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| Posing with my medal |
The day started very early as al runners have to get to Staten Island before the start of the race. This meant I got the bus there at 6am. This was a bit unfortunate for me as I was in the final wave I had a long wait there before the start.
After a lot of waiting and long line for the lavatory I finally got to start. It is hard to pace yourself as you head over the bridge into Brooklyn. Annoyingly one of the magnetic holders of my number came off and I was so scared I might lose my number that I stopped at an aid station for a safety pin. Losing about 10 minutes in the process.
Brooklyn was my favourite part of the course so many diverse people wishing you on or playing loud music.
After a long time in Brooklyn we headed up through Queens then across the Queensborough bridge emerging into Manhattan. The difference between the quiet and calm inside the enclosed bridge to the crowd outside in 1st Avenue was incredible. It was the closest I have ever felt to being a professional athlete being cheered on by a tremendous crowd.
Up 5th Avenue al the way to the Bronx for a brief visit before turning back through Harlem to the finish in Central Park. 5th Avenue was packed with people cheering and enjoying themselves. Unfortunately by the time I got to the park I was walling, the up and down going over the bridges had really taken it out of me.
I finished in 4:56:12 which was slower than I hoped for but I was happy about. It was going dark and getting cooler as I was leaving, getting out of the marathon area is a task in itself with so many runners packed around. I was glad of the robes they were giving out. I walked back to meet up with Kath a few blocks away and was glad that our hotel wasn't too far away.
