Part III: I Made It Through All Five Boroughs!

Me at the start line looking fairly goofy.

At the start of the race, I sneakily slipped into a corral of a different color.  I wanted to stay with my friends and I wanted to be on the Upper Level of the Verrazano Bridge.  Thankfully, by the third and final wave of runners, I don’t think the volunteers care where you start.

As we were herded through the corrals (pun intended) I was able to find pink and an orange Dunkin Donuts hats.  I stuffed them into my pockets to be washed later for the kids to fight over.  Apparently, the hot pink one is very popular with The Fashionista and with Island Boy.  Go figure.  IB’s winter coat is orange, but whatever.

Shanté, Mike and an unidentified woman who was looking for company at the start line.

I wished my friends good luck.  As I was attempting my first run-walk-run race, I knew that they would speed ahead of me.  Everyone else took off like the wind.  I felt like I was the only one walking on that first bridge, but as the hours wore on, there were many other walkers joining me.  This was part of my evil plan to take over the world and pass many, many runners at the end of the race.  Alas, this was not meant to be.

I have to say that this was not one of my better races.  I never felt like I got a good rhythm going.  I never thought, “Wow, this is great!”  I felt pretty blah the whole time.  Halfway through I thought, “Oh my gosh…I’m only halfway through.”  Let me tell you, that is not a good feeling.

A good feeling was coming up on mile 8 and looking up to see your fantastic husband scanning the crowds for you.  We saw each other and he scooped Island Boy up for me to see.  I stopped and said hi to everyone.  TM took a photo of me with IB.  That was the highlight of the race for me.

Island Boy is wondering what the heck is going on.

Even, poor little IB’s face.  You can see it in the photo.  He was clearly overwhelmed, as we knew he would be.  He headed back with friends shortly after I continued on.  He stayed with our friends for the remainder of the day.  We heard that IB and his little playmate rolled around on the floor like lion cubs all day long.  Heaven.

One of the smartest things I did during the race was to find my own bathrooms.  Do you see how important bathrooms are in this story?  The lines are so long.  I knew it was going to be a long race for me and I refused to stand in those lines (Or as they say in NYC “on those lines”).  I began scanning the storefronts, looking for somewhere I could duck in.

I tried a Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn.  No luck.  The owner wouldn’t let me use her facilities.  It was empty, for Pete’s sake.  The next Chinese place on the route allowed me to go through their kitchen and into the employee’s-only bathroom.  I wished I lived in the area and could go back there to order some food.  I was so happy!

My next pit stop was at a Subway Restaurant in Queens.  When I went in, the owner said there was someone already in the bathroom, but that I was next.  I told her that my son works at Subway.  She could have cared less.

Speaking of Subway, here's my favorite Sandwich Technician.

Another runner emerged from the bathroom and I said, “Aren’t we smart?”  He cruised past me without a word.  “Rude.” I thought.  When I came out, he was sitting at a table, eating a sub with another runner!  I decided that maybe he didn’t speak English and that’s why he didn’t answer me.  He also might have dropped out of the race altogether.  I’ve only heard of ultra marathoners actually stopping for a meal in the middle of a race.

Not much else to report.  Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and back to Manhattan.  Tough run.  Unlike the Disney Marathon, I got candy (for those of you who haven’t heard, Disney promised candy at mile 23.  By the time I got there the candy was g-o-n-e.  I have not forgotten!).  I had two snack size snickers bars and a little packet of whoppers.  I was happy.

In Brooklyn I saw a runner with my name on her shirt.  I ran past her, cheering her name and pointing to mine on the back of my jacket.  She laughed.  12 miles later, in the Bronx, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder and say, “Hi again!”  There she was.

In Central Park I ran between two people with names very similar to mine.  I pretended everyone was calling my name (Note to self: put your name on the FRONT of your shirt.  No one really sees the back of your jacket, dummy).

I also ran for quite awhile near someone named “Jared”.  I knew the Subway Jared was running the race.  I kept looking around for Jared, but never saw him.  I’m not sure if I even know what he looks like.  No one seemed super excited, like, “HEY!  THERE’S JARED!”  It was a little more subdued.  Subway’s Jared beat my time, so I guess it wasn’t him, but I’m not sure.

I saw Elvis, a grown up spectator dressed as Elmo, and a runner who’s shirt said he was 6’10. I believe him.

I finished, collected my medal and shuffled to PS 87.  Thank goodness for the Prospect Park Track Club.  They rent out an elementary school for their members to gather in after the race.  Children’s bathrooms never looked more appealing.  The Major kindly escorted me to and from these facilities.  Hot and cold drinks.  Cookies and snacks.  Most importantly, someone had turned the heat way up for the runners’ comfort.

The Major said it was amazing to see the runners coming in from the race.  Everyone had the same slow shuffle and vacant stare.  Some were smiling.  Some were not.  As they rested a bit and had something to eat, the runners all perked up.

We rode the subway home.  Two years ago, I showed my medal to the MTA employee who let me pass without paying.  Not this year.

We were invited over to eat with friends.  From my steaming, hot bathtub, I begged The Major to find a way to get me out of dinner.  It’s good having a lawyer in the family.

I was so exhausted that I was asleep by 8 pm.  I barely woke up when TM, SD and IB came home from dinner.  I slept soundly until the morning.

I had grand plans to run the Buffalo Marathon in May.  I’m rethinking this plan.  Running marathons is really hard.  I think I’ll run a few Half Marathons in the Spring, just to give myself a break.  We’ll see what the fall holds.

–Running Girl

These kids were amazing! Choreographed Drumming.

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