| Map | Elevation Map |
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I've been so busy but finally did the research. Found someone only to find out that Mike/Maria's bibs are already getting picked up by this person. Gonna give Mike a pass here and assume that he didn't think of it. Little annoyed here that here I am trying to find someone only to find out that the guy is willing and already has all the info he needs. Whateves... Let's move on.
This is a tough month for me. I'm working more at Job 2 and trying to train. Weather isn't exactly cooperating with the riding. Oh and 6 days after this Marathon, I have an Ironman. Hammad was supposed to go with me to the Ironman. Doesn't look like that's happening. Wonderful. Stressful.
We were potentially going to caravan it or all go together but plans change. Turns out Jamey was supposed to go to a BBQ afterwards and was going to go straight there. We were supposed to go to a dinner at Elizabeth's brothers house. Mike and family went to sleep at family's house 10-15 miles away from race Saturday.
Got back home, showered and Elizabeth took the kids to their Ortho appt. I stayed home to do errands like fold laundry etc.
Unbeknownst to me, Lisa sent an email at 9:50 asking for an emergency guard. I didn't see it. She texted me a Hail Mary at 9:55 and I said yes. Since I was carless, I told her I will start walking in a few min and I should be there on time. She offered a pickup and I accepted. She was there a few min later.
Ended working for a few hours instead of relaxing. Later that evening, Elizabeth, Jessie and I went to Jim's house for a BBQ. I, unfortunatly, didn't eat. Wasn't going to eat anything different before race day. They had Filet Mignon. Ouch. They also had amazing cheesecake which I can't afford the calories for. They did send a piece home tho.
Day started akwardly. Jamey calculated we would need to leave Bellerose at 3:30am. Why? It's a 7am start which is great except when you need to travel to it. They ask that you get there an hour and a half early to deal with parking within Marist College. It's about a 1:40 drive. Early early wake up. Wonderful. Been there. Done that.
Learned one thing tho for the Ironman drive. I will NOT take the Taconic Parkway. Oh My God!!! No lights on the road (pitch black) and no shoulder and no rest stops equal NO WAY! Jamey handled it just fine.
We got there and into the college and parked the closest we could to race start/finish. We met up with Bill who met up with Vlad who picked up our bibs. Cool. Mike and Maria who were the closest, of course got there last of our group with Maria wanting to throw up. Not a very auspicious start.
While we chatted and listened to the National Anthem, Mike was on line to the port-a-pottie with a very unhappy, uncomfortable look on his face. Guess he drank his coffee because he needed to go...
They had a pretty cool flyover by 4 vintage planes which was pretty cool. First wave then left. We waited for Mike and went out with second wave.
They kept saying that we will have a flat course, great overcast temperatures and a PR day. Pretty much none of that was true. We had enough experience to know it.
We started with the hills. Mike was with us initially and then he took off. I stayed with Jamey and we ran. First 2 miles (approx) were within the college and were up and down. We then left the college into the street and from there onto the rail trail.
Initially it was crowded especially when the lead half-marathoners were coming back. Their turn around was around mile 4.5ish. They had some really fast people there.
We did see a dead frog on it's back here. Makes sense as there was a small canal parallel to the trail.
Once we reached the turn around for the halfers, things got more comfortable. We made friends with Elizabeth and Craig, a married couple. It was her 8th Marathon and his first. Cool. We actually stayed with them until mile 18 or 19 I think.
Anyway, we ran together and all was good. At one point, I saw a Achilles guide and a runner a little behind him and could it be? Yup... Johnathon!
Cool. Later we also saw Vince and Sue. Yes - I asked if they have a Coke. Not too far later we turned around. Sue told me that Vince is going to get me a Coke. Nice!
Unfortunatly, Vince came up with his bike and said that Johnathon is seriously cramping up and is getting pulled. Sucks. Also sucks, I guessed no Coke. Just being honest here.
We continueed on. I don't remember where exactly, but we did pass Bill and his new friend Kristen with a "K". Cool. Wasn't sure what happened but just like we made friends, so did he.
We also came across a kid who was wearing a Sea Wolf shirt and after a "wait a minute, I know what that is", I started talking to him. He just finished his first year at Stony Brook and is going to study abroad in Kenya. I told him that unfortunatly for him, I am a dad and will have to endure a lecture and I mentioned that I just went to an 18 year olds funeral. Turns out he knew Nick Holt and lived in the same dorms as he. Small world. He wasn't there at the funeral since he had to go to a wedding but still.
We left him and then realized that Elizabeth and Craig seriously dropped back. She was hurting from a previous injury. Sucks. Oh well. We continueed.
I think around mile 18 or so, we passed the area that we came onto the rail trail. We did make a new friend from Long Island and we kept leap frogging with her.
Eventually we got to the Walkway Over The Hudson. A beautiful walkway bridge. Unfortunatly it was very windy. Very windy. I actually took my hat off and held it in my hand for fear of it flying away.
On the bridge itself an incident did happen and the volunteers were awesome. The runners were on the outside of the path, meaning closest to the rails. People not doing the race, were asked to stay in the middle. As we got to an area patrolled by a volunteer, we encountered a scene. A walker was yelling at the volunteer who was trying to tell her to stay in the middle. She "had the right to do what the hell she wanted and to walk wherever the hell she wanted etc"... I yelled thanks to the volunteer and continuued on.
Another volunteer told us that when we see him again, we will be 5K away from the finish. Cool!
On we go. Very windy, very humid, no protection from the sun.
We crossed the bridge and only about a 1.25 - 1.50 miles to go. I, finally(!!!), saw a kid drinking a bottle of coke and I, without shame, asked if the mom had more. She did! And she gave it to me! YES!!! I was happy...
We reached the turn around and back to the bridge.
Got to the 5K to go. Got to the first volunteer who had the encounter. I thanked him again and he told us that the police were having a "conversation" with her right at that time. Cool.
Little tidbit here: We did see JC and his wife Jeanette. I kinda wanted to catch them. Wasn't sure if we would. Kept an eye out.
Finally, we got to the leave the rail trail for the streets section and only 2ish miles to go. No JC sighting.
Another incident here. A woman gets out of her car screaming at the cop that she has a disabled mother and everyone can go to hell and wait. Oh boy... Doesn't she realize it's not the way to go?!? I thanked the lady cop who told me "I guess I get to write some tickets today". Oh boy.
Onwards...
Pace getting a little quicker. Reminded me of the end of the JFK 50 and I told that to Jamey who agreed.
Into the college and about a mile to go. Pace gets faster and suddenly I realize I left and am leaving Jamey. Gotta find JC... Don't know why really...
Up and down, up and down, passing people right and left. Last hill up and last hill down and into the finish.
I don't know if I was physically close to JC but time wise, I was about 11 seconds behind him. That's fine.
Oh yeah, also saw kino who had a cast on. Apparently he broke his arm on a staging mat in a different race. Wow. Anyway, he was nice to me so that was nice.
Jamey and I eventually left and Jamey was kind enough to detour and take me to Elizabeth's house in NJ. We ate and later when we left, Jessie immediatly started with what's for dinner? Oh boy. We got home and even though I was tired, I was a good guy. Dropped Lee and dog off so he can get his dinner. Went to Chipotle for Jessie and then pizza for Jeremy and me. Jessie tried to convince Jeremy to get Chipotle but he wa adamant about it. "Elik can actually have pizza today so we are having pizza!". Wow... Nice.
The big question whether Jessie finished the cheese cake for breakfast was settled. She didn't and we both shared. It was amazing!!!
This was defintely a nice race. Didn't appreciate the $ 25 thing but all in all it was nice.
Some final thoughts:
Besides the dead frog, we also saw a live water turtle on the course and someone reported seeing a live garter snake trying to decide whether to go on the path or not.
I also saw a woman wearing a HITS shirt. Well, 6 days after this race, I saw her again at one of their races. Cool.
