NYC Marathon Race Logistics

La · Postby La » Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:11 am

To avoid further hijacking this thread: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=42477

I thought I'd start a new thread to discuss Turd's idea/suggestion of taking a limo to the start. Is this actually possible? Are there any access issues on the bridge to Staten Island? How close could we reasonably get?

Strider · Postby **Strider** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:30 pm

No clue, but to be honest it wasn't that bad, easier than Boston. What we did notice was a lot of people hanging around inside the Ferry Building and taking later ferry's across. We sure didn't sit around for 4 hours once we got there, maybe 1.5 hours.

La · Postby La » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:40 pm

I don't mind the getting up early part, or even the waiting around part. The thing that worries me (because of a bad race experience in Vegas) is being cold (or worse, cold AND wet) before the race even starts.

BJH · Postby **BJH** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:58 pm

CinC found the religious services tent the year we did it.

I had pretty warm throw away clothes, plus a few garbage bags to wrap myself up in. A throw away tarp might be a good idea if the weather looks bad?

CinC · Postby **CinC** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:38 pm

BJH wrote:CinC found the religious services tent the year we did it.

I had pretty warm throw away clothes, plus a few garbage bags to wrap myself up in. A throw away tarp might be a good idea if the weather looks bad?

and just bring some headphones so you don't have to hear the singing and service.

Postby **turd ferguson** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:30 pm

Even though dunkin is giving away free coffee and donuts, restraint is still the word

Postby **turd ferguson** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:39 pm

Strider - interesting point on catching a later ferry. I caught the ferry they told me to, which got me there super-early. I could have easily caught one three hours later and caught one of the tons of buses from the ferry terminal to the fort.

La · Postby La » Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:53 pm

turd ferguson wrote:Strider - interesting point on catching a later ferry. I caught the ferry they told me to, which got me there super-early. I could have easily caught one three hours later and caught one of the tons of buses from the ferry terminal to the fort.

Maybe they tell people that knowing that some people will be late. I guess they have to spread it out otherwise they won't get everyone over there.

My travel package has bus transportation included (not sure what that means), but some of the folks in our group didn't book through them because they qualified and got a guaranteed entry (though they're staying at the same hotel). It would be nice if we could all go over together, but chances are they'll have a different start wave than those of us who didn't qualify, so it's probably moot.

Postby **turd ferguson** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:13 pm

turd ferguson wrote:
Strider - interesting point on catching a later ferry. I caught the ferry they told me to, which got me there super-early. I could have easily caught one three hours later and caught one of the tons of buses from the ferry terminal to the fort.

Maybe they tell people that knowing that some people will be late. I guess they have to spread it out otherwise they won't get everyone over there.

My travel package has bus transportation included (not sure what that means), but some of the folks in our group didn't book through them because they qualified and got a guaranteed entry (though they're staying at the same hotel). It would be nice if we could all go over together, but chances are they'll have a different start wave than those of us who didn't qualify, so it's probably moot.

The waves are 20 minutes or so apart so I don't think it matters. I was in wave 2 and getting into the corral when wave 1 went off. The entire field is in the fort at once.

Postby **Marg** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:22 pm

Lesley, I was going to ask you about the plan. Strider said go ferry but I am up for a limo or whatever option chosen that ensures I am by your side.
When I saw this I panicked at all the choices!

You can add transportation option until 9/1/2011
The following options are available to select:
Staten Island Ferry - 8:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 8:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:30 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:30 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:30 AM
New Jersey Bus
Midtown Manhattan Bus (New York Public Library) - 6:00 AM
Midtown Manhattan Bus (New York Public Library) - 5:30 AM
I do not need official transportation

jonovision_man · Postby **jonovision_man** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:04 pm

Marg wrote:You can add transportation option until 9/1/2011
The following options are available to select:
Staten Island Ferry - 8:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 8:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:30 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 7:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:30 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:30 AM
New Jersey Bus
Midtown Manhattan Bus (New York Public Library) - 6:00 AM
Midtown Manhattan Bus (New York Public Library) - 5:30 AM
I do not need official transportation

I didn't notice I had to pick one, so now my options are:

Staten Island Ferry - 6:30 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:15 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 6:00 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:45 AM
Staten Island Ferry - 5:30 AM
New Jersey Bus

Crappy!!!

From what I read the start won't be until 9:45 or so, that's a long wait.

jono

Jwolf · Postby **Jwolf** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:28 pm

Just got the email that all the manhattan buses are full now. Ugh- I had to wait till I knew where I was staying which I was just able to figure out this week. So now... To get to the Staten Island ferry...

Postby **Marg** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:31 pm

Omg. Ok I better make a pick pronto. Damn.

Postby **Marg** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:35 pm

I was able to pick Staten Island Ferry at 8am.

Jwolf · Postby **Jwolf** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:35 pm

What the Staten Island Ferry option mean exactly- we get ourselves to the ferry and then there's a bus on the other side that takes us to the start?

La · Postby La » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:39 pm

Marg, if there's some way I can get you on my bus from the Library, I'll let you know. The last I heard from the tour operator he hadn't been given our departure time yet. I have no clue if anyone else in my group who qualified (Leo, Jacqueline, Jeff) selected their transportation option or not, and if they did, which option they chose.

Postby **Marg** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:40 pm

Jwolf wrote:What the Staten Island Ferry option mean exactly- we get ourselves to the ferry and then there's a bus on the other side that takes us to the start?

Looks like it. The site says:
The staging area for the ING New York City Marathon is at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. The race start is on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
Staten Island Ferry
Departure location: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan
The Staten Island Ferry provides the simplest and most scenic Official Transportation option for thousands of runners. Whitehall Terminal is accessible by public transportation from Manhattan locations. The ferry transports runners to the St. George Terminal on Staten Island, from which buses transport runners directly to the start.

Postby **Marg** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 9:41 pm

La wrote:Marg, if there's some way I can get you on my bus from the Library, I'll let you know. The last I heard from the tour operator he hadn't been given our departure time yet. I have no clue if anyone else in my group who qualified (Leo, Jacqueline, Jeff) selected their transportation option or not, and if they did, which option they chose.

ok... thanks!
Well at least I'm not on a 5:30!

Worst case we'll have to find each other at the religion tent! :lol:

Doonst · Postby **Doonst** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:06 pm

Jwolf wrote:What the Staten Island Ferry option mean exactly- we get ourselves to the ferry and then there's a bus on the other side that takes us to the start?

Yes. At the other end there is another terminal, with buses every couple minutes. I hit the washroom and the ferry crowd cleared out in 2 or 3 buses. 5 minutes later it was quiet, just a few of us on the bus. There was lots of time to kill, so it worked out great.

Jwolf · Postby **Jwolf** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:13 pm

Ok that was easy- I'm on a 7:30 bus from the ferry.

La · Postby La » Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:30 am

I wonder why they make people select their transportation option so early. Lots can change for people in the four months leading up to the race. I can see them opening up transportation choices this early, but "closing" them by the end of July seems a bit soon.

I haven't heard anything more from the travel agent, so I am assuming he is taking care of things on his end.

Jwolf · Postby **Jwolf** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:26 am

I guess it's just that people know there are limited spaces at each time and register early. I had no idea certain slots would fill so quickly or so early. I would have preferred a Manhattan bus.

If you go with a tour they take care of your bus transport.

La · Postby La » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:40 am

Marg wrote:I was able to pick Staten Island Ferry at 8am.

That's a good time - not too early. We'll figure it out.

La · Postby La » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:41 am

Jwolf wrote:If you go with a tour they take care of your bus transport.

Yes, I just don't know what time the bus will be leaving.

HCcD · Postby **HCcD** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:54 am

fyi ...

The Wave Start Times on the Registration Cards are now correct- Please log in to your profile to verify your Wave Start time and Bib/Corral assignment.