My 25th Anniversary New York City Marathon

My 25th Anniversary New York City Marathon

It’s been three weeks, so here’s my overdue reflection on the 2022 New York City Marathon.

November 2, 1997. That was the day I crossed my first marathon finish line. It was a cool and rainy day in New York City. My family – Chris, his mom, my parents, my boss, and my friend Kevin – out on First Avenue. On the west side of the street, just above 66th Street. Wet and cold, jockeying for position at the barricade in order to have a front row seat for the 30 seconds or so it would take me to pass by.

This year it was overcast, humid, and unseasonably warm. When there were a few rain drops, I longed for the heavy downpours we experienced in ‘97. Although I knew that would not be good – especially for spectators. In ‘97 my dad had worn a brand new red corduroy shirt and when he got back to his hotel room and took it off, his white undershirt was pink.

This year’s cheer squad consisted of my 22 year old daughter with friends at around mile 11 in Brooklyn and Kurt on First Avenue at 77th Street (mile 17) and again in Central Park (40k mark, close to the conclusion of mile 25).

So much has changed in 25 years besides the make-up of my crew…

  • Marathon Expo at Jacob Javitz rather than the Coliseum (now the location of “The Shops at Columbus Circle”)
  • Chip timing!
  • “The TCS New York City Marathon App”
  • Better clothing, GSP watch, and “fast” shoes
  • Fueling with Maurten’s gels rather than Chuckles
  • Running with a phone/camera…and not a disposable camera with actual film
  • Texting my family afterwards to regroup (how the heck did anyone find each other before texting?)
  • Following it all up with pictures, stories, and reels on social media and a blog post!

I’ve learned to have throwaway clothing I can discard when I get warm; rather than tying a jacket and a long sleeve cotton (cotton?!?) tee tied around my waist for miles. I’m also quite certain no one had a big Sony Walkman – complete with wired headphones – at this years marathon, and I’ve learned to run without music, taking in what the course has to offer.

The last time I ran New York – 2005 – I was overwhelmed with sadness when I passed 66th Street on First Avenue and thought about my parents having been there for my first, and yet at the time they were still very much alive, although it was age that kept them home and I guess I sensed what was to come. But this year, long since my parents passed, I was filled with nothing but gratitude for lives well lived including my own. It’s also been more than 8 years since I sat in that church on First Avenue and 66th Street when I was early for an appointment at Memorial Sloan Kettering. And the Fred’s Team cheer zone on the course on that block, I took in as my own.

This marathon wasn’t my fastest, actually it was my slowest. Even slower than last year’s muddy marathon on the Delaware Canal Towpath, but there are a number of things for which I am very proud. My miles had meaning by doing a small fundraiser for Mercy Home, an organization with whom I am now employed after 25 years of trying to combine running and fundraising. I also gained my entry to this marathon with a qualifying time – a World Major at that! And in spite of the warm weather, my lack of consistent training, and advancing age, I still finished comfortably and got to both the start and finish healthy. Finally, and maybe what I am most proud of, is who I have become as a runner and marathoner in the past 25 years.

A first marathon is magical because for us non-elite athletes is about personal achievement, sticking with the training, perseverance, endurance, and victory in simply making it to the finish line. Your time doesn’t – or shouldn’t – matter. It’s about proving to yourself that you can cover the distance, and maybe setting a benchmark for the future.

Since ‘97 my mantras have change. “You got this.” “Keep moving.” “Trust your training.” “You are strong.” “You are fast.” To this year’s, “No one cares.”

Not that I believe for an instant that no one cares about what I am doing – judging from responses to my social media posts , greetings on the course, and donations to my fundraiser – clearly all the right people cared that I was running a marathon. What they didn’t care about truly was my time. They wanted my time to be whatever I wanted it to be. For marathon number 12 – a victory lap of sorts, in New York City, celebrating 25 years where it all began – I simply wanted my time to be fun.

And it was. I high-fived kids in Brooklyn, was shot by a confetti gun, read the funny signs, stopped for photos, saw a guy running while balancing a pineapple on his head, was overcome with emotion coming off the 59th Street Bridge into the roaring crowds on 1st Avenue, got some “ridiculous support” from my New Jersey running crew staffing a hydration station in Harlem, and ran, walked, jogged, and shuffled my way through a 26.2 mile party.

I don’t recall exactly when it was, but I remember telling Kurt that if it ever took me longer than 5 hours to complete a marathon I was done. That maybe that would signal my marathoning days we’re done. Of course there was also that time after my 2nd marathon which took me 2 minutes longer than my first that I thought I was done… and that time at the 2018 New Jersey Marathon when I called Kurt from mile 19 to say I was done right there and then!

When I crossed my latest marathon finish line in 5 hours, 42 minutes and 11 seconds, the furthest thing from my mind was that I was done. Although admittedly I need a break. I want to get rid of the Covid weight, get strong again, and recommit to training. But I’m not done. Next marathon: BQ in my next age group. After all, I get another 15 minutes!

The most important thing that I’ve learned in 25 years of marathoning is that the marathon is whatever YOU want it to be. While the definition of success varies for each individual, it also varies from one year, one race, to the next. Goals are personal. What remains the same is the distance. It’s 26.2 miles. There are no shortcuts.

Victory lap. Central Park, New York City. November 2022.
Review: CARA’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler

Review: CARA’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler

About time I get back to some race reviews, right? Well this isn’t exactly a race review per se. The Chicago Area Runnners Association (CARA)’s Ready 2 Run 20 Miler isn’t a race, but rather a training run positioned exactly 3 weeks before the Chicago Marathon.

Described as a “fully-supported 20 mile run with a unique point-to-point course along Chicago’s lakefront” it is geared primarily for participants in CARA’s summer marathon training program, but is really great for anyone willing to take on the challenge. The event is open to all. Although for CARA summer marathon training participants (and therefore many, many charity runners) the registration fee is included.

The course offers the only organized and supported opportunity to run the length of the Chicago Lakefront. The start is at the Montrose Lakefront track, with hydration, porta-potties, gear check, and in a good year, lights. Given that runners begin assembling an hour or more before the 6:30am start and official sunrise was only about 5 min prior to the start, well, let’s just say it was hard to get good pre-run photos without a flash. Some snafu with the Chicago Park District created the darkness which was overcome by bright smiles all around in anticipation of the journey.

Some of the 2022 Mercy Home Heroes highlighted with a flash

Everyone assembled according to pace group and each group had numerous official CARA pacers who have been leading group runs at one of CARA’s nine Chicagoland training sites (3 city, 6 suburban) all summer. Since the Lakefront Trail is only 18 miles, the course first goes north to Foster Beach before starting the trek southward. The changing scenery along Lake Michigan as the sun was rising was just breathtaking (as it always is).

There were 10 aid stations with water and Gatorade Endurance, and around the half way point, also gels. It does it’s best to simulate much of the marathon experience and ready participants for the big day. From my own personal experience in two Chicago Marathons, the only thing this training run lacked was crowd support. But that’s okay. Everyone needs the time to work out their race strategy and then the crowds on Marathon day will be a welcomed bouy.

With fellow “Hero” with 7 miles to go.

Construction along Du Sable Lake Shore Drive and the Lakefront trail near Jackson Park, the event’s destination, called for a detour to the west and a pass by the Museum of Science and Industry. No complaints here. The course was pretty. It was also a nice flat straight stretch to the finish (the previous course had a climb out of an underpass and the final yards).

Museum of Science and Industry

The finish had refreshments (including Revolution Beer), finisher shirts, massages, more porta-potties, and sponsor giveaways. The only thing it didn’t have was a clock. As I said, this wasn’t a race. And to discourage anyone from making it so there was no timing anywhere. Participants looking to monitor their training progress and assess race day goals used their own watches and apps.

Perhaps the best part? Shuttle buses back to the start where the majority of participants left their cars. I got a laugh from those sitting around me when I commented, “this bus ride is really long.”

CARA does a remarkably good job on this event and creates such a wonderfully unique experience for participants. Yes, they could do some out and back course which would eliminate the need for buses, half the volunteer recruitment, and logistics requiring the need for set up and breakdown in two different park locations. But what fun would that be? This event is one of several reasons I highly recommend CARA Summer Marathon training to anyone doing a fall marathon.

Podcast S1|E25: Betsy Magato, Charge Running & The Kyle Pease Foundation

Podcast S1|E25: Betsy Magato, Charge Running & The Kyle Pease Foundation

Apps have expanded what runners can do and have made training experiences better. Betsy Magato discusses Charge Running and the impact they have had on running, runners, and charities alike. We also talk about her running journey that started on the soccer field in childhood through most recently helping disabled athletes reach their goals. Her business is Charge Running, her cause is the Kyle Pease Foundation, and this is another inspiring guest! She is a marathoner, 15x Boston qualifier, RRCA and Galloway certified coach, and mom of three.

To learn more or to find Betsy:

Charge Running: https://www.chargerunning.com; @chargerunning on socials (especially check out their Instagram!)

Betsy’s Instagram: @runrunstrongcoach

Podcast S1|E24: John Jaeger, 50 Marathons for Mercy Home

Podcast S1|E24: John Jaeger, 50 Marathons for Mercy Home

John Jaeger, board member and long-time supporter of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls has challenged himself to run marathons in all 50 states! He is almost to the half way point having run marathons in 22 states and has also raised a whopping $152,000+ toward his $250,000 goal. He shares what inspired him to do this, what keeps him going, and lots and lots of fundraising tips for all charity runners. This episode will motivate you on your charity marathon journey for sure!

One of 50!

Learn more about John and Mercy Home here: https://www.mercyhome.org/blog/leadership/meet-our-board-members-john-jaeger/ 

John’s Fundraising page: https://p2p.mercyhome.org/diy/john-jaeger

Or call or text John at 708-347-4921 to support him or learn more.

Podcast S1|E23: Lydia Nader, Nutrition for Optimal Performance

Podcast S1|E23: Lydia Nader, Nutrition for Optimal Performance

Lydia Nader, registered dietitian nutritionist, discusses the importance of nutrition for optimal heath and performance, especially for marathon runners. We also talk about her experience growing up with Girls on the Run and how she continues to give back to this organization that shaped her lifestyle.


https://fuelwithnader.com
IG: @fuelwithnader
Twitter: @RUNwithNader
You can also find Lydia on Thursday nights running in Logan Square with 3Run2. For more info: https://www.threeruntwo.com or look for 3Run2/Three Run Two on Facebook, Instagram, and Strava.