The more I explored New York on foot, the more interested I became in running the fabled New York City marathon. It has to be the best way there is to see all five boroughs in one day.
One of the challenges to running the NYC Marathon, however, is that many runners from around the world also think it is a great idea. Last January as my spouse, Hap, and I discussed plans for the year, I asked if he would consider running the marathon with me in November.
We decided we should at least try to enter. We knew competition for obtaining a number was fierce and that applications could not be mailed until a specific day late in April. We asked New York City running friends to mail our entry forms at midnight to insure the best chance of being accepted. New York is a big marathon--32,000 people are accepted, and to create an international flavor to the event, founder Fred Lebow reserved 10,000 places for runners from around the world.
I've run more than 20 26.2-mile marathons, but none since the 1996 Boston Marathon, in which more than 30,000 participated. In truth, running the much smaller Twin City Marathon or Grandma's in Duluth are much easier logistically, which is important because logistics are a key factor throughout marathon training.
Running a marathon is different from almost anything else I try to accomplish. I know I need to be serious about my training so I can actually make it to the finish line. I had forgotten how long it takes to run 40 to 50 miles per week and how difficult it is to figure that time into an already busy schedule. I'm amazed that I ran marathons when our kids were young, although Hap correctly reminds me that it took a lot less time to run the same distance then.
One of the challenges of preparing for a marathon is doing one long run of 15 to 20 miles per week for several weeks before marathon day. In the 1980's, when we ran most of our marathons, we had a whole group of friends who gathered on Sunday mornings to "run long" and then eat. While I enjoy solitary short runs, I need company to keep me motivated for the long haul. Hap and I have frequently run together in the past 25 years; when the kids were young it was a great time to get away and have uninterrupted conversations. This time, while training for NYC, our conversations focused on telling each other we weren't crazy when our bodies told us otherwise.
As Marathon Sunday, Nov. 1, drew closer, we became convinced we could complete the distance, but wished we were more prepared. I spent most of the week before the marathon in New York City meeting with Melpomene colleagues and friends. Everyone had watched the event at one time or another and many had run it. One friend spent more than an hour describing the course. She told me where to expect the best bands, the toughest bridges and the biggest crowds. As the day approached, my excitement grew.
The weather on race day was clear and cool. The start was amazing: Runners next to us exchanged advice in French, German and Chinese. You run the first two miles across the Verranzo Narrows Bridge, which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn. In the harbor, fireboats spewed out multicolored smoke, and I thought, "This is a great idea."
But by mile 20 I was not so sure about that. My less than ideal preparation had begun to take a toll. Hap and I began searching for food and water and appreciated the spectators who came supplied with treats for those of us who needed them between official feeding stops. As usual for me in a marathon, the spectators kept me going.
Those who had encouraged us to run New York told us we would never forget the crowds. They were right. Plus, I found the crowds especially supportive of a white-haired woman: While women now make up almost one third of the NYC competitors, less than 4 percent are aged 55 or older. As I struggled through Harlem and into Central Park I was exhausted to the point of tears. Yet the actual tears began to flow not from exhaustion but from exhilaration as I responded to women young and old singling me out to yell, "Go Mama" "Go Grandma." I touched many hands and felt individually connected with many women as I tried to let them know they gave me the courage and desire to keep moving.
As I crossed the finish line one of the thousands of volunteers put a medal over my head and gave me a hug. "I couldn't have done it without you," I said.
For me, the challenge and reward of running a marathon is sharing in the achievement and perhaps encouraging one of those spectators to try it herself next time.
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