New York Marathon: 3hrs 28mins 51secs
- philsoderberg
- Nov 6, 2011
- 3 min read
Overall, a really great weekend: caught up with an old friend, enjoyed great weather, did some shopping, had a couple of great diner breakfasts, ran much better than I thought I would and most importantly got some encouraging news about my dad.
The weather was initially sunny yet bitterly cold with the wind, but it improved each day and by race day, was perfect.
Race day itself was an early start, up at 4.30am (the clocks going back didn't help at all as I was paranoid I would oversleep) to get my bus from outside New York Library to the start at Staten Island. Arriving at 6.30am the start was incredible - frost dusted the ground but Dunkin Donuts were on hand to offer free bagels and tea/coffee. I got my fill then found a pitch on the ground with my mate, dressed like a couple of vagrants in disposable clothes ready for the call to our respective Corrals (no gunfights involved) .
The sun rose to reveal a crystal clear day and there was little wind - bugger, one excuse out the window, the conditions really were perfect. The time went quicker than I thought and before I knew it, I was in my pen ready for the off. Except, "the off" was still an hour away. With the banter in the Corral the time passed pretty quick.
At 9.40 we got a live chorus of "The Star Bangled Banner" and then immediately following the gun they played "New York, New York" by Sinatra. At this point I thought about my dad and emotionally almost lost the plot - get a grip and man up Soderberg. We were off and thanks to the wave starting system I was over the start line in a couple of minutes and straight on to the Verrazano bridge.
As we crossed the Verrazano Bridge the views of Manhattan were spectacular. So spectacular in fact, that many runners stopped to take pictures - something I have never witnessed before.
I won't bore you with a mile by mile account but suffice to say, it was awe inspiring - wide roads, plenty of room to run and not elbow to elbow, like London. The various neighbourhoods were great to see and all so different with plenty of live music and at no point did the crowd thin out too much. All the locals take great pride in their banners and I think my favourite of all was a toss up between "Because 26.3 would be crazy, right?" or "run stranger run!".
Having basically missed the last 3 weeks of my training due to cold/bad chest I was genuinely worried how I would run. Things went great up to mile 21. With hindsight, I think the Queensboro Bridge between mile 15 and 16 probably did the damage though. It is hard to describe unless you have run it, but the incline feels like it goes on forever (only half a mile in reality) - the upside is when you come off the bridge, the route brings you up 1st Avenue, packed with noisy spectators, it feels like entering a football stadium after the solitude of the bridge.
The last 5 miles were the toughest I have ever run - my legs were drained and the finish is no cake walk as it undulates through Central Park. I was delighted to finish under 3.30 but missed a PB by 14 seconds. I know people will read this and think, "how do you miss it by such a small margin?" but believe me, when I say my legs were spent, they were spent. That is when YOUR support really kicks in, just thinking about the money raised and the number of people genuinely interested in how you've done. Walking was never an option and in the words of Lance Armstrong "pain is temporary" (although it did go on a bit longer than I expected!!) :-)
Where he was bang on though, the pain really is very short lived, and as you cross that finish line it's immediately replaced with pride - just going back to the hotel in my sliver blanket, complete strangers stopped to say a few congratulatory words. The hotel staff were also great - in New York completing the marathon really is a big deal. So, would I do it again? Absolutely.
A very sincere thank you from me and my Dad.
PS on the way home I got the bulk head seat; it pays to wear your medal in the airport.
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