Race report: 2005 NYC Marathon

Member

I’m sorry; I can’t bear to refer to it as the “ING New York City Marathon.” When ING was announced as the name sponsor a few years ago I nearly canceled my New York Road Runners membership in protest.

My day began at 4:30 am – a car picked me up for the one-hour drive into Manhattan. Then a bus ride to the staging area on Staten Island. (Nothing like waking up six hours before a race.) Since running is a solitary endeavor for me it’s a nice change to mingle with 37,000 other runners from so many different nations – France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Mexico, Peru, Japan, etc. (I had the same feeling at the race expo last Thursday, but I was on my lunch break from work and couldn’t stay long.)

The time flew by and soon I was lining up. Now here’s my one complaint. Your bib number correlates into your expected time (or pace). I was close to the front of my section (but well behind the prof’l women). Lots of runners simply milled about until the last minute and then just jammed into the front, disregarding their bib number. I was peeved but what can you do? It was a foggy morning but expected to clear up. Temp was in the 50s but was supposed to go to 70 or so.

It took six minutes from the cannon to get to the starting line. (In ’01 it was about four minutes.) The first mile was more of a trot than a run. My eyes must have fallen out of my head when I saw the 1-mile split: 17 min! At that point my planned 9-minute pace went out the window and I raced ahead as fast as the crowd would allow. I was weaving in and out like a drunk driver trying to make up the time. And for a while I was making up some of the time: at the 10K split I was off by 7 min and at the half I was off by 5 min.

The first half of the race was fun. I was high-fiving kids along the side of the road and feeding off the crowds. The mid point of the race is in a fairly barren area with few spectators. Then the 59th St (Queensboro) Bridge. This is where my hamstrings gave out in 2001 but this time I was fine. It’s still a long uphill climb but the descent into Manhattan was great. The crowds on 1st Ave were thick but I deliberately stayed in the middle. The avenue is six or eight lanes wide and I was focused on myself at this point. My legs were starting to feel a bit heavy around mile 18. Here’s where I consumed my first food since two hrs before the start. I took some Gu at the mile-18 station. I’d never had the stuff before but I knew from experience I’d eat bugs at mile 18 if offered them!
I was taking both water and Gatorade throughout the race, usually skipping every other station. Now it was time to hunker down and push. The temp was up to 70 or 71 by now (perfect in my book!) and I was glad I settled on a tank and shorts. I also like to run unencumbered by fanny packs, those belts with bottles all around, etc. I can’t believe some of the crap people carry along on a long (or not so long) race.

After looping thru The Bronx for mile 20 we were back in Manhattan heading south on 5th Ave. This part drags a bit, in part because it’s a long slow up-hill. In 2001 it caught me by surprise; now I knew what to expect. Finally we turned into the park at mile 24 (remember German Silva in ’94 turning too soon and recovering anyway for the win!) now my legs were REALLY telling me to stop. I didn’t listen. I didn’t let myself slow down (consciously) or walk. Those last two miles are purely about making yourself do it no matter what. The swing around the south end of the park takes you out onto Central Park South. Some guy had his kids on the course with him for the last mile (where’s the police?) then swing up north and the uphill finish. Mile 26, … then the finish. I knew enough to raise my arms and NOT look down at my watch. I was so glad I was done. I already knew I blew my sub 4 hr, but I wanted a sub 4:10. My official time is 4:09:56.

I’ve read that you should walk 20 min after the marathon. I had no choice. The line was slow but moving: Finisher’s medal, photograph, bag of snacks (I couldn’t eat at that point), heat blanket, and finally maybe a mile past – the baggage trucks. After getting my stuff I realized I was exhausted. And by myself. And 55 miles from home. It was tempting to just sit on the ground but I was afraid I’d never get up so I walked SO slowly towards the subway. Barely just one foot in front of the other. It was nice how people on the street were congratulating me. I overheard one or two whisper, “Look – he got a medal!” Mr. Green

At the station for the trip back to Long Island I sat for a while and started to feel much better (helped by an ice-cold Coke and an ice cream cone).

My splits:

Finish 4:09:56

10K 1:02:52

Half 2:02:52

20M 3:07:18

In many ways the marathon was easier the second time. I knew what worked and what to expect. On the other hand, now I’m running with a specific time goal in mind, not just to finish. After the race I quickly got over missing my goal. I had a good race and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Next year I’ll focus on some smaller races and the year after I’ll do another marathon. I’m already psyched.

The Pinball

Excelent

Right down to the wire on your goal time. Nice race

Member

Great report! Congrats on a great race. I really enjoyed the read. Mr. Green

PRESIDENT

Goal Attained! thumbs up

Great job, nice report.

Member

Excellent race report!!! Great on hitting your goal time too! NYC Marathon always sounds too difficult to try and PR there, with the crowds-17 minute first mile, wow!

Pyromaniac

Great report Thoogy.

Member

Thirty-seven thousand runners = Shocked

Congrats on hitting your goal time - great race & report! Very Happy

Member

Great report! NYC sounds like a big race...

Hipster Doofus

Well done. Pretty consistent splits, and getting the target time as well. thumbs up

The Movie Geek

Excellent! Not much to do with a 17 minute first mile!

Great job!

POTFH

Nicely written report and great job!!!

Member

Great job! The NYC course is very, very tough.

I had to laugh about your second marathon, the one that comes after the race is over. The year I ran NY, all I remember was spending hours trying to get out of the park, get a cab and get back to my sister's apt. on the upper east side, all slowly barely putting one foot in front of the other.

Member

roughhausen -

The worst part was trying to walk down the steps at the subway entrance. I had to laugh, though, when I looked across at the other side of the stairs and saw another guy - with his heat blanket wraped around him - doing the same pained hobble down the steps. We must have been a funny sight to onlookers.

Member

That's one hellofa race. Nice report too. Congrats on the strong finish.

Race report: 2005 NYC Marathon

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