New York Marathon 2/11/08
Hi guys! Here is my story of the new york marathon 2008.
Really shouldn't have gone to New York: certainly not to run as I've been carrying a calf injury since the beginning of August. The fact that it had all been booked up and paid for, and my son (Stuart) was coming with me to do some shopping, meant we just had to go. I won't bore you guys with the travelling details but it all went well, down to the race; was I going to do it or not?
I'll make my mind up on Saturday night. Great preparation, not really run for about 10 weeks and here I am a couple of days away from the marathon, could I do it? Could I get to the finish, time not important, ha ha, the only thought in my mind was to come home with that all important medal for my collection. I did try to buy one at the expo (only joking).
New York has a friendship run on Saturday morning: a nice gentle easy jog over 3 miles. Went along to this thinking it can't do any harm. Very wrong on my part, calf gave way after 10 mins of gently jogging, what a nightmare, after that 3 mile jog my mind was made up. Can't possibly run or even walk a marathon under the circumstances. For the rest of the day: one minute I was doing it, the next I wasn't, what a nightmare. Saturday night I decided I had to do it even if I walked the whole way I reckoned I could possibly walk it in 6.30, even with a stiff calf.
Left the hotel at 4 o'clock in the morning to get to the pick up point at 4.30am As I limp to the pick up point I thought this is going to be a long day, so if its going to be a long day how am I going to enjoy it? I know I will take my phone, camera, and leave the g.p.s. watch at the hotel (not likely). As I stood on the start line I had a strategy of gently jogging 1 mile walking a mile and so on, what would the people of New York think of me walking in the marathon after only 1 mile? But I knew if I didn't stop and walk I would not get to that all important finishing line and the medal. Race starts 9.40am. Went off very worried about the calf but I reckoned if I just shuffled along I could at least get to the first mile jogging, then start my strategy of walking and jogging. First mile was reached in 10.30 not too bad for a shuffle. Do I start walking now? No I think I'll just run (shuffle) to the next mile.
Mile 2... 10.40. What about the pace judgment, I really must start to walk or I won't get to the finish, what a thought walking in a big city marathon after just 2 mile but needs must. Did this to mile 6 then I started to run for three quarters of a mile and walk for a quarter of a mile (remember I had my g.p.s. watch with me what a great idea). The miles went by without too much trouble. Got to half way in around 2.40. Time to use the mobile, phoned home to let my wife and daughter (Kirsten) know how I was doing. I told them how easy things were going and if I kept going like this I will make it to the finish and bring back that all important medal. The next 10 miles go the same way nice and easy, I forgot to mention I was wearing my Scotland football shirt another great idea as I got great support from the side lines.
Reached 23 miles and threw caution to the wind and stopped the walk breaks. Finished really strong throwing people out of the way to get to the line, what an absolutely fantastic way to do a big city marathon it must be the most enjoyable way to see the 5 burghs of New York. By the way I finished in 5.05.58 I got my all important medal. Fantastic! Forgot all about the calf: maybe its just in my mind?
Hope you enjoy reading my story and if you are ever thinking of doing the New York Marathon I would highly recommend it, maybe not the way I did it but I was forced into it.
See you all next club night.Report Bert.
New York's finestBert sent a follow up saying you can look at photos of him during the marathon on the official photo site here but unfortunately you can't copy and paste the images. Which is why the quality of the following isn't as good as it is on the site.
