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Leo, Linda and Esther, proudly wearing their Marathon Bling at JP's after the 2008 Marathon
Last week I received the official email from New York Road Runners to apply for the 2010 New York City Marathon. The email made it official, but I knew I was guaranteed entry by meeting the requirements for the 9 +1 program to guarantee entry. The requirements are to complete nine NYRR –scored qualifying races, the distances can vary from a 5K race to an 18 mile race. Complete one NYRR volunteer event. Be a member of NYRR as of January 31, of 2009.
When I started running in 2008, I knew I was not eligible to run the 2008 NYC Marathon. I joined NYRR and ran my nine qualifying races and did the volunteer event for 2009. I ran with Esther for parts of the 2008 marathon. It wasn’t until the end of the year when I read the requirements for guaranteed entry that I realized I was not guaranteed entry for the 2009 NYC marathon since I joined NYRR on March 31, 2008. So I put my name in to the lottery but I knew the odds were long
New York is one of the five World Marathon Majors along with Berlin, Boston, Chicago and London. While the Boston Marathon with its history, tradition and rigid qualifying standards has been compared to Wimbledon, New York is like the Super Bowl. People from all over the world apply for entry via the lottery and there are others who are guaranteed entry by raising money for a charity such Team in Training or Ronald McDonald House, so I knew the odds would be long.
When I received the email that I did not get in via the lottery, I signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon, and we trained for the fall Marathon — New York for Leo, Linda , and Esther, Philly for me. I was Esther’s caddy, some use the term Sherpa, I use caddy, for New York and Esther did the same for me in Philly. As a good caddy, I waited for Linda, Leo and Esther between the 8th and 9th miles in Brooklyn and cheered for them. I took the t-shirt Linda wore as a top layer and the t-shirt and sweats Esther wore until they warmed up later in the course. I then headed to Queens where I met Esther again and ran the last 11 miles with her.
While I enjoyed supporting my teammates and friends as a runner I wanted to be on the course running this race. The New York City Marathon is a tremendous experience. From its start in the huge tent city in Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island to start of the race crossing the Verrazano Bridge, (I’m a New Yorker we call it the Verrazano Bridge not the Verrazano Narrows Bridge) with bridge rocking in place as 40,000 runners cross it, to Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn with the loudly cheering spectators lining both sides of the street high-fiving runners from all over the world as they pass.
I caught up with Esther in Long Island City in Queens just past the 14-mile marker, where I waited for her with her mother and sister, and we headed for the 59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge. The silence crossing this steep bridge is quite a contrast after hearing cheering New Yorkers for the previous 15 miles. As we made our way down the bridge’s steep decline, the silence was slowly broken, first softly then rising to a roar as we entered Manhattan and turned onto First Avenue. The fan support you get for the three and a half miles up First Avenue is so good you almost forget you are running up hill. There are people on both sides of the street cheering and hanging flags and banners from the balconies of their apartments.
From First Avenue, it’s over the Willis Avenue Bridge and into the Bronx. The Bronx is only a little more of a mile of the 26.2 — but you would never know it from the fan support. There is a deejay cranking music and fans there helping runners through the wall, at the 20-mile mark. It was great seeing both Linda and Leo’s mothers and their daughter Cristina. We also saw John, a friend of Leo’s and a fellow runner, playing with his band proudly wearing a Mets’ t-shirt in the middle of the Bronx.
From the Bronx, it’s back to Manhattan. As we crossed the Madison Avenue Bride we were greeted by the 21-mile marker—21 miles for Esther — 6 for me. As we headed to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem we are greeted by a mix of older people still in their Sunday best from the morning’s church services and more casually dressed spectators. There was another Dee-jay and plenty of high-fives, which at this point in the race is greatly appreciated.
From Marcus Garvey Park, it’s about two miles down Fifth Avenue and the rolling hills of Museum Mile. At this point, some runners, achy and sore are now walking as they head to Central Park. Twenty-four miles of running takes a toll, but with the finish in site they push on past the 25 mile marker and out of the park on the Central Park South. They head towards Columbus Circle and back into the park, where they head towards the finish at Tavern on the Green, I’m not sure what it will be called this year. This is where I sent Esther off to the finish line to complete her third New York City marathon.
I meet Linda, Leo and Esther on Central Park West and 72nd Street across from the Dakota shortly afterwards. They are walking slowly with their achy post-marathon gait with their medals, their marathon bling, around their necks. After congratulatory hugs, we head back to the Bronx to Linda and Leo’s for a shower and then off to JP’s on City Island for our post marathon celebration.
The celebration is our post-marathon custom we put on our race t-shirts and bling and it’s out to dinner, I have only done this once as a runner. In New York we go to JP’s, where we have an excellent seafood dinner and compare notes on the day’s race. I have been part of the New York celebration twice — both times as a spectator. This year I look forward to sit at the table wearing my new t-shirt and medal and sharing a cold Corona with Leo and enjoying dinner with good friends to celebrate the fruits of our labor.
Let me know what you think. You can leave a comment if you want with a question or suggestion.
Brilliant post. Keep up the very incredible work.