So, I've been itchin' to race. I don't know why but that's the truth. Not that I race at that distance but I have been itchin to do a race. I found out about the Thanksgiving Day Marathon too late but then those same guys decided to this as well. Hell, it seems like they are going to have a marathon at every major holiday.
The bottom line: It's a 6.5 mile loop (long 10K) and you can either do it once(long 10K), twice(half-marathon), relay or 4 times(marathon). Perfect right? Trail run Fat Ass (FA) style. No fee, no medal, no porta-potties, no or limited support. What else can you ask for? Well, I can think of something...Starting time was 11 am which SUCKS. I emailed the RD at around 1am and 2 minutes late I got my response. Course will be marked early, you can start at 7am which is what I wanted. YAY...
Kept my eyes on the weather. Threat of a white christmas but the forecast got changed to snow on Saturday night and from there to Sunday a.m. Things looking good. Since the race was on Saturday, Christmas day, there were no YMCA activities to miss and the YMCA closed early Friday so I didn't even miss the pool on purpose.
Wednesday was my last workout. Hard swim. Andre asking me afterwards which distance I decided to do. I told him that I don't know yet. Not a lie since I still didn't commit to the race. He told me it was the easiest thing to read me. Maybe...
Friday we were off so we all packed in to the city to see Wintuk. Managed to get tickets at 50 % off. Fun day with the family.
Saturday woke up early, walked the dog and off I went. Got there about 6:20 and it's pitch black outside. Found parking right at the start. Waiting. Waiting.
Michael, the RD, promised me that the course will be marked but I had no idea which way to start. Luckily, I ran into a walker (older dude in gray sweats) who did the Thanksgiving day race, knows Michael and who knows which way is the start. Off I went at 7am as the sun is rising.
Around the track and right away off road. First a stretch on some sharp rocks with a quick porta-tree (pee). Got to a wetlands area with a wooden bridge (sort of) that was slippery due to ice.
Running and the area seemed *very* familiar to me. Something from the NYC Century maybe? YUP. Saw the signs for it.
Sweat suit guy warned me that some stairs are broken and I would have to climb it. Not sure what he meant until I got to some stairs that were roped off (they were broken) and it was obvious we had to run up this horrible, short and very steep climb instead. Ran up and continued. Passed quite a few lakes/ponds.
Saw a lot of "THIN ICE/DANGER" signs with a lattice type thing near them and I wondered if it was on purpose and then I realized it was. It was a weak ladder not to climb but rather to help pull people out of the ice if needed. Very smart...
Michael did not lie. The course was very well marked. No getting lost which I was very worried about especially since I was alone. They even marked each and every mile split.
One funny thing happened. As I was running in who_the_hell_knows_where, suddenly I saw 2 huge dogs run across the path about 200 feet away. No leash. Looking for their owner and nothing. NOTHING!!! Then I realized there was no owner and I started thinking Coyotes. I mean they had coyotes in the city and I think in the Bronx too and I started worrying. They had weird white tails too so it was weird. Anyway, crossed the spot where I saw them and looked and thank God for a good eyesight. I found them. Deer. It was 2 of them and they were standing still and camouflaged really well but then I breathed easy. Major load off if you know what I mean.
At around mile 2 I needed to use the porta-bush. Sucks but my stomach was NOT handling the downhills well and let's face it...There weren't any people then but a whole lot of them were coming so better now than later. Lost some time but that's part of the adventure.
At around mile 3+, came back to near the starting area. In fact, I was on the opposite side from my car. No one there yet. That's life. Continued onto the Rabbit and Turtle path which is what the 15K we once did was. This race did part of it but then branched away. Ran on some horse trails which were obvious by the wooden steps and the horse poop.
Another porta-tree (pee) near mile 5 and back onto the track to the finish/start.
At the end of loop 2, I ran into 2 guys who came to the race early. You were allowed to start at 10am. I told them that with no clock you can start anytime but they didn't believe me. Sucks to be them.
Finished loop 3 and now there was a crowd. Went to the car to get my gift for the tree and got my bib. My number was 1225. In fact, everyone's number was 1225. I didn't get it initially but at mile 17 I got it...1225 == 12/25 == Christmas, DUH! Had a lot of trouble using my fingers to get the bib number onto my race belt. Asked someone for help but lost about another 15 minutes in total.
Took off before the main pack did. I knew they would catch me but I wanted to see how far I could go. Caught another early runner and passed him and the chase pack still wasn't there. Got to the photographer first who congratulated me on a good run and asked me if it was my second loop. When I told him it was my 4th, his tongue dropped.
I got caught about a 1/4 mile before the 5th mile. Oh well. I was really hoping to finish before them but hell...It was probably my best loop because I really felt chased and dogged the whole time.
Finished, got my gift and my santa hat and bells and forgot my trophy. They were giving a small candy cane for the 10K, a medium for the half-marathon and a huge for the full. Oh well. My time was 4:56:20 but it included 2 porta-trees, 1 porta-bush and the whole bib number fiasco. My real time probably was around 4:25 and I was very happy with it.
Got home for a shower and lunch and felt good. Ran up/down the stairs twice and nothing. My father always said that you are not supposed to feel a muscle. If you do, then you injured/strained/pulled it etc. Well, I didn't feel my legs per se but I knew they existed. Still, I figured the shoe will drop.
I was really looking for my pizza for dinner but between it being Christmas and a Saturday no pizza (kosher or otherwise) could be found so we settled on a Christmas tradition of Chinese food.
Then I got a text from the LIRR warning that the trains might be shut down Sunday due to the 16 inches of snow we were expecting. WHAT?!?
Well, we still went to the city on Sunday. It was initially gonna start at 9am but then they decided on noon, so we went a little early. Started snow eventually but not that bad. Left early when it started picking up. Drive home sucked but we were all together, I wasn't suffering and I was still on the post-marathon euphoria.
Then the snow really started coming down. Lee and I took the dog who loves the snow to the pizza store which was about 5 blocks away. There was already about 2-3 inches of slushy, wet stuff down and things were slippery and ugly (this was about 6pm) but the dog loved it and started sprinting. Lee ran with and I chased and it was great. We loved it. On the way back, he ran harder and faster. Lee could barely hang on to him. I was carrying the pizza and stayed with him. I actually started screaming MUSH and GO HOME to which he ran harder, Lee baaaarely hanging on for dear life. We got back all wet, pizza box soaked but in a really great, happy mood.
Dinner was great. We had an official total of around 18 inches of snow but when Elizabeth came back with the dog Monday morning after the walk, she had snow marks about 24 inches in height on her pants. With the 30-50 MPH winds and the Category 2 Hurricane style wind we had huge snow drifts. Shoveled but legs feeling great.
Those crazy guys are doing another marathon this weekend called the New Years Marathon. Looks good but luckily we are invited to a Bar-Mitzvah otherwise I know I would consider it. As is, I am having a hard time not trying to get around it. Better this way - I know...