NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob - Pictures added
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:37 am
PRE-RACE
Remarkably well planned event. This began with the mta.org Subway ‘Trip Planner’ that planned routes for runners, taking service interruptions into account. Quick trip from the Upper West Side to Start Line using a 4:47 Red Subway to a 5:07 Yellow Subway to the 5:30 Ferry to a 6:00 bus across Staten Island. Unfortunately this leaves me with my only complaint to the whole day, one that I have no constructive suggestion to address. The first half of the 6:20 to 9:40 wait in a parking lot, corral and start queue was absolutely unbearable. It was cold, runners needed to rest but try to stay warm and there was no shelter at all. All excitement was gone from 6:30 to 8:30 – while I knew this would be an extremely memorable event, I hated this stretch - but I perked up at 8:30 once I knew the gun was coming.
FIRST 5K – V-B BRIDGE & BROOKLYN
Loved the race from the start. I was confident that I could more likely than not come in just under 3:35:00 but wanted to stick to a conservative pace and potentially surge at the end rather than go out quick and fold (plan - viewtopic.php?f=18&t=39063&start=167 )
I needed 8:12/mile to stick to the 3:35:00 place. I lined up at the back of Wave One. The only pacers in the wave were 3:30:00, 3:40:00 and up were in the next wave so I knew I needed to be at the back. I was shocked when I had to pass walkers in the first mile. But placement at the back meant I was passing all race rather than being passed, a good confidence booster.
Loooved the hard rock bands early and often in Brooklyn! Brooklyn had the best bands of the race. They are also the most memorable fans for me – but I was also the most alert at this point.
GPS Mile Splits:
1 - 8:49 (up V-B bridge)
2- 7:46 (down V-B bridge)
3 - 8:08
Official 5K Split:
25:43 – 3:37:01 Projected Time
Not a surprise this 5K was slow – my pace was easy to keep – the only negative impact of congestion in the race was the first 600-800 metres of the race and inability to make up time lost up bridges going down bridges at any point. So impact in each of the first two miles and a slow 5K split.
SECOND 5K – BROOKLYN 4TH AVENUE
The Brooklyn fans continued to be awesome. This whole stretch sounded like the loudest intersection of most races.
I had to hang on to my pace here – 8:00/Mile was a 3:30:00 pace and was the number I never wanted to exceed on flats. I was slowing myself down a couple times a mile here:
4 - 8:03
5 - 8:00
6 - 8:06
Official 10K Split:
50:50 – 3:34:29 Projected Time
THIRD 5K
Continued up 4TH Avenue and Lafayette Avenues in Brooklyn
As soon as the courses merged at 8 Miles, I realized I was right behind the runner with “3:30:00 Pace Team” on his back. This made no sense to me – all six (two per bridge) pacers in this wave were 3:30:00 pacers and should have been 1:40 ahead of me – or likely more since I moved to the back of the wave. I just chocked this up to some bridges taking 6:00 to clear versus 3:45 at mine and I stuck to this dude’s tail, figuring I would see how long I could stick with him, his pace would need to pick up noticeably very soon.
But he was slowing me down, my eighth and ninth miles were the slowest since the opening bridge:
7 - 8:07
8 - 8:21
9 - 8:22
Official 15K Split:
1:16:35 – 3:35:26 Projected Time
FOURTH 5K – BEDFORD AVENUE
I put this slow pacer dude behind me early in the Tenth Mile and came across another runner marked “3:30 Pace Team.” My pace band showed I was just off a 3:35:00 pace, what was going on? I believe this was in my slower 11th mile but I quickly took faith in my own pacing.
Still lots of fans here and the first noticeably ethnic neighbourhood – Williamsburg was a large Jewish centre.
10 - 8:06
11 - 8:17
12 - 8:10
Official 20K Split:
1:42:04 – 3:35:20 Projected Time
END OF FIRST HALF
13 - 8:01
The first half ended on the uphill of the Pulaski Street Bridge from Brooklyn to Queens – I was thinking this conservative first half would give me a terrific shot at even or a negative split and a marginal sub 3:35:00, though I was feeling rough in the joints and the legs.
Was pretty happy for first half:
Official 21.1K Split:
1:47:41 – 3:35:22 Projected Time
FIFTH 5K – QUEENS
I am not sure what caused the slow 15th Mile. The Queensboro uphill was the second of two tough up hills in the course, the first the opening bridge.
I realized on the uphill as I approached the 25K (15.5 Miles) marker that my planned conservative planned pace was getting tougher than I had planned from the couch, but that I was falling off pace as well. I had been obeying the Garmin but stretches of crowded runners, water station congestion and slow uphill runners were affecting pace more than on the straightaway through Brooklyn.
14 - 8:07
15 - 8:35
16 - 9:05 (Up Queensboro Bridge)
Official 25K Split:
2:08:09 – 3:36:17 Projected Time
SIXTH 6K – MANHATTAN FIRST AVENUE
Time to pick it up. I had been conservative and thought I could hold a quicker pace for the remainder. If I waited my pace adjustment might need to be too significant. As soon as I picked up the pace, my left hip/pyriformis ached more than I expected and while the cardio and energy were fine, my body hurt at the quicker running pace.
As I passed the 3:40:00 and 3:50:00 pacers, I realized that it must be average Joes with target times rather than pacers. Strange bibs to give out.
17 - 7:51 (Down Queensboro Bridge)
18 - 7:56
19 - 8:02
Official 30K Split:
2:32:54 – 3:35:03 Projected Time
SEVENTH 5K
Into the Bronx - After 3 8 minutes miles, my left pyriformis and hip stiffened considerably. Was OK when I got some momentum going but slow and stalled runners littered the course at this point.
The Harlem visit Miles 21-23 presented an vibrant vibe. Loved the tunes and the fans in this short visit.
20 - 8:24
21 - 8:25
22 - 8:22
Official 35K Split:
2:59:18 – 3:36:10 Projected Time
FINAL 7.2K
This part sucked from a running perspective. I was very stiff. The stretch of Manhattan just south of Harlem was the first section with no guardrails and fans crowded the course. Lots of runners stopped dead and there were lots of fans wandering on the course to talk to runners.
I was done. I could not get momentum going - it was fairly slow into the finish, alternately 400 metres of running with a left side drag, which would enable me to run normally for 400 metes or so. Barely breaking 9 minutes per mile at this point but setting up some nice business for my physiotherapist.
23 - 8:35
24 - 9:03
25 - 8:52
Official 40K Split:
3:26:37 – 3:37:57 Projected Time
26 - 8:56
27 - 2:27 for 0.22M+
Official Result:
3:38:51
Central Park was scenic but I was in terrible pain and did not notice the fans or sights much, just tried to save the time slide. I was even passed by a dude dressed as Sponge Bob Squarepants in the last mile.
I do not know what amount 3+ hours sitting and standing in a frigid parking lot before the gun played in my stiffness. I do not know if I could have hit 3:35:00 without the body failure, it was tougher than I thought. The marathon is such a tough distance race.
A PB by 1:01 rather than the 5:00 I had hoped for - but it was an awesome time and city tour nonetheless. Any PB is a good day. Also, I did get place 7,063 – so I did outperform my approximate seed of 15,689.
I posed for photos as I left the park after a quick trip to the medical tent:
Wonderful to see Cupcake Girl, a terrific travel partner and wife, after race along with ecstatic Mr., Mrs. & Daughter Strider, who were celebrating Mrs.' first marathon, which she rocked. Three Maniacs below:
Thank you all for your support throughout my training and for following on race day!
Bellybuster out.
Remarkably well planned event. This began with the mta.org Subway ‘Trip Planner’ that planned routes for runners, taking service interruptions into account. Quick trip from the Upper West Side to Start Line using a 4:47 Red Subway to a 5:07 Yellow Subway to the 5:30 Ferry to a 6:00 bus across Staten Island. Unfortunately this leaves me with my only complaint to the whole day, one that I have no constructive suggestion to address. The first half of the 6:20 to 9:40 wait in a parking lot, corral and start queue was absolutely unbearable. It was cold, runners needed to rest but try to stay warm and there was no shelter at all. All excitement was gone from 6:30 to 8:30 – while I knew this would be an extremely memorable event, I hated this stretch - but I perked up at 8:30 once I knew the gun was coming.
FIRST 5K – V-B BRIDGE & BROOKLYN
Loved the race from the start. I was confident that I could more likely than not come in just under 3:35:00 but wanted to stick to a conservative pace and potentially surge at the end rather than go out quick and fold (plan - viewtopic.php?f=18&t=39063&start=167 )
I needed 8:12/mile to stick to the 3:35:00 place. I lined up at the back of Wave One. The only pacers in the wave were 3:30:00, 3:40:00 and up were in the next wave so I knew I needed to be at the back. I was shocked when I had to pass walkers in the first mile. But placement at the back meant I was passing all race rather than being passed, a good confidence booster.
Loooved the hard rock bands early and often in Brooklyn! Brooklyn had the best bands of the race. They are also the most memorable fans for me – but I was also the most alert at this point.
GPS Mile Splits:
1 - 8:49 (up V-B bridge)
2- 7:46 (down V-B bridge)
3 - 8:08
Official 5K Split:
25:43 – 3:37:01 Projected Time
Not a surprise this 5K was slow – my pace was easy to keep – the only negative impact of congestion in the race was the first 600-800 metres of the race and inability to make up time lost up bridges going down bridges at any point. So impact in each of the first two miles and a slow 5K split.
SECOND 5K – BROOKLYN 4TH AVENUE
The Brooklyn fans continued to be awesome. This whole stretch sounded like the loudest intersection of most races.
I had to hang on to my pace here – 8:00/Mile was a 3:30:00 pace and was the number I never wanted to exceed on flats. I was slowing myself down a couple times a mile here:
4 - 8:03
5 - 8:00
6 - 8:06
Official 10K Split:
50:50 – 3:34:29 Projected Time
THIRD 5K
Continued up 4TH Avenue and Lafayette Avenues in Brooklyn
As soon as the courses merged at 8 Miles, I realized I was right behind the runner with “3:30:00 Pace Team” on his back. This made no sense to me – all six (two per bridge) pacers in this wave were 3:30:00 pacers and should have been 1:40 ahead of me – or likely more since I moved to the back of the wave. I just chocked this up to some bridges taking 6:00 to clear versus 3:45 at mine and I stuck to this dude’s tail, figuring I would see how long I could stick with him, his pace would need to pick up noticeably very soon.
But he was slowing me down, my eighth and ninth miles were the slowest since the opening bridge:
7 - 8:07
8 - 8:21
9 - 8:22
Official 15K Split:
1:16:35 – 3:35:26 Projected Time
FOURTH 5K – BEDFORD AVENUE
I put this slow pacer dude behind me early in the Tenth Mile and came across another runner marked “3:30 Pace Team.” My pace band showed I was just off a 3:35:00 pace, what was going on? I believe this was in my slower 11th mile but I quickly took faith in my own pacing.
Still lots of fans here and the first noticeably ethnic neighbourhood – Williamsburg was a large Jewish centre.
10 - 8:06
11 - 8:17
12 - 8:10
Official 20K Split:
1:42:04 – 3:35:20 Projected Time
END OF FIRST HALF
13 - 8:01
The first half ended on the uphill of the Pulaski Street Bridge from Brooklyn to Queens – I was thinking this conservative first half would give me a terrific shot at even or a negative split and a marginal sub 3:35:00, though I was feeling rough in the joints and the legs.
Was pretty happy for first half:
Official 21.1K Split:
1:47:41 – 3:35:22 Projected Time
FIFTH 5K – QUEENS
I am not sure what caused the slow 15th Mile. The Queensboro uphill was the second of two tough up hills in the course, the first the opening bridge.
I realized on the uphill as I approached the 25K (15.5 Miles) marker that my planned conservative planned pace was getting tougher than I had planned from the couch, but that I was falling off pace as well. I had been obeying the Garmin but stretches of crowded runners, water station congestion and slow uphill runners were affecting pace more than on the straightaway through Brooklyn.
14 - 8:07
15 - 8:35
16 - 9:05 (Up Queensboro Bridge)
Official 25K Split:
2:08:09 – 3:36:17 Projected Time
SIXTH 6K – MANHATTAN FIRST AVENUE
Time to pick it up. I had been conservative and thought I could hold a quicker pace for the remainder. If I waited my pace adjustment might need to be too significant. As soon as I picked up the pace, my left hip/pyriformis ached more than I expected and while the cardio and energy were fine, my body hurt at the quicker running pace.
As I passed the 3:40:00 and 3:50:00 pacers, I realized that it must be average Joes with target times rather than pacers. Strange bibs to give out.
17 - 7:51 (Down Queensboro Bridge)
18 - 7:56
19 - 8:02
Official 30K Split:
2:32:54 – 3:35:03 Projected Time
SEVENTH 5K
Into the Bronx - After 3 8 minutes miles, my left pyriformis and hip stiffened considerably. Was OK when I got some momentum going but slow and stalled runners littered the course at this point.
The Harlem visit Miles 21-23 presented an vibrant vibe. Loved the tunes and the fans in this short visit.
20 - 8:24
21 - 8:25
22 - 8:22
Official 35K Split:
2:59:18 – 3:36:10 Projected Time
FINAL 7.2K
This part sucked from a running perspective. I was very stiff. The stretch of Manhattan just south of Harlem was the first section with no guardrails and fans crowded the course. Lots of runners stopped dead and there were lots of fans wandering on the course to talk to runners.
I was done. I could not get momentum going - it was fairly slow into the finish, alternately 400 metres of running with a left side drag, which would enable me to run normally for 400 metes or so. Barely breaking 9 minutes per mile at this point but setting up some nice business for my physiotherapist.
23 - 8:35
24 - 9:03
25 - 8:52
Official 40K Split:
3:26:37 – 3:37:57 Projected Time
26 - 8:56
27 - 2:27 for 0.22M+
Official Result:
3:38:51
Central Park was scenic but I was in terrible pain and did not notice the fans or sights much, just tried to save the time slide. I was even passed by a dude dressed as Sponge Bob Squarepants in the last mile.
I do not know what amount 3+ hours sitting and standing in a frigid parking lot before the gun played in my stiffness. I do not know if I could have hit 3:35:00 without the body failure, it was tougher than I thought. The marathon is such a tough distance race.
A PB by 1:01 rather than the 5:00 I had hoped for - but it was an awesome time and city tour nonetheless. Any PB is a good day. Also, I did get place 7,063 – so I did outperform my approximate seed of 15,689.
I posed for photos as I left the park after a quick trip to the medical tent:
Wonderful to see Cupcake Girl, a terrific travel partner and wife, after race along with ecstatic Mr., Mrs. & Daughter Strider, who were celebrating Mrs.' first marathon, which she rocked. Three Maniacs below:
Thank you all for your support throughout my training and for following on race day!
Bellybuster out.
