NYC marathon recap Wow this was no rookies marathon. From bridges, to hills to hurricane force winds. This was not what I planned for. I trained in flat, hot, humid weather. I trained and planned this race out for more than a year. I had support in NYC and back home. I had friends around the country tracking, texting and calling me for encouragement. The Facebook shout outs from the Suncoast Striders were fantastic. I found fellow Strider Denise at mile 4 and was still feeling ok. The winds were high but the atmosphere was electric. Then we had to stop for a potty break and it took nearly 10 minutes time. By mile 7 after the long line for a potty break and me starting to crack mentally with 19 more miles to go I knew the chances of my 5:30 marathon were over. The rolling course, the terrain of the roads and over 25 mile an hr headwinds, I was depleted and discouraged. Brooklyn was brutal. However I was not about to give up. I was there to become a marathoner. With that mentality I decided there were no more expectations and no more pressure. I stopped and had a coffee on the course, took lots of photos, ate candy corn and even had a little booty shake in the Bronx. I took in NYC and all it had to offer. I was shocked and humbled to have spectators still cheering me on when the sun went down and the cold set in again. I checked all my messages from The Striders my Facebook was so full of encouragement. I have no words to express how much that touched me. My shins were on fire by the time I made it into Central Park. I thought the bridges were tough they had nothing on the last 2 miles. I walked the inclines and jogged the declines through Central Park and when I crossed the 26 mile marker I knew I was home. When I saw the 400 meter marker I thought of Marcia McCormick and our 1/4 mile dash during one of my training runs and I went for it. It was so painful! Physically I dont know how my legs didnt collapse, my knee buckled , I stumbled, I had tears threatening to fall freely down my cold wind battered cheeks. But I ran screw the pain, the bridges and the last 26 miles, there was no way I was walking it into one of the most famous finish lines in the world. I thought I would cry when they hung that medal around my neck, but I didnt instead I felt pride. I did it. NYC kicked my ass and I kicked back as hard as I could. I gave my best effort, the conditions for me were brutal. I certainly didnt set any records and my name was not in the NYC Times on Monday. I do however see some fellow Striders names in print. I have the paper for you KarenandDavid Griner Personally I accomplished what I set out to do. I am a marathoner! From the bottom of my heart thank you all. A special thank you to my training buddies Heather Christopher and C.p. Persaud aka Diego. Without those long runs full of inappropriate conversations at 5 am and language that would make a sailor blush I wouldnt have made it.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:35:49 +0000
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