The original plan was for the whole family to go. The kids wanted to do but Lee said no. Probably was the right move since it's a long drive. Still, it's beautiful there and I do want to schedule this trip at one point. The stuff I saw at the museum was amazing. But more on that later.
So here's the deal. Saturday, woke up (not to) early, had breakfast with the kids and got ready. At about 9:30ish I left. That morning I decided just for the hell of it to take a long sleeve shirt too. Why not? Right before I left the house, I also decided to take my running mittens. The car carries everything, right?
Left the house and got on highway toward the midtown tunnel. My friend Binesh agreed to be my "baby-sitter" and come with me. His job was to make sure I don't fall asleep on the wheel. Sucked to go through the city but whatever. About 3/4 of a mile from the tunnel, on the L.I.E, traffic came to a standstill. Nothing. Up until then I was flying. Took me 45 minutes to do this 3/4 mile drive. Turns out they were paving one of the tubes and they only had 1 lane in and out of the city. Then I hear on the radio that there are numerous road closures in the city due to a parade, street fairs and the JP Morgan Corporate challenge. I actually know a guy who ran with the Kenyons (at least started with them) b.c he won something.
Finally picked up Binesh and started making our way. The actual drive only took about 4.5 hours but if you add that crap I had to endure, it actually was close to 6. Very scenic drive but I was tired. Also my foot was hurting like crazy. The ball of my right foot was hurting bad. Maybe from pressing the gas pedal the whole time?
Went to the expo (not a good one) and picked up my stuff. Asked a local about the weather and he told me to expect weather just like today. HAd to explain to him that not everyone is local and my morning weather was 57. He told me to expect weather in the 30's and I pretty much had a heart attack. I did not have my usual clothes for that weather. Some kid told me he was going to wear t-shirt and shorts. He's an idiot for that and so am I for even asking. Guess, I was still OMGing!
On way to hotel, stopped at the Corning Museum of Glass. Wasn't sure what time they close and wanted to get something for kids. There was a 5 year old doing a hands on class, actually blowing glass. Gotta bring my family there too. So cool!
Checked into the hotel, unloaded, got food for my friend and we sat down to eat. Had my cereal. STuck my foot in the ice pail they give. Found a huge blister where I had pain under a lot of skin. Cut that out and iced more. Hoping foot will feel better.
Logistics: This is a point-to-point race so you have 2 options. 1) Drive to start, run to finish and then wait for a free bus back to start (or taxi etc). 2) Drive to finish and take a free bus to start. I chose option 2 so the hotel was near the finish line. There were 9 buses to the start starting at 5:45. Asked for a wake up call at 3:30 and went to sleep. Had some hard going to sleep but fell asleep about 10pm. All good I guess. My frind tole me that he can, he'll try to wake up at 3:30 and call my room.
Well, the phone rings at 3:30 before I know it. Started getting ready. Didn't hear from my friend tho. Later found out that he went to sleep at 3:30 when he heard my phone ring.
Turned the tv on to see 37 degrees for the temp and fog and darkness.
Drove to the finish line (3 miles away) very carefully. Visibility with the fog was CRAP! I'd say visibilty was about 50 feet if that much. Parked car and walked to the bus. On the way, made friends with Robin. Talked the whole way on the bus.
The race was about to start (8 am) and it was still cold. Now, after my first marathon, I always carry a black garbage with me, in a pocket in the small of my back. Never used it yet. Pulled it out and wore my poor mans windbreaker. Got some looks but who cares.
Race started and I am still wearing my garbage bad. Wore it for the first 3 or 4 miles. It was cold. The temps dropped to 35. Someone asked me If I am trying to impersonate Monty Python and someone called me bagman. Screw them, I was warmer than they were. Started in town and then went rural. It was never trail but it was beautiful. Passed 3 lakes and beautiful scenery. Amazing colors. Fog finally burned off approx 10:30. So cool, seeing it hang above the lakes. During the run, I saw 2 dead snakes that I had to avoid. They looked like garter snakes but still, I was worried for the women who ran into the corn bushes to pee. Imagined they get bitten...They'd never be found. Saw some hawks too.
I expected my knees to start hurting at 18, but my right knee started hurting at mile 10. Gotta be dynamic with your plan so I changed plans. Continued running and there's Robin again. She is doing a 12-1 approach. She runs for 12 minutes and than walks for one minute. Decided to stick with her especially since she was hoping for a 4:25. Stuck with her till 18. Her boyfriend joined us at about 15 on his bike. At mile 18, both knees hurt real bad. Had to let her go.
At this point, I did something bad. I know it's bad but I was desperate. In an endurance event, you are not supposed to take Ibuprofin (aspirin/advil etc) before, during even a little later. Don't remember the why but I know it's bad. I actually saw it on tv, that they had to make long slits down a guys leg to relieve the pressure. They cut muscle to save his life. I remembered this and still I took the chance. Well, as always I made a lot of "friends" on the course and someone offered me advil. So, not only did I take advil(BIG NO-NO) but also from a complete stranger. BTW, this guy did Lake Placid this year. All that rain on the bike and run. Can't be that bad of a guy, right?
I guess it helped because it took the edge off. I switched to running to the aid stations which were on every mile at this point. There I would drink a little and I also spilled cold water on my knees which also helped. The down side here is that water was filling in my shoes and I was afraid of blisters.
Besides the full marathon they also had a 3 team relay. The relay switched at 9.1 and 18.2. At 18.2, an official realized that my bib rf-id did not beep. Hate that junk. Give us ankle bracelts or shoe pods. She recorded the split herself. Same thing happened at finish too. Because of that, they gave me gun time and no split for first 9.1. That's ok, I have my watch and also I was pretty close to gun time....
We were close. I felt it. I knew it. They had us this ugly turn that I did not like and suddenly I felt shooting pain down my knee and had to stop running. Retried and again walked. Took a deep breathe and started running again. All good. Finally, I see the Corning Musuem of Glass. Almost finished. Unlike the L.I Marathon, where the last mile is all turns in the park, this is it. Ran by the musuem, ran by the ymca and passed 26. Saw my frind at this point and actually felt good again. Sprinted the last 385 yards to pass more people and finished. Got my medal, walked over to car and my ice, drinks and food. Sat on the ground of the parking structure, icing and eating and drinking until I felt normal. Drove to the YMCA to a hot shower.
Real nice and spacious and kid friendly which also means no really hot water. Had a quick lunch and than back to NYC. Dropped my friend off (he agreed to walk 20 blocks tho I offered to pay for his cab) and started driving home. Made it home, while my guys were in the tub which was nice b.c I got there with enough time to tuck them in. That's what counts. Had some fruit with Lee and actually went to sleep early.
Lessons: One thing that I learne from the Half Iron-man in Mass, was that on long drives, you need to drink a lot. Just like jet lag in planes can be helped by drinking. When we got to Mass, I felt horrible. When I got to Corning, I felt great. OK, my bladder was killing me but still. The second thing is to bring tylenol. The third thing is that the garbage bag really works.
I found this link on mapmyrun.com. It maps the runs nicely.
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