2017 would be my third TCS New York City Marathon. The previous two marathons had been a lot of fun despite being affected by cramps late on both times. So for 2017 the goal was simple, run a consistent race at an improved pace. I’m still new to the 26.2 and I love learning each time I run.
Pre-Race & Fort Wadsworth – The Marathon Village
Taking the bus from mid-town NYC I was inside Fort Wadsworth by 5:30am, a little earlier than expected. It was very quiet at that time, only a small number of runners were walking around. TV crews were setting up and volunteers were in position to help if needed. I walked to my wave area, found a place to settle, relax and absorb everything going on inside the village.
Staten Island – The Start
After two years of running with the Blue and Orange waves on the top side of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, this time I joined the Green wave to be taken along the lower side. The start area is a hive of nervous energy and excitement where people make new friends and share stories and their goals for the race ahead. Brief words of thanks and encouragement from NYRR‘s Michael Capiraso and Peter Ciaccia was followed by the national anthem and finished with an impressive flyer-over, which got a big cheer from the runners.
Then the cannon sounded. The race had started. Crossing the start line releases many emotions. The reality sets in about what you’re now embarking on. 6 months of training, many miles, sessions in the studio, etc… this is what it is all been for. It’s an amazing feeling.
Everything says you shouldn’t introduce anything new on race day. The race should be no different to a training run. Use the same drinks for hydration, same fuels, no new clothing or shoes. Why am I saying this? Well shortly after the start my GPS watch was giving me odd readings. 10 min per mile, 14 min per mile, 8 min per mile… this inconsistency continued on for the first 3 miles (and on and off across the entire race). The inclement weather was probably the cause and would likely be the same throughout. So here I was, trying to not to panic, having to change my pacing strategy early in the race! The original plan was for a 7-7:30 pm pace. It was fine though, I decided to run on feel and time check at each mile marker. Problem solved, I hoped.
Brooklyn
At the end of the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, rather than turning left toward 4th Ave the Green wave runners are taken along the I-278 and join the other waves shortly after the 5k mark. It was quite an interesting experience to run along the empty I-278.
Brooklyn is my favourite borough of the race, support is amazing and I love that people line the streets to support their friends, family and all the runners. At 5k I heard continuous shouts of “Go Richard!”. It’s not uncommon and I assumed that perhaps this person was running through his own neighborhood. Richard then strode past me (I knew it was him as he had his name on the back of his shirt) and disappeared off into the distance. I would see him again a couple of times. More on that later.
There’s something about Lafayette Ave that I love. The crowds and support are much closer to you than at any other part of the race. The noise carries you up and down the hill. It’s a narrow section with plenty of high-fives on offer. Around mile 9 I choked up. Thinking of my family emotions got the better of me. It took a few minutes and a swig of nuun to settle back down.
The pace was feeling good and heading toward the 13.1 mark I started to feel confident about a potential finish time. 3:10 was possible, but I was telling myself to be patient and focus. Don’t go too fast, get distracted or become complacent.
Queens & Manhattan 1st Ave
There are only a few things I remember about Queens. For me running through Queens is about working up to the Queensboro Bridge. Starting the ascent is a strange experience as you go from the loud noise of Queens to almost complete silence, bar the breathing and tap tap tap of sneakers on tarmac. The 1.5 miles before entering Manhattan can be quite lonely, even while surrounded by runners. On the bridge is when I first noticed the humidity rising. It was ok, manageable. Far from what I’d experienced a few weeks earlier at a half marathon in NJ.
Going up the rise I saw Richard walking, I last saw him at the 5k mark in Brooklyn. I gave him a cheer as I went past and didn’t think anything more of him until later. That evening I was telling my wife about my race and I mentioned seeing this chap Richard. Running is an amazing feat that brings people of all abilities together. Every runner is amazing to me. As I watched the ABC coverage of the race Richard was picked out and interviewed, I was taken aback by who he was. Richard Whitehead MBE, a hero and Paralympic champion. Check him out, have a look at his accomplishments. Amazing!
Pre-race I’d decided to go steady through to mile 16 and then see what I had left for a push over the final 10 miles. Coming off the bridge I felt great. Turning on to 1st Ave in Manhattan is unreal as you go from the near silence to the noise of the supporters lining the streets. As I went under the Queensboro Bridge there was a big screen showing the finish of the professional women’s race. It was an awe inspiring moment as I watched Shalane Flanagan cross the finish line to win. The crowd and runners around me were going crazy!
1st Ave is not a part of the race I enjoy that much. Partly because it’s hillier than you think and also because of bad memories of this section from 2016. I had a welcome distraction though to help me through, which came in the form of a man dressed in a crustacean outfit. He got a lot of attention and it was quiet impressive and amusing to see his outfit. ABC also interviewed him after the race, Ryan Starbuck was attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon while wearing a crustacean costume. He finished in 3:09 and beat the previous record by 4 minutes. Impressive!
Bronx
Over Willis Ave Bridge and past the mile 20 marker. All I’m thinking is “just 10k to go” and “I’m starting to feel tired, when is my next Honey Stinger energy chew?”.
Manhattan 2 & Central Park
A few turns in the Bronx and I was heading over the “Last Damn Bridge”, back into Manhattan. Legs were feeling heavy, I could feel the cramps building up. I needed a boost. And I got it. Heading off the bridge David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’ was playing loud. A great piece of music was just what I needed. Now I was looking forward to feeling the energy in Harlem, the people there are among the best on the entire route.
Miles 21 and 22 went by but cramps were now a concern. My left calf screamed enough at mile 22.5. A quick stop and stretch and the 5th Ave “hill” was in front of me. This was tough. Another cramp hit me and as I stopped a kind lady offered me a packet of salt. NYC Marathon supporters are amazing!
5k to go now. Almost there. 3:10 still possible. In to Central Park, past mile 24 and I have to stop and stretch out my legs. As soon as I get going I cramp up again. Stop and stretch. This goes on for the next mile. 3:10 is gone. That’s fine, 3:15 is still possible (which is also the Chicago Marathon qualifying standard).
Exiting Central Park is such a big release as the finish is so close. That half mile on Central Park South was agony. Multiple cramps along the way. Just before re-entering Central Park my right calf locked solid. I had a small panic as I couldn’t stretch it out. I couldn’t walk either. It did finally go away and I was able get going again. 3:15 was now pretty much gone. That’s fine also as I’m still close to finishing a NYC Marathon.
A couple more cramps needed stretching in the final Central Park section. One hit me less than 50 yards from the finish, in front of the grandstands. Limping across the line was not an option so I stopped and stretched. The people in the grandstands were shouting my wife’s name (which was on my singlet) and encouraging me to keep going.
Finish
The final 5k was challenging but the finish felt awesome! Receiving the medal felt great. Walking to collect my poncho didn’t!
I was proud of the race, the effort and finishing time. I may not have got through the race as smooth as I’d planned, however I did learn a great deal about the race and feel about what is possible next time.
Thanks to NYRR for putting on such an amazing event. Thanks also to the NYPD for keeping us safe, the volunteers who work to help the runners by making the event run smoothly and also all the supporters for helping to motivate through each borough. A extra special thanks go out to my coach Sam Tooley of Alpha Performance, not only for the training program but also for your support, guidance and motivation.
Final thanks go to my family, who were with me each step of this journey.
Official Result
Time – 3:17.02
Placed – 2,622 overall (56,643 finishers) and 509 in age group (4,699 finishers)
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