New York Marathon Race Report

NEW YORK MARATHON RACE REPORT - NOVEMBER 2015

BACKGROUND

The New York Marathon is something I’ve wanted to do for the past 3+ years.  I was scheduled to run the race in 2012 but due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the race was cancelled.  Not only did I feel bad for the people of New York but I was very disappointed because my training had gone exceptionally well.  I seem susceptible to random injuries before big races and that did not occur so I was primed and ready!  

At the time I didn’t realize that I was getting the start of an overuse injury that I would sustain indefinitely.  The injury is piriformis syndrome and it is evil.  

TRAINING 

Training did not go well.  I have been battling injuries ever since 2012 and have not allowed myself to heal.  I always thought surely I would be healed up before the next big race because most major races you have to sign up for months in advance.  This has not been the case.  I have been getting away with allowing myself to heal a little bit and then going right back at it before being 100%.  My body finally said “ENOUGH!” and started giving me pain throughout my whole pelvis, back and hamstrings.   

My long runs consisted of one 18 mile run, 14 mile run and 12 mile run.  All others were 9 miles or less.  My typical plan would have had me doing a few 20 milers and a couple 22s.  I’ve spent hours doing PT, going to my chiropractor, getting tortuous massages and pain treatment. All of these things helped but didn’t eliminate the problem.   Underprepared and in pain was how I was going to have to go into this.   I struggled to accept the fact that there would be no PR and that walking a good portion of the marathon might be my reality.  I figured if I finished under 4 hours it would probably be a good day.   I decided I was going to have fun with this marathon. I got a Wonder Woman outfit, planned on taking pictures and thought maybe I’d look for anyone handing out beers. 

RACE DAY

Breakfast on race morning was a bowl of oatmeal and some coffee.  The race starts on Staten Island and I had signed up to take the ferry to the start.  Getting to the ferry was a little nerve racking when the cab driver didn’t know which way to go.  Seriously???  He was born and raised in Queens.  Oh well, got there on time and got a seat on the outside balcony.  I loved being on the water and getting pictures of the Statue of Liberty.  It was very peaceful and I was more relaxed than I ever have been before a race since I knew I wasn’t shooting for a time.  I said some prayers for a race day miracle and chatted with other runners.   I brought some chia pudding, blueberries and a banana with me to eat once I got to Staten Island and was in my corral.

The runners begin the race by running over the Verrazano Narrows bridge which has 2 levels.  I was fortunate my corral started on the top level so I had beautiful views of the water and New York once I started.  “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra played from the speakers.  Helicopters were overhead.  With my new relaxed attitude, I took out my phone and shot photos and videos. My first five miles were faster than I thought I should be (sub 8:00 pace) and I told myself to back down so I would hopefully not be miserable by the end of the run.  

Funny seeing you here!

My prayers for a miracle were answered around mile 8 .  I saw a runner up ahead of me and realized I recognized her running gait.  Could out of 50,000 runners representing 130 countries on the course, a running friends of mine from Scottsdale be just up ahead?  I knew a couple of my friends from Scottsdale were in New York for the race but hadn’t talked to them.  I decided I needed to speed up and investigate.  I was elated to see it was my friend Rebecca.  Unfortunately, she has been plagued with a lot of the same overuse injuries as myself.  We decided to stick together and push each other through.  She told me it looked like I was moving pretty well.  I warned her that I was real good at running 9 miles since that was the average distance of my training runs so we’d see what would happen after that.  We settled into a pace that was consistent with my training pace so I thought that was good.  I actually wasn’t even looking at my watch because I wasn’t supposed to be caring about my time. 

The pain started as little zingers in my hamstrings around mile 10.  The real pain started though at the halfway point when my feet started to ache.  Every step hurt, especially the right foot.   I have never been in such prolonged physical pain in my life.  By mile 25, I would get these weird, bad tingles that would radiate from my right foot up into my arms.  I was so happy when I crossed the finish line.  I was also amazed at how much pain I could endure when properly motivated.  I finished in 3:51, nowhere near my potential but I was happy. 

The many faces of pain!!!  Eek!

The support I had during this race is what defined it for me.  If I didn’t have a friend with me during this run, I would have walked and been out there a lot longer than under 4 hours. It was such a comfort to run with a friend. Also, the spectators in New York are awesome and loud!  Spectators are not allowed on the bridges so it is very quiet with just the sounds of shoes hitting the pavement and breathing. When you come off a bridge and enter one of the boroughs, you just hear a roar of cheering.  It was emotional for me when I’d get struck with the sounds to be part of something so big and wonderful and fun.  I slapped hands with so many people. I loved being Wonder Woman!  People love cheering for Wonder Woman!   I heard how I was awesome and looking great for miles.  By the end, it was evident I was in agony and people were telling Wonder Woman to hang on.  My husband Kirk and friends Nicki and Adam were cheering for me on 1st Ave and it was fun looking for them and seeing them cheer.  This is what helped my hold and finish.  

Not only did I have a lot of support during the race but also a lot to get me to the starting line.  

Thank you to Ian at Endurance Rehab for getting me in the day after I sent him a desperate email  with the subject line of, “Help, I can’t run!” 

Thank you to Don Wong for your tortuous massages.  I’m sure you understand the love/hate feelings I have about your care.  

Thank you to Terri Hollander for setting me up with Dr. Jonathan Carlson at Arizona Pain.  My back and hamstrings weren’t my problem on race day because of you.

Mission Accomplished!

Thank you to Dr. Justin Pierce at Valley Spinal Care for keeping me in line and for listening to all my tales of injury woes for the past few years.

Actually, thank you to everyone who knows me for listening to my injury issues.  I mean it this time when I say I’m taking time off to heal.   If you see me at a race in the next few months, tie me up and throw me in the back of a car.  

Thank you to my One and One Elite teammates for their encouragement and support!

Thank you to my wonderful family who lets me do this.  Thank you to my mother in law, Kathi Marshall for watching the kids so Kirk and I could go for a kidless trip to New York.  Also thank you to Carla Grande for her awesome hospitality in New York.  She has the best bed and breakfast in Greenwich Village!  www.greenwichvillagehome.com/

Finally, thank you to my husband Kirk who supports me and loves me through all of this.