This past Sunday I headed off to the Big Apple to compete in the 2007 ING New York City Marathon. Because I had just completed a marathon 15 days earlier I had no idea how my body was going to react to doing another 26.2 miles again so soon, but I went out there with a positive attitude and gave it my all.
Running marathons in New York and Boston are so different than running marathons in other places. Here in Rhode Island you are lucky if you see 100 spectators during the race, in New York I estimate that there must have been over 80,000 people lining the streets of the entire course. It is simply amazing to observe the support these fans give to all the athletes. People stay long after the elite athletes finish cheering on their friends or just the other people struggling to make it to the finish line.
After waking up at 3:30 on Sunday morning to board the bus at 5 a.m. I was feeling pretty good. Now waiting for the race to start was the only thing left to do. I found time to get a little more shut eye on the bus in the two hours I had before the race was to begin. At 7:15 we arrived on the Verazano Bridge and it was time to get into my racing chair and warm up.
It was a little chilly and very windy. I had run this marathon four times in the past, and I knew the weather could have been a lot worse so I was very happy. After a little warm up it was time to head up to the starting line. A few minutes later we took off on our way through the five boroughs of New York. This marathon has a very brutal start. A one mile up hill climb is upon you before you take your first step. Every time I do this marathon the first mile puts me behind my goal pace. I am a slow starter and a one mile uphill start is the last thing I need but I got through it and focused on the next 25.2 miles.
In this marathon the miles go by so fast and the spectators give you the extra boost of adrenaline you need to keep you going mile after mile. This race has people competing from all over the world. It also has the largest number of disabled people competing. At the New York Marathon they believe that everyone’s race is important and they keep the finish line opened until the last person crosses the finish line, even if it takes all day.
When you do a marathon you can tell if it’s going to be your day or if it’s going to be a struggle to finish. Sunday was my day, I felt strong and relaxed all day. Although I was a little off my goal pace I was moving well and my body felt as good as could be expected. The last six miles flew by. The fans are great. I heard many different languages cheering me to keep going, but everyone could be understood. I crossed the finish line in 8:26:09. I had hoped to finish in less than eight hours but I came up a little bit short. All in all I was very pleased with my performance and it was an experience I’ll never forget. People say that New Yorkers are rude and uncaring, those people never have visited the city on marathon Sunday.
-Jason Pisano
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