ING New York City Marathon Recap

It's a good thing I wasn't running this race because a few things went wrong. I woke up early on race day, excited to be a spectator. I gathered my cameras, donned my Social Media Reporter shirt, and walked to the bus stop. Only the bus didn't arrive until almost 40 minutes later. It turns out I had gone to the wrong bus stop. Public transit: 1 - Christina: 0.

After the bus pulled up to the George Washington Bridge instead of Port Authority like I expected, I walked down to the Subway for some public transit redemption. According to the map the approaching train was the line I needed, only it didn't stop at 72nd street like I thought. Fortunately, it did stop at Columbus Circle which is right next to Central Park and the final turn of the marathon course leading to the finish line.

I didn't want to stay here so I headed over to 1st Ave and 60th Street, aka mile 16. Along the way I saw spectators preparing to cheer the runners, fans dressed up, and runners running along a portion of the course. Everyone seemed very upbeat and excited. Like candy canes at Christmas.

After walking a few blocks and popping into a Starbucks to use the restroom (didn't want any race-cheering accidents) I made it to 1st Ave, where you could see the Queensboro Bridge (part of the race course) in the distance. It wasn't crowded at that point and I was able to find a spot right up by the fence next to two very nice spectators, Judy from New York City and Peter, hailing all the way from the Netherlands.

And then we waited. The wheelchair division had already started but hadn't reached mile 16 yet. The elite women were minutes away from their start.

Fans from other countries were setting up. The band (there was a band at every mile) was testing one, two, three. It was almost time! I had fun talking to Judy and Peter about their family who were running the marathon, their goals, and random tidbits about the race.

Finally, the wheelchair racers rolled by! It was great to see their effort, knowing they wheeled themselves over the same bridges with steep inclines (unless they had a different course?) was an incredible thought. My arms are limp noodles and I can barely eke out five push ups.

As this man veered to the side, we didn't know if he was hurt or dropping out. Fortunately, he only needed to change his tire, eventually rejoining the race.

Once the procession of motorcycle cops drove by we knew the elite women would be right behind them.

They weren't.

The elite women followed the pacing truck that had the marathon time. This lady had quite a bit of a lead, though she was eventually overtaken later on.

A pack of other elite women shortly followed the leader. Their strides looked so effortless. People were really getting excited now!

Next up was the elite men! It was amazing to see Meb Keflezighi running in person. I'm a big fan of his and was happy he placed 6th.

And then both my cameras died, making me the worst blogger in the history of the internet. On the way to Central Park I stopped inside a drugstore to buy batteries for the flip cam. Unfortunately, they just so happened to be out of store brand AAs, meaning I had to buy a 4-pack for $7. Why I didn't bring any batteries with me, I do not know. I should start religiously making lists, only I have a feeling I'll forget to write something down on the list anyway.

At least I didn't have any bathroom accidents, right?

Fortunately, thanks to the batteries I captured enough of the race to put together a little video for you to enjoy.

I had a lot of fun watching my first big city marathon. I really was inspired to kick start my own running and I loved seeing the city support the 40,000 plus runners. All along the course of this marathon, excluding the bridges, there are fans lined up. I've never seen that kind of spectator support anywhere and it was probably one of the best moments in my life.

Seeing the runners and knowing all the hard word and dedication it took them to get to this point is something I'll be thinking about when I get discouraged during the winter. Maybe I'll eventually train for a marathon myself in two years or so.

Race Preparations and Running Perspective

Planning and preparation for the ING New York City Marathon begins months in advance of race date. Despite New York Road Runners thoroughness in taking as many precautions as possible, it can't always prevent the unexpected from happening. The freak snow storm that hit the East Coast caused massive damage in many areas leaving some without power. Central Park, where the marathon route finishes, was one of the places struck by the storm leaving fallen tree limbs and weakened branches.  

Clean up of the park began immediately following the storm, according to Peter Shields of Davey Tree Expert Company based in Canada. Shields said that five similar companies were contracted from out of state to aid in the efforts to clear the park in time for Sunday's marathon; however, the ongoing clean up is not solely for the marathon. Shields said, "More than 40,000 people will be going through the park next weekend, and even more when foot traffic now and following the marathon is included."

He described it as a joint effort, with the primary goal being to make the park safe for people. "The public is attracted to hazards, and they don't fully appreciate the efforts and dangers the workers go through. They see the yellow tape, and instead of staying out they go under it to investigate."  As he said this, he pointed out a group of small children who had gone under the tape to look at a tree. Safety is one subject he strongly stresses when he teaches arboriculture in schools.

He urges, "When you see men wearing hard hats and yellow tape marking off areas, please maintain a safe distance, so we can do our jobs without worry of hurting the public."  

The primary focus is to clear fallen and weakened trees and limbs that are considered an immediate hazard such as those obstructing major roads throughout the park. Shields and his crew were working along the marathon route when I spoke with him. His job is to check the area and log the damaged trees into an electronic database.

"All the trees in Central Park are logged. I don't believe any other park keeps records to this extent, " he explained. Shields and crew follow along the storm's path entering data for the damaged trees into the log while another crew comes along from behind to take care of them.

Clean up  begins daily at sunrise and goes late into the day to get as much done as possible. "I was originally supposed to stay until Friday, but the job might be extended for two weeks total," he said.

Shields, like many of the out of towners brought in to assist with the clean up, misses home, but he's making the most of it. "I've never been to Central Park before, so being here and working amongst the trees has been incredible. I love my job!"

He describes himself as a tree geek, but who wouldn't be after walking around this iconic park?

I was honored  to be able to talk to one of the many sent to care for Central Park and get an insider's perspective on the extent of the clean up. We don't always know the strides being taken behind the scenes for such a large event, and our personal perspective is often skewered by our own opinion. The next time you walk by a clean-up crew in the park, realize how much effort the individual workers are giving to clear out the damage as quickly as possible.  

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At the end of our conversation, I was able to explain to Shields about the objective of New York Road Runners this year and our goal  to help make running in general, and the marathon in particular, more approachable to non-runners. When he asked how it can be made more relatable, I explained that the determination, dedication, planning and focus of many runners are traits that can be applied to other areas of life and not just marathon training . The ING New York City Marathon isn't just a long, group run in a big city. Rather, it's representative of the culmination of months of training for a purpose:  the purpose of racing in honor of a loved one, the purpose of pushing oneself to complete a goal dependent solely upon one's own efforts, and, for many, the purpose of simply achieving a personal sense of accomplishment.  

Peter Shields agreed that while the ability to push oneself, as runners do every day they lace up their shoes, is important to apply to all areas of life, it is most keenly so in one's work life. "You need to push yourself to become what you want. I pushed myself to become one of the 13 arborists in Canada with my credentials, something only two percent of all arborists obtain." While he may be an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, he keeps pretty quiet about it telling me that even the crew with whom he works is unaware of his title. In fact, it was deep into our conversation before Peter began to talk about it at all. Humility plus excellence. Sounds like a runner to me.  

What we all can take away from runners is that having the push, or the drive, keeps you focused on your goal when outside factors seem to knock you down. Everyone can apply this principle in some aspect of life, be it job, family or self, the latter being the simple, personal satisfaction of a job done to the best of one's ability.

Why I Run - Perspective from Local Runners

I walked around Central Park earlier this week to take a look at the work being done to clear the park of debris. During the few hours I was there, I also talked to some people running (when they weren't running...), about their goals, reason for running, and other tidbits. Here are the mini interviews I took of them. I also thank them for not being freaked out when I walked up to them.

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Kelly E. from Manhattan

Why do you run?
It makes me a better person, it helps clear my head, gives me confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

Are you running the ING New York City Marathon? If not, are you training for a race?
I am running the marathon, and it'll be my first one. My goal time is 3:45. I'm excited about how the weather is looking this week!

What would your advice be for beginning runners?
My advice to new runners is to listen to your body and start gradually. Don't rush into a program. Recognize that running isn't for everyone, so keep tabs on how your body responds.

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Mark K. from Austin, TX

Why do you run?
I run for the mindset, more specifically, the focus runners have that they maintain through their run. I also like the feeling you get from it.

Are you running the ING New York City Marathon? If not, are you training for a race?
I'm not running the marathon. I run a lot in general, train, and enter races all the time.

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Bridget H. from New York City

Why do you run?
I began running 12 years ago for the health benefits, but it eventually turned into a genuine love of the sport.
I use running as an outlet. I'm a mom and I'm expecting another baby on the way, so I've had to keep the intensity low, but I still get out there. Running makes me feel normal, especially during all the changes that occur during a pregnancy.

Are you running the ING New York City Marathon? If not, are you training for a race?
I'm not running the marathon, though I train for two half marathons a year.

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Holly M. from New York city

Why do you run?
I run for the feeling, and the stress relief. As a mom, I'm busy raising my kids, and running gives me some alone time. It helps make me a better mom, keeps me normal and stay healthy. Running is a constant that makes me a better person.

What would your advice be for beginning runners?
I find that people who ask me why I do it sometimes have a fear of the pain from running. I tell them that it won't always be as painful as they imagine. Over time, it will become more manageable, though the pain is helpful because it mimics how you've got to keep going no matter what, like in life. It won't always be easy, but you learn to adjust.

Are you running the ING New York City Marathon? If not, are you training for a race?
I'm training for the Ft. Lauderdale marathon in February. I grew up there, though I've lived in New York City for over 10 years.

My first New York Road Runners race brought me to tears at the idea of being involved in such a great community of like-minded individuals.

Marathon week is special for me. I'll be volunteering at mile 18 for two hours. Seeing the marathoners will inspire and psych me up for my marathon!