NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob - Pictures added

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Double Bellybuster
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NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob - Pictures added

Postby Double Bellybuster » 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:

Image

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. :lol:

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

Image

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:

Image

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:

Image

Thank you all for your support throughout my training and for following on race day!

Bellybuster out.
Last edited by Double Bellybuster on Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:57 pm, edited 19 times in total.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby AlfiefromPickering » Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:50 am

Congrats on your P.B.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Tori » Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:50 am

Congrats on your PB! It sounds like such an exciting race!!!

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Mid_Packer » Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:52 am

terriffic report and race. You ran an even, well disciplined race from what I read. A PB to boot.

Well done

Dave
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby gnu » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:04 am

Congrats!! Thanks for sharing NYC with us :D

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Doonst » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:05 am

Wonderful race. Pretty good time all things considered. The experience brings back so many similar memories from when I did it 2 years ago.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby erinmcd » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:19 am

Great report- makes me want to run NYC.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby ian » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:19 am

That's a terrific performance to be able to snag a PB on this course.

Double Bellybuster wrote: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.

Yeah, I reached that same conclusion in 2008 when, 10 miles into a sub-3 race, I was still passing a few 3:40 pace team runners.

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby mcshame » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:23 am

Way to go Dave. Sounds like a great experience in NYC. The end of the marathon is always harder than we remember it. Lucky we do, otherwise, we likely wouldn't want to try again!

Congrats of the PB on what sounds like not an ideal PB course!

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby scrumhalfgirl » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:26 am

Congrats on the PB! Sounds like a great experience!
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby purdy65 » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:33 am

Sigh, I want to do it again!

It is one tough course to PB or BQ on for the reasons you mention. Wait at the start village, and the hills. The Queensboro bridge is the worst part of the course, followed by the best as you head on to 1st ave!

You did get your PB though! And had a good time to boot!! So congratulations. The conditions looked great!

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby mas_runner » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:37 am

That is one of the best race reports I have ever read, I could almost feel I was running it with you.

Congrats on the PB, the long wait in the cold sounds rough, not sure how I would cope with that to be honest...
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby La » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:42 am

Great report! Thanks for sharing.

I usually trust my own pacing, too. Smart move.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Habs4ever » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:45 am

Congratulations on NYC. :D
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Robinandamelia » Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:28 am

Congratulations on your PB and a great run in NY!

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Pat29 » Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:49 am

Congrats on the PB!
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby canalrunner » Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:58 am

Kudos on a PB at New York.

I think They do a strange thing at New York with pace groups. They have pacers and then they give people who are following them matching bibs with the pace times on them so you end up not knowing who is a pacer and who is a pacee. It also makes it difficult to know use them as much of a guide. I couldn't really figure it out when I ran New York last year.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Dr. S » Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:28 am

Double Bellybuster wrote:The marathon is such a tough distance race.


I totally agree with you!

First off congrats on your PB! It certainly is frustrating to not reach your goal but you ran another strong marathon and you improved. Be proud of what you accomplished. =)
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Tarsals » Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:49 am

well done on the pb! nicely detailed.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby chunkymonkeymelonhed » Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:35 pm

You raced NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That in itself is pretty freakin' fantastic. To have to deal with the prolonged, cold wait to start,to race that course, which sounds pretty tough and to deal with the crowds (both runners and cheerers) and to come out with a PB???? 8) 8) 8) :dance: :dance: :dance:

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Ken B » Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:54 pm

Congratulations. Very nice report and kudos for toughing out the physical pain to achieve a PB!! :)

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby b_squared » Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:54 pm

Terrific account of your race. Well done and congratulations!

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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Marg » Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:06 pm

Awesome report, congrats on the PB.
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby Lightning » Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:21 am

Congrats on your PB!!!! NY sounds interesting to run in, but I don't know if I could wait outside for that long. Good for you for waiting forever, and then pulling off a great race!
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Re: NYC Marathon - Squeezed by SpongeBob

Postby PinkLady » Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:55 am

Congrats on the PB!!!

Great report, loved the analysis. I had to laugh at the bit about Spongebob.
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