This is a clip from NYRR about the race.
Saturday, February 09th: Wednesday, we had almost 70 degrees and a gorgous day and now the temps are plummeting. I'm in the YMCA and its raining with a nasty wind. Originally they called for rain saturday and heavy winds on sunday. Now, they are calling for the storm to hit saturday night/sunday morning with chance of rain and snow on sunday plus STRONG winds on sunday. Temps in the 16s. Damn it.
Sunday: The weather pattern has changed again. Looks like we will have 30's. Rain and snow has moved so maybe small drizzle. Winds gusts of uptp 25MPH. Lovely.
Well, friday I gave up. Sent wife and kids to Quantum Athletics to buy me new socks. I only have these paper thin sucks which are great but typically, it takes me about 1.5 - 2 miles before I feel my toes. With this weather, blach.
The plan was for me to wake up at 3am, leave the house by 5:30 and pick up Sam (guy from YMCA) at his house approx 5:45. The NYRR web site originally said road closures would start at 7am but suddenly changed it to 6am. I was also worried about parking. Leaving at 5:45, meant we would be there approx 6:15ish, hopefully before all the road closures and maybe early enough to get a parking spot. Also, it would be early enough for Sam to pick up his packet. That WAS the plan.
I woke up at 2am feeling pretty good. Looked at the clock and was happy to see another hour of sleep coming my way. I love that. That's the best kind of sleep. A second later, Elizabeth is shaking me, asking me if I shouldn't be up or something....Look at the clock and oh #$%*!!!! It's 4:45. I don't like to run on a full stomach so I like to wake up early, but this, this is NOT good. This is full panic mode.
Went downstairs and started my morning ritual. The abridged one that is. Before I know it, it's 5:30. I call up Sam and told him I am running 15 minutes late. He was ready. Left the house at 5:45 and picked him at 6. Traffic moving well. We were there approx 6:25. Parking was amazing. A whole parking lot with free parking. Locked the car up and went looking for the packet pickup. OMG, it's indoors. Picked up his stuff and hit the porto-potties. Went right back to packet pickup to get warm again. There are NYRR people telling us (runners) that we cannot stay inside. So, we adjusted our chips again! Only took another 20 minutes or so. Outside for a few then right back for a re-adjustment. Don't they know it's cold outside?
It's almost 8 and Sam and I got seperated. Oh well. The race starts and we're off. Weird thing is, I don't feel that bad. Not that cold. This girl in front of me takes of her top and is running with just a sports bra. Then the wind hits. I quickly zip up and raise my muffler back on. That girl, who has a very white complexion could not do that. I saw her arms get redder and redder and I felt bad for her.
The socks I was wearing were great. Twice I went into puddles and I could feel just a little bit of water hit my feet. The rest was absorbed. Gotta thank the family.
I saw Len on the grand concourse. He looked in pain. Not looking good. Also, I saw this guy with a red shirt take his shoes off and give them to someone. I figured he was a volunteer. But then he starts running and running. I caught up to him and saw he has a bib on. I shrugged at him and he shrugged at me and said, "my feet hurt". I said, "all the power to you" and left him. Later I realized that he probably forgot his running chip on his shoe. OOPS. I decided I will tell him at the turn around but I never saw him. Damn, running with socks on - not pretty.
The course itself was ok. Trying to decide where I will attack. Unlike Manhattan, which was 2 loops this was a mess. At the grand concourse, I thought the turnaround was at 195 st. NOPE.....More like 180th. Man, I was annoyed. At one point, I heard a loud noise which startled me. The wind picked up and some police barries (wood horses) went flying.
Mile 12 on the Mooshulu Parkway(sp?) and my knee started hurting. Very reminiscent of the L.I Marathon where my knee died at 18. Up until this point, I knew I was going to beat Manhattan but right there I had a scare. I was hurting badly but I was NOT going to stop myself. Mile to go - keep it together. Every step was painful and then I got to the 3/4 mile away and I started pushing. Gotta sprint that! The wind picked up - I felt like I was running in SLOW motion like the six-million dollar man. I was giving it everything.
I was hurting. I could see the finish line and I was dying. Gasping for air, knee hurting...and than I locked eyes with someone. This woman was looking at me eye-to-eye like no one else existed and she yelled at me, "the finish line is right there!!!!" I took off. Apparently, she was standing under the 13 mile marker but because of the wind it was flapping so bad that I never saw it.
I took off. Faster and faster. Again, like Manhattan I passed about 70 people in that 3/4 of a mile. About 25 of them, in that 0.1 of a mile. I crossed the finish line gasping. I knew that everyone knew I was in pain. She could tell. It was on my face. I walked to the chip return and put my foot up. The guy snipped twice and I was still there. He looked at me and told me that he's done. I told him I wasn't. Had to rest and catch breath.
It took us 20 minutes to navigate through the closed streets to find the Major Deegan. Than we were on the way home. Calfs are a little tight and still a little knee pain.
Monday swam. Longer than I wanted but hey. Actually, thought I might throw up in the pool. Weights too. Hoping to run and bike tuesday.