2019 New York City Marathon

Scroll all the way down to the end for the tl;dr version.

Prologue

This was a strange training cycle because I simultaneously prepared for the New York City Marathon (“NYCM”) using the 12 weeks, 70 miles per week plan in Advanced Marathoning, Second Edition by Pete Pfitzinger while I also planning to run the Brazos Bend 50 Miler in December.

In late July, I traveled to Athens, Greece for work and struggled to fit in workouts.  Back home, my workouts in August went well.  In early September, I captained a 2019 Ragnar Sunset DC team where I ran 4.8 miles in 37:16 (7:49 pace) and 4.4 miles in 36:49 (8:23 pace).  But days later, I was out for three days with a cold.

The day after running my first 22 miler in late September, I almost passed out after my run on the C&O Canal.  In early October, I ran the EX2 Adventures Fall Backyard Burn 10 Mile Race #1: Lake Fairfax in 1:42:00 (10:17 pace) and thought I was recovered.

But, after a hard 20 miler that Saturday, I felt light-headed again on Sunday.  Fearful, I abandoned a 13 miler the next week but managed two miles at marathon race pace the Wednesday before the marathon.

Goals

Personal Records:

• Marathon & Course PR: 3:22:56 (7:45 pace) at the 2013 New York City Marathon.
• Most Recent Marathon: 3:56:40 (9:02 pace) at the 2019 Cleveland Marathon.

Achievable (“A Goal”): Sub-3:55 (8:59 pace).  If I treated this as a training run, this would be a terrific effort.

Likely (“B Goal”): Sub-3:47 (8:40 pace). If I have the courage to push, I thought my fitness might be somewhere in this range.

Stretch (“C Goal”): Sub-3:38 (8:20 pace).  When I started the training cycle, my goal was securing a guaranteed qualifying time for next year’s race by running this time.  Despite some training challenges over the past few months, I still thought this was a reasonable goal given my time at the 2019 Boston Marathon.

Strategy:  Run by feel because, without good tune-up races, I really had no idea what kind of shape I was in.

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.

Playlist

I arranged my playlist by tempo and genre. I organized 57 songs – 3 hours and 42 minutes of music.

Pre-Race

Friday

Normally, I take the Amtrak to Penn Station.  But this year, my boyfriend would be joining me and we decided it was cheaper for us to drive.  We left Washington, DC at 10am and, stopping just a couple of times for food or fuel, arrived in Manhattan at 2:45pm.  After checking into our hotel in the Theater District, we rested a bit before heading out to a romantic dinner at a restaurant in Chelsea.

Saturday

My boyfriend and I left the hotel for my “shake out” run in Central Park at 8am.  We saw the Dash to the Finish 5K  men’s and women’s front runners come through, which was exciting.

After breakfast, we went to the expo at the Javits Convention Center at around 11am.  Pick-up for bibs and t-shirts was efficient.  The expo floor was crowded but I bought a couple of New Balance items: the NYCM Heat Grid Hoodie and the NYCM Impact Capri.

Afterwards, we toured The Vessel, which wasn’t as much walking as I anticipated.

[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#2B1B8F” rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]

During the day, we talked about my plan and lingering anxiety about feeling light-headed.  I didn’t have anything to prove for this race – I had a non-guaranteed qualifying time for the 2020 NYCM and plenty of time to qualify for 2021 Boston Marathon.  If I didn’t feel well, I would slow down and make it my long run for the week.[/dropshadowbox]

For dinner, my boyfriend and I went to a Mediterranean place near our hotel.  I had a delicious linguine with seafood dish.  That night, I was in bed by 9pm.

Race Day

I woke up at 4:00am.  I checked the forecast and it still showed near perfect running weather!  I microwaved some coffee and snacked on a bagel before leaving my hotel at 5:15am.

This year, I took the bus from the New York Public Library Schwarzman Building instead of the Staten Island Ferry.  The line wrapped around the block but I boarded a bus just before 6am.

During the ride, I looked out the window and gazed at Lower Manhattan.  I arrived in Staten Island a little before 7am.  After clearing security, I immediately visited porta-potties.

The Orange Start area is slightly higher and therefore, a little warmer so I meandered over to that area.  It was still cold, though, so I swaddled myself in a heat shield and ate a banana.  After the sun crested over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the air was significantly warmer so I got up to meet my college friend from Boston who was also running the race.

The Wave 1 corrals opened at 8:50am and after entering, I used the porta-potties again.  Then, I sat on a mylar blanket and got my gear ready.

The corral closed at 9:25am and shortly thereafter, we walked to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  One of the safety pins for my bib fell off while I shed my throw-away clothes, which was annoying.  Then, I couldn’t get Spotify to start my playlist!  When the announcer played New York, New York, I was frustrated rather than joyous at the start of the race.

Weather

Like last year, the weather was an absolutely perfect for running!  The temperature was around 48 degrees at the start with clear skies.  The wind was noticeable at places like the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge but mostly calm.  By the end of the race, the temperature was in the low 50s.

The Race

Early Miles, Part I – Miles 0 to 2 (Staten Island – Verrazano-Narrows Bridge)

On the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, I was so rattled by my playlist problem that I almost forgot to admire the Manhattan skyline.  I struggled up the ramp and when there weren’t runners beside me, braced against strong wind gusts.  My muscles were cold but otherwise my body felt fine.  At the 1 mile marker, I hit the lap button on my Garmin and saw 10:42 pace!  The split was slow but because of the incline, I didn’t panic.

Coming off the bridge, my legs were warmed up and felt good. When I passed the second mile marker, my overall pace was 7:55. Whoa, Nelly!

Splits (by course): 9:12, 7:55.

Early Miles, Part II – Miles 2 to 8 (Brooklyn)

Entering the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, the Green Wave start went up a highway overpass and arrived at Mile 3 in a 8:22 split.  We turned left onto 74th Street for a block and then took another left onto Sixth Avenue for a block.  We had our first water stop and I skillfully avoided runners scrambling for a drink.

The course turned right onto Bay Ridge Parkway and the spectators started making their presence known.  After two long blocks, the route turned right onto Fourth Avenue and joined the Blue Wave Start. ‘

There were huge crowds in this section of Brooklyn – perhaps the most I’d ever seen!

[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#2B1B8F” rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]When I couldn’t get my 2019 New York City Marathon playlist started, I played some songs saved locally on my phone.  The calming rhythms from 10,000 Maniacs, ABBA, Alanis Morissette, Alicia Keys, and – “Wait!  Is this, Amy Grant?!” – weren’t motivating me to push the pace.[/dropshadowbox]

Besides, it was hard hearing them over the screaming crowds.

My boyfriend said he would be cheering for me at Miles 4, 6, 17, and 22. Before arriving at our first meeting point, I searched the crowd for him. As soon as I could, I cut over to the Orange Wave Start on my left, so I could be closer to the sidewalk. Right on cue, I saw him and waved.

I confidently cruised through the next two miles on the way to Park Slope knowing I was on pace for my “A Goal”.  Nearing Mile 6, I started a Crank Sport e-Gel and searched the crowd for my boyfriend again.  I kept looking until I reached Mile 7 but then figured he got waylaid.  Annoyed with the music, I finally took my earbuds out.  Besides, with my name on my shirt, I basked in the shout-outs from onlookers.

At around Mile 8, the course swerved left onto Flatbush Avenue.  I flew by the large screen at the Barclays Center but it wasn’t showing the race leaders.  We turned right onto LaFayette Avenue and entered my favorite part of the race!

Splits (by course): 8:22, 8:15, 8:12, 8:20, 8:21, 8:34.

Early Miles, Part III – Miles 8 to 14 (Brooklyn)

The next mile is my favorite part of the race. The crowds were so large that they almost spill into the street! My split for Mile 9 was 8:44. Not devastating but I grew concerned about fading so soon in the race.

After a half mile, the course turned left onto Bedford Avenue – a wider road but with thinner crowds. I tapped the lap button on my watch at Mile 10 in 8:26.  Improvement, but did I work too hard for it?

Towards the end of the road, the course banked left and entered a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood.  When I glanced at my Garmin, it showed 9:07 pace.  Realizing my “A Goal” slipped away, I shifted my focus onto running a good long run.  (This mile was slow last year, as well.)  Even with the decreased effort, Mile 11 came in at 8:46.

In Williamsburg, the road narrowed in places but I held a steady line.  After the next aid station at Mile 12, I passed McCarren Park for a 9:11 lap.  I also saw one of my favorite signs of the day: “I did a DNA test and you’re 100% that bitch.”

Out of nowhere, I heard my boyfriend shouting my name! Startled, I waved and forced a smile. He was tracking me and would know that my goal of a guaranteed qualifying time for next year’s race eluded me.

The course turned left onto Manhattan Avenue, right onto Greenpoint Avenue for a block, and then left again onto McGuinness Boulevard.  Mile 13 arrived just before the Pulaski Bridge and my split was 9:10.  At the half marathon mark, a few yards later, my watch read 1:52:xx.  (Officially, it was 1:52:30.)  Knowing the second half of the course is harder than the first, I calculated I would do no better than 3:44.  “Okay, that’s still a Boston Qualifying time.”

On the bridge, I started my second Crank Sport e-Gel.  On the other side, the people of Queens greeted us.  The course banked left and then made a quick right onto Vernon Avenue.  At the end of that stretch, I marked Mile 14 with a 9:10 split.

Splits (by course): 8:44, 8:26, 9:07, 8:46, 9:11, 9:10.

Middle Miles, Part I – Miles 14 to 16 (Queens)

Over the next mile, I registered my slowest split so far however, it was closer to my recent long run pace so it wasn’t particularly concerning.

Leaving Queens, the course diverted right onto 44th Street and approached the Queensboro Bridge.  Confused, I wondered if I’d missed the Mile 15 marker.  After a quarter mile, I crossed the Mile 15 marker and saw 9:29 on my watch.  Up ahead, I saw a man on a stretcher receiving medical attention.  I glanced over and was relieved that his eyes were open.

The silence of the bridge was only broken by a man yelling for the crowd to make room for a wheelchair-pushing runner. It was very distracting and I was happy when they finally glided by.

Mile 16 came at the base of the bridge and I cruised by with a 9:31 split.  I told myself, “It’s just 10 more miles.”

Splits (by course): 9:29, 9:31.

Middle Miles, Part II – Miles 16 to 20 (Manhattan – First Avenue)

Unlike usual, there weren’t any crowds on East 59th Street!  Turning left onto First Avenue, the crowd teemed at the next corner.  I looked up at the large video screen before taking water at the next aid station and saw an interview with Desiree Linden who finished in 6th.  I thought, “This might be my first DNF.” (“Did Not Finish”)

Suddenly, I started to feel the tightening sensation in my jaw that preceded my near-fainting spell a few weeks ago.  I told myself, “This is in your head.”  But the thing with something being in your head is that it feels real.

I desperately searched the crowd for my boyfriend but didn’t see him.  Thinking I might be low on calories, I took a banana from a spectator.  I also started running by heart rate – staying out of my Garmin’s threshold pace range, which was over 160 beats per minute.  At Mile 17, I clocked at 9:21 split.

[dropshadowbox align=”center” effect=”raised” width=”800px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”4″ border_color=”#2B1B8F” rounded_corners=”false” outside_shadow=”false” ]By Mile 18, I’d stopped looking for my boyfriend but he suddenly appeared! I ran over and wrapped my arms around him, longing to tell him how much I wanted to stop. But before I got the words out, he yelled, “Keep going!”[/dropshadowbox]

My next two splits were 10:00 and 10:16 but I didn’t care very much because the sole desire in my heart by this point was finishing this race.

I ran up the Willis Avenue Bridge so slowly that it felt like a walk.  On the downhill in the Bronx, I felt… good!  Coming off the bridge, my split for Mile 20 was 10:48.

Splits (by course): 9:21, 10:00, 10:16, 10:48.

Later Miles, Part I – Miles 20 to 21 (The Bronx)

After curving left onto 135th Street, I grabbed water at the aid station but kept a strong pace. I heard the announcer welcome me to the Bronx and say some additional words of encouragement.

Three quick turns later and the Madison Avenue Bridge was straight ahead.  For the first time in a marathon, I walked.  But, I found it didn’t feel any easier than running, so I shuffled to the other side for an 11:02 split.

Splits (by course): 11:02.

Later Miles, Part II – Miles 21 to 24 (Manhattan – Fifth Avenue)

On the other side of the Madison Avenue Bridge, the course deviated to the left onto Fifth Avenue.  At Mile 22, my watch reported a 10:48 split.  I couldn’t believe I was running so slowly.  After several miles of running by heart rate, I asked myself, “Do you actually feel bad?”  And, when I responded, “No”, I quickened my pace a little.

I felt good rounding Marcus Garvey Park but soon felt the dreaded Fifth Avenue incline during Mile 22.  Suddenly, my boyfriend appeared running beside me, cowbell clanging!  He assured me I could finish the race and after a few steps, left my side.

When I punched the lap button on my watch for Mile 23 next to Central Park, it was a 10:25 split.  I searched for any indication ahead for the right turn into Central Park.

Finally, at East 90th Street, the course bent right and about 200 meters later, I recorded a 10:56 split for Mile 24 in Central Park.

Splits (by course): 10:48, 10:25, 10:56.

Later Miles, Part III – Miles 24 to 26.2 (Central Park)

Glorious Central Park – spectators cramming the road and bright fall colors overhead!  I was over-joyed that I was finally in the park but unsure how my stiff legs would deal with the rolling hills.  Every few steps, I wanted to walk.  But the constant encouragement from the crowds made me feel ashamed each time I stopped.  Descending Cat Hill, I tapped the lap for Mile 25 – an agonizing 11:33!

I told myself I could walk on the uphill to Central Park South.  But, my memory had betrayed me and as I approached, there wasn’t a hill there!  I kept chugging along heartened that the finish line wasn’t much farther away.  Over the next half mile, I felt as though I saw every spectator’s face so I took the time and mouthed, “Thank you” along the way.

Approaching Columbus Circle, I reached the marker for Mile 26 in 10:56.  On the straight-way to the finish, I didn’t try to speed up.  I simply raised my arms in the air.  “I did it.”

Splits (by course): 11:33, 10:56, 2:18 (10:26 pace).

Result

My time was 4:07:46 (9:27 pace) [Log Details]. I was the 18,549th out of 53,518 finishers (top 35%), 5,194th female (top 23%), and 685th in my age group (top 23%).  According to media reports, the number of finishers was actually a record-setting 53,627!  And a 98.9% completion rate.

On the elite side, Geoffrey Kamworor won the men race in 2:08:13 (4:54 pace) and Joyciline Jepkosgei won the women’s race in 2:22:38 (5:27 pace).

Post-Race

That was painful!  I shuffled over to a volunteer for my medal and posed for a picture before wrapping myself in a Mylar blanket.  Once I had the recovery bag, I drank some Gatorade and ate a few pretzels hoping to ward off any dizziness.  My legs were unusually stiff but supportive.

It was a quick subway ride back to my hotel and after a shower, my boyfriend and I went to lunch.

My college friend, who lives in Boston, continued our tradition of having a post-marathon champagne toast.  Only this time, we both had finished a marathon.  We had dinner with our support crews and then called it a night.

My boyfriend and I headed back home to Washington, DC on Monday morning.

Epilogue

As usual, the New York City spectators were enthusiastic and loud. This year, I ran without music and with my name on my shirt, which added to the support I felt.

My time was disappointing but, as predicted, I couldn’t blend training to run 26 miles fast with covering 50 miles slow. Perfect weather conditions also made this divided training cycle feel like a missed opportunity.

But, I still have a non-guaranteed time qualifier for next year’s race from the 2019 Boston Marathon.  And, with my mental demon about “hitting the wall” behind me, I can jump back into ultra-marathon training in a few days.

Next race: 2018 Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Miler on Thursday, November 21st. (My Complete Racing Schedule.)

Abridged Version

My training didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, mostly due to work travel, this summer’s relentless heat, and bad recovery that led to “hitting the wall” during training sessions.

In the first 10 miles of the race, I stuck with my goal of re-qualifying for next year’s race with a sub-3:38 (8:20 pace).  But once my pace fell below that mark, I switched to viewing this as my long run for the week.  I hit a wall around Mile 17 but rallied a mile in Harlem.

My time was 4:07:46 (9:27 pace) – my slowest marathon behind the 2018 Boston Marathon.  Even though my time was disappointing the event was fantastic – perfect running weather and loud, enthusiastic crowds!