NYC was never on my "must-do" marathon lists. I usually don't care for crowds and big events, but I was offered an entry by my ING plan rep and said "sure, what the heck." I didn't really think she'd be able to pull it off, so was surprised to get the invitation in my e-mail a short week later. I didn't reply right away, but one day during lunch I saw it again and thought "Let's see what happens if I accept." Well, what happened is I was entered and more or less committed to a very long trip... I didn't tell DH about it for awhile, wasn't quite sure how to break the news I'd entered another East coast marathon and would need airfare and hotel $ and would love to have him come along too! Oy... Took the plunge, told him about it and that I really wanted to go, but would understand if we couldn't handle it right now. I'm sure he thought I was crazy. Eventually, we were able to do it by cashing in a gazillion Alaska Airlines miles, staying the first two nights with our niece in Brooklyn and the last night with friends in Manhattan. I guess where there's a will, there's a way, right? As most of you know, I've been having foot problems (metatarsal) since just before Boston. It would get better, then flare up and be sore, settle down again, rinse and repeat. It didn't seem to affect my running too much as I set a nice PR in the marathon at Boston and very nice 8k and HM PRs this summer. I set a course PR on the Equinox and was recovering well with my foot getting better as time went on. Then, three weeks before NYC, I had a big set back with a sore foot that made walking painful. My last long run was an aborted attempt at 18 miles on Oct. 12; I barely got 5.5 miles before I had to quit. The next three weeks were spent in a frenzy of cross-training with Pool Running and stationary bike workouts, lots of ice and ibuprofen and finally a visit to the foot doc who couldn't find anything definitively wrong with it, just bruising and inflammation. He gave me the cautious go ahead for NYC, knowing full well I was going no matter what and would probably run it no matter what he said. 1:25 a.m. departure on Halloween, arrived in NYC 7:20 pm that night. Took a cab to niece's place in Brooklyn... dead tired. Saturday we got up late and took the subway to lunch with Hally, Twocat, Mainerunnah and his buddies, and Aamos and her DH. Fun group, great food, a really nice time. There's been other pictures posted of this event, but Mainerunnah didn't like his photo in one of them so here's a really good one of Bob! After lunch, Hally went with DH and me to the Expo and we had fun poking around the racks of overpriced shorts and t's. We said goodbye and headed home, which for us was an hour on the subway to get back to Brooklyn. Probably too much walking around, but my foot didn't feel too bad and I was feeling ready to run. Dinner was Italian takeout ordered by my niece's BF... and I know I stayed up too late but had to watch SNL with Tina Fey and John McCain. It was worth it. We were driving to the start so the plan was to leave at 5:15 to head over to Staten Island. I got up in plenty of time to get ready, including applying this really cool "Pace Tat," a temporary tattoo with my planned (i.e., hoped for) time of 3:45 and the splits I'd need to get there. A quick trip over the bridge and they dropped me off at the entrance to the start area. It was cold, dark and windy. I hadn't known what to wear, so just wore everything to fend off the chill. Part of my ING entry included the ING Hospitality Tent, which was a big dark tent with no lights or chairs, some coffee and white-bread bagels, and power bars. Hmmmm. Sat on plastic bags and wrapped up in more bags, kept warm and talked to other runners in the tent till it got really crowded... just in time for me to go drop my bag and head to the starting area for the first wave start. Met up with another Maniac (Bruce #195) and we had a good talk while waiting and moving through the corrals and up to the start. The cannon goes Boom and we're off! Well, we would be. Eventually. Started walking, then jogging, then got a good run going by the time I crossed the start mat--sooner than I thought I would! I think the Wave start worked very well and there really was no congestion at the start. But I crossed the mat so soon I forgot to start my Garmin! Took me probably almost two minutes to realize that and started it late. That would cost me later because I was never really sure where I was pace-wise. One thing I've got to add here... Guys can be so gross!! Throwaway clothes were collected in bins before you went to the start, but most people kept them on because we had to wait 10-15 minutes in the chilly breeze before the start. So as the gun goes off, people peel and toss left and right. And what do a bunch of guys do? Pee on the piles of clothes! How gross is that?? I guess it kept the pee from running across the road where you'd step in it, but really. Yuk. I felt very sorry for the folks who would collect it for the charities, but I'm sure they wore gloves. The rest of my race is sort of a blur. I know I went out too fast, but with the late Garmin start and the fact that I started on the lower level of the bridge meant I didn't really get a feel for my pace. And I think everyone went out too fast cuz I was getting passed by a lot of runners! When my first 5k split got sent to DH's cell phone, he thought, "uh oh, she's going way too fast." My second 5k was faster than my first! Every mile marker I'd check the clock (gun time) and try to adjust for what I thought my time should be. My mile splits on the Garmin were out of sync with the mile markers because I'd started it late. I felt out of sorts and disorganized, but I knew I'd have to slow down to stay in the game. The crowds were amazing, and I got lots of high 5's from the "Alaska" tag DH had put on my singlet. I wore a long sleeved shirt that I'd intended to throw away at about mile 6, but the wind was so chilly I actually put it on a couple of times during the race so decided to keep it. Ended up with it tied around my waist (sorry SR...) but it turned around and flopped down in front, looking like a funky bright green running skirt. HM split should've been 1:52 to be on pace... mine was just under 1:49. The Queensboro Bridge at mile 15 just about did me in and I felt bathroom urges pretty badly. Just after that bridge, you loop around and go under it and a whole bank of porta-potties are on the left...and a huge crowd of spectators across the road on the right. No way was I ducking in there with an audience like that! So, just held on and urge passed. By mile 17 I was taking longer walk breaks. Texted DH (yes, right there on the course) that my left quad was hurting, foot mad at me, lots of walking. The bad thing about having your name on your shirt is when you're hurting and walking, the spectators really yell at you. Some are encouraging, but others are sort of mean about it. More than once I felt like giving the bird to a few, but I just tried to ignore them. Heading into Central Park I was so happy to be almost done... and so spent I could barely keep running. DH did get a picture of me, thank God I was running at the time! Notice I'm on the far side where there were no spectators so they wouldn't yell at me. I just wanted to be done. I was so happy to see 3:59 on the clock when I finished! Wasn't sure of my time, but I knew it was sub-4. Ended up with 3:57:34 which is good for a BQ, but far off the 3:45 I'd wanted... and the 3:30 I was on tap to get with my early pace! My left quad was so sore... my foot was sore (but not as bad as I'd thought it would be)... and I was totally done. Bottom line: cross training will get you through, but save the PR attempt for another day! It would be fun to do NYC again when I was feeling better and in shape for it. But I don't know that I'll get another chance... a lot of pieces fell together for this to happen this year. Thanks for reading if you made it this far; I realize this was a very long tale!

Just wanted to say congrats on a valiant effort and cruising in under 4 despite some formidable hurdles. We loved meeting you & Peter and look forward to Seattle--would love to see some of your travel photos sometime. Tammy--that's Bob's friend, Brian, who ran a fine race, 3:17 was it? He's the dad of 2 boys who suffer from a rare form of muscular dystrophy and ran in connection with a foundation devoted to the condition. Did I get that right, Mainerunr? And Thanks again Barb, for making it all possible! grins, A

Tammy--that's Bob's friend, Brian, who ran a fine race, 3:17 was it? He's the dad of 2 boys who suffer from a rare form of muscular dystrophy and ran in connection with a foundation devoted to the condition. Did I get that right, Mainerunr?

oh, is that that Duchenne's MD?? A friend of mine in MN - her son has that. He was diagnosed about 3 yrs ago maybe? I think he's around 8 now.

Only 5... (AK, WA, CA, MA and NY); I've got a long ways to go to catch Aamos!!

Oops. Great job erika!!

Congrats Erica. Considering what you've been going through with the agony of de feet, you did really well. Good report. I read it out loud and Marj and I both enjoyed your humor.

Erika..Congratulations for toughing out a Marathon under less than ideal conditions! The foot issue messed up the training and the fast first half pace added on to a rough landing. But you landed.. right across the finish in the big NYC marathon. Just think of all the famous runners that crossed that line! Great job! I'm very happy for you. Now rest that foot a bit! ..and another BQ to boot! Sweet!

(((E-van's metatarsal))) You walked a lot and still took it under 4:00. You're still awesome in my book! Rest up & roar back...