The amount of work that volunteers do during this race is remarkable. Simply and utterly mind blowing. I can see why this particular marathon is so addictive, I don't see how it can be replicated anywhere in the world. I'm so moved to have had it be my first (and possibly only) experience at one.
Thank you volunteers... thank you from the bottom of every runners feet. :)
xo
Curly
Monday, November 3, 2008
My NYC marathon day....
... it's amazing what the world looks like from the other side of the NYC marathon...
- Karen Maria Elizabeth Anne Schleifer 11/3/08
HAHAHAHAH what the hell can I say. I finished the NYC marathon. Yes, my time was longer than expected... yes, I am in major pain... yes, it was unbelievable and life changing...yes, I'm elated and overjoyed...yes I feel proud.... but it's the "why?" to all those statements that makes up your individual experience and just how much this race can change your reality.
I slept really great the night before... woke up on time... got ready... made my breakfast, packed my little bag of food/drink for the trip and jumped in a cab to catch the 7:30am SI ferry...I was so happy I got to meet one of my team mates Irina and her boyfriend on the boat... we talked about our nights before... about our plans for the race.. took some video footage... and by the time we knew it were getting on the shuttle and at Fort Wadsworth.
I felt I had a few advantages going into it ...funny thing about starting this race on Staten Island (and my 2nd longest race to date -- the 20 miler done there) is that my life started on Staten Island - I am very proud to say. My base of who I am, and the building blocks of what I'm made of ... all started there. I had such a great, full and amazing childhood... Another funny thing is how much I hung out at Fort Wadsworth during too having parties there in HS and friends that lived there and were "army brats", so wandering around with thousands of unfamiliar people at the start of what was the longest unfamiliar race of my life at this place that was totally familiar, was sort of surreal.
So we get there, and go to our corral... I had layers of clothes on that I had intended on giving away to the salvation army, and just hadn't gotten to yet... so instead of buying something or checking a bag, I gathered things from there, and left them like thousands of others, for the crew to pick up and donate to the homeless. Nice side note of good will with the marathon experience, and quite convenient for us runners.
We're off... we get called into the corrals... we move toward the bridge... with all the walking before and after, honestly - you have to cover more than 28 miles that day!! Can't they have marathon trams for us or something?!!? :) lol
While I jokingly say things like that, and complain, I then see a runner with prosthetic legs who will be racing along with me, and I am quite humbled and stop thinking of my pain and remember why I'm running.
All of a sudden you turn this corner, and there's the bridge... and there you are... and you know you can't turn back now... and you just start going. I must say, I don't know how it was before the Wave method of starting, but the flow throughout and at the start was never a problem at all. Very easy... often felt like there weren't that many people at all around me... except for in Brooklyn.
Since I bought my place in 2005, I've fallen in love with Brooklyn, but never like this before. Holy moly do the people come out and celebrate the marathon and each runner!!! So as you know I had my name taped to my shirt...great advice from a few friends and thought it would be cool to hear people cheering for me if I was having a hard time. I must say, Brooklyn loved them some CURLY! They were not only cheering my name but talking to me about my hair, and the curly haired people would be elated and say "thanks for representing CURLY!"... HYSTERICAL... and a bit distracting..........and amazing... and exhilarating... and all that... and so much more... how can I possibly put it into words ...
So, I had to try and run in the center for bit, because I wasn't really paying enough attention to my race, and to the fact that at times I looked at my watch and knew I had about 2 or 3 or 4 more hours to run... it's funny how I felt bad if I didn't acknowledge people that were putting such an effort into cheering and supporting... hahaha the catholic / Jewish guilt in me never goes away!!! But when the distraction happened and all of a sudden I'd feel too tight, or pain or tired, I'd go back to center (literally and spiritually) and get on track...
The bands in Brooklyn were awesome... every different kind of music and people singing along ... it made me honestly excited about spectating next year ;-) I really wanted to stop and sing a few words with one, but none of them were "playing my song" when I went by :) hahaah
I felt really good through the whole beginning... legs were tight over the Verrazano for sure, really impressive uphill that is the start of this course... most of Brooklyn is flat... turns were a little heavier into Queens... then the Pulaski Skyway and 59th Street bridge. At this point I had already gone to the bathroom twice (never ever in any race have I had to go to the bathroom, so maybe nerves or) ... figured I just drank too much that morning anticipating the hydration factor.. and I was excited because I ran this part of the course in the weeks before... but as someone said to me, that was after 3 miles (I started the run from my house) not after 13 miles... they were SO right.
That's the point where I saw the 70 + year old man with a shirt saying "life begins at 70" and remember my energy and my youth and the strength my parents had... and I keep on going.
I was really lucky to have my friend Kenny as my first and 2nd "check points"... he had a huge sign and all my "must haves" for the marathon day in case I needed anything... he took pics and videos and helped me throughout the day... THANK YOU KENNY. So I had some gatorade with him in Bed Stuy, and a sip of more in Queens... then onto the 59th street beast!
At this point my phone was not working well, condensation from it being my pants pocket was making it short out... but I got to call my friends Anthony & Lawrence to say I was on my way over to 1st avenue... they were the 3rd stop in the journey. The bridge was much longer than I remembered of course (thanks Kevin for warning me about this!)... it was really almost humorous. Like OKAY WHEN does it end and when do I get to run up 1st avenue?!!??!? This was the only moment I chose to walk for about 30 seconds because my glutes were cramping a bit. I realized at that point, if I walked again, I may not make it all the way (mind playing tricks on me!!!)... so I better get moving.
First Avenue felt good and wide open and free .. but honestly the crowds behind the barricades during a lot of it made it feel like you were more on display than in Brooklyn where you felt more interactive and a part of the whole crowd... when I got further up I heard someone yell "karen schleifer" (at this point the "Curly" cheers weren't really getting my attention as much because I was blessed with a LOT!)... it was really excited to see friends of mine that I hiked an incredible path in Kauai with, Libby & Greg... Libby saw me, and I saw Greg looking back like "who the heck... OH MY GOD KAREN"... hahaha
Then another great surprise, my friends Leslie & Christopher on 1st Avenue somewhere in the 80's I honestly don't remember at this point... and the barricades were down so I got to hug them!!! It was awesome, as it was the first HUG I had on the course!!! From there it was straight to my sister Lisa's block...at 101st and 1st... where Kenny, Lisa & Anita were waiting with gatorade and signs in hand! Hugs and pictures and onward I went!
I kept in mind the whole time what Scotto and James and Kevin and others had to say, just look at the people and enjoy the experience, take it all in ... and I tried to keep doing that...
Harlem & the Bronx represented for sure!!! Amazingly interactive people really reaching out to you... handing out all kinds of candy and gels and water and everything... singing choirs and rappers and church groups... just blessed.
I got to 5th Avenue and was really feeling tired at this point. I wanted to be in the park, heading for the finish line. I didn't want to think about how many miles were left... or how much my legs were hurting. Then I'd try again to relax, breathe, center myself. So much mind over matter in this marathon race...
I was also looking out for my friend Ken McRay who said he might be out ... who was there with a smile as big as the day and a high five for me... Everyone from there on said, "the park is right in front of you"... while I love them, they LIED! hahaha I still had to run all the way down 5th to 91st street before I actually entered the park...
At this point I see a handicapped bicycle rider struggling to crank the pedals with her arms and while I know how much further I have to go, I cheer her on as I run by and try to bottle the motivation toward breaking down and crying to give strength to my legs to keep going. Reminding myself again of why I'm here.
There's that moment where you allow yourself to get emotional during this race, and you know if you let it out, you may not recover. You're that on the edge, you're pushing yourself that much... it takes that much strength. Holy crap. And quite honestly - you really don't know you have it in you until that very moment.
In the park... familiar territory again as our training runs were there, and 2 of the half-marathons I did this summer. At this point, I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I was there... but not really... I was running, but it wasn't really me making my body move. I knew what I had to do, but didn't know exactly how I was going to get it done. I heard the crowds, but couldn't really respond... I saw my friend Tess... and then after that Kenny, Lisa & Anita said they saw me and were cheering for me, but I looked so focused and in the zone and was running strong...
The finish line is there... I start to cry and push it down ... wait until you cross...I think... because you're about to finish your first NYC marathon... you can wait a few hundred yards... and I did... and I crossed... and a woman that was walking beside me heard me cry, and turned to me in tears.... and we hugged each other for what seemed to be like 10 minutes.... feeling the people pass us by and just crying in each others arms. It was just one of those moments that you never ever forget.
Now was the next really uncomfortable part... having to walk... slowly... through he bag check to the finisher area... the pace was just too slow and a few times I almost fell trying to stop and start and keep walking... my phone was completely shot. . . . and then I hear... KAREN!!!!!!! It was my softball teammates Jenna & Nicole... with cell phone in hand to lend me so that I could meet the gang.... I had to then walk all the way up to 77th street to walk back to 72nd street where they were... didn't know I had to do that until after I hung up ...
Again... marathon trams... helloooo can someone get on this ?!?! : ) lol
Met Lisa, Anita and Kenny (with bag still in hand, coat for me to put on, and all the stuff) and we bussed it / cabbed it over to Lisa's where I took my ice bath, shower and tried to clean the STINKY athlete off myself.. :) Went to my favorite bar of the upper east side Kinsale for a martini and a cheeseburger.. and 1/2 way through knew I had to go home and ice more, or I'd be in trouble.
Was up many times through the night because my legs were really hurting... iced the knees a few times... and woke up this morning feeling generally great, I just can't use my legs too well :)
Now rest... and reflect more... and absorb all this. What I've just written can't really accurately describe the day or the monumental achievement... and I thank each and every person, thought, energy, email and phone call... you did it with me. I was happy to take one for the team and run the miles... anytime...
xoxoxxo
Curly
- Karen Maria Elizabeth Anne Schleifer 11/3/08
HAHAHAHAH what the hell can I say. I finished the NYC marathon. Yes, my time was longer than expected... yes, I am in major pain... yes, it was unbelievable and life changing...yes, I'm elated and overjoyed...yes I feel proud.... but it's the "why?" to all those statements that makes up your individual experience and just how much this race can change your reality.
I slept really great the night before... woke up on time... got ready... made my breakfast, packed my little bag of food/drink for the trip and jumped in a cab to catch the 7:30am SI ferry...I was so happy I got to meet one of my team mates Irina and her boyfriend on the boat... we talked about our nights before... about our plans for the race.. took some video footage... and by the time we knew it were getting on the shuttle and at Fort Wadsworth.
I felt I had a few advantages going into it ...funny thing about starting this race on Staten Island (and my 2nd longest race to date -- the 20 miler done there) is that my life started on Staten Island - I am very proud to say. My base of who I am, and the building blocks of what I'm made of ... all started there. I had such a great, full and amazing childhood... Another funny thing is how much I hung out at Fort Wadsworth during too having parties there in HS and friends that lived there and were "army brats", so wandering around with thousands of unfamiliar people at the start of what was the longest unfamiliar race of my life at this place that was totally familiar, was sort of surreal.
So we get there, and go to our corral... I had layers of clothes on that I had intended on giving away to the salvation army, and just hadn't gotten to yet... so instead of buying something or checking a bag, I gathered things from there, and left them like thousands of others, for the crew to pick up and donate to the homeless. Nice side note of good will with the marathon experience, and quite convenient for us runners.
We're off... we get called into the corrals... we move toward the bridge... with all the walking before and after, honestly - you have to cover more than 28 miles that day!! Can't they have marathon trams for us or something?!!? :) lol
While I jokingly say things like that, and complain, I then see a runner with prosthetic legs who will be racing along with me, and I am quite humbled and stop thinking of my pain and remember why I'm running.
All of a sudden you turn this corner, and there's the bridge... and there you are... and you know you can't turn back now... and you just start going. I must say, I don't know how it was before the Wave method of starting, but the flow throughout and at the start was never a problem at all. Very easy... often felt like there weren't that many people at all around me... except for in Brooklyn.
Since I bought my place in 2005, I've fallen in love with Brooklyn, but never like this before. Holy moly do the people come out and celebrate the marathon and each runner!!! So as you know I had my name taped to my shirt...great advice from a few friends and thought it would be cool to hear people cheering for me if I was having a hard time. I must say, Brooklyn loved them some CURLY! They were not only cheering my name but talking to me about my hair, and the curly haired people would be elated and say "thanks for representing CURLY!"... HYSTERICAL... and a bit distracting..........and amazing... and exhilarating... and all that... and so much more... how can I possibly put it into words ...
So, I had to try and run in the center for bit, because I wasn't really paying enough attention to my race, and to the fact that at times I looked at my watch and knew I had about 2 or 3 or 4 more hours to run... it's funny how I felt bad if I didn't acknowledge people that were putting such an effort into cheering and supporting... hahaha the catholic / Jewish guilt in me never goes away!!! But when the distraction happened and all of a sudden I'd feel too tight, or pain or tired, I'd go back to center (literally and spiritually) and get on track...
The bands in Brooklyn were awesome... every different kind of music and people singing along ... it made me honestly excited about spectating next year ;-) I really wanted to stop and sing a few words with one, but none of them were "playing my song" when I went by :) hahaah
I felt really good through the whole beginning... legs were tight over the Verrazano for sure, really impressive uphill that is the start of this course... most of Brooklyn is flat... turns were a little heavier into Queens... then the Pulaski Skyway and 59th Street bridge. At this point I had already gone to the bathroom twice (never ever in any race have I had to go to the bathroom, so maybe nerves or) ... figured I just drank too much that morning anticipating the hydration factor.. and I was excited because I ran this part of the course in the weeks before... but as someone said to me, that was after 3 miles (I started the run from my house) not after 13 miles... they were SO right.
That's the point where I saw the 70 + year old man with a shirt saying "life begins at 70" and remember my energy and my youth and the strength my parents had... and I keep on going.
I was really lucky to have my friend Kenny as my first and 2nd "check points"... he had a huge sign and all my "must haves" for the marathon day in case I needed anything... he took pics and videos and helped me throughout the day... THANK YOU KENNY. So I had some gatorade with him in Bed Stuy, and a sip of more in Queens... then onto the 59th street beast!
At this point my phone was not working well, condensation from it being my pants pocket was making it short out... but I got to call my friends Anthony & Lawrence to say I was on my way over to 1st avenue... they were the 3rd stop in the journey. The bridge was much longer than I remembered of course (thanks Kevin for warning me about this!)... it was really almost humorous. Like OKAY WHEN does it end and when do I get to run up 1st avenue?!!??!? This was the only moment I chose to walk for about 30 seconds because my glutes were cramping a bit. I realized at that point, if I walked again, I may not make it all the way (mind playing tricks on me!!!)... so I better get moving.
First Avenue felt good and wide open and free .. but honestly the crowds behind the barricades during a lot of it made it feel like you were more on display than in Brooklyn where you felt more interactive and a part of the whole crowd... when I got further up I heard someone yell "karen schleifer" (at this point the "Curly" cheers weren't really getting my attention as much because I was blessed with a LOT!)... it was really excited to see friends of mine that I hiked an incredible path in Kauai with, Libby & Greg... Libby saw me, and I saw Greg looking back like "who the heck... OH MY GOD KAREN"... hahaha
Then another great surprise, my friends Leslie & Christopher on 1st Avenue somewhere in the 80's I honestly don't remember at this point... and the barricades were down so I got to hug them!!! It was awesome, as it was the first HUG I had on the course!!! From there it was straight to my sister Lisa's block...at 101st and 1st... where Kenny, Lisa & Anita were waiting with gatorade and signs in hand! Hugs and pictures and onward I went!
I kept in mind the whole time what Scotto and James and Kevin and others had to say, just look at the people and enjoy the experience, take it all in ... and I tried to keep doing that...
Harlem & the Bronx represented for sure!!! Amazingly interactive people really reaching out to you... handing out all kinds of candy and gels and water and everything... singing choirs and rappers and church groups... just blessed.
I got to 5th Avenue and was really feeling tired at this point. I wanted to be in the park, heading for the finish line. I didn't want to think about how many miles were left... or how much my legs were hurting. Then I'd try again to relax, breathe, center myself. So much mind over matter in this marathon race...
I was also looking out for my friend Ken McRay who said he might be out ... who was there with a smile as big as the day and a high five for me... Everyone from there on said, "the park is right in front of you"... while I love them, they LIED! hahaha I still had to run all the way down 5th to 91st street before I actually entered the park...
At this point I see a handicapped bicycle rider struggling to crank the pedals with her arms and while I know how much further I have to go, I cheer her on as I run by and try to bottle the motivation toward breaking down and crying to give strength to my legs to keep going. Reminding myself again of why I'm here.
There's that moment where you allow yourself to get emotional during this race, and you know if you let it out, you may not recover. You're that on the edge, you're pushing yourself that much... it takes that much strength. Holy crap. And quite honestly - you really don't know you have it in you until that very moment.
In the park... familiar territory again as our training runs were there, and 2 of the half-marathons I did this summer. At this point, I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I was there... but not really... I was running, but it wasn't really me making my body move. I knew what I had to do, but didn't know exactly how I was going to get it done. I heard the crowds, but couldn't really respond... I saw my friend Tess... and then after that Kenny, Lisa & Anita said they saw me and were cheering for me, but I looked so focused and in the zone and was running strong...
The finish line is there... I start to cry and push it down ... wait until you cross...I think... because you're about to finish your first NYC marathon... you can wait a few hundred yards... and I did... and I crossed... and a woman that was walking beside me heard me cry, and turned to me in tears.... and we hugged each other for what seemed to be like 10 minutes.... feeling the people pass us by and just crying in each others arms. It was just one of those moments that you never ever forget.
Now was the next really uncomfortable part... having to walk... slowly... through he bag check to the finisher area... the pace was just too slow and a few times I almost fell trying to stop and start and keep walking... my phone was completely shot. . . . and then I hear... KAREN!!!!!!! It was my softball teammates Jenna & Nicole... with cell phone in hand to lend me so that I could meet the gang.... I had to then walk all the way up to 77th street to walk back to 72nd street where they were... didn't know I had to do that until after I hung up ...
Again... marathon trams... helloooo can someone get on this ?!?! : ) lol
Met Lisa, Anita and Kenny (with bag still in hand, coat for me to put on, and all the stuff) and we bussed it / cabbed it over to Lisa's where I took my ice bath, shower and tried to clean the STINKY athlete off myself.. :) Went to my favorite bar of the upper east side Kinsale for a martini and a cheeseburger.. and 1/2 way through knew I had to go home and ice more, or I'd be in trouble.
Was up many times through the night because my legs were really hurting... iced the knees a few times... and woke up this morning feeling generally great, I just can't use my legs too well :)
Now rest... and reflect more... and absorb all this. What I've just written can't really accurately describe the day or the monumental achievement... and I thank each and every person, thought, energy, email and phone call... you did it with me. I was happy to take one for the team and run the miles... anytime...
xoxoxxo
Curly
Sunday, November 2, 2008
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