New York, New York

Here is part three and final chapter to my New York Marathon wrap up:

Part of what I learned from the Hanson method was breaking up the marathon into 6 mile segments. I ran each segment only focusing on those 6 miles. It was a new tactic and it was a game changer.

Miles 1-6

While waiting on the bridge in Staten Island my corral and I were impatiently anticipating when our cannon would go off. I was surrounded by people from all over the world and from all walks of life. I had an Italian woman help me fix my back bib that stated who I was racing for, I talked to a New Yorker about what our goal time was and what I should expect from this course, I jumped up and down a few times, I just wanted to go and was open to any distraction possible. Finally they announced the elite men who were starting on the bridge under us. What followed was a beautiful rendition of the national anthem and then all of a sudden our cannon sounded. 

Was this it? I didn't see anything that said start on it but we were moving. As I went over the first timing mat and started my watch they started playing Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and I knew this was it. Overlooking the city we were about to storm the streets of while hearing Frank Sinatra belt out "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere" was one of the coolest moments of any race I have ever run. 

The first two miles are slightly uphill, followed by a downhill into the first borough of Brooklyn. I felt good, no, I felt great! Everyone around me was speeding up, but I had to remind myself to run my race. I was running 6:52 pace, way above my goal pace but something I know that was in my wheel house. My goal for the first 6 miles was to maintain this pace and then focus on the next 6 when I got there. I managed the first 6 right one pace. 

Miles 7-12

The second 6 mile segment went about the same as the first. There were some rolling hills, but I felt good. I knew I was pacing well above my goal time. I was slightly worried I was going to fast and panicked that I should be backing off the pace when I heard someone shout my name. I later found out it was a former college roommate and not some stranger. She may not know this, but she got me out of my head. 

Miles 12-18

This is when the race started to get tough. My husband and I had made a plan that he would try to hop on the course with me around mile 18. So my goal for this segment was to maintain 6:52 because the faster you run, the sooner you will see your husband. What I did not plan for was how tough the Queensboro bridge would be. It was the hardest part of the race. It is the only section of the course where there are no spectators and no music. You run close to two miles with just the sound of thousands of runners. It was eeire and beautiful at the same time. 

After coming down from the bridge you run into an eruption of noise. The absence of sound from the bridge is gone and replaced with cheers and music. It gave me the push I needed. I danced a little to Uptown Funk, I nodded to the men in bag pipes who were playing right next to a DJ who was blasting Beyonce. I loved it. This is why I don't run with headphones.

Mile 18 came around and no husband in sight. I knew in the back of my head that it was going to be tough based on the crowd size. I made my peace with it and got prepared to tackle the last part of the marathon. 

Miles 19-23

I was really starting to struggle here but I knew how close I was. My focus was to maintain 7:15-:20. I had my Garmin set for finish time and I knew I still had time in the bank. I also knew that I had to keep pushing. 

As I was starting to run into the rolling hills of Central Park and really starting to struggle I heard my husband's Peach call (his nickname for me is Peach). I almost broke down crying right there. I then saw my cousin, father in law, and brother in law. They have no idea how much I needed the encouragement then. I was close to giving up and walking when I saw them. 

Every marathon I have ran, this is the part where I struggle the most. This is the wall. The wall is physical, but it is also mental. This year I tore down the mental wall. I knew how many friends and family believed in me and I did not want to let them down. I wasn't going to let any negative thoughts win. 

Miles 23-26.2

Michael hopped in the race with me and asked me how long did I want him to stay with me. I asked him to stay with me until they pulled him off the course, as long as he could. I then told him I had only eaten two of my Honey Stinger gummies (bad, bad, bad). He got me to eat some more and we walked through the water stops. I fartleked my way into the finish, meaning I sped up for as long as I could hold it and then jogged when it hurt. 

The hills in Central Park were tough. I was so beyond ready to finish, but I was not ready to give up on my goal. With Nana in mind and Michael giving me words of encouragement I focused ahead. When I crossed the finish line, my legs started to seize up immediately. A girl I had been chasing throughout the race went to catch me only to be stopped by my husband. Thankfully he was able to sneak into the finish. I was in disbelief. I still am. I ran 3:14:13, over a 5 minute PR on a tough course. 

I met my goal I had been chasing for a few  years now and it was thanks to my family, my training partners, my friends who support me, and my guardian angel. 

It has been a few weeks and I have taken time to rest. I run when I want to. I don't run when I don't want to. I am ready to get back to the grind soon. After the holidays I will start training for a Spring marathon. The new goal is breaking 3:10 with an overall goal of eventually breaking 3 hours. If you don't set goals, you cannot succeed in achieving them. 

So here is to the grind, to rest, and to recovery. It is all part of the process and I love it. 

I hope everyone takes this week to enjoy time with family and friends. If you are like me you have suckered your whole family into running the local turkey trot before you feast! They love it? This year I am thankful for the support of my family, friends and community. Every person who helped me achieve my goals this year and who believed in me. I have the best support in the world. Happy Turkey Day!