I found this link on mapmyrun.com. It maps the run nicely.
| Elevation Map |
|---|
|
Jim (my ride) got to the house at 6am. So far so good. He thought we needed the BQE. The directions said the Belt Pkwy. We went to the Belt. That's when I realized that Jim was right. The BQE to the start. The Belt to the finish. Still we decided to stick with the Belt. That was a smart move. No traffic. We flew. Got a good parking spot at the start, only 3 blocks away from the baggage dropoff.
First things first and we know our priorities....Porta-a-potties. We went to stand on line when this big burly guy comes over and physically takes a porta-pottie away and loads it on a truck. OK...Weird. Then he takes another and another. Suddenly this truck comes on and the driver tells us that he has to move all the port-a-potties 200 meters away and that he has 20 minutes to do it and it's his job and we need to understand and move. One guy screams back to him that he needs to use it but pretty much we all break away in search of a more port-a-potties.
This of course is ridiculous but understandable in terms of NYRR. Only they would either do this or completly screw this up.
Took care of biz and walked around the park. Beautiful park, I'll say that. Much nicer than Central Park. Saw some beautiful dogs (Goldens, Doberman and a few others).
Pretty soon we had to split. Jim went to his Corral and I went to mine. OMG! They had a lot of people running. The night before, nyrr had on their website 2 things: 1) heat advisory warning (Oh no...Last time they did this they cancelled the More marathon) and 2) the race is almost full. Well, they should have capped it but being money hungry bastards they couldn't. I heard there were almost 12,000 people who ran tho it seems that 9,423 actually finished. They had 12 corrals and the park was crowded. The park is not very wide and space was at a premium. They started late. The horn went off at 8:09 and it took me a little more than 11 minutes to actually cross the starting line. It was also getting hot. Again, the park was nice but way too crowded for that many people.
Since it was 2 loops in the park, NYRR split the course to make it 2 lanes. That was smart. I'll give it to them. Starting so late and walking so far to start meant that the elites lapped me at mile 2! That was pretty cool. Being a Pain in the ass that I am, I ran all the way to the right in the leaders lane on their left. At 1 point, we had 3 lanes. The nyrr officials told us to go as much left as possible, so I stayed as right as I can in the middle lane. About 10 meters after being told left, we were told that was a mistake and to go right. Of course, I stayed in the middle lane. How many thousands of people in 1 lane slowing down...Stupid. I stayed in the middle and just cruised by everyone. Maybe nyrr was actually thinking about me?!? I should send a thank you note.
I was thirsty but gave up on liquids. They only had liquids on the left side (the park was just not that wide) and it was a madhouse. I figured I'd wait for Ocean Parkway.
Out of Prospect park and onto Ocean Parkway. Long way and not to much shade. Still had 6 more miles to go. At this point, I was considering the water tables. I knew I needed to drink. Went to 1 of the tables and the volunteers could not meet the demand. No water - no cups. Next station, I walked in to get water. Pissed off but it was crazy. I also saw a person on a strecher heading for an Ambulance. Heat stroke? Maybe he got hurt at the water station? I don't know. Just glad it wasn't me. Hope they are ok.
Running...Running. I got up to this dude who was wearing a tri suit that said "Ironman". I asked him if he did one or if he was training for 1. He told me he is planning on doing Lake placid a year from now. That he's heading up to placid this year to volunteer and register for next year. Crazy. Told him about the one I am interesting in doing. Now as I am talking to him, I realized that he has a buddy who kept calling to him. In fact, he pulled him up until now. So, I talked to this dude and pulled for a while. I then said bye and caught up to his friend. When I got to his friend, I told him that I pulled his friend for a while but had to let go.
His friend then said to me, "Hey....Aren't you the guy from last week on the LIE on the bike?" Holy SH*t! Last week, after the Run for Israel, I went biking on the LIE service road to Oyster Bay. During the ride, I ran into this asian dude riding a beautiful Giant and we talked. He is going to do Placid next year. I told him about mine etc. He also got lost a little so I told him how to continue on the LIE. What a small world. A week later, we meet again, on Ocean Parkway, in Brooklyn running a half marathon. Unbelievable. Anyway, we ran together and talked and I had to let him go.
The last 1/2 mile was on the boardwalk and as we turned to the boardwalk I caught up to him (Henri). Got my second wind and passed him. Now, I HATE boardwalk running. Loose boards, loose nails and boards that "give" to much. Oh, did I mention crowded!
Everyone ran in the middle. I ran on the side with the boards going straight. Felt better. Scared a few people. The final 1/4 mile was crazy. Everyone funneled into this 10 feet lane. About 100 meters away from the finish, guy in front of me took a major face plant. I mean he went down hard. Luckily, I was NOT on top of him and just managed to swerve left. Any closer and I would have had to jump him. I couldn't stop. I was sprinting. I had people behind me. As I said, I was very lucky. Hope he's ok too.
Managed to find Jim at the finish. The best part was the food. I was looking forward to the stale bagel. Not this time. Pretzels and salt. WTF...
Then a good walk to the subway with all those steps. Took us about 30 minutes to get to the start. Legs cramped up which never happened to me. Sciatic nerve is worse not better because I couldn't ice.
Went straight to the YMCA where we all had a picnic and then took a quick shower downstairs so I catch Gymnastics (Jessie) and Tennis (Jeremy). Lacrosse cancelled. Home for a quick 30 minute rest and back to the YMCA for Jeremy's Swim. I missed Jessie swim but she was OK, thank God.
Sunday was a repeat. Again woke up at 3am. Jim picked me up at 4:15! We went to Volunteer at Ironclad Triathlon. For this we get $ 85 credit for another race. That's huge. Plan was to be there for registration, 4:45 - 7am, then go bike riding. They begged us to help out with the bike so we went to mile 4 (out of 6) and helped out. Crazy "S" turn with oncoming traffic.
Jim and I got killed by mosquitoes but at least no one got hurt. Last triathlete was a girl named Neena. We decided to ride in with her. She was NOT doing well. She didn't know how to change gears and was in the HARDEST gear there was. She was hurting. Jim tried to explain to her how to change gears but she was not getting it. She had tunnel vision. Had to finish...Had to finish...Had to finish.
She got back to the Webb institute and had to go up a driveway. She almost topplled over and walked it. No one realized she was still racing so I yelled at people that "biker coming through and get the HELL out of the way".
I asked her if she wanted me to run with her on the run and she said no. I said yes. I gave the bike to Jim and went with her, helmet and all on the run. Beautiful 5K trail run. I have always resisted doing Ironclad because the water is freezing but I don't know anymore. The run was amazing. I ran with her the whole 5K. I couldn't let her go by herself. Talked to her the whole way. Yelled at her to continue and told her to take breaks. She was hurting. She had a lot of support but they were at the finish line, not here in the woods by herself. There were tree stumps and loose rocks and a huge boulder to go around or climb. There were mud pits and a little bridge to cross that she slipped on but managed to catch herself. She got water at the stations and I took water for her too.
She was worried that they would DQ her and she would not meet the time cutoffs. I told her not to worry. The last 1/4 mile and everyone was cheering. They radioed ahead. We heard JP announcing, telling them to make some noise, telling Neena to make it before 3 hours. I told her to throw the cup down and run. Had to tell her a few time but she did. She threw the cup down and started sprinting. About 10 meters before the finish, I broke away. Let her cross by herself. The photo should show that...Not some PITA in a yellow shirt wearing a bike helmet crossing with her. She finished in something like 2:59:53. That was gun time, not chip time but still. She was happy.
Didn't ride at all. Legs are dead and hurting. Sciatic nerve still on fire. Calf muscle beyond pain. Can't run.
NEVER WILL I DO BROOKLYN AGAIN! Hated it.
I kinda wish the race would have been like last year. Boardwalk first, onto Ocean parkway. Ocean parkway was mich wider and it would have been better. People find their pace and then get to the park. Instead it was bad. But...I get it. Coney Island must have paid NYRR off. You want families and runners to waste (spend) money in Coney Island. Nothing to buy in Prospect park. Maybe, it was Brooklyn's condition in order to have the race there. I don't know.
Money Hungry Bastards.