 "Photo: photo courtesy matt jasinski")
The 40th Annual ING New York City Marathon was held on arguably the most eventful weekend the city would see all year. Halloween festivities, the Yankees battling the Phillies in their 44th World Series appearance, a 26-mile long block party and the race itself, of course, all took place during the last weekend of October.
e started and competed 10 marathons. Marathons require preplanning and training - a balance of sorts across running, lifting, stretching, eating, fluid intake, resting, spiritual connecting, etc. Why New York and why now? Having completed 10 marathons, I suppose you could say I’m a seasoned marathoner. I’ve run Boston twice and covered Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. I’ve completed half-marathons, including Maryville.
Yet, New York is no ordinary race. It’s the largest of its kind and along with Boston, is considered one of the “Big Five” in the world. You get in to New York by winning a marathon or through lottery. You know how I was admitted; yet I was forced to cancel in the previous two years due to scheduling conflicts. You cancel the third year and you are done for New York. Thus, this was the year.
I had a relative short time period of training and was diligent on Sunday long runs - steady, yet slower than in the past. I put in 13 minimum on Sundays, ramped in a 17, 18 and even a pretty solid 20 three weeks before the NYC Marathon. The runs were consistent, but not varied and the weekday jaunts were up and down - some shortened, some skipped, some normal and some pretty strong. However, total mileage was paltry even by my standards with most weeks during training averaging in the mid to high 20s. My oldest son, Matt, called it the Brett Favre approach to marathon training. I chuckled and knew he was right, but also accepted given life’s conditions, my training “is what it is” leading up to race day.
The number of congratulatory notes following the Inauguration and the flooding of good wishes for a successful marathon were overwhelming. Family, friends, faculty and staff, colleagues, CIE tenants and business owners, Bearcat athletes and other students, etc. all checked in. That’s a pretty good feeling - and a bit of pressure that people were watching.
An old ankle injury resurfaced the Wednesday before the race. I had run 12.5 on Sunday and another 4.5 Tuesday in the obligatory last week final “taper” period - and felt good Tuesday when I finished. I woke up swollen Wednesday morning and by Wednesday could not plant on my right foot. No running that evening and the race was quite questionable. I was committed, to traveling with Matt, though, “just in case.” Bearcats’ head athletic trainer Kelly Quinlan came to the rescue with her thorough medical expertise. Dr. Pat Harr provided important assistance and Maryville Mayor Chad Jackson - a physical therapist extraordinaire - provided Thursday evening therapy that gave me quiet confidence my ankle could hold up.
The Friday before the race, Matt and I flew into Newark. An old college friend, Rick, picked us up - he and his wife took us out for a fabulous steak/seafood dinner and thus another lesson to know- college friends are there for life. Rick moved to New York from college and says, “Marathon Day is my favorite day as a New Yorker. New Yorkers are at their absolute best.”
Time to get fired up!
I hit breakfast Saturday morning and picked up extra fruit and drink for my “goody bag” on race day, Sunday. You begin thinking a bit more seriously about race day at this point. I ran a few sprints just to see if my ankle will hold - it does.
Matt and I went to the Marathon Expo to pick up my running packet Saturday early afternoon. Unbelievable - the most smooth check-in process I have seen for any purpose and another lesson for Bearcats - we can learn about our own work from a myriad of seemingly “unlike” activities. We talked to a 2009 Boston Marathoner and three-time finisher of New York - he casually mentions the course being tougher than Boston, to “watch out for miles 1-3 and the bridges” and prepare for the crowds - both fans and runners.”
We took in some raucous Yankee fans during dinner as they cheered on the Bronx Bombers against the Phillies in Game 3 of the World Series. We walked through Times Square a little more than we should have, but wanted to take in sights, sounds and smells.
As I settled in for a bit of a nap (aided by daylight savings time) around 10:30 p.m., Matt explored the city. I saw the weather forecast before retiring - 80% chance of rain throughout the night and early morning yet subsiding by 5 a.m., winds diminishing from 9 to 5 mph throughout the race and warming to perhaps 53 degrees and maybe even sun by race’s end.
I awoke to what I expected. Rains were subsiding. It was 3:45 a.m. and I prepared to leave by 4:15 a.m. to get to the New York Public Library for bus transportation to Staten Island - the beginning point of a 26.2 mile NYC journey.
The walk to Midtown Manhattan at 4:15 a.m. on Halloween was quite interesting. I’ll leave it at that. Like pre-race preparations, the police, volunteers, staff and busses were fully prepared.
After the race, I told my wife Denise that this was “my best overall pre-race routine.” I was calm, I coached myself to stay dry and somewhat warm in one of the tents used for runners - and do so until at least 7:40 a.m. I departed the tent at 7:40 a.m., much to my satisfaction, having rested, ate, drank and crowded out of my tent surroundings. Alas, much to do throughout the area - donuts and power bars; fruit and bagels; coffee, tea and water; live music, ecumenical services; people watching; etc.
My start time was 9:40 a.m., as there were three starting waves, each with numbered and lettered corrals to help facilitate flow. I, of course, was in the Green Wave - fitting, right? I have quoted Roberto Clemente in a few different speeches - the late superstar from the Pittsburgh Pirates who was focused on helping others. I, of course, was in Corral 21. And my bib number was 21,380 (nearly 44,000 runners participated) – 21 for Clemente again, 3+8+0 for this being my 11th marathon. Was that a stretch? Perhaps not.
The call comes at 8:30 or so. Green Wave runners, proceed to line up. Interestingly, my group, ending at 22,000, included sub-elites, professionals and the rest of us.
Just before 9:40 a.m., there was much air traffic, lots of folks shedding clothes (for charity), lots of nervous energy, and lots of chatter. I remained calm, reflected and gave thanks and turned to the National Anthem. We started the 40th New York City Marathon under cloudy and threatening skies and cool temperatures.
Next thing I know, Sinatra’s “New York, New York” is absolutely blaring as we quickly approach the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, linking Staten Island eventually into Brooklyn. I also looked to my left and saw the breathtaking beauty of Manhattan out in the distance. So clear, yet seeming tauntingly far. My ankle situation seemed somewhat gray to me at that time as well, as I simply was unsure what might transpire. Yet I harkened back to my goals to get me centered. For marathons, I have gone away from time goals (my previous best was 3:12 - in my younger years!) and now add, “enjoy the experience, take in the learning, complete what you start” to having fun, giving thanks and giving it my all for any experience I encounter. Because of the ankle, I also note that I’d be happy for each mile I finished.
So with a bum ankle, a couple pieces of tape, an Advil, and some old-school Flint, Michigan grit, I was off. I was solitary, yet with 44,000 of my friends.
The atmosphere was electric. Crowds dotted the course from mile marker 1 on and by mile marker 2 I and many other runners ahead any other outer layers we had on - the day and prospect of the marathon bearing down on us were heating up.
Mile markers passed by me seemingly so quickly, yet my race was steady and exactly how I wished for 2, 4, 8 and into the 13.1-mile marks. Brooklyn was a special delight and the crowds were spectacular, as was the music – and the art, and the smells, and the school children, and the commerce, and the churchgoers, and New York’s finest - police, firefighters and other emergency personnel, and the cheers for runners from France, Chile, Poland, Germany and so many other countries. What a melting pot and celebration of cultures and people.
Pulaski Bridge was 13.1 and I was running the race exactly as I had trained - slower than in the past, yet steady. Live bands lined the entire route; much of the race saw cheering fans lined up 10 to 15 people deep. The exhilarating vibe made me forget any injury and lack of overall training I missed.
I hit mile markers 14, 15 and 16. I was feeling good. The Queensboro Bridge, connecting Queens to Manhattan, was a laborious challenge though. I took it easy both up and down. My ankle flared up and I tightened by mile 18. I decided to walk a few miles to ensure I did not do any damage to the ankle or experience spasm in my calves or thighs. It worked, as I gimped through the Bronx slowly (did I mention the runner with a Phillies cap on taking a lashing from Yankee fans throughout the race?) and then hit Harlem and began to jog again. And jog I did. I knew I had 5.2 miles left and I had to make the Bearcat green and white proud by finishing what I started.
Matt and I missed each other at mile 18. Thus he and I met up at 25.2 when I heard, amid bedlam, a huge and loud “finish strong, John.” It is what I needed as there was scarcely little energy left in my tank. I knew I was there and having my son there to support and give that last nudge is something that will stick with as I think about the last mile in the NYC Marathon. I heard plenty of “go Northwest, go Bearcats” cheers and I worked my way through a tough Central park and finished in just under 4:00.
On a day many natives of New York characterize as their favorite day to be a New Yorker, I completed my 11th marathon. As Matt suggested, “the race of a lifetime.” Based on performance? Maybe not so much (I would have needed to shave 1:48:10 off my time to catch the men’s champion!). Based on experience, adventure, and accomplishment? Most definitely. Matt may have a slightly different description of the adventure that Halloween weekend offers in NYC, but agrees that the marathon is a one-of-a-kind event that only the greatest city in the world can produce.
According to the official program, 2 million spectators line the course. 1,500 media credentials are issued. 100 staffers work year-round on the marathon, the best organized event in which I have ever been exposed. They have 1,658 portable toilets at the start, 42,000 Power Bars, 90,000 8-ounce bottles of Poland Spring water, 1,800 gallons of lemon-lime Gatorade. Over 125 bands are on the course, 500,000 participant photos are captured. Another 32,040 gallons of Gatorade are on the course. 41 medical stations and 57,059 salt packets are available. The total economic impact to the city is $250 million.
Yet, it takes one step at a time to complete the marathon.
As we wrapped up our trip, waiting on a delayed flight back to KC, I lay asleep on the Newark Airport floor. Exhausted, but thrilled to have crossed another marathon off my list of goals, I began to hibernate. Well, albeit briefly, because Bearcat Nation doesn’t rest, and it was back to work on Monday morning.
When I was back to work, I received an unbelievable book from the Horace Mann school children regarding the presidency (good wishes, what a president does and suggestions for the president). The 5th and 6th graders wrote about how a marathon is like a presidency and they provided wonderful insight.
As always, thanks for the support and see you on Highway 71 sometime!
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