Race Report: NYC Marathon, Part IV

Event: The ING New York City Marathon   
Runner: Mike Eilers
 
Latest Results at 02:24:09 PM, 11/02/2008
 
Location        Time         Pace/mile
5km             0:28:08      9:03
10km            0:54:55      8:50
15km            1:22:56      8:53
20km            1:51:49      8:59
Mile 13.1       1:59:19      9:06
25km            2:23:27      9:14
Mile 16         2:29:29      9:20
Mile 17         2:38:42      9:20
Mile 18         2:48:59      9:23
30km            2:56:40      9:28
Mile 19         3:00:06      9:28
Mile 20         3:12:14      9:36
Mile 21         3:23:58      9:42
35km            3:32:12      9:45
Mile 22         3:34:38      9:45
Mile 23         3:46:22      9:50
Mile 24         3:57:50      9:54
40km            4:07:41      9:57
Mile 25         4:09:09      9:57
Mile 26.2       4:21:57      9:59
 
All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.
 
Please note: This e-mail was sent from the NYRR Automated E-mail Notification System. Please do not reply.
 
Sincerely,
New York Road Runners
 

Race Report: NYC Marathon, Part III

Crowds are not allowed on the course between miles 15-16 of the New York City Marathon, therefore it is a quiet, convenient place perfect for contemplation and assessment as you focus on the final 10 miles remaining in the race. All you hear is the pounding of hundreds of runners feet around you, as they trudge up what is considered to be the steepest portion of the marathon course. Oh, that and the sound of your racing heart as it attempts to keep up with the incline of the onramp and your pace setting as you climb up, and up, and up...welcome to the Queensboro Bridge.

Honestly, I had been secretly dreading the Queensboro Bridge. All I had been hearing was how hard it was. Not only would you be crossing over the 15 mile mark at the start of the bridge, but you would also be crossing the 16 mile mark while on the bridge...while still climbing. That's crazy, if you ask me. It is about 2 miles long, with a nominal uphill incline. Oh, and did I mention there were no fans there to scream out encouragement? It was seemingly endless, but I kept running. Checking my watch, I noticed I had been fairly consistent up and to this point in the race. Mile 16 showed an overall pace/mile of 9:20. Now, I'd been hoping for a finish time of 4:00 to 4:15, but these hills were beginning to take their toll on my quads. I wasn't sure yet how I would be able to pick up the pace for the remaining miles. Then we crossed over Mile 16 and came off the bridge into Manhattan. And if race bliss ever had a name, it would surely be First Avenue.

The crowds of First Avenue are much different than those found in both Brooklyn and Queens. There the streets are lined with crowds 2-3 people deep offering words of encouragement. However, here the wide avenue was stacked 4-6 people deep, all yelling at the top of their lungs. What a crowd! The entire street stretched on and on, as if you could virtually see all the way from 59th to well past 125th. Each person seemed to be screaming my name..."co'mon Mike, you can do it!", "way to go, Mike!", and "run, Mike, run!!" Of course, having my name printed on the front of my running Team World Vision jersey obviously helped with that. I'd been reminded over and over again to have my name visible throughout the race, primarily as a way for the crowds to offer their own personalized encouragement. And on First Avenue, they gave me plenty. I would hazard a guess I must have heard my name called out more than a couple hundred times throughout the race, but here is where I needed it the most. It was also here that I saw my wife and travel companions, just before Mile 17, rooting and cheering ecstatically for me. I think I heard them long before I actually saw them, they were that loud. In my opinion, Miles 16-18 were pure enjoyment. One large street, six lanes wide, and virtually a million spectators. Who could have asked for more?

However, I could tell my quads were beginning to feel kaput by Mile 19. My overall pace had been slipping ever so slightly over the past couple of miles and was threatening 9:30/mile. All of those previous hills were finally taking their toll. As I neared the dreaded "Wall" at Mile 20, my pace had officially reached 9:28 and I could tell then the final 10k was going to be a bit of a challenge. Crossing over the orange carpeting on the Willis Avenue Bridge from Manhattan into the Bronx, we were surprisingly met with a host of bag pipers as the runners wound their way off the onramp. However, here the crowds were a bit sparse. We also had a quick chance to see just how weary we all looked as each of us passed by the huge jumbo-tron screen there. But we didn't have time to soak in the sites, as this section inside the Bronx was only about a mile in total length. Before we knew it, we were headed over the Madison Ave Bridge and back into the familiar territory of Harlem and Manhattan.

Just off the bridge, we passed over Mile 21 and the crowd began picking up again. Bands were playing with gusto, family members were waving banners, and kids were handing out Halloween candy. Bless their hearts...I even had one little girl offer me a grape Jolly Rancher. How did she know they were my all-time favorite marathon hard candy? I relished the sour taste it provided and pushed on. Less than five miles to go.

Up next, we rounded the Marcus Garvey Memorial Park for Mile 22. This is a unique and totally inviting section of Harlem that just beacons "stay a while" to a tourist like myself. The shops all along the avenue were quaint and well-kept, and I tried to take a couple of photos to remember it by but my hand must have been unsteady enough that the pictures all turned out too blurry. Guess I'll have to come back someday. Within a few blocks, we could see the famous Central Park treeline up and to our right. I knew we would need to follow along the Park on Fifth Ave for a little longer than a mile before actually entering it. By now, it hurt enough that walking seemed the most inviting. But trying to start running again after that only hurt worse, so I resolved myself to just plugging along.

Mile 23 came and went quickly. By this time the crowds of people had begun to creep off of the sidewalks, narrowing the runners course to only about 10-15 feet in width. I suppose it felt much like the Tour de France, where the teams of bikers are forced to literally plow their own pathway through thousands of well-wishers. Many a time I found myself having to move towards the center of the roadway as unbudging spectators lined my intended path.

We next turned right at the Reservoir and into Central Park. Ah, running down these tree-lined roads there felt like I was running at home again. It was possibly even invigorating. Just over 2.5 miles to go. And the crowds just kept getting larger. Mile 25. I can't tell you how many times I heard my name called out. I kept running. Exiting the Park near the Plaza Hotel, we came upon the last lonely stretch on Central Park South. Quickly scanning the crowds for the trademark Yankees baseball bat and pink butterfly, I thought I caught a glimpse on the opposite side of the street. Crossing over through the throng of runners to greet them there was more difficult than I expected, however I was able to surprise them before they even had a chance to snap a photo. And, Laura, here's my photo to prove it...he, he.

At the end of Central Park South was Columbus Circle and Mile 26. Just one final turn into the park and it was almost over. I was smiling from ear to ear by this time. I could see the finish line in the distance. The official marathon signs, and the deafening crowds, all began counting it down... 400 yards to go... 300 yards to go... 200 yards to go... 100 yards to go... Thrusting my arms high into the air, I greeted these final crowds and crossed the finish line. The official clock read 4:21:57. I'd done it. What I had set out more than a year ago with ambition and the dream to run the largest and most popular marathon in the world, I had now completed only a moment ago.

I'll be honest, I truly felt the emotion of the moment swirl over me...and with misting eyes I just kept smiling.

Race Report: NYC Marathon, Part II

With the first wave of runners now underway at 9:40, we were quickly moved down our corral system and into the general runner queue on top of the waiting bridge. Helicopters kept criss-crossing the sky, all vying for the best angle on the starting line action. I silently readied the chronograph feature on my watch and lifted my camera into the air, hoping to catch a snippet of the actual start on video. Not a moment later, the cannon sounded and Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" filled the air. We were off!

Now, the first mile of the marathon happens to be all uphill. The race begins at the base of the Verrazano Bridge and the end of Mile 1 is located just after the apex of the climb upward. Normally, I would think a slope such as this would affect the planned pace of runner. But not here. Off we went immediately throwing caution to the wind, just happy to be running in the greatest marathon in the world. Giddy like a schoolchild, I pulled out my camera and commenced snapping photos left and right, hoping to catch every nuance of the start as I could. I even stepped up onto the center median of the bridge to capture the site of Manhattan in the distance, and was pleasantly surprised to learn a news photographer had also captured me doing so. We found out on Monday that this photo made the front page of the NYC Times. I'm officially a celebrity. (I actually wouldn't have noticed its inclusion in the paper had it not been for my wife. As I scanned the page while standing in Times Square the next day, I exclaimed to her, "that's exactly what it looked like, and I was out there taking photos just like that guy there." To which she excited responded, "umm, hon, that's your blue sweatshirt—that IS you!!" A few tourists nearby perked up their heads at the mention…I wonder if I should have offered to autograph THEIR paper?)

Coming down the other side of the bridge, we quickly entered the southern region of Brooklyn. Exiting the main bridge highway, we zipped past the Mile 2 marker and were shuffled west onto 4th Avenue which roughly spanned miles 2-8 of the course. Laura and our friends had mentioned to me the night before, as they pored over subway and course maps, they would attempt to see me near the beginning and end of this section of the race. So I sidestepped a few runners and moved left to keep an eye open for my cheering crew. Now, finding only three people in a crowd of thousands is not easy. Fortunate for us, we took it upon ourselves to pick up a few kids blow-up toys: a blue Yankees baseball bat and a large pink butterfly. It it had not been for these, I know I would have surely missed them in the throng of spectators. Sure enough, they had successfully navigated the R Line and were patiently waiting for me as I blazed them by. Their screams of encouragement were loud and clear: keep going! I wasn't about to let them down, so onward I pressed.

Miles 3-8 were largely uneventful, other than the guy I noticed in front of me who had a bib pinned to his back which simply read "STREAKER". Come to find out later, this was one of only a handful of runners who had successfully completed NYCM for more than 20-some odd years in a row. What an accomplishment! Okay, I originally thought the guy was waiting for his most opportune moment to shed his running apparel and make a name for himself before course police yanked him down. No such luck. But I am glad.

Mile 9 saw us entering an interesting section of Brooklyn named Clinton Hill. Here, the streets narrowed a bit and the business fronts were replaced by actual neighborhoods filled with old and curious facades. I was feeling fairly well still by this time and hadn't yet decided to walk, even for the water stations that passed by every mile or so. My plan was to run as far as possible, likely until the 15-16 mile mark, before taking a quick breather. This is a mental-thing for me. I use it to continually push myself throughout a race, extending it where necessary to continally give myself goals throughout a course.

Miles 10-12 brought us through a variety of interesting neighborhoods, all rich with their own diversity. One that stood out for me was the Polish, or Polska, neighborhood. I am a quarter Polish myself, so this was truly a unique experience for me to see a little of my own heritage. So many little foods shops and restaurants dotted this area of the course, with little Polish children playing and plumb grandmothers walking to market everywhere. Such a wonderful area to see.

By Mile 13, I would have thought the crowd of marathon runners would have thinned some. But as I approached the halfway point, I was still literally elbow-to-elbow with my running comrades. And the crowds of well-wishing spectators were still as strong as ever. Truly amazing to be in a race where crowd support is so intense! Approaching the Pulaski Bridge, we prepared for our departure from Brooklyn and our grand entrance into Queens. Considered the largest in area and the second most populous of the five boroughs of New York City, Queens also happens to be the city's most diverse borough. Of course, experiencing it all would have to be for another day, as Miles 14-15 quickly passed by. Shortly after passing through the Queensboro Plaza and Mile 15, up ahead lay the infamous Queensboro Bridge.

Coming up...the last half!

Race Report: NYC Marathon, Part I

Race: ING New York City Marathon
Distance: 26.2 miles
Official Time: 4:21:57
Pace/Mile: 9:59

The alarm on the nightstand went off, startling me awake. The clock read 4:30...time for my NYC marathon experience to begin. I quietly crept to the bathroom, being careful not to wake everyone else, and began my pre-race routine. I could already hear the bustling city traffic below our 15th-floor window, no doubt many of the vehicle drivers being runners themselves as they worked their way through busy streets towards the start line in Staten Island. Fortunately for me, I had already signed up for bus transportation through NYRR and wouldn't need to navigate the unknown streets myself. However, it was already 5:05 and my bib ticket read for a 5:30 transport time…I'd better hurry or I might be sitting in a longer line than expected. Grabbing my official runner bag filled with pre-race goodies, I slipped out the door of our hotel room without waking anyone.

Exiting my hotel, I stepped out into early morning darkness and the crisp, cold race morning air. It was beautiful outside…the temperature being around 38 degrees and no wind to speak of. Had it not been for the multitude of other marathon athletes steadily flowing down the streets reminding me of the impending race to come, I may have wistfully forgotten my plans and instead opted for unique excursion run through Midtown as the city slowly woke itself up. But not today. Today I was on a mission: all five bridges, all five boroughs. I followed the sidewalk, and the existing throng of half-awake pedestrians, west towards the New York Public Library where dozens of Midtown Manhattan buses waited for the thousands of nervous but eager runners to board them. Queueing up with other athletes in the block-long line outside Bryant Park, starting where the entrance to the No. 7 line runs unnoticed below, we slowly filtered our way back east where officials continually verified our runner bibs and checked over our baggage. Standing in the colder temps, instead of walking like we'd been doing during our siteseeing the past couple of days, only invited shivers to join our nerves. Rounding the east side of the library roughly 20 minutes later, a full set of buses pulled away from the curb as another new group of buses took their place. The gaggle of runners I was with were directed towards the empty lead bus and quickly, but efficiently, herded inside. Sitting in the warm seats and dim lighting, I leaned my head back against the headrest and soon watched as the neighborhoods slipped by on our way to the start line.

I remember some of the bus ride over to Staten Island, but much of it just slipped by as I closed my eyes and began preparing myself mentally. And it was too dark to see much of anything any way. I didn't consider myself to be nervous at all, though I did want to do my best to properly anticipate the expansive grounds there at Fort Wadsworth and the mind-numbing crowds that would be surely milling about. Besides, I just wanted to reclaim a few precious moments of sleep if I could. As our bus crossed over the Verrazano Bridge and pulled up to the dropoff point, the hint of impending sunrise was just beginning to make itself known on the horizon. It was 6:20.

Following the collective bunch of runners as they exited the bus and joining the thousands already walking down the side of the roadway towards the Athlete Village entrance, I quickly snapped off a few pictures. I'd bought my little camera, an Olympus Stylus 850SW, not a week before and was intending to somehow document each stage of the voyage into the NYC Marathon unknown. I guess I was hoping to catch a little of the excitement, maybe some of the unrelateable, that many runners may never see or experience themselves. Seeing the lines of literally a hundred chartered buses waiting to pass through the tollway plaza behind ours, as well as being greeted by the multitudes of volunteers and police officers as I stepped through the official village entrance, it was more than enough to allow this realization to begin sinking in. Think of the largest race staging area you have ever been in…then quadruple it. Here was hundreds of tents, thousands of porto-potties, and 40,000+ of your closest friends…it was literally mind-boggling. That is what it was like as I walked onto the grounds there at Fort Wadsworth.

Runners are organized into three start villages or zones—blue, orange, and green. With a bib number of 27079, mine happened to be the orange village, officially known as the "Grete Waitz village". I followed the orange balloons and fencing down a long set of streets with other like-colored bibs, and finally found our staging area near the base of the bridge. Rather than simply finding a place to sit down, and being somewhat chilled yet from the gusts of wind from the bay nearby, I chose to check out my surroundings. Dunkin Donuts apparently happened to be one of the bigger sponsors of the race, since I found ample amounts of coffee and hot tea—crowd favorites it seemed. I also found tents where multitudes of bagels and powerbars were being handed out in droves. Quickly learning the runner tents were already full to overflowing, I grabbed a fresh bagel and some hot tea with honey and located a secluded spot alongside a Dunkin Donut truck where I could lean against its side and be away from the cold wind. The hot tea did little to warm me, so I pulled on my windbreaker. Hearing how the weather might be somewhat adverse while waiting for the actual race to begin, I'd planned ahead by purchasing some extra "toss-away" clothing from the local thrift store a couple weeks previous. My meager collection at least made the cold tolerable, as I grabbed the newspaper from my goody bag and hunkered down for a little over two hours of waiting.

Close to 9:00, I relinquished my cozy spot next to the donut truck and made my way over to the UPS baggage check area. Here I found volunteers outside my 27,000-27,999 truck who were eagerly waiting to take my bag off my hands and prep it for delivery to the finish line. The bag only contained my reading material and some extra food stuffs, so post-race collection wasn't exactly mandatory. If I found the lines too long there, I planned to bypass the truck entirely and head out of the park as quickly as possible. Next, I wandered over past the giant entertainment stage where a blues-inspired band played melodic tunes, apparently enticing several runners to get up and dance. Having forgotten my dancing shoes, I plodded past and soon found the entrance gate to the orange runner corrals. I located the sign containing the batch of numbers my bib was attached to and asked the gentleman there how soon before we could enter. He mentioned they would allow the first wave of runners to enter first, then us second wave runners could enter promptly after at 9:15. I only had a few minutes, so I found the closest tree nearby and began my stretching routines. I also pulled off my "toss-away" clothing, but kept my blue hooded sweatshirt to keep me somewhat warm for the final 45 minutes before the cannon sounded. Stepping through the gate, I moved forward as far as they would allow and waited for the eventual surge that would carry us along the corral and into starting position on the bridge.

Next...the start!

PHOTOS BY Mike
LABELS New York City Marathon, race report

Our NYC Trip

Well, we're back from New York City! Though we had an incredible time siteseeing in the city that obviously never sleeps, we are happy to be home with the kids, our slower Midwestern traffic, and less noise. Yeah, I know a person becomes accustomed to the noise levels from the persistent street and pedestrian traffic, but we like our quiet here at home. Sure makes sleeping a whole lot easier. {grin}

Our flight lifted off at 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning, with a quick stop in Minneapolis to change planes and pick up another travel companion. When we finally touched down in at the Newark Airport in New Jersey, it was about noon. Grabbing a hotel shuttle to Midtown East, we arrived at our hotel before our room was ready. We quickly checked our baggage and found the local charter bus that would transport us to the Javits Center for the ING New York City Marathon expo, where I was supposed to pick up my race packet. The actual check-in process was rather speedy, all of 10-15 minutes total I suppose, but the walk through the official marathon merchandise and vendor sections was clogged beyond imagination. Fortunately, I was able to snag a few articles of apparel (a LS half-zip running shirt, a running vest, etc.) that could remind me of the trip later and located a fast moving checkout lane. Additionally, I was able to have an Asics poster signed by Brian Sell (who took 3rd at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials), which was a pleasant surprise.

Saturday was filled with basic NYC siteseeing...a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, views of Wall Street and the WTC site, Times Square, Central Park, and most everything inbetween. Though I had visited earlier in the year for a work-related conference, it was still exciting to re-experience many of these again, especially with Laura. In fact, she fulfilled one of her lifelong wishes of riding the Central Park Carousel...that was fun.

Later that evening, we headed over to the Team World Vision pasta dinner at Dean's, just a block over from our hotel. When we arrived, we were ushered upstairs where we met and chatted with a dozen other team runners just like myself. Then we sat down for a wonderful dinner served family-style, with heaping bowls of various pasta and chicken creations, as well as authentic brick oven pizza, all very yummy. And just as I was stuffing my face with some tasty Rigatoni Mezza Calabra, who should walk in on the party? Ryan and Sara Hall, our charity team captains. Ryan happens to be the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials champion at NYC last fall, surprising most everyone with a very consistent and even effort. What is exciting for me is his outspoken faith in the sport of running. They both greeted each of us and made small talk, before also sitting down to share in our meal. What an incredible night!

Leaving the restaurant, we headed back to the hotel so I could prepare my things for the race the next morning. I carefully pinned my race number bib (#27079), as well an additional smaller sign above with "My 1st NYCM - MIKE", to the front of my Team World Vision jersey, then made sure to attach the official timing chip to the laces of one of my running shoes. I also put together a few things that I would be taking with me for the long, pre-race wait the next morning, including extra clothing, my camera, food stuffs, and a newspaper for reading material. Carefully setting everything near the door where I could easily find it without waking everyone, and checking to be sure my alarms were set, I got ready for bed and turned off the light. It was about 10:30 p.m - only six hours until my race day would begin!

Next up, my NYC Marathon race report and photos as I work my way through the five boroughs of New York and 26.2 miles...

My Bags Are Packed…Let's Roll!

As you can see, my marathon bags are nearly packed and ready to go. I have yet to throw in a couple of items before they are complete, primarily our flight & hotel itinerary and my shaving kit, though I will likely perform a hasty, last-minute final check before heading out to the airport early tomorrow morning. And I do mean, early...as in our flight to NYC leaves at 5:00am? Big ole yawn.

Through my calm exterior I can tell the realization is beginning to sink in that, in just a little over two days, I will be running with a world-record crowd of nearly 40,000 other runners as we elbow our way from the Verrazano Bridge start on Staten Island, all the way to Central Park finish in downtown Manhattan. For 26.2 miles I will be experiencing firsthand the thrill this grand and majestic race, as it weaves us over five landmark bridges and through five historic city boroughs. I know my anxiety level will be high the morning of the race, as expected, but I'm hoping the three or so hours I will spend at Fort Wadsworth waiting for the marathon to begin will provide me a chance to relax and some time to reflect on what it took to get me to this moment.

From several sources, including Weather.com web site, all signs are pointing towards wonderful weather for the race on Sunday. Lows in the upper 30s, highs in the upper 40s to lower 50s, with light winds and a mostly sunny sky. Perfect, as most marathoners would say, for running fast times.

One of my hopes during the marathon is to see my lovely wife, and our friends who will make the journey with us, sometime during and just after the race. Their plan is to find me just after the 16-mile mark of the race, as I cross over the Queensboro Bridge from Queens and head north on First Avenue towards the Bronx. I know this point in the race will possibly be a crucial time for me to just recognize a familiar face in the crowd, as the race begins taking runners into its final miles. Though I have run and finished many marathons over the years, I know that finishing the final 6-10 miles are always the toughest for a runner. And New York City won't be any different, as I've been told that the course gets challenging as it winds it way over the final couple bridges and, lastly, through the hills of Central Park. Then our final challenge will be to find each other in the throngs of the over 1 million well-wishing spectators. Fortunately, the 1-2 mile post-race walk will give my legs a chance to stretch out some, but I know it will be great when I finally see her.

Personally, I don't know what finish time I'll receive -- there are so many factors involved with running the New York City Marathon for the first time -- but my goal is to finish close to around the 4-hour mark as possible. Of course finishing in under four hours for my inaugural NYCM would be wonderful and all, but I'll take whatever is given me. I'll just hope and pray I will do my best. Honestly, I want only to finish knowing that I have given it my all and have "run with endurance the race that is set before me (Hebrews 12:1).” To hopefully have a wonderful experience of the marathon, and of siteseeing in New York City, while sharing it all with my wife. That would make this trip the best.

Before leaving, I would like to thank all the family and friends who have or will support me this weekend. I really appreciate you all being there for me and this crazy endeavor. You all make it worth while.

So, the question is...am I ready? Ready to run with this insane amount of runners? Oh man, you bet!

I'll see you all when I get back on Tuesday.

Now, let's roll...

Pre-Race Butterflies

I am but a week away from boarding my early morning flight to New York City and, for the first time in a long, long while, I think I may be getting pre-race butterflies.

It's not that this is a new feeling for me, I mean I have been toeing the starting line of races for 22 years, having run in 19 marathons and well over 40+ other road races up and to this point in my life. Each one presented its own list of anxieties and goose bumps - some more, some less. But there's just something about knowing you're going to be running in the largest, and widely considered the most famous, marathon in the world.

Last night I was talking with a friend who completed her first half-marathon at the Des Moines Marathon this previous weekend. I could tell how incredibly excited she was knowing she had conquered the previous unknown, that she had charged through and had persevered the challenge of the distance she set before herself. Her expressions told the story of an elusive goal now met. Congratulating her on such a wonderful accomplishment, I politely inquired if she had any plans to explore the marathon distance someday. She paused for a moment, but I could see in her eyes the twinkling of a dream beginning to unfold. "I think I could do that," she said with a smile. Knowing her, I bet she'll tackle that marathon dream at next year's event, and good for her for accepting that challenge.

It has been many years since my first race. To me, it's been a long history of training through the seasons, giving each race everything I could, and leaving the gas tank empty each time. And though I've seen the finish line of countless distances, even a few multi-day staged events, I haven't yet felt like I've lost that twinkle of future possibility myself.

The anxieties I feel each and every time I pin that number to my shirt are what keep those possibilities, those dreams, inside of me alive. Those butterflies I experience reaffirm for me that I simply enjoy what I do. Trying to explain that to someone who hasn't felt the surge of thousands of runners suddenly explode into motion when the gun goes off is often times difficult. But, in that simplicity, the anxieties are what makes the race exciting, full of potential, and fodder for future possibilities.

You see, without them the race would be just that...a race. I'll take butterflies any day.

PHOTO BY Jupiter Images
LABELS race anxieties, training

Snapshot: Watching the ING New York City Marathon

If you can’t make it in person, you can still catch all the action of the 2008 ING New York City Marathon live on TV and via the web on Sunday morning, November 2nd. Get complete race day coverage using these resources below:


TELEVISION

New York: The race will be broadcast live exclusively on WNBC 4 New York for five hours. Telemundo Channel 47 will have live cut-ins during the race as well as segments leading up to the marathon. The WNBC 4 New York broadcast will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the pre-race warm-up and will follow the race through the five boroughs, across the bridges, and over the finish line until 2:00 p.m.

United States: NBC Sports will broadcast a one-hour highlights show nationwide beginning at 2:00 p.m. CST on November 2. Be sure to check your local listings for details. (In the metro New York area, it will be on WNBC 4 New York.)

Around the World: A one-hour highlights show will be broadcast in nearly 125 countries worldwide. Check your local listings for details.

INTERNET STREAMING

United States: On Sunday, November 2, it’s the world’s race — the ING New York City Marathon. Catch all the action LIVE, only on NBC’s UniversalSports.com. Coverage for the ING New York City Marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. CST. The ING New York City Marathon will be available on demand after the live broadcast.

International: Watch the entire race live on the Internet at UniversalSports.com for FREE! Viewers will get the entire race broadcast from 8:00 a.m. CST to 11:45 a.m.

RACE DAY: START TIMES

Early Start, Athletes with Disabilities, Presented by Avis - 7:30 a.m.

Wheelchair Division, Presented by Avis - 8:35 a.m.

Handcycle Division - 8:55 a.m.

Professional Women - 9:10 a.m.

Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge - 9:15 a.m.

Open Field, including Professional Men - Wave One 9:40 a.m, Wave Two 10:00 a.m, Wave Three 10:20 a.m.

Note: Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 2. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 1.

Race Report: Des Moines Half Marathon

Race: Des Moines Half-Marathon
Distance: 13.1 miles
Official Time: 1:50:43
Pace/Mile: 8:26

There's nothing like waking up race morning to a nice, cool 48° outside, partly cloudy skies, and a slight wind. What better conditions to set a new half-marathon PR with? That I did.

With only two weeks until my planned trip to New York City for the marathon debut of my life, I originally decided today would be treated like a training day. A nice and easy 13.1 miles on a spectacular course, with very few ups and downs along the way. But all that went out the window when I realized the prime conditions we'd been given this race morning. Suddenly, I found myself dreaming of new splits and a myriad of ways to increase and maintain my pace...oh, that elusive sub-1:50 would soon be mine. Heck, maybe I'd take off the kid-gloves and do some serious swinging towards a 1:45...

Toeing the line (okay, officially I was more like a full 100ft back), I eyed the competitors in my immediate vicinity and braced myself for the start that would inevitably unleash the furious nature that I surely had inside... ready, GO!

Moments later, unfortunately I quickly learned the "furious" nature from within had apparently decided to sleep in. That long training run on Friday suddenly reminded me that my legs were still a tad tired, and contending with slightly warmer starting temps than I'd expected, I decided it might be better to conserve a little energy and play it safe. Nestled in a crowd of a few thousand of my closest running friends, I began calculating an 8:10-8:15 pace that would give me a chance at breaking the 1:50 barrier.

Though the crowds were a little thicker than my experience from previous DSM marathons past, it did make for finding other like-minded runners of the same pace much easier. Settling in behind a few guys who were talking of BQ dreams, the first few miles of the course soon flew by, taking us from one end of downtown to the other, past the half and full-marathon split, then down onto Fleur Drive. My pace during this time fluctuated only slightly per mile, primarily due to the crowds.

Turning off of Fleur Drive, racers then entered the Water Works Park area south of the downtown area. Here, the next five miles would take us through the beautifully wooded roadways and past a long stretch of the Raccoon River. This is a particular favorite area of mine, and I often spend my lunch hour on training runs there. The park road is bounded by George Flagg Parkway, making it a great place for spectators to get close to the action without having to walk far. Shortly past the 5.5 mile mark, I encountered my kids doing their best to enthusiastically high-five every runner they could. Both they and my wife gave me big hugs, then cheered me on as I pulled away to begin the large loop portion at the back of the park. Miles 6-8 clicked off rather quickly, and soon I found myself reapproaching Fleur Drive.

Crossing over the roadway we next entered Grays Lake Park, widely considered the “Place to Meet” in the Des Moines Metro area. The centerpiece of the park’s renewal plan is the two-mile trail encircling the lake, also a runner favorite. Here I felt my pace beginning to lapse somewhat, my mile average dropping to roughly 8:30 or so. I could tell I was feeling tired, but I also knew I needed to keep going if I wanted to stay close to my 1:50 goal.

Rounding the lake, we began the push up the bike trail, over the MLK Jr. Parkway bridge and onto the final stretch. Mile 12 came up quickly, and I noticed my watch reading 1:41...this would be cutting it close. I picked up the speed as much as I could and followed the course as it turned north towards the downtown finish line area. You could hear the crowds during this final half-mile, and along with Laura and the kids about a hundred yards from the line, they carried me my final steps.

Though I missed my sub-1:50 goal by only mere seconds, I'll admit I am still happy to be bettering my PR by close to two minutes.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of running the Des Moines Marathon or Half-Marathon, I seriously suggest you check it out. It is well-known for it's beautiful course and plenty of friendly spectators. Definitely, a "must do" if you live in the Midwest.

Finally, a guick shout out to my family for their support and encouragement today...without you my racing would never be as special you make it for me.

NYCM: By the Numbers, Part III

The last in a handful of interesting facts about NYCM...









1970 year of the first New York City Marathon, with 127 starters, 55 finishers, and a $1 entry fee
1976 year of the first five-borough marathon
9 New York City Marathon victories by Grete Waitz (1978–80, 1982–86, 1988)
4 victories by Bill Rodgers (1976–79)
1982 year of the most recent victory by an American man (Alberto Salazar)
1977 year of the most recent victory by an American woman (Miki Gorman)
2000 year of the first official wheelchair division race
786,566 starters to date
749,831 finishers to date

NYCM: By the Numbers, Part II

Here are a few additional amazing facts about this race..






2:07:43 male runner course record (Tesfaye Jifar, 2001)
2:22:31 female runner course record (Margaret Okayo, 2003)
1:29:22 male wheelchair course record (Kurt Fearnley, 2006)
1:52:38 female wheelchair course record (Edith Hunkeler, 2007)
38,607 finishers in 2007, the most ever in any marathon
26,072 male finishers in 2007 (event record)
12,535 female finishers in 2007 (event record)
104,000+ applicants to the ING New York City Marathon 2008, the most ever.

That last statistic is astounding, really. Given that participation is generally limited to ~37,000 entrants chosen largely by a lottery system (okay, closer to 45,000 with all the additional complimentary entries), that shows the overwhelming popularity of runners who want to run this exciting race.

NYCM: By the Numbers, Part I

The ING New York City Marathon is the story of more than 37,000 athletes on a celebratory journey through the world's most vibrant city. The premier event of New York Road Runners, the marathon is supported by 12,000 volunteers, dozens of loyal sponsors, and many city agencies.

Here are a few other obscure facts you may not have know about...

7,000 pounds of pasta
45,000 finisher medals
800 pounds of coffee
11,410 pounds of ice
68 UPS trucks
62,370 gallons of water
12,475 tongue depressors
311 thermometers
112 official clocks
$600,000+ prize purse
2 million spectators

Snapshot: NYC Marathon At A Glance

When - Sunday, November 2nd
Begins at - Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island
Ends at - Tavern on the Green, Central Park

With barely over a month until the race, I felt compelled to begin a series of "snapshot" blogs. These will be all about the NYC Marathon: general runner information, experiences to expect, and survival tips, as well as some typical visitor information for the Big Apple. First in this series, marathon information at a glance.

One of the world's most renowned road races, the New York City Marathon drew nearly 100,000 applications in 2007 alone. It is a travelogue of New York's five boroughs as it passes through neighborhoods which represent virtually every major cultural and ethnic group on earth. A remarkable event that celebrates individual achievement, it also brings together millions of New Yorkers who line the streets for an entire afternoon to cheer and encourage the participants - from the winners to those that finish hours later. It is a city that recognizes courage and perseverance, as well as coming in first.

Over the years, the New York City Marathon has grown from a modest race that took place entirely in Central Park to a city-wide event with well over 38,000 runners. Participants, as well as spectators, come from all over the globe with over 100 countries and all 50 states represented in one of the world's largest and most famous running competitions. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes - not only for the more than $700,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to compete in the media capital of the world before more than two million cheering spectators around the race course, as well as 315 million worldwide television viewers. Crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime, as any one of the more than 700,000 past participants will attest (and something I am definitely thrilled to be able to soon consider myself part of!)

The course begins in Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and the first two miles are over the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, which offers a panoramic view of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, as well as the Fire Department boats that shoot geysers of multi-colored water hundreds of feet up into the air as the race begins. The route then wends its way through Brooklyn, the borough that features the largest segment of the race, with runners passing through an amazing variety of neighborhoods, including Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint. At 13.1 miles, runners cross the Pulaski Bridge, marking the halfway point of the race and the entrance into Queens. After a short stay in Queens, runners must take on the dreaded Queensboro Bridge before finally arriving in Manhattan. The race then proceeds north on First Avenue, crossing briefly into the Bronx for a mile before returning to Manhattan. It then continues south through Harlem down Fifth Avenue and into Central Park. At the southern end of the park, the course leaves the park and continues along Central Park South, where thousands of spectators cheer runners on during the last mile. At Columbus Circle, the race re-enters the park and finishes outside Tavern on the Green.

It is these final miles through Central Park that determine winners, and annually witness the most dramatic moments of the race as runners struggle to complete the 26.2 mile course. Central Park, the scene of the first race of 127 participants in 1970, is ultimately the center stage that welcomes the runners, all winners in their own right, to the finish line.

>> Download the Official Marathon Course Map
>> See an amazing pictorial of the actual NYCM course

Breaking News…Lance to Ride Again?

Some are beginning to wonder, does Lance have a chip on his shoulder? It seems rumors are ablaze that Armstrong, the cycling monster, will come out of retirement to return to competitive racing. (What?! Did he and Brett Favre sign a secret "stay-out-of-retirement" pact together? Maybe I should change the blog title to "Lance Armstrong to come out of retirement to sign with Jets", just so I can scoop everyone else.)

VeloNews claims Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, including the 2009 Tour de France. The rumor, which has been rampant for nearly a month, gained some legs when former Discovery Channel team director Dirk Dernol recently signed with Astana for 2009. Adding fuel to the fire, Johan Bruyneel (Armstrong's former team manager) is also currently Astana's team boss. Not to be overlooked, but even Trek, a favorite of the Lance-camp, is Astana's main bike sponsor. Is the deal finally getting too sweet for Lance to pass up?

But Bruyneel is uncertain whether even Armstrong can return after three years out of professional cycling. “He’s continued training and he’s done marathons, but he’s coming in with a very different style of life to a sportsman,” Bruyneel said. “Three years without competing is a lot.”

The current speculation is that the ex-Tour king might want to return to prove he's drug-free, since Armstrong at least appears willing to submit to drug testing. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency confirmed he is part of its out-of-competition testing pool and would be eligible for elite competition on Feb. 1, 2009. The Amgen Tour of California conveniently begins Feb. 14.

Okay, it's not as if Armstrong hasn't been working out. Other rumors are that Armstrong will continue to pursue mountain bike racing, and may try his hand at cyclocross as well. In August, he finished second in the Leadville Trail 100, a lung-searing 100-mile mountain bike race through the Colorado Rockies (photo at left). He also plans to compete in his third New York City Marathon this November, where he hopes to crush his time of 2:46:43. Co'mon, let's face it...this guy's off-days are typically better than any of the stellar attempts we've made in our dreams.

Still, all the brouhaha begs the obvious questions…will Lance ride again? Could an 8th victory at Tour de France be right around the corner?

As I've admitted before, I am not a Lance-fanatic, though the guy is astoundingly athletic. I suppose I'd miss him [ahem] and his marathon-running prowness. But I will proudly admit one simple fact, one which I'm sure millions around the world are breathlessly anticipating at this very moment...it would be incredible to see him come back for an eighth attempt.

We'll have to wait and see.

=================================

Updated 09/10/2008: It's official...Lance is BACK!
A video announcement can be found on his foundation's web site. With a scheduled announcement set for Sept. 24 in New York, it’s a sure thing the next couple of weeks are going to bring more electric news. And, so, the countdown to the 2009 Tour de France begins...

NYCM: Changes to the Start Process

Acting on feedback from runners, the NYRR will be implementing several changes to the start process of the NYC Marathon this year. Chief among them are the wave start and the baggage handling. With these enhancements to the system, NYRR hope that runners can look forward to the following benefits:

1. Reduced crowding and wait time standing in corrals,
2. Reduced crowding and wait time standing on the bridge, waiting for the race to start,
3. Reduced time to cross the start line (NYRR hopes that runners can cross the starting line within 6 minutes), and
4. Reduced crowding on the course and at the finish.

So what's the wave start all about? Instead of releasing a mass start of approximately 40,000 runners at one time, the field will first be organized into three separate start lines designated with blue, orange or green colors. Then each starting line will be broken down to 3 waves designated white, yellow or blue. There are 6 corrals within each wave - A to F. Each wave will have approximately 13,000 runners and will be released at 20-minute intervals. Wave 1 will begin at 9:40 am., followed by wave 2 at 10:00 am., and then wave 3 at 10:20 am. The runners will be allocated their "waves" according to their projected goal time.


I consider myself a fairly average-paced runner, so I'll likely be placed in either the Wave 2 or 3. Wave 1 would probably be assigned to the elites and sub 3:30 finishers. Runners fearing the loss of the unique starting experience - the firing of the starting cannon and Sinatra's rendering of "New York, New York" - need not worry as each wave will still have the same ceremony. The cannon will just see more action and Sinatra will have to sing a few more times!

Baggage handling is also being revamped. The UPS trucks will be parked near the entrance (in the open zone) to the Staten Island staging area to receive your checked-in baggage (in case you're wondering, only official clear goodie bags are accepted for deposits - I suppose I'd be remiss if I tossed that bag too prematurely). From the alphabetically sorted manner of yesteryears, the organizers are sorting the trucks by bib number in increments of 1,000 this time around.

My Start Plans

So how do these new start processes affect my overall race morning plans? Nada, really. It may add a few extra minutes of shuffling for every runner before the cannon sounds, but not much more than that. My plans for race morning are currently as follows: Get up early at 5am, shower and prep - trying not to wake up Laura and our marathon chase crew members, and leave the hotel by 5:30am. That should give me a little time to spare before I need to catch my 6:00am marathon bus at the NYC Public Library. From there, we runners will be transported down to Battery Park where a free ferry ride awaits to take us from Manhattan over the Upper New York Bay to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. Interesting, though the Staten Island Ferry's sole mission is non-vehicular passenger transportation, what many first-time visitors do not realize is that this 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides possibly the most majestic views of New York Harbor for free. From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, as well as the receding skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan as you pull away. Even though I'll be making this early morning voyage alone, it will likely be the most reflective and inspiring part of my whole marathon day. Shuttle buses will then transport us from the St. George Ferry Terminal to the runners-only staging area in Fort Wadsworth. Here we will need to locate our assigned starting area, to be yet communicated, based on our bib numbers. In this area, I will do my best to stay warm while stretching and attempting to relax.

In addition to the all-important discardable clothing I'll be initially wearing, I also plan to take my small waistband pack filled with a couple extra gels and electrolytes, as well as my trusty iPod. At least the iPod will help make the 3+ hour wait there on Staten Island manageable. Haven't decided on whether a cellphone will be a take-along necessity or not, since I've heard the crowds in Central Park can make it rather difficult to find anyone...if anyone has experience with this item at NYCM firsthand, or have ideas to share, please let me know.

Well, NYRR should be confirming my starting area assignments sometime this month. Then, come the second week of October, I believe each runner will be expecting to receive a bib collection card.

Wow, unreal. Only 54 days left!

Can Rice Lead to Gold?

Found this interesting article over at the New York Times...I wonder if I could score a pair of these for my next marathon?

Later this month, Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor of the United States plan to begin testing the latest design from the distance-running equivalent of Manolo Blahnik. Their shoemaker is a Japanese master craftsman whose soles are renowned not for space-age gels or air bladders but for the gripping properties of rice husks.

The rice-husk shoes are custom made for a handful of elite runners by Hitoshi Mimura, 59, a former marathon runner who is a master craftsman for Asics, the Japanese sporting goods manufacturer. The husks, which are ground and imbedded in the rubber soles of racing flats, are designed to absorb water and to provide up to 10 percent better traction along the 26.2-mile marathon course at the Beijing Olympics in August. Various shoes made by Mimura have been worn by three recent Olympic marathon champions. His footwear is known for its minimal weight, cushioning and efficiency at dissipating heat, which could play a vital role in the expected hot, humid and polluted conditions of Beijing.

Marathon running does not exactly produce the same kind of skidding as Nascar racing. Still, the Beijing course could become slippery from rain, slick with humidity, slithery at water stops and misting stations, and glassy along a four-mile stretch of stones that have a feel similar to marble.

"The Olympics are the epitome of running," said Kastor, a bronze medalist in the women’s marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics who, like Hall, is sponsored by Asics. "There is a very small margin of error in preparing and racing. You try not to leave any stone unturned. Those fractions of a second add up." Less than a handful of ground husks are used in each shoe. If a husk becomes dislodged, the resulting tiny crater is meant to suction water and to provide a reliable grip on the road surface. Kastor said she liked the fact that the shoes were also eco-friendly.

Shoes designed by Mimura, officially known as wet-grip soles, were on the feet of Mizuki Noguchi of Japan when she ran through the sometimes marbled and wet streets of Athens to win the women’s marathon at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also made the footwear for Stefano Baldini of Italy, the 2004 men’s Olympic marathon champion, and the racing shoes — without rice husks — for Naoko Takahashi of Japan, who won the women’s marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Noguchi was quoted in a Japanese news report as saying that she slept with the rice-husk shoes next to her pillow the night before the 2004 Olympic victory. At the finish line in Athens, she took off one of her racing flats and kissed it. Later, she called Mimura the "god of shoes."

Last fall, Noguchi said that she would wear an updated version of her "magic shoes" to defend her title in Beijing. Hall, the American, read a news-agency account of her remarks and became intrigued. This spring, running in a different model of Asics shoes, he finished fifth at the London Marathon and joined the list of marathon medal contenders at the Summer Games. "I'm looking for a shoe to get excited about," Hall said. "It’s kind of like when you’re dating a girl. For some, it takes two days for them to know that’s the person they’re going to marry. For some, it takes four years. You’ve got to believe in your shoes. I’m as curious as everyone else about what makes this shoe so special."

Hall and Kastor said they planned to give the rice-husk shoes a thorough test drive to measure cushioning and stability. If they are not satisfied, they will run the Olympic marathon in more generic Asics models. Even under the best of circumstances, marathon runners face sore and swollen feet, blisters and the occasional wandering toenail.

Mimura, the shoemaker, is something of a legend in running circles in Japan, a marathon-mad country. A former marathoner whose best time was 2 hours 28 minutes, he went to work for Asics 41 years ago, as an 18-year-old, gluing together the upper and lower portions of running shoes.

Kastor met him for a fitting during the 2001 world track championships in Edmonton, Alberta. Using a tape measure, Mimura spent 20 minutes measuring her feet, Kastor said, including the length and circumference of each toe, the width of her heel, the length of her Achilles’ tendon and the width of her foot at six or seven spots. "I didn’t know you could get that many measurements for a foot," Kastor said. "But the shoes he made fit like a glove."

At his office in Japan, Mimura uses a more high-tech method — three-dimensional computer models — to measure the feet of Noguchi, the reigning women’s Olympic marathon champion. Four or five times a year, he measures her feet at 13 various points. For Beijing, Mimura has made racing shoes for Noguchi that weigh a scant 3.85 ounces — compared with 11 or 12 ounces for an off-the-rack jogging shoe.

To view the Olympic course, Mimura went to China in April for the Beijing Marathon. He found the course to be flat but composed of various surfaces, including stone (that could cause slipping); newly paved asphalt (which will increase the heat); and concrete that appeared harder than Japanese concrete (perhaps because Beijing’s main roads are meant to accommodate tanks and other military vehicles).

To combat these conditions, Mimura said he had designed the rice-husk soles with a polyester upper layer meant to aid ventilation while resisting dust or sand that could irritate a runner’s feet. He hopes to reduce the temperature inside the shoes from about 109 degrees to 99 degrees. For cushioning, Mimura has installed a sponge mid-sole that he calls "light and bouncy." He has also engineered an innersole made of cotton and polyester that is intended to wick moisture produced by sweating and by dripping water poured on the runner’s heads.

"Samurai cannot fight without their swords," Mimura said. "It is the same for runners and their shoes."

Monday Run-Down

As my recent Grandmas Marathon post explained, I'm finally back to a somewhat normal summer schedule. Of course, I'd much rather be camping next to a roaring river than sitting at my desk job, but you gotta pay the bills somehow.

Here's what's been going on in my corner of the world lately:

• My basement is finally dry, though the yet-to-be-cleaned carpet still resides in the garage and gaping holes in my drywall still echo my search for any internal-wall damage. I do have a new roll of carpet padding waiting to be installed, however I've been holding off since hearing of the possibilities of FEMA flood disaster assistance here in our county. We completed their application online and had an adjuster come over the day we arrived back from vacation. Now, we are sort of in a holding pattern waiting to see what financial help they may have to offer before taking on the hardship cost ourselves. Hopefully we'll know this week.
  
  
• This year's Grandma's Marathon, as well as both the Dam-to-Dam 20K and IA Games Adventure races, are now over. The only races I have yet to look forward to this summer are possibly the Midnight Madness 10K in July, then a reprisal of last year's Project H20 Maffitt Lake 5-Mile Trail Run in early August. But coming down off the adventure race has been a bit tough for me, since I really, REALLY enjoy that sort of endurance stuff. So I am considering signing up for something adventurous again before fall. I've been thinking either the Hartman Eco-Tri or GAAR adventure race (both held in August)...or possibly both. Not sure yet.
  
  
• Though it is kinda hard to top the northwoods camping in Minnesota we had last week, we've decided it's also too hard to resist the lure of a 4th of July weekend spent under camping the stars while our clothes still smell of campfire smoke. Yeah, we didn't even allow time to for dust to collect on the camper before we made that decision. But, just like my 3- and 5-year olds, I'm sooooo excited about another chance at roasting some yummy s'mores over the fire. I am just left to wonder...is it possible to get wireless laptop reception out at the campgrounds so I can move that office job of mine outdoors? Oh, that would be SO nice!
  
  
• Slowly getting geared up and trained up for my week-long trip into the Colorado mountains next month. I'll be heading out with some good friends from my church to a remote camping site up in the hills near Colorado Springs where we'll spend the vast majority of our time hiking, rope climbing/rappelling, and studying God's word. I had the opportunity to go last year and was just completely overcome with the rugged beauty of the area and quiet seclusion it offered. Not the mention the 4x4 trails we had to tackle for miles just to find our camp site on top of a cliff. Ummm...no busy life, no alarm clocks, no toilet...oh, maybe that's why my wife opted to stay home?
  
  
• Oh my gosh, in looking at my Runner's World calendar here I am noticing that it's only 4 months until the New York Marathon...that's roughly a 16-week training plan away, so time to get busy!