Details
- November 7, 2021
- Entry: Charity (in 2020)
- Marathon Number: 3
- Expected Finish Time: Sub 4:00:00
- Actual Finish Time: 4:00:27
Overview
I originally told people that I chose arguably the worst time to get into running, given the onset of the pandemic and the bleak prospects for a return any time soon. I had originally planned to run the 2020 Boston Marathon and then follow that up with the NYC marathon in the fall of 2020. The pandemic had other plans, and both races were cancelled. Prior to the cancellation, I applied to and was fortunately accepted to be part of the March of Dimes charity team. This was a perfect match for me, because our son was born six weeks premature back in 2017 and spent his first 32 days in the NICU before being able to come home to us. Our experience had been very wonderful and supportive, during a very stressful and uncertain time, and I wanted to give back. Through the generosity of amazing family and friends, I raised over $5,000 and secured my spot on the team. After NYRR cancelled the in-person race, they gave each runner the option to defer to 2021, 2022 or 2023. I did not want to wait too long, so opted for 2021.
The delay ended up working out, in particular after getting into the Chicago Marathon, because it allowed me to attempt two races in one training cycle. Going into the races, I was unsure how it would all shake out, and I thought that I’m either a genius or an idiot. After surviving Chicago, I figured for sure I was the latter, and my confidence dropped by about the same amount that my drive increased. I was happy to be able to make quick adjustments from all the mistakes I made four weeks earlier.
Between races, I only ran about 10 miles per week, trying not to rest and hoping that my conditioning didn’t faulter. I had some foot pain during Chicago that worried me, and fortunately it didn’t stick around. I had one final tune up 10-miler the weekend before NYC, and ready or not it was coming in hot.
We decided to stay near Central Park, so the post-race logistics were less hectic, and we were glad we did because it was about as smooth as it could have been. I opted to take the ferry to the start, and there was a train station about 2 blocks from the hotel. We were fortunate to be able to take advantage of the free street parking and had a spot 4 blocks from Columbus Circle. This was great for after the race, especially after realizing my toes had seen better days.
The race itself was incredible. From starting on Verrazzano-Narrows bridge, to going through all of the boroughs. The energy and atmosphere was incredible all the way throughout (except the bridges and South Williamsburg…). After implementing a few of the lessons learned from Chicago, I had a much more enjoyable experience and was able to knock a full hour off of my time. Typically that would feel amazing, but for me it felt more on par with where I actually was with my conditioning. The run wasn’t without challenges, and I had to walk a bit once I hit the gradual uphill at Central Park. My cramping returned in Central Park and I made sure to stop and pay a visit to the medic tent.
Lessons Learned
Fundraising is easier when you have a personal connection
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the struggles they face when fundraising, and I think a lot of that has to do with whether or not people can personally connect with the cause/organization. Both of the times I have raised money for organizations, I had strong connections and could easily speak to the benefits of supporting them. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have a wonderful network of caring family and friends, but I think the most important factor is believing in the cause you are advocating and asking for.
Big races can be a bit overwhelming
I’m not sure if there is a more logistically heavy race than NYC, but there are a ton of options and considerations related to participating. First, you must get to the expo and pick up your bib – in 2021 we were given specific time windows that we were allowed to go. You also need to determine where to stay, how you are getting to the start line and how you are getting home afterwards. I found the best advice about logistics from various blogs people had written about their experience.
Based on where we were staying, I decided to go with the ferry over to Staten Island, which worked out great. The train was very easy and accessible and I was able to get dropped right in front of the ferry terminal. Once in Staten Island, I waited for about 20 minutes for a coach bus to the official start. Since they need to close many of the roads before the race (in particular the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge) all of the runners need to be at Fort Wadsworth before the first runners start. What that means for most of the runners, in particular charity folks, is that you may be there for hours before actually heading to the start line. One of the other people on my fundraising team was there 5 hours before her wave started.
Have a plan for cold weather race mornings
It was a typical chilly morning on race day, with the temperatures starting around 30 degrees. Fortunately, it was sunny and without any notable wind, but still pretty brisk. Once you get to Fort Wadsworth, there is zero covered or indoor space and no heat sources. You are one with the elements until it’s time for you to start running. What that looks like is people laying around everywhere, in an assortment of clothing, blankets, etc. trying to stay comfortable.
There is no place to drop anything that you can get back from the start, so anything you leave behind will be donated to charity. A lot of people wore previous year’s fleece-lined finisher capes, others wore blankets, and I would guess that most people wore old sweats. One bonus is the commemorative Dunkin Donuts fleece hats that they hand out to whoever wants one. I ended up picking up some cheap sweatpants and a sweatshirt that I was happy to donate once I was off to the start line.
It’s great to have an opportunity to implement lessons learned quickly
Coming off the frustrations of Chicago, I was anxious to take another crack at the distance and had learned some small things that ended up making a huge difference. Instead of having to sit on the disappointment for many months, I was able to quickly rebound and keep on moving. The reset was mentally very helpful and having something new to focus on allowed me to move on quickly and set a new (more realistic) goal.
Running 2 marathons a month apart is doable
Training for a marathon is a big commitment in time and effort, so if you are able to bundle them, than you can get two birds with one stone. There are a lot of factors to consider, races are not cheap, and there is a potential for injury that could derail everything. I feel very fortunate that I was able to stay healthy and fit, and was ultimately just looking to finish and not push myself to my physical limit. My effort was also completely dwarfed by Shalane Flanagan, when she did all 6 World Majors in 6 weeks in the fall of 2021.
Do what works for you
Instead of relying on the hydration stops along the way as my only source of water, I decided to carry a bottle using a Duro solo belt case from Osprey. It worked out much better, by allowing me to drink when I wanted and to avoid the majority of the mess that is the water stops. With so many people on the course, some don’t have a sense of spatial awareness and cut right in front of others. Another huge perk was being able to actually get the water into my system, compared to my failed execution in Chicago. All in all, I stopped two times to quickly refill my water at the station and was able to avoid the majority of the craziness. The only downside was the extra weight, but the pack was snug so didn’t bounce.
Run crews are incredible
A friend from college (and overall great guy) started the Pioneers Run Crew in 2017 to create a diverse space for runners to come together in Boston. After following his progress online for a while, I finally recruited some fellow runners/co-workers to join a run in October of 2020. Fast forward a year and I saw firsthand how infectious the energy and support of this crew was to any and all runners. They traveled far and wide to participate in the running and cheering of the larger marathons. NYC was no exception.
Waiting around mile 22 (in Harlem) was a small but mighty squad that cheered me on, shot a confetti canon at me and gave me a much needed boost to get to the finish line. It may not seem like having a small cheer squad would be that impactful, but it really was. Even though the interaction only spanned a matter of seconds, it provided a huge burst of energy. If you aren’t already connected with a crew, consider looking up local groups online.
Post-race refueling can be interesting
After crossing the finish line, I collected my medal, cape and goodie bag and was sent to shuffle away to exit the finisher corral. I was easily able to find my wife and we walked a few blocks to where the car was, all the while munching on whatever was in the goodie bag. We had previously decided to eat at a place next to the hotel and was able to get a seat right away. We ordered and a few minutes later I started to feel nauseous. I had to leave and go to our car to lay down for about 15 minutes before the feeling went away. I’m still not sure what exactly happened, but it was not fun or anticipated. Fortunately it was short-lived, and I was back to the restaurant in no time, albeit with a little less of an appetite.
Not all toenails last forever
In the training leading up to my fall marathons, I had experienced periods of pain and discomfort in my toes. The result of the repeated trauma of landing and pushing off from the ground had separated the nail from the skin and a new nail started to grow underneath (so I was told from my doctor). After realizing this, I had learned that this is somewhat the norm for people who decide to take on marathon training.
While I was running the NYC marathon I did not have any ongoing pain in any toes, but as soon as I took off my shoe, I could tell something was off (literally and figuratively). On the ride home I discovered that one of my toes had taken enough of my abuse and was ready to get out of there. It held on longer than expected, but ultimately bit the dust. The good news is that the story didn’t end there, and another eager nail decided to step up and fill the gap. (I’ll spare you the pictures)
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