I almost* completely succeeded in NYC!
As reported last, I drove, I parked, I saw Broadway show, I found and registered for a race AND I ran a fun race in NYC's Central Park!
And all within ~23hrs!
THE RACE
I had successfully navigated the subway 2X already but decided that for race morning I'd grab a cab and get there stress free. I was really glad to have registered ahead of time since this allowed me to just stuff some cash and an ID and my hotel room key in my bra and head out unfettered (also why I chose a cab since I figured I'd be cold that early in the morning). I hailed a cab and was delivered promptly to the Mother Goose statue at the park. I was nearly an hour early and completely blind to what size race it would be but the line of porta-potties as long as WA-520 helped me guess that it was going to be substantial. The park is big enough to accommodate though and there was lots of room to wander and meet some NYC runners. I happened to sit down next to an adorably nutty speedy woman who was as friendly as she was fast. She told me about the RRNY races and what a good club they were. She places in the top of her AG and is training for her first full.
Soon enough it was time to line up. A note of how speedy people were: The pace waves were by number with the competitive folks being 1-1000…I was number 11011 .
When we FINALLY crossed the start line I was ready to run. It was such a beautiful day, and it had been SO long since I'd run one, and I was in Central Park. Pretty cool. I really wanted to try to hit a 10'/mi pace to gauge where I was. I set a virtual partner race for a 40'/ 4mi course. The first mile had a pretty substantial hill but I stayed on pace fine. Mile 2 I got to pull ahead of the virtual partner by a decent margin. Mile 3, SUCKED! It had a hill and I was tired. The race was so well organized and there was a marker and water at each mile. In the first 2 miles I saw a castle, a pyramid, multiple famous people (well, historical ones and in statue form).
The last mile I was tired but so excited to be finishing up my first race in forever. I was still ahead of my virtual partner by a little bit and I really wanted to finish in under 40, as you can see below I failed by a touch. Oh well, It was a great morning.
Their post race was equally well organized. I wondered how they would be able to keep from serving bagels and apples to everyone in Central Park; well, they tunneled runners into a closed off field. There were carnival games for kids and lung cancer awareness and a stage and such. But I was hungry and in New York City so I didn't want a race bagel so I headed back to the hotel.
*I managed to get a parking ticket in Hell's kitchen when I stopped for lunch, sad
Indicates especially new yorky things
Run As One 4M Distance: 4.0 Miles, 6.4 Kilometers |
| | | | | | | | AG | | |||
AMBER | F28 | 11011 |
| WA | 4970 | 2148 | 659 | 40:18 | 10:04 | 40:18 | 2373 | 47.7 % |
2 comments:
Sweeeeet! Congrats on your first race in a very long while and for basically hitting your goal pace. That is great especially considering you just had surgery a little bit ago. Let the running/triathlon season begin.
so proud of you!! totally envious of your impromptu NY experience =D
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