NYC Marathon 2024, Part III: Manhattan, The Bronx, Manhattan

 NYC Marathon 2024 Race Recap, Part III: Manhattan, The Bronx, Manhattan. 

Part I: Getting to the Start Line.

Part II: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens.

We've just had a rejuvenating run over the Queensboro Bridge after covering our first three boroughs in 16 miles. The quiet on the bridge is giving way to the roar of First Avenue in...

Manhattan (the first time): miles 16-20

Entering Manhattan, my first thought was, "I get to see Jasper and my parents around mile 16.5!!" 

But then, amid the generic cheers of the crowd, I heard something that made me do a double take...oh my goodness, it's MANDY AND JUDE!!! I had no idea they were going to come out to cheer. The absolute glee I felt seeing them is in evidence in the pictures from Jude, of me taking a 90-degree turn to swoop in to hug Mandy. 

That carried me for another half a mile to a mile until I found these beautiful faces. Husband, Mom, and Dad. They've followed me all over for races and spectate well. They spent the morning at the top of the Empire State Building, eating street hot dogs, and moseying over to 1st and 72nd, where they apparently made a few other Jessicas and many Cookie Monster fans smile. (Thanks to the Sesame Street booth at the Expo for the sign--I only saw one other actually along the course!) I took a quick breather with them and definitely teared up leaving for my final ten miles!

Some details are a little hazy, but I'm going to say these were in Manhattan:

First, I saw two people cheering and holding Swiss flags. I almost ran straight on by, but I noticed they had a stack of cups and a bottle of Coke. 

I said, "Oh my goodness, could I HAVE SOME OF THAT?"

"Ohhhh! Yes! Yes! It will help!"

Reader, it did help. I rarely drink Coke, but I absolutely crave it late in endurance events. It was life giving.

Second, at some point, as I ran by a small group, I overheard them say to a man about my dad's age "you just missed her! She literally just ran by!" He sprinted off after a woman about my age, caught up shortly, and gave her a big hug. She smiled ear to ear!

Eventually, around mile 19.5, I hit the Willis Avenue Bridge. It doesn't stick out as particularly hard, but it was pretty as the sun had started to set.

The Bronx: mile 20-21

The Bronx was my favorite borough, and it was only about a mile of the course. It was a mix of good music, enthusiastic crowds, and a few sweet encounters.

My hamstring cramped a bit, so when I spotted a tent of police officers offering massage sticks and Biofreeze, I popped over. A wonderful young woman quickly asked what I needed and got to work rolling out my hamstrings and calves, then rubbing in Biofreeze. Felt magical!

Next, as I was nearing the final bridge on a walking break, I saw a woman follow runners for a bit and come back to follow another, and she followed me. She gave me the best pep talk for me in that moment. "You can walk as much as you want or need, but you WILL RUN across the finish line. YOU WILL. TELL ME."

I told her. I promised I would. (With a couple tears.) Actually hearing that "I could just walk" was great motivation to *not* just walk, so...thank you ma'am!

And then, just like that, we were at the Madison Ave Bridge. The Last Damn Bridge, as they say:

I happily grabbed some Jelly Bellies and Nerds, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Manhattan (the second time): mile 21-26.2

Back in Manhattan, we ran about three miles down 5th Ave, chasing the sun setting behind the Empire State Building. Please note all the walkers in this photo:

Yes, my cohort as it were was very, very tired by this point. It got dark just as we started to feel 5th Ave's incline. They all say you wouldn't notice that it's uphill if you weren't near the end of a marathon. I definitely felt that.

I passed the woman on crutches who was the second-to-last finisher of the marathon: she'd started in an earlier wave than me, hurt something at mile 17, asked for crutches in a medical tent, and kept going. So inspiring that she finished!

Even in the dark, the streets were lined with people encouraging us, handing out fruit and tissues and water (never mind the official aid stations themselves), and playing music. Amazing.

I just kept swimming, kept deciding to not walk the whole way back, kept restarting my running intervals.

Around mile 24, we ENTERED THE PARK!! CENTRAL PARK!! I loved the change of scenery and terrain. The rolling hills brought some life back into my legs. A man in combat boots passed me, blasting music. I passed a woman in all hot pink and glitter. We saw a sign that said "Hi Barbie!" And then we hit mile 25!

At mile 25.5, we left the park to frantic crowds on 59th street. I knew my family would be waiting, and compulsively checked my forearm--must not miss them!!

I knew I'd get confused later in the race. 

THERE THEY WERE!!!! No stopping this time, save to toss Jasper my bottle and kick it into a higher gear! 

We rounded the corner back into Central Park at Columbus Circle to tunes of an awesome band, and a street lined with flags.

   

Markers switched from miles or kilometers to meters: 800m to go!!

400m to go!!

200m to go!! The lights were blinding and grandstand empty, but the finish area full of volunteers and spectators, go go gooooo!

Fin. :D

I teared up yet again, in relief and happiness and some disbelief that after two years of planning and 6:45:28 hours of running, I'd finished the New York City Marathon. 

Post-race celebration

I got my medal, my recovery bag with snacks I never ate, and my fleece-lined poncho that is currently my couch blanket.

 

My coach texted me immediately. We're both so pleased, given *waves hands vaguely* everything. The dazzling NYC Marathon experience and no injuries is what we trained for, and we did it.

I texted Jasper, and started a new Garmin workout with Livetrack so he could follow my slow progress leaving the infamous finish area. My walk from the finish line to the subway was over a mile.

The zombies in orange hobbled away from the finish line through a maze of fencing. I kept checking my forearm to make sure I remembered the cross street. Wait, isn't this 72nd? Can't I leave here? Volunteer says no...sigh.

I shuffled down to 68th, and a-ha! An exit! THERE'S MY JASPER!!!! And mom! Dad! Mandy! Jude!

We waddled to the subway, and I sort of controlled fell down the stairs.

Back at the hotel, after a photoshoot with my new favorite jewelry, I showered. Oh my goodness, I left out details of the portapotties, but I mentioned general NYC smells, and things on the ground, and well...let's just say I felt like a new woman after a hot, thorough shower.

Then, Jasper and I dragged my increasingly hungry self down to Goldie's Tavern, the perfectly acceptable sports bar under our hotel, and said goodbye to Mandy and Jude, and hello to Beth and Josh for a bit!! Mom, Dad, Jasper, and I got the best burgers, tater tots, and Manhattans. The very slow service was not what I needed, but the protein and carbs definitely were. We exhaustedly hugged Mom and Dad goodbye before their super early flight. They're so good to me. Thanks for coming to NYC and hanging out with your son-in-law all day while I raaan! (They're good buds.)

First night after: ouch

As I expected from other events, I couldn't sleep at all from pain and overstimulation that night. Rolling over hurt everything from my core down to my toes. Walking was hard the next day, but between Chelsea brunch with my friends before they left for the airport, visiting the LEGO flagship store for a free minifig trophy and medal (if I showed my medal), Refinery Rooftop dinner, and Aladdin on Broadway, I covered 7 miles! That movement helped; I slept INCREDIBLY well with no pain the second night, and walked mostly normally the next day.

Final Thoughts: do it

I'm not sure I'll do the NYC Marathon again, but it was an unforgettable experience. For the record, I liked Pink Start and the Queensboro bridge, and did not like having something specific on my shirt that excited the crowd. I am apparently not 90% of NYC marathon runners. That's okay.

We would definitely stay in the Courtyard Marriott Manhattan/Chelsea again. It was perfect for race logistical stuff and so clean and comfortable.

Bagel Pub has amazing bagels and like twenty different kinds of cream cheese, but their coffee is terrible.

Chelsea is my current favorite NYC neighborhood.

Barn Joo was my favorite meal.

Jasper, Mom, Dad, Mandy, Bethany, Josh, and Jude made my 40th Birthday and Marathon Trip incredible, thank you all!!! 

Official video. If only I knew where the video cameras would be, I'd time my walking breaks differently. :P