One of New York’s Better Kept Secrets / A PR in my Hometown

The Finish, Eisenhower Park, Long Island

Marathon #7 came and went without too much excitement. By now I have a good handle on the marathon routine that works for me, while leaving room for improvement after each race. Plenty of adjustments made during training, and some lessons learned for future marathons. Another marathon personal record, yet still fell just short of the Boston Qualifier. So we have another paradox of success accompanying failure, yet these aren’t the most significant takeaways from the RxR Long Island Marathon.

Two weeks later, the race energy went from flat to super charged as I took on the New York Road Runner’s Brooklyn Half. I unexpectedly achieved a half marathon personal record, as my legs were not fully recovered from Long Island. At 1:27:14, I wonder if there is ever a course that could be designed so flat. It’s been two years since I run this course, beating it by more than 7 minutes. However, this was more like a bonus rather than the result from the changes I’ve made since the TCS New York City Marathon.  The real consequence from running throughout the winter is learning from the actual adjustments made to my training habits, the new people I’ve met, and the new avenues opened for continued improvement.

Marathon Training Adjustments

With every marathon, I make adjustments to my training. Whether it is which gels or salts to train with, what support gear to wear, and what workouts to do; I apply lessons learned from the previous marathon. This time around, I paid particular attention to my hamstring issues and knew that I needed to place more emphasis on recovery. During the Fall season, physical therapy sessions and massage visits made it possible for me to run marathon #5 (Lehigh Via) and marathon #6 (TCS NYC) within 2 months of each other despite my injured left hamstring. So when it came time train for the RxR Long Island Marathon, I bought a membership to get regular massages at Slope Wellness. “Make it to the starting line healthy” is a common catchphrase in the marathon world, and these adjustments gave me more confidence that I would do just that.

Another adjustment to my regimen is reducing the time I actually spend running. I went from 100 miles in the week at peak before my 4-week taper to about 75 miles. This isn’t by accident, though. Workouts with the Central Park Track Club (CPTC) were limited to Tuesday night track and Thursday night tempo runs. The rest of the mileage I would make up on my own. The coaches at CPTC also emphasized soft surface running, as I get closer to my races. So I found myself shifting from doing long runs on the city streets, to hitting the trails in Prospect and Central Park.

The Races

I’ve heard several runners in the New York City area complain about how boring the Long Island Marathon. I don’t argue that if you are comparing to most other marathons. Even the last mile to the finish is a narrow path in Eisenhower Park that wouldn’t accommodate many runners finishing at the same time, as in bigger marathons. It’s a small race. The smallest marathon I’ve ever run with only about 633 marathon finishers (smaller than Lehigh Via).

The boredom of this race isn’t the size. Lehigh Via proved that you can still have a relatively small energetic race if the route isn’t boring and the fans at the cheer areas really make noise. This race had both full marathoners, half marathoners, and 10K runners, starting at the same time. So when the 10K runners and the half marathoners broke off to their finish, it became a lonely road for the marathoners. At mile 10, I found myself running down the Wantagh Parkway with about ¾ to ½ a mile spacing between the runner ahead of me and the runner behind me.

Ran with West Side Runner, Omar Villegas, in Long Island.
We met and chatted at the Brooklyn Half.

The runner behind me caught me at the halfway point, which began a series of us passing each other back and forth up to about mile 21. He pretty much stayed ahead of me during that time except for when we took water breaks, where he would stop and let me pass him. He’d come back without saying a word and I continued to stay focused on running my own race. After the turn around on the Wantagh Parkway, as we were headed north, I noticed he started running zig-zags along the route. At that point, I thought about how inefficient his running seemed and thought for sure he would burn out and I’d eventually pass him for good.

Was this race really that boring that marathoners are running zig-zags just to keep themselves entertained? I later met him through social media, and again in person at the Brooklyn Half, where he explained that the zig-zags were to prevent muscle cramping. At mile 21 he came to a complete stop at the medical tent and enjoyed some rest and water. I kept going, left to navigate the rest of the route almost completely by myself, with very little spectators along the route, and very little direction from course marshals.

My pup, Boston, and I picking up
my race packet at Nassau Coliseum.

It was at that point where I started to fade and realized that my hopes at obtaining a BQ was a long shot. The heat started to become a factor with the temperature reaching over 70° F.  I pushed along feeling like I would have a little energy for a strong finish, but at mile 24, the same heat induced dizziness I experienced in Miami started. I knew at that point BQ was totally out the window and I just had to finish. It was there the zig-zag runner (I later learned his name was Omar and he ran with the Westside Runners Club) caught me and never looked back. I began to adjust my speed so that I could catch him or finish closely behind him. It wasn’t a full sprint but I definitely exerted all the energy that I could find from within to keep up with him. However, my hamstring told me I overdid it, forcing me to come to a complete stop. I yelled in pain as my hamstring cramped up (this time mile 25 and a half) in yet another marathon. After shaking my leg out for about a minute to let the blood flow, I caught the two runners that passed me to finish strong. I was happy with the finish, because it was a PR at 3:18:12. Yes, Long Island is designed to be a faster course compared to most marathons. And yes, the smaller race means less crowds and more room for efficiently running the course from the start. But a PR is a PR, and it is still a tough marathon; one that requires self-discipline and controlled pacing. There are no crowds to provide that extra energy boost and lift your spirits. You run miles 10 through 24 with practically no other runners in sight. And of course the heat! Several faster runners, cramped up and was unable to finish this race. So I am certainly proud of this one, as it set off my summer of intense training, like no other year as I continue my quest for Boston, gearing up for my next two marathons.

A PR in my Hometown 

With the exception of immediately after the Lehigh Via Marathon, I normally take at least two weeks off from running so my body can recover following a marathon. But I had the Brooklyn Half in that two weeks so I need to keep the blood circulating with a series of recovery runs that included a 12 mile long, soft surface run the week before. Recovery doesn’t necessarily mean no running at all. Rather, slower runs while your body heals itself after an intense endurance workout like what I went through at the Long Island Marathon. A massage a couple of days before the half and totally avoid Central Park Track Club intense speed workouts had me ready for the Brooklyn Half.

No matter what happened, my intention was to just have fun with this race as it was a celebration of all the hard work I put in over the winter. A three-day pre-party before the half, seeing so many runners participating and enjoying the atmosphere, it didn’t matter what my race time would be. I was there to enjoy and let the chips fall where they may.

Boston and I posing at the Pre-Party
 at the Brooklyn Piers

I went from running a boring but intense marathon, to an energy filled crowded half marathon in my hometown. The crowds lined up to cheer all along the course. The energy was almost as intense as the TCS New York City Marathon back in November. The cheers did help me run strong and it didn’t hurt that this was probably one of the fastest half marathon courses that could ever be designed. Only a small hill in Prospect Park, which I was used to running over 1000 times during my training runs, was the only real obstacle. The straightaway on Ocean Parkway stretched from mile 8 to about mile 12 that allowed runners to really pick up speed if they had it in them.

Just as I passed the 11 mile mark, I caught up to one of my old run leaders and a sub-3 hour marathoner, Josh Fox. Talk about an in-race confidence boost, as I caught him I said, “I know you aren’t going to let me beat you!”

Posing with sub-3 marathoner and former
run leader, Josh Fox, at the Brooklyn Half finish

He replied, “Today you just might.” He was clearly having a bad day. As run leader, he was accustomed to leading an 18 to 20 mile long run every Sunday that probably took a toll on him that race day. We exchanged some words about the Long Island Marathon as I let the blood flow evenly through my legs at this brief, slower pace we were both running. I took in some Gatorade and splashed my body with water at the final water stop. I can hear him saying to me, “David, you’re making me tired!” as he slowed down to pose for his paparazzi along the route. I had to finish strong.

That brief slow down helped me avoid yet another hamstring cramp as my legs were starting to feel the familiar burn, before my catching up to Josh. I don’t remember ever running that fast on a straightaway except for maybe track workouts. I saw the 800-meter mark and I adjusted to a 6-minute/mile sprint. This continued onto the ramp for the boardwalk with the finish line in sight. Josh had managed to catch me and we ended up finishing almost simultaneously. He gave me encouraging words and congratulated me on my performance. I was just so filled with joy as I crossed that line because I broke new ground with this half marathon PR at 1:27:14.

The Real Takeaway

The Boston pursuit continues and with each race, I can see progress and improvement. And as I get closer to achieving this eventual goal, I path I’m taking really is an enjoyable one. After a grueling marathon in Long Island, Brooklyn just felt like one big celebration that included a half marathon PR as a bonus. With 26,482 finishers (the largest half marathon in the country this year), it was a stark contrast to the lesser-known RxR Long Island Marathon. In my opinion, the Long Island Marathon s one of New York’s better-kept secrets. If you want a low key marathon, that will test your self-discipline and inner focus, while running a course with minimal elevation changes, then the RxR Long Island Marathon is definitely for you.

The real takeaway from both these races was the interaction with other runners and volunteers. The new friends made and positive energy felt at both Long Island and Brooklyn. The old friends that I saw that continued to give me positive words. These make my running pursuits worthwhile.

I sometimes contemplate on why I continue with the runner’s life style. My thoughts always bring me back to my early Team In Training days. It just so happens that the Long Island marathon is exactly 5 years after my first marathon in New Jersey. And when I think back to those New Jersey running days, I think about all the people I’ve met along the way. The positive words, the encouragement, the great examples from these inspiring people are what keep me hooked. My fellow runners are what keep me going. The timing of these interactions is almost flawless as I receive something motivating from someone, at whatever level they are at, whether they are having a good or bad day, right when I need it.

Rock ‘n’ Roll D.C.: A Run Through Our Nation’s Capital.

My new Boston Terrier puppy named Boston accompanying me.

Time is not something that's been on my side lately so I write this race report into my phone during my morning commutes. A lot has happened since the life changing TCS New York City Marathon experience. I guess the best way for me to break this blog entry down is:

1. Address the months leading up to the Rock n Roll DC Half,

2.  Talk about the energy filled race experience,

3. Give perspective on future races and what adjustments I will make moving forward.

The Months Leading Up to the Half Marathon:

I described in detail how the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon was life changing. It was an experience second to none and made all the years of build-up and training worth it. But like all great experiences, the downtime and withdrawal from the energy filled runners high can be quite depressing. It's one thing for total strangers to be along the side of the race route yelling the name imprinted on your shirt. But it's even more joyous when people who know you well fully support your journey. Unfortunately it's also a time when there is disappointment as those who you thought would show support, don't prioritize their time for your unique occasion.

To be fair, marathon running isn't for everybody, and less than 1% of population will ever even finish a marathon. So I understand that there are many not interested in the sport. But just like when you throw your full support to friend or family member that enters in a new career, becomes a new parent, or even commit to someone in marriage, marathon runners to some extent rely on the energy from friends keeping them motivated to achieve their running goals. Once that negative energy is exposed, it's followed by the difficult decision to either continue your running aspirations, or lose focus and deal with the negativity. Some wounds may be as simple as placing a bandage over it while the scar remains. Others may require surgical removal without a trace left behind. When possible, I choose the latter.

Start line at the Rock 'n' Roll DC Half on Constitution Ave and 14 St

So after a few fun half marathons, and some shorter races, I made it to the starting line on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. feeling fresh and renewed. My legs weren't exactly in top shape as I've been deep into marathon training. The rest of my body felt fatigued after the drive from New York City. Add to the fact that my new pup accompanied along the trip and it was his first experience on the highway. It wasn't exactly the smoothest ride. But all that went away when I reached the starting line.

The Race Itself

As the start horn went off, I, and about 20,000 runners, began our journey through the historic beauty of our nation's capital. I started the run as if I was running at marathon pace (about 8 minutes per mile (min/mile)) to get the blood flowing. This is why it is so important to warm up before a race of because that early blood circulation can make for a better start time, valuable seconds that make for an overall faster race in the end.

As I proceeded through the 2nd mile, I felt my legs coming to me and I started maintaining a comfortable 6:45 min/mile pace. It didn't feel like much and I started getting aspirations for a personal record (PR). Although it was raining, the sites made for a beautiful run, running the first mile past the White House, and then taking in the Lincoln Memorial. We went back and forth across the Arlington Memorial Bridge. As I was making my first cross, I noticed some of the faster runners making their second crossing on the opposite side of the bridge. It was then I started to focus on finishing a strong race.

Just past Montrose Park at about Mile 5 and a Half, that focus was rocked. A steep hill with what looked like a 15:1 slope made me lose more than a minute and a half on my pace. That hill was a struggle as I felt like stopping and walking to get past it. But I pushed my way through and continued up Rock Creek until I hit the bridge on Calvert Street. The course flattened at that point and my legs felt like jello. Any ambition for getting a PR was forgotten and I remembered that this was only my tune-up race for the Long Island Marathon in May.

 

Washington Monument from a distance

My mind just thought about the fun in running again. The hard part was over. It would be pure cruelty if the race organizers planned another hill as steep as Rock Creek's. The race start was at a lower elevation so I was pretty sure there wouldn’t be any more hills. I knew I had to pass the National Mall to get back to the finish line at RFK Stadium. So I just took it all in. The bands on the side of the course still playing music despite the rain. And the smaller crowds putting more effort into their cheers to make sure the runners stayed motivated. It was just one lovely, scenic race that was worth a blog post, plain and simple. High-energy feel, thanks to the bands and few spectators. The rain made it felt like a hardcore race, like only the strong would survive.

RFK Stadium and Beyond

Approaching the finish. 

I started to get my legs back at mile 9, near Howard University, and resumed my comfortable 6:45 min/mile pace. It felt good that I could maintain that pace that late in the race. I enjoyed the downhill as I ran on North Capitol Street Northwest. I made the turn towards Union Station through the tunnel, and at that point I felt the urge to finish strong. I broke away from the pack I was running in along a scenic straightaway on H Street. I stayed true to good form staying within the electric car tracks on the road, targeting the runners that were far ahead of me.

Norbert meets me after I finish.

By mile 12 I caught up and could see the noticeable fatigue in the pack of 6 r 7 runners I had caught. The one girl in the group saw that I gained on her and she decided to pick up in a sprint to keep up with me. We kept up our pace running side by side on Constitution Ave and then C Street, when she finally slowed down just before we hit the finish. At that point I said to her, “Good job.” And picked up my sprint for the finish.

My performance overall was a fairly even pace with a slight hiccup at the hill and a sprint in the end. It wasn’t a PR, and I had mixed feelings before and throughout the race about whether I wanted to go 100%.  part of me wanted to take it easy and have fun, as my eye on the real prize would be in Long Island. Whatever the case, this Rock n Roll DC Half marathon turned out to be the ideal tune-up race. It felt like a tempo run most of the way with my overall pace faster towards the end of the race, than in the beginning. My new coaches at the Central Park Track Club have been drilling into my head that the key to tempo runs is to start off slower and finish faster. They believe this is the only way to increase the much needed glycogen storage in my legs during a marathon.

Post race celebration: Christine and I with our Boston Terriers - Zeus and Boston.

So this was a great and memorable race indeed. It was my first race with my new pup by my side and all his love and inspiration. The route was scenic with all the patriotic high-energy feel throughout our nation’s capital. And of course, having long time friends greet you at the finish line and spending time with you post-race to make the trip down to DC that much more amazing.

Thank you Norbert, Christine, Zeus, Eileen, Ally, and Brandon for being part of that experience.

 

Eileen, Ally, and Brandon posing with Boston in Annapolis.

If the other Rock n Roll marathon series races are anything like the half marathon they organized in DC, then I highly recommend being a frequent participant in their races. But I’ll know for sure on their consistency after running both their Virginia Beach and Brooklyn half marathons later this year. I’ll report back in the Fall.

Link to my race splits: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/721202470

The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon: A Dream Fulfilled.

Official Marathon PR - 3:19:21

Wow! What can I say? The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon was emotionally overwhelming. Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I had to let this one marinate a little bit before I can actually write anything down. I had to make sense of what happened. Saying it was amazing would be an understatement. But it didn’t start out that way. There were some early signs that things weren’t going to be so great. Regardless of what happened, I had made the decision to enjoy this. I dreamed about this for 11 years and worked hard for the past 6 years, to make it to this starting line. I was going to take it all in stride.

The Saturday before the race: I returned to Brooklyn from Paramus, New Jersey, after getting my teeth cleaned, the original plan was to drop my bag with a change of clothes for marathon day at the Jack Rabbit Store in Park Slope. During the marathon registration process, I had chosen the “No Baggage” option because I didn’t want to be bothered with bag retrieval after the marathon. There was also an incentive to choose this option where runners would get a free heat poncho once we completed the race. I figured I could get a free poncho and still drop my bags off at the Jack Rabbit store (best of both worlds). The bag drop off was closed as they had already taken the bags to their Upper West Side store on West 72^nd Street. I had just missed it be about 15 minutes. This actually made things difficult because it made me reconsider any plans I had with friends post-marathon.

Whatever! Take it all in stride. Disappointing? Yes. But don’t let it steal your joy. So I went for my final massage to relieve the lingering tightness in my Lehigh left hamstring injury. Then did my final carb load, taped up and went to bed. This time I applied KT Tape on both my hamstrings (as well as my routine knees and calves) in case the hamstring injury came back, I would at least have some muscle support and help in reducing any resulting pain. I prepared 4 salt tablets in a small zip lock sealed plastic bag stored in my SPIBelt. Last but not least, I decided to experiment with the athletic tape given to runners by Airbnb at the expo. The last couple of marathons I noticed I had tightness in my shoulders at the end of the run. I have been accused by fellow runners of crunching up my shoulders towards the end of my runs. It’s considered bad form and from time to time I always try to relax the shoulders and shake it out to encourage blood flow. Also, I am known to run with a knapsack during training so that could be the reason why I naturally tend to crunch my shoulders. I figured I would try the Airbnb athletic tape would provide any support for any pain that might occur in my shoulders during the marathon.

Race morning: I woke up to a text message from a friend in Connecticut hoping that I “break a leg”. Of course, in the acting world that would be a great thing, but in marathon world, that isn’t exactly the thing a runner wants to think about pre-race. But I knew what she meant and I thanked her for the well wishes. It’s nice that someone was thinking of me at 4:30 AM right before the biggest marathon of my life. Especially when they aren't running one. 

I continued to browse through my phone looking for any updates by the New York Road Runners as they usually do on race mornings. A buddy of mine on social media and my North Brooklyn Runner’s club posted a picture of him and his clothes that he would throw away once the race started. At that point I started thinking about my GoreTex windbreaker jacket I bought at the Road Runner Sports store back when in my Team In Training days. I knew it would be a cold morning and I chose that jacket to wear to keep me warm in the Start Village. I had come to terms with donating that jacket after 6 years of running with it during cold winters, which included cold mornings on the George Washington Bridge in the middle of January and running on the Brooklyn Bridge during Superstorm Sandy. Ironically, on my way to the Staten Island Ferry, I ran into him. After hearing me recount all the great running memories I had with the jacket, he offered to keep the jacket with his baggage for me so that I wouldn’t have to part with it. Yes it was old and faded, but it was clear that I had a sentimental attachment to it.

Staten Island Start Village: Arriving on Staten Island via the ferry, the shuttle bus to the corrals, and hanging out with some of my NBR teammates allowed for the three hours before the start to go swiftly. I spent about an hour in the Green Wave E Corral, performing my pre-marathon rituals of emptying out, stretching, and taking some gels so that I can be loose and ready for the start. The gun went off and I crossed the start at about 9:45 A.M. with just my running shorts, singlet, arm warmers, gloves and headband.  Other runners kept their jackets and Dunkin Donuts beanies on for the first mile as we took on the nasty cross-wind gusts on the Verrazano Bridge. For years I have heard rumors about the “Rain of Death” for those running the lower level of the bridge. However, announcers before the race emphasized in multiple languages that anybody peeing on the bridge would be disqualified. And I didn’t notice any moisture flying my way as I ran considerable slower that first mile. 

Brooklyn: Upon leaving the bridge and seeing people giving high fives to the cops keeping guard, that was when I felt like the race had started. The wind was still blowing, but it wasn't as bad as on the Verrazano. I had decided after that rough start that no matter what happened, I was going to ENJOY this one. Since I was in the Green wave, I got to run down Fort Hamilton Parkway to about 78^th Street and crossed the 5K mark at about 23 minutes into the race. This was a slow start and I didn’t care. As soon as I turned that corner up 4^th Avenue, that was when the energy from the sea of people hit me. It was incredible. So many little kids sticking their hands out to get high fives from the runners, I rounded the corner and just started slapping five. And if I didn’t get every kid, his or her faces were disappointed. I must have given and received love from at least 30 kids in the first 300 meters along 4^th Avenue. With my name on my shirt I just heard “DAVID” and “NBR” in thick Brooklyn accents while the rest of cheers sounded like white noise.

I had to move to the middle of the road so that at least attempt to run my race. With so much energy and adrenaline, I easily made up for my slow start by running the next 4 miles down 4^th Avenue oscillating between 6:30 and 7:30 min/mile pace. I would at times catch myself going too fast and it was a good thing for friends spotted along the route to slow me down as I ran through Park Slope. 

Dedicated the run to my friends I traveled to
Geneva with earlier in the year.

As I passed the Barclay Center, I began thinking about maintaining my marathon stride and holding form for the rest of the race. Runners from Switzerland and spectators in the crowd with Swiss flags yelled my name, pointed at me, and one even patted me on the shoulder telling me he was from Geneva. I had written a thank you sign on the back of my singlet to NYU’s Center for Global Affairs for letting me tour the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland with them earlier in the year. From Fort Green to Williamsburg, the Swiss runners and spectators were going strong. Then I hit the North Brooklyn Runners water table at mile 12. Gatorade, cheers, and love fueled me as I regained form to run this familiar stretch of the route.

SPIBelt with MetroCard attached.

It wasn’t until I hit the Pulaski Bridge that my SPIBelt started annoying me. The MetroCard holder hanging off my belt kept dangling as I kept using my hands to place it in my shorts pocket hoping it would stay there. I would play with this thing until the Queensboro Bridge, when I realized I had to hike my shorts up allowing it to stay stable in my pocket. Another annoying problem was my arm warmers. I wore different arm warmers where one didn’t have the same elasticity as the ends as the other. So I kept fiddling with the sleeve, rerolling them up my arm as I kept my legs moving. Proper runner’s form was out the window.

Queensboro Bridge and First Avenue: The crowds dissipated once I entered the bridge. I had mentally prepared myself for this part of the race for a long time. Luckily, the many distractions I had leading up to that point prevented me from running too fast early in the race which allowed me to run up and down the steep elevation changes with consistent flow. I saw an NBR teammate yell, complaining the race was over for them. This portion of the race was brutal - Runners and the bridge - No cheers from any crowds - Just runners either maintaining or slowing down in pain. It was the first separator.

Now all along the marathon route when I spotted a North Brooklyn Runner I would give them a fist bump. In the vast sea of runners and spectators, seeing that North Brooklyn Runners logo does remind you of training. It forces me to regain form, which I did as I exited the Queensboro Bridge.  However, at that point the first signs of fatigue started settling in and I knew I had to make adjustments. I decided to take my first salt tablet as I ran through the cheering crowds on 1st Avenue. At almost mile 17 I unzipped my SPIBelt to reach for the tablets I had stored. For about half a mile I had a hard time opening the reseal-able bag as I kept my legs moving. I finally managed to puncture the bottom of the bag and two tablets went flying out. At that point, I caught a hamstring strain as I approached the water station. I immediately went to the side to slow down but I didn’t stop. I stayed calm, took the dosage, and headed to the water station for Gatorade. 

The pain forced me to slow down as I still had one tablet left, so I remained calm. I slowly regained form with one tablet in my SPIBelt. Although it was cold, at that point in the race, I started throwing water on my body at water stations, not worried about the last tablet melting away as it did in previous races. I was determined to stay calm and focused, through all the energy with people in the crowd yelling my name. At that point in the race, people would make eye contact and I would move forward behind my sunglasses. Little kids would stick their hand out on the Upper East Side and East Harlem, and I would decline the high five. I just wanted to finish.

The Boogie Down Bronx: Mentally I was ready for the Willis Ave. Bridge. I was careful not to put to much pressure on my left leg as I approached the bridge. The electrolytes from the salt tablet were working and the KT Tape on my hamstring provided the pain relief necessary for my confidence in overcoming this bridge. When I took on the incline, I found myself changing my stride in such a way that I put most of my weight on my right leg to avoid any heavy lifting on my left leg. I soon found my pace down to almost 9:00 per mile as it looked like I was hopping on one leg up the bridge. Noticeable pressure was felt in my right quad and calf muscle. I attempted to regain form once I past the incline and made the left turn onto East 135^th St. Right before I came to a complete stop with the pain in my left hamstring much worse than before. I took the last tablet and drank Gatorade. Apparently, my coming to a complete stop angered a fellow female runner as she pushed me out of her way to get her fluids as I stood clutching my hamstring. 

Practically hopping on one leg as I enter The Bronx 

A quick massage on my hamstring and I started running again. Hopefully these tablets will kick in and I can pick up the pace. It felt like the race was completely over, but I didn't panic nor did I despair. I managed to maintain an 8:00 min/mile pace as I navigated the turns and back roads in the Bronx, up until the Madison Avenue Bridge. As I re-entered Manhattan, the consistent pain in my left leg didn’t prevent me from picking up the pace.

Re-entered Harlem, 5^th Avenue Mile, and Central Park: The tablets were working. The energy from the crowds in Harlem and gave me the adrenaline rush to push me forward. I paid little attention to my watch at that point, focusing only on the pain and propelling myself forward. I remained calm and was determined to keep my legs moving.

I had expected the stretch of 5^th Avenue to be difficult as I heard plenty of runners talk about how the slight incline prevented runners from finishing strong. I felt the opposite. It was there I caught my second wind and brought my pace down to sub-7:30 minutes per mile. Pain still in my leg, I was determined to finish strong. The rolling hills in Central Park had little effect on my pace because at that point I focused on managing the pain in my leg and applying my foot strikes based on the level of pain I was experience. So on an uphill, it would seem like I am skipping up the hill on my right leg, but on a downhill I would surge and allow for my pace to pick up with minimal energy spent.

I was relieved when I reached the straight away on 59^th Street. As I was making the right turn, I glanced at my watch and realized I still had a chance at a personal best marathon. I spotted a North Brooklyn Runner teammate ahead of me. As I did throughout the marathon, I would catch up and offer motivation, a congratulations, and a fist bump. I caught him with about 800 meters to go and I yelled, “North Brooklyn, c’mon lets move, only 800 to go.” That energy caused me to lose focus on my leg as I could feel the cramp coming back.

A PR Finish: As my leg started to cramp up, I thought to myself, “Hell no, not now!” I knew I was so close to the finish and resolved to ignore any pain, any cramps and surge ahead into a 6 minute-sprint that probably would have done permanent damage. The finish was too close and I was yelling in agony from the pain. But it didn’t matter. About 10 meters from the finish line, I just raised my arms in happiness as if I was ready to hug the “Finish” sign above.

It was OVER! With emotions flying, I quickly looked at my watch and saw 3:19, then pressed stop. I knew I had unofficially achieved a PR. Let’s just hope my watch was in sync with the official timekeeper. As I looked up ready to retrieve my medal, 2 feet past the finish line marker were Winston and his wife, Yannie, offering me congratulations. Now that was special. The first person you see at the finish line is your friend of almost 20 years fully supporting your journey. Seeing them there felt amazing and I didn’t expect it.

The Takeaway: Those who follow me on Facebook know about the inspirational quotes I post from time to time. As I was coming off of the emotional high from the marathon this week, this one in particular, posted November 4, caught my attention:

Today's Inspirational Quote:

"The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you."

-- Will Rogers

A lot of bad things happened to me from a marathoner’s perspective. Those include not properly planning my baggage, to the nasty crosswinds on the bridges. The many distractions along the course such as dangling MetroCard and annoying sleeves. And of course injuries that slowed and stopped me, while being pushed to the side by a female runner, as I was agonizing in pain. The thought of stopping and walking crossed my mind several times. It was a good thing these prevented me from going out too fast. And the energy and love I received from all the spectators, consistently hearing my name throughout the white noise along the entire course fueled my focus and determination. Panicking like I’ve done in previous marathons was not an option. I never had the feeling of desperation as experienced in past marathons. This 26.2 mile journey was all about keeping my head strong. Something I have not been good at in the past.

There is a great deal of mental stamina involved in marathon running. If I can continue to work on balancing mental self control with physical performance, I’ll surely qualify for the Boston marathon sooner rather than later. After my performance at Lehigh, I knew that qualifying for Boston in New York City, with all the physical therapy sessions and injury recovery massages during my training, wouldn't happen. But a marathon PR in these windy conditions is a lot more than I could ask for. I am certainly satisfied. My New York City Marathon debut and first World Marathon Major is an absolute success. And it brings closure to an 11-year pursuit finally realized.

Prelude to my NYC Marathon Dream 2: Training Update

The time is almost here. For 11 years now, I have dreamed of running the New York City Marathon. Many obstacles prevented me from getting here. Whether it was living away from the city for either work or school, or being denied a number of times in the lottery by the New York Road Runners, all of that will go away once I get that amazing feeling at the starting line. A feeling of accomplishment, evidence that one can do whatever they put their minds too. A feeling of joy that I made it to the starting line healthy. 

And indeed I will be healthy. The Lehigh Via Marathon was a turning point in my running lifestyle. It taught me that training for a marathon is more than just running an overwhelming number of miles in the 3 or 4 months leading up to the event. Proper recovery, strength training, and nutrition is also a major factor. I've received plenty of feedback on why and how my hamstring failed me in my last marathon. To name a few:

1. Excessive inflammation

2. Muscle overuse

3. Not enough strength training

4. Weak hips

5. Hot day

6 Not enough hamstring flexibility.

7. Unprepared for hills

All of these comments, whether it came from my doctor, massage therapist, or fellow runners, where all considered in the two months training session after Lehigh leading up tot he TCS NYC Marathon. I continued my regimen of building up to 26 miles running fartlek then giving myself about a month taper with gradual (roughly 25%) decrease on my long run from week to week.