2014 New York City Marathon
This race report was originally posted on the RunningAhead community boards in November 2014. Some content has been edited since that initial publication.
Prologue
I’m tired. See my Marine Corps Marathon Race Report. I’ll just add some details about this last week.
As soon as I finished MCM, I started thinking about recovery. I chugged the water I was given and grabbed all the food the Marines handed me. I don’t know that I ever ate so much post race. I bought some compression tights at the expo and pretty much wore them for 3 days straight.
Injuries: Before the race, it seemed like right hamstring was going to act up but it didn’t.
I didn’t really know what to do as far as training. Training plans don’t recommend back-to-back marathons so I randomly decided to just run every other day. I ran close to 4 miles on Tuesday, 7 miles on Thursday, and another 4 on Saturday. I was trying for an easy pace but the runs were in the 8:10-8:30 pace range, which is a little fast.
Goals
I also didn’t know what was a reasonable goal. I really wanted to get guaranteed entry for next year which had been 3:25 but changed to 3:26 this week. So, I went ahead and made it my goal – reasonable or not. Going in to the race, I was thinking I would stay with the 3:25 pace group and then if the dropped me, find the 3:30 and hang with them.
Personal records
Marathon & Course PR: 3:22:56 (7:45 pace) at the 2013 New York City Marathon.
Most Recent Marathon: 3:23:52 (7:47 pace) at the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon.
Course
The New York City Marathon touches all five boroughs of the city. The terrain is flat except for the bridges separating the boroughs, an incline on Fifth Avenue, and two small hills in Central Park.
The course starts at the base of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island and heads into Brooklyn. It continues into Queens after crossing the Pulaski Bridge. The very steep Queensboro Bridge takes runners into Manhattan where roaring crowds await along First Avenue. Then, the course heads to the Bronx after traversing the Willis Bridge. After a mile, the route goes over the Madison Avenue Bridge back into Manhattan and down Fifth Avenue. Three miles later, runners enter Central Park for the finish.
There are water and Gatorade stations at every mile between Mile 3 and Mile 25.
Boisterous crowds line the course except for the bridges.
Pre-race
Friday. I went to the expo as soon as I arrived in town. After picking up my bib, I purchased a jacket, two shirts, and some arm warmers. That evening, I went to see Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre.
Saturday. I did a shake out run in Central Park in the morning. I spent some time looking at the banners honoring Hall of Fame inductees, including Ted Corbitt.
In the afternoon, I went to the Guggenheim Museum. I very briefly visited the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I drank water throughout the day and for dinner, I had lasagne.
Race Day. I slept pretty well the night before. I went to bed at 10pm-ish. I woke up a few times in the middle of the night but immediately went back to sleep. I woke up for real at 4:30 but stayed in bed until 5. Daylight Savings Time ended overnight so I spent a lot of time wondering what time it really was. I was satisfied I wasn’t up too early and began my morning routine. I had a banana and coffee but neglected to get a bagel the night before. There were at least two Starbucks a couple blocks from my hotel so I figured I would just do that race day morning.
Before the race, it seemed like right hamstring was going to act up but it didn’t.
I had a 7am ferry time. I left my hotel at 6:20. I walked to what I thought was the right way to the subway but encountered a runner who was coming from that way and looked lost. I made him turn around and together, we found the right entrance. I left him, though, so I could get a bagel.
I enter a random cafe and see a woman who looks familiar. It’s someone from the forum! What are the odds?! I order my bagel and we end up going to the race start together.
We get on the subway and ferry with no trouble. I take a picture of the New York City skyline:
But then… The buses. We board a bus at Staten Island at 8am. At 8:30, we still haven’t reached Fort Wadsworth. I’m freaking out a little trying to figure out when the corrals close. D_R tells me not to freak out. Smile We get to the Fort and a few people around me let me get out of the bus first. (Awwww!) I get through security and then jog to the Blue staging area. I ask a stranger if they’ve called the first Wave and just then there’s an announcement that Wave 1 will close in 10 minutes. Phew! I made it just in time.
I get in line for the port-a-johns and they are not moving at all. Soon, they are merging the corrals and the lines collapse. I walk up a bit and find a shorter line. I end up running into another friend of mine! We haven’t seen each other in over a year so we catch up quickly. Afterwards, we wait for what seems like a long time. I take a picture of the corral:
9:20am comes and they still haven’t walked us to the bridge. Hmmm… I start shedding clothes because I’m not sure what this means. Maybe we won’t be held at the bridge for long at all. I strip down to shorts but leave a long sleeve half-zip over my tank and arm warmers.
We get walked up to the start and my suspicions are correct. We aren’t held that long at all. I was thinking I would run with the 3:25 pacer and if s/he dropped me, run with the 3:30 pacer. I lost sight of him when I was using the port-a-john but on the bridge, saw that he was starting behind me.
Maybe a minute or two of waiting and before I know it, we’re off! (I can’t remember what song they were playing but it was not New York, New York).
Weather
At my start, 9:50am, the weather in Central Park was 45 degrees w/10 mph winds and 28 mph gusts for a “feels like” of 40 degrees.
Temperature/Wind Chill (Central Park): 45/40 at 9:50am, 45/? at 10:50am, 46/42 at 11:50am, 46/40 at 12:50pm, 47/44 at 1:50pm. Winds were 7-10 mph w/25-28 mph gusts.
The Race
Early Miles, Part I – Miles 0 to 2 (Staten Island – Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)
I try to really take it easy on the bridge. With the winds being so strong, I know the Verrazano-Narrows is going to be the toughest part of the course today. It didn’t take long for the wind to make itself known and within minutes, I’m being blown all over the place. There is all kinds of runner debris blowing in the air – mylar blankets, fleece hats. At least twice, I’m blown into another runner’s line and bump their arm. I apologize but no one seems annoyed. My pace is still strong, though, so I think maybe it won’t be so bad.
Early Miles, Part II – Miles 2 to 8 (Brooklyn)
We leave the bridge and I still don’t feel quite warmed up so I decide to leave my half-zip on. The winds seemed calm for a while and them – Whooosh! – a cross wind would hit me and I’m hunkering down just trying to run forward and not side ways. This is how it will be for the entirety of the race. I never quite knew when a gust would hit and knock me off course or pace.
I’ve missed the first couple of mile markers but it could be that there weren’t any since there are different starts for Blue, Orange, and Green. At Mile 3, the Green Wave joins us from the right and there are some issues with slower people and faster people but nothing terrible.
I feel pretty good, though, and am feeling pretty steady on my feet. I’m running through most of the water stops, though. I’m not feeling thirsty at all.
At 45:00, I fumble into my shorts pocket and pull out a Salted Caramel Gu. I take down it and finally take water. (At 10:50am, when I was about at Mile 8, the weather in Central Park was 45 degrees but there aren’t any wind recordings from NOAA).
Splits (23:45 for Miles 1-3, 7:40, 7:40, 7:43, 7:46, 7:55)
Early Miles, Part III – Miles 8 to 14 (Brooklyn)
Mile 8-9 was my favorite part of the marathon last year and it didn’t disappoint this year either. I shed my half zip and now the duct tape with my name on it is revealed. I’m getting, “Go Julia’s” from everywhere and give a few high-fives.
Next, we go through a section of Williamsburg with a lot of orthodox or Hassidic Jews. I’m not sure. All I know is they aren’t going to let a marathon get in the way of them getting stuff done. They’re streaking across the street so fast they should have bib numbers. I start taking in some water and Gatorade at this point, but not much.
Between Mile 11 and 12, a guy comes up to me and asks me a question. I can’t hear him because of the headphones so I say, “What?” two or three times. I take the ear buds out and he asks, what time I’m aiming for. I notice he has a foreign accent. I say 3:25 or 3:30. He says he’s shoot for the same. I think it’s an overture to run together but I don’t have enough energy to explain, “See, this is my second marathon in a week. I may not even finish this”. So, I just run further to the right. He and I will pretty much run close together but not “together” for the next 4 miles. I notice a tricolor wrist band so assume he’s French.
At Mile 12, I reach for another Gu and again it’s Salted Caramel Gu. Yes! I’m running through most of the water stops in this segment, too. I’m not thirsty. I’m mostly stopping because I think I should drink something. The water stops are also crazy – people walking through them and tossing cups on your feet. I mostly wanted to run through the mayhem.
Middle Miles, Part I – Miles 14 to 16 (Queens)
I’m clicking though these miles feeling pretty good. But, I’m also aware I have a lot of race to go. I do the math in my head and for an even split, need to hit the half at 1:43. I hit our second bridge and the half marathon point. I’m just under goal pace but I know the hardest parts of the course are yet to come… Another mile or so and we hit the Queensboro. (At 11:50am, when I was at about Mile 15.5 and starting the Queensboro Bridge, the weather in Central Park was 46 degrees w/8 mph winds and 28 mph gusts for a “feels like” of 42 degrees).
I dial things back considerably. Still, I pull away from the Frenchman. A few moments later, I see the 3:25 pace group leader run by. I bee-line over to join them. I tell myself, if I can just stay with them to the Bronx, I’ll be in good shape.
Middle Miles, Part II – Miles 16 to 20 (Manhattan – First Avenue)
We hit First Ave. and I turn my iPod off to soak in the crowds. Amazing! There’s no greater sound in running than that mile, IMHO. I’m hanging with the pace group until the water stop at Mile 17. I’m really good at water stops but in the time it takes me to get water, they’re gone. I’m a bit dejected but not completely.
This was my first time running with a pace group, however briefly, and I found it very stressful and anxiety inducing. It was really hard jockey for position to stay close to him. I had a lot of close calls with other runners during the entire time. Not sure I will do it again. Or, maybe not in a big race like this.
At this point, I know it’s time for another Gu but like every other marathon I’ve run, I don’t want one. I engage in this mental battle with myself but my psyche loses. Today will not be the day that I finally choke down 3 Gus in a marathon.
By Mile 19, I’m starting to fade for real. I just feel like I’ve run out of gas. Aerobically, I still feel like I could run 7 miles but my legs are not game. We cross the bridge into the Bronx and I notice a guy wearing an MCM mock neck! Could it be?! Someone else is crazy enough to do these races back to back?
Splits (7:53, 7:33, 7:58, 7:44, 7:56, 8:02, 8:25, 8:15, 7:46, 7:54, 8:15, 8:31)
Later Miles, Part I – Miles 20 to 21 (The Bronx)
The Bronx! Oh, thank heavens, I’m in the Bronx! (Said no one ever before today, probably).
I really started fading last year at this point so I tried to slow down and take in this part of the course. The crowds weren’t particularly thick but they were loud and offering lots of food.
Later Miles, Part II – Miles 21 to 24 (Manhattan – Fifth Avenue)
We cross the bridge back in to Manhattan and I hear a guy say something like, “Here comes the tailwind”. We all wait for it… And, wait for it… Where the hell is it?! The wind doesn’t feel as strong but it certainly doesn’t feel like I’m being blown down Fifth Ave. I pass the MCM guy. This is my stunt! (At 12:50pm, when I was at about Mile 22.5 and on Fifth Ave., the weather in Central Park was 46 degrees w/13 mph winds and 25 mph gusts for a “feels like” of 40 degrees).
Splits: 8:35, 8:24, 8:38, 9:17.
Later Miles, Part III – Miles 24 to 26.2 (Central Park)
I decide to take it really easy and save my energy for Central Park – knowing there are some hills. I lose myself in my music a bit and try to tell myself to treat this segment as a training run and that I don’t have anything to prove/gain by running any faster.. The Frenchman passes me and gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up. I wish him good luck. I notice he’s cute and wonder if I did this whole thing wrong. The guy in the Marine Corps shirt also passes me back.
We take the turn into Central Park and I’m energized. Two more miles! I get a second wind and start to quicken my pace. I was suffering pretty bad at this point last year, too, so I wanted to soak in the course and crowds this time. I started passing runners again so I set my eye on MCM guy. I pass him around Mile 25 and am steadily increasing my pace. We round the top of the Park and head towards the finish. I wanted to die at this point last year and didn’t remember much but I finish strong this year. The finish line!
Splits (by course): 8:34, 8:12, 1:43 (x:xx pace).
Post-race
I cross the finish line feeling pretty good – not completely destroyed. I get my heat shield and medal. Out of the corner of my eye, I see The Frenchman. I ask him how he did and he finished just over 3:30. I tell him my time and we congratulate one another. I see water on my right and leave him. I’ll probably run into him (and Ryan Hall) again next year while my fellow forummate and I are getting a bagel.
It’s a long trudge to our ponchos and the exit. I get on the subway, get to my hotel, shower and take a selfie with my medal.
This medal was well earned. I would say Boston 2012 was harder. That was a test of survival. But, this was hard in that it was a test of will and strength. I wasn’t afraid for my life; it was more about how hard I could fight. Turns out, quite a bit.
Result
Time=3:32:14
Pace=8:07
Log Details
No guaranteed entry for 2015. I was 122nd in my age group, 681st woman and 4808th finisher. I achieved my goal of running back-to-back marathons but can’t say I’m particularly happy with either race. Weather definitely played a part for both events but… I got some thinking to do over the next few weeks.
