Surprise! If you didn't know, I ran the NYC Half three weeks ago (<-- see?). I didn't tell many people I was running it as I wasn't 100% sure what was going to happen. Similar to past years, I despise winter running so was under-trained and unmotivated. I was fortunate enough to get a few long runs in and ended this training cycle at 10.
Fortunately, the race didn't go as bad as I envisioned it would go- though that's not to say this wasn't a horrible race.
I Uber'd to the start village with three of my teammates. We tried to stay huddled until the last possible minute because it was FREEZING. I was in the last corral of wave 1 and was having nightmare that I would be running this entire race alone, since I'm currently 2 minutes slower than NYRR thinks I am. Fortunately, a lot of people were still in line for the bathroom once the gun went off, or were taking it easy.
By the time we started, I couldn't really feel any parts of my body. I read an Instagram post where a girl cried because she couldn't feel her hands and I related to that so hard. I had a zip up over my long sleeve layer where my bib was and didn't take it off until well into mile 3.
The first mile went by super quick. It was flat and I found some people who were holding a steady pace so stayed behind them. Being so under-trained, I didn't want to get crazy.
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| [Expo Time!] |
I Uber'd to the start village with three of my teammates. We tried to stay huddled until the last possible minute because it was FREEZING. I was in the last corral of wave 1 and was having nightmare that I would be running this entire race alone, since I'm currently 2 minutes slower than NYRR thinks I am. Fortunately, a lot of people were still in line for the bathroom once the gun went off, or were taking it easy.
By the time we started, I couldn't really feel any parts of my body. I read an Instagram post where a girl cried because she couldn't feel her hands and I related to that so hard. I had a zip up over my long sleeve layer where my bib was and didn't take it off until well into mile 3.
The first mile went by super quick. It was flat and I found some people who were holding a steady pace so stayed behind them. Being so under-trained, I didn't want to get crazy.
Mile 2 was the bridge which I was terrified of because under-trained + bridge = no good. I mustered up the energy to get up the bridge, which I'll admit had a beautiful view, and took it easy going down. There were a lot of people walking and stopping to take pictures which made me feel better about my own race.
In mile 3 I took my jacket off because I finally started feeling parts of my body. There were some rolling hills but nothing major. I was carrying a Poland Spring water bottle which I ended up tossing in mile 4 or 5 because it was bothering my back and arm. I decided to test my luck with water stations. I actually felt pretty strong on the FDR, I was just cruising along, enjoying the scenery and the empty space in front of me. By no means was a going at a fast pace, but I felt good. I surpassed the miles where I fell apart in Myrtle Beach (7) and headed over to Times Square.
I always loved this part of the race because it always has the biggest crowd. Unfortunately, once the crown died down, I kind of did too. But then I finally saw Central Park and was like hallelujah!
I had an end-of-race plan which was to talk Cat Hill, in order to finish the second set of rolling hills strong. For some reason, I was on a roll and felt semi-decent, and decided to run up Cat Hill (note: run = totally trotting). Of course I felt like Superwoman when I got to the top.
I tackled some more hills and going into mile 13, literally I could see the mile 12 marker, my legs were like yea no more please. So I had to walk a little. They did it again towards the top of another rolling hill but at that point I was happy my body cooperated enough to get me to the finish line!
As of today, I'm gearing up to train for marathon #2. Look out for another post soon!
XO,
Lynette
In mile 3 I took my jacket off because I finally started feeling parts of my body. There were some rolling hills but nothing major. I was carrying a Poland Spring water bottle which I ended up tossing in mile 4 or 5 because it was bothering my back and arm. I decided to test my luck with water stations. I actually felt pretty strong on the FDR, I was just cruising along, enjoying the scenery and the empty space in front of me. By no means was a going at a fast pace, but I felt good. I surpassed the miles where I fell apart in Myrtle Beach (7) and headed over to Times Square.
 |
| [Spoiler: I finished!] |
I always loved this part of the race because it always has the biggest crowd. Unfortunately, once the crown died down, I kind of did too. But then I finally saw Central Park and was like hallelujah!
I had an end-of-race plan which was to talk Cat Hill, in order to finish the second set of rolling hills strong. For some reason, I was on a roll and felt semi-decent, and decided to run up Cat Hill (note: run = totally trotting). Of course I felt like Superwoman when I got to the top.
I tackled some more hills and going into mile 13, literally I could see the mile 12 marker, my legs were like yea no more please. So I had to walk a little. They did it again towards the top of another rolling hill but at that point I was happy my body cooperated enough to get me to the finish line!
As of today, I'm gearing up to train for marathon #2. Look out for another post soon!
XO,
Lynette
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