As I looked through my old blog looking for this race recap, I realized that I started my blog in September 2011 so this race recap was emailed only to my friends. Here is what 27 year old me wrote to my friends after the race! I did not change it as it captures my excitement from the race and I hope you can feel it through my words.
Hi Friends!
Time for my 9th annual New York City Marathon race report! Grab a drink, sit down, and relax! Some of you are new to this report, so if you don’t care to read it, you can skip to the pictures! =)
Going into this year’s race, I had run two of my fastest half marathons and a few of my friends were rooting for me to run a fast time in NYC too. I ran fast for 21 miles and then had some quad issues (what else is new?!) going down the dreaded 5th avenue stretch. I still finished with my second fastest marathon time, but it was not without a fight from start to finish!
It was probably the coldest morning out of the nine NYCM’s that I have run. If you want to see 40,000+ people dressed up in trash bags and bad sweaters, the start of the NYCM is the place to be! I had a trash bag on top and one on the bottom for my outer layers, johnny pants and a robe from the hospital, and an old fleece on as well. I am cold just thinking about that morning!!
After starting on the bottom of the Verrazano Bridge for the last few years, I was finally back on top of the bridge this year! I was close enough to the speakers to actually hear announcements and even the national anthem this year! After the blast of the cannons, we took off in the freezing wind!!
Running through Brooklyn is one of my favorite parts of the course because of the crowds and how wide the course is! Most of you know by now that I fell at Mile 3. How did I fall? 2 words. Bobby. Flay. I heard a spectator yell “Go Bobby Flay!” so I turned around to look for him. I quickly turned back around to look forward only to find myself too close to a black running jacket. I ran so hard into the guy in front of me, that I fell backwards onto my left butt cheek and I kicked my right shin in the process. I do not know how I got back up, but I did and started to run again. Some guy said to me “You shouldn’t look back like that. You should always keep looking forward.” I felt like such an idiot. I don’t even like Bobby Flay!! I said “I know” to the guy and ran off as fast as I could, cursing Bobby Flay along the way and trying to figure out when I would be able to fix my hair.
Needless to say, I was really shaken up and could not get comfortable for a few miles until I made a friend at around Mile 8. His name was Russ and he had just run Marine Corps last Sunday. I had my name written on my shirt so spectators were screaming my name along the course. He thought it was funny that I had a fan club. It was nice to have a running partner for a few miles, but he weirded me out when he said “You also have that cute Asian girl thing going. I’d cheer for you too.” Dude, I am just out to run! I ditched him at mile 13 on the bridge.
Crossing over the Queensboro Bridge this year was harder for some odd reason. It felt longer than usual (probably because I ran my slowest mile on there!). I was glad to get into Manhattan to see my mom on 1st Ave! Tiffany, sorry I missed you! Running up 1st Ave was great until I stepped into a pothole at Mile 18 and twisted my ankle. I jumped around a bit and then ran it out, but it sure did hurt after the race.
Mile 19 is when I first started to feel my right quad cramp, but I did not pay any attention to it. I kept running! After cruising through the Bronx, I ran over the final bridge and back into Manhattan! That is when my right quad had enough of running. My quads have a history of hating to run down 5th avenue. What gives?! 2 packets of Biofreeze later and I was able to make it into Central Park! (Biofreeze to the rescue!) Thought about all the good old cross country practices I had there. Got to see my mom at around mile 25 and I ran as hard as I could to the finish.
There’s no better sight than that finish line after 26 miles! I crossed at 3:38:02. My goal was 3:35 as it was last year. What do I need to do to get there?? Add strength training to my program, not care about celebrity sightings, and run a little harder!!
Thanks to everyone’s good luck wishes and support! I’ll be back next year in better shape!! and maybe some butt pads in case I fall again……..=)
And for those curious about my shopping addiction, I did not spend $500 at the expo this year! Merchandise was not too great. I got a jacket (the cheapest one!), two t-shirts, a pint glass, and socks. =)
Attached are some pictures of me and Meb and one of me after the finish! Enjoy!
about to puke on acela from motion sickness,
Betty
PS. Bobby Flay finished in 4:01. He was behind me!!
Here are the photos of me and Meb. Heheheh.
Men’s Champion Gebre Gebrmariam 2:08:14
Women’s Champion Edna Kiplagat 2:28:20
Men’s Wheelchair Champion David Weir 1:37:29
Women’s Wheelchair Champion Tatyana McFadden 2:02:22
Meb Keflezighi (Defending Champion) 5th Place 2:11:38
My Time 3:38:02
Bobby Flay 4:01:37 (According to NYRR Results, Bobby ran three NYCM. 2002, 2006, 2010. He has no race results after the 2010 NYCM. Bobby, are you still running??)
Total Finishers: 45,103 (Men 28,948 Women 16,155)