Ok - Let's talk about the why and then the details. Bottom line is I needed the miles and there is nothing local-ish close by that will give me miles. I found a 50 Miler in Maryland on July 4th weekend but no one to go with and who wants to drive on that weekend by themselves for a far race anyway? Mike kept pushing also and well we made a deal: I'll sign up for this if he will sign up for the JFK 50. I signed up.
Details - Astoria park (at the foot of the Tri-Boro Bridge) in Queens. Starts at 5pm and ends at 11pm. The loop is a 1.272 mile course with 2 hills. There are other people on the course (kids, pets, cyclists, runners, lovers etc) and not mentioned, we run near the entrance to the public pool and it closes at 7pm so you kinda have to navigate that too.
From my crew, lots of interest but the only one who signed up was Hammad. He wanted to use it as a barometer for Beast of Burden. He signed up for the 100 miler and needed to gauge himself. Here his goal was to do a Marathon or complete 21 loops as any one who completes a marathon gets a special trophy.
Other than Hammad, Mike/Maria, there were other local runners that I knew so that was exciting.
Other little tidbit: This was my 50th Marathon or longer distance race.
I texted Gail, whom I haven't seen in a long while, and mentioned this race. She said that she is so out of long running shape that she's not planning on doing it. I told her that this her only opportunity to see me do a 6 hour run as I will never do it again. Her reply: "You convinced me. I'm signing up...".
Hammad texted me as to what time to pick me up which was cool because I didn't really talk to him about it.
We left at 3:30 and got there exactly at 4 which is when they suggested people get there. There was already a sizable crowd. Wow.
We go and check in. Instead of a shirt, we all got PJ's (short pants) which makes sense especially if you consider the name of the race.
On the ride there, I actually nibbled slowly on a peanut protein bar. When I got there, after checking in, I wanted to make sure I wasn't carrying extra baggage so I went to the indoor plumbing.
I'm sorry. There is mandatory TMI here. I sometimes make it optional to read by way of a button but it's mandatory here.
I never realized how lucky or how great we have it with the indoor plumbing at Alley Pond. Wow... It was a case of Day and HELL!
I walk in and there is a swarm of 20 flies flying about. The stentch was crazy. There were 3 stalls. Two were occupied. The third was flooded over. I wait. Who comes out of a stall: Phil McCarthy. The wall between the stalls was short and as he got up, his neighbor got up too and it turns out they know each other and they exchanged pleasenteries. Yuck. Anyway, he gets out and I go in. The floor is clean but the smell... (not his fault mind you, there was no air exchange here and the whole damn thing stunk). I started dry heaving. I wasn't successful in taking out any extra baggage. No good. I go to wash my hands and 2 of the 3 urinals are flooded over too. I wash my hands and get the hell out of Dodge.
I'm freaking out. If I get in trouble with my stomach then I am in trouble. Nothing for me here. Nada. I look at the park and unlike Alley Pond, there are no big bushes or trees. There is no cover at all. I'm really upset and I call Elizabeth. What is she going to do for me anyway?!? But I call anyway.
I talk to Mike who while taking his turn at the urinal, suddenly looked down and realized that he is standing in about an inch of yellow water. He went to talk to someone about it and they cleaned it up and the flies but I still wasn't ok.
We get the last meeting before the go. Run, follow the arrows. Lights may or may not turn off at one point and will take 15 minutes to come back up. Supposedly they will NOT turn off. Pay attention to the potholes during the daylight hours in case you end up running in the dark. Run, following the arrows. Don't get lost. Close to 11pm, pay attention to where you are and the fractional distance signs. When the air horn blows (both sides of the park), come back as fast as you can and report the last number you passed.
I line up with Hammad, Mike and Maria all the way in the back. I don't care.
Maria is freaking out about getting lost. Mike already warned me that she again has "the red storm". Oi... Apparently she was yelling at him the whole drive there. She was currently freaking out about getting lost. He wasn't looking happy. Guess, I'm not running with him... He ran the first loop with her and (spoiler alert) she beat (ran more miles than) him.
We start. I go slow but I'm feeling ok and people are in my way. I run. I pass people. I know people will pass me eventually but who cares.
My goals: Really, all I wanted was a Marathon. I need the miles and all. I talked to Donald on Friday evening and told him my goal and he said to me: "Give me 30 miles". Hm... And who is he exactly? A marathon would be perfect for me though 50K (31 miles) does sound pretty good too.
I pass people right and left. I pass Julia. I pass. Then I see Gail up ahead and decide to bridge to her. Haven't run with her in such a long time, why not. We run a loop and talk. At the end of each loop is the only and only aid station. She has a hand help so she doesn't even slow down. I stop to get a coke and a piece of watermellon. She continuued on. I catch her and we talk. I asked her to slow down every time there so I can grab a cup but she doesn't. Only time she stops is to refill her bottle. I constantly have to sprint to catch her after the aid station. It's pretty hot out (no sponge) and I am determined to drink and eat at every lap so it's a dash to get to her.
Still feeling good. Hotter than I expected.
Course Description: Starts off flat but almost immediatly there is a hill. It's not horrible. You can tell that a lot of ultra guys were there since already on the first loop, they walked the hill. Past the hill, it's flat again but you are near the entrance to the Astoria public pool. Translation: Lots of people around and at times it's a slalom course. Done with that and flat with some small rollers. Really nothing to talk about. Circle around and down hill. The water is on your right and it's beautiful. So was the Lamborghini there. Up the second hill and it's also very doable. Conquer that and you go around to the outside of the track into the end of loop mats right near the indoor plumbing. From there to the aid station to repeat.
Timing: It was a new one this year. They always had manual scoring. This year they used elitefeats.com, they guys who did Lincoln's International Birthday Marathon. They gave us disposable chips strapped to our ankles, chips on the bibs and they also as a backup did manual. The ankle chips were terrible. I used them once, I think it was at the Summer's not done Aquarun. That day there were plenty of them floating in the water. We actually used duct tape to secure them. wonderful. Anyway, they sucked. So, mindful of that and the fact that the bib chip if bent, stops working, every time I crossed the mats, I would call out my number, 36, to the manual timers.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I'm running with Gail and we got to the first hill and she stopped dropping. I figured she can sprint to me at the top. She usually slows at hills then takes off at the top but she didn't. I dropped her.
Later, I came across and got to her again. She was walking. I stopped to see if she was ok. No...Role reversal. My biggest personal fear. She had GI issues. Stopped at the bathrooms 3 times. Oi. Later I passed her again and she was running. Finally felt better after getting whatever it was out of her system (literaly).
Going up the first hill, I made sure to encourage a runner and who was it? Emmy Stocker who showed up just in time. She's a superstar. Passed her.
Ran into and later dropped Mary Harvey and Cherie Yanek. Mary was having some Plantar Fasicitious issues and was dropped by Cherie. I walked with Mary a little and later ran a little too but ultimatly left her.
Had another conversation with another runner. Here's how that went:
Me: I'm not judging or anything but did I see you going to smoke right before the race?
Her: Yes... Smoked 2 cigarrettes
Me: What? Really? Not juding but really?!?
Her: Yes - Dying for a smoke now.
Later whenever I saw her again, I would ask to bum a cigarrete. Our little joke.
Passed Michael with Kate Stoker (no relation to Emmy).
I really thought I would hate this race. Mindless loop and all. In reality, had a great time. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. Really shocked. Hammad last year did a 12 hour race and I showed up and ran a few laps with him than a few with Emmy. Hated it. This one was good.
I did stop at one point to take a rock out of one shoe. Later, I stopped to check what was going on with the other foot. When I put my sock one, I saw that one of the toes had a little hole. No biggie. When I stopped to see what's going, I was shocked. My tue broke through the hole and made the hole bigger. It then got a blister and swelled up. The toe socks were tight on the toe sticking out and that didn't help either. I pulled my tow back in but I felt it go right back into and through the hole. All well.
Small side note: I always worry about my stomach and I just want to say that I founf 4 porta-potties in the middle of the park even though I never had to use them. Yay.
Other little things... I remarked to a guy about a couple sitting there making out. Everytime they were getting more and more into it. I was wondering when they will get a room or will they. Later, again I came across the same guy in the same spot and he remarked that they must have gotten a room since they weren't there. Funny. Love that.
The pool closed at 7pm and it got a little rough at that point. So many families streaming out. So many little kids running around. The Mr. Softy truck parked right at the entrance didn't help things either. I just yelled out "HOT STUFF" and the sea of humanity just parted. Yay!
In the middle of the park, there was at one point some music. Turns out this guy arranged something. He had a bunch of friends show up with ballons spelling out "WILL YOU MARRY ME?". She said yes. One of the Maniacs actually stopped to get this on her phone. Cool.
Elliot Lee and Jennifer Lee update: I come across them. He is pacing her. Always 30 feet in front of her. She can't catch him. He's a fast guy, sub 24 for a 100 miler. He must be suffering at this (slow) pace. I tell her that she is doing great and ask what other marathons she has done. She tells me that her longest run ever was 13 miles and that she is at 15 right now. WOW!!!
Hammad's 2 brothers, son and daughter show up. Cool. I tried to get his son to run with the old man but he wasn't doing it. Ashley did though. Cool. Last year she ran 10 miles with him at the 12 hour run.
Tommy, TGNY 100 winner, actually stoped at one point. Later, I heard he was cramping up so bad.
Elizabeth called me and I told her about the toe and it turned out that a maniac (actually a double agent), Bill, overheard and when I got off the phone, he offered me socks. Damn that's nice. Love the running community family and the maniac family. Still, I declined. Didn't want to see my toes again. We ran together. He wanted at least 30 miles. We made a good fit and just BSed along. I told him about my streaking and doing the 2,015 in 2015 and that the only reason I'm here is for the miles and that why else would I do a Marathon if not for the miles and of course the medal. A guy and girl overheard that and started laughing. It's true, I told them... We are all medal whores.
Bill tells me that it looks like he had lyme disease. He was doing yard work while wearing his running shorts. He felt something bite him in the butt. He went inside and told his wife that she needs to look at his butt. She said to him "F that!". I love that... He later told me she actually didn't say that but did decline. Long story short, he never had joint pain but started having memory loss and also (scary) delayed reactions. He would drive and it would take him 2 seconds to react to someone braking in front of him. Scary!!! They checked him out and couldn't find what it was but process of elimination said Lyme disease. He's getting better but still.
It's almost the end. Looking toward the end. We are near the mats. It's 10:55. I tell Bill that I am done. My Garmin said 33.7 miles and I don't feel like doing a fraction and then walking all the way back. I cross the mats and tell them that I am done. I wish Bill luck. My offical distance was 33.1.
Elliot and Jennifer cross the mats. This time he grabs her hand and literaly pulls her along with him. No stopping now.
I sit at a bench talking to someone when a girl runs by us. Suddenly the airhorns blow and she stops looking at me. We look for a fraction number. Funny thing is, I knew where 1 is and where 3 (first hill) is but I could never find 2. As I sat there, I found 2. She was 10 feet shy of it. Sucks.
I walk back to the finish line where Glen is helping out. He's writing out the fractions for people. He hasn't seen Hammad yet. I wait. No Hammad sighting. I grab some pizza. No Hammad. He finally shows up with Ashley. She ran 7.5 miles with him. What a great daughter. Hammad seems down. He had a great time, didn't cramp up and really felt great BUT he didn't make it. Ashley tried to pull him but he didn't make the 21st lap. Oh well.
We are eating pizza. They announce the male and female overall winners. Then they start calling out the 10 males then 10 females going back and forth giving out trophies for anyone who did a marathon. I get mine. I came in 12/50 for males and 15/94. I'm very happy. Mike and Maria both got but they left early so I took theirs as well. Then... Wait for it...Hammad gets called. He completed 26.202 miles. He just squeaked by. Ashley told me later that she kept telling him to hurry just a little more. She did it!!!
Jennifer Lee? She got hers too... Later I asked her whose idea was this expecting her to point at Elliot with anger but instead sheepishly she told me it was hers. Wow...
We leave. I'm still feeling good. I get home, brush my teeth and decide to sleep on the floor in the living floor. Shower later. Big shocker as it NEVER happened to me before. I couldn't sleep. I was so wired because of the race. I stayed up. Jim picked me up with Heidi and we ran a hilly 8 miles. Later I took an hour nap but was ok until the night. Good weekend...