (at the time…)

I mean (besides the training miles and the last 6 miles of the race), I really enjoyed the experience.  And it was practically perfect.

• I loosely followed a training plan but got those long runs done.
• I got support on those runs from my running friends.
• Due to my job, I had free hotel rooms for race weekend.
• I shared the NYC marathon experience with friends (Lacey, my roommate and Cari, fellow blogger.)
• My tennis friends came down and cheered me on (at mile 18).
• The weather was PERFECT!!
• I met my finish time goal (in daylight and under 5:30).
• I felt fine after the race (zero pain.)

I explained my reasons for repeating this experience in 2023: https://wp.me/pel7R-i3n and https://wp.me/pel7R-i3Y

Did the race turn out differently the second time around?

You bet!

I went into the race knowing the challenges:

• I was four years older.
• I hadn’t completed as many long races as I used to due to breaking my foot in February.
• Most of my local running friends were not running the race until 2024.
• My poor feet!! Since then, I had painful bunion, neuroma and hammertoe issues.

And the advantages:

• I had qualified already for 2024 so I could do it again and make amends.
• I was much more relaxed regarding the logistics of the race.
• I was mostly working from home so  better able to fit in my weekday runs.
• I had been doing strength training several times a week thanks to my gym membership.
• I followed the Higdon Novice 1 Plan almost to a T.
• I was more confident in my ability to finish 26.2 miles.

So what happened?

Calf cramps had me walking the last 16 miles!!!

IOW, anything can happen on race day… no matter how prepared you feel.

So how is the third time different?

• My training is much more relaxed… (I am only focusing on getting those 14, 16, 18 & 20 milers completed)

• I have zero expectations on a good finish time.
• I am training and running it with friends.

• We’re staying near the ferry (so a later wake up time and less wait time).
• Although yes, I already qualified for 2025, I only plan to go and support friends. I will not run it.  So this one needs to be FUN!!

Happy Running! Have you run the same full or half marathon more than once? If so, was there anything you did differently? Please share.

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Since today is Tuesday, I’m linking up with Zenaida (The Running Teacher) 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

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