Run Ailsa Run: 26.2 miles of the NYC Marathon

First 3 miles

The Verrazano-Narrows bridge. I couldn't help but run a little in the beginning since everyone else was running. I quickly made my way to the bottom deck of the bridge, away from the side (to avoid the urban legend of yellow "rain" from the top deck). As soon as I was in the safe zone, I started walking. During my last training run, I did try out my running pouch. The pouch wasn't full so it felt snug on back and wasn't bouncing around. But during the race, with a full pouch, I felt it bouncing up and down as I ran. Annoying but there's nothing I could do about that now.

It was uncomfortable to be just walking since everyone else was running pass me but I decided I'd rather be slow than aggravate the IT band trying to run up the bridge at the very beginning of the marathon. I was also aware that running up the bridge would take a lot out of me. So I just walked and tried to keep up with an elderly man in a green windproof jacket and holding a stick. I only passed him when I was safely at the top of the bridge and I started running a little but when I slowed down to walk, he would walked pass me.

When I got to the bottom of the bridge, I took off the throwaway long-sleeve cotton shirt that I had on and left it by the road side. I passed a barefoot Japanese runner holding a big flag. He stopped and posed for photos with spectators by the side of the road.

Miles 4-13

I wasn't expecting many people to call out my name so I thought I'd try to keep count of the number of times I hear my name being called. I lost count immediately. I used my interval watch and kept to "run 1 minute: walk 2 minutes." But occasionally the cheering and music were so loud that I couldn't hear my watch beeped. Hearing the loud cheers made me want to run longer which I did. After my watch beeped (1 minute run was up) I would decide to run to the next stop light instead of walking immediately. I think by around mile 5 or 6, I realized that I still have a long way to go so I'd better keep to my strategy.

I raised my hands when I heard my name being called.
I high-fived little kids by the side of the road.
I tried to pass and eventually passed a man wearing a miniature Eiffel Tower.
I tried to pass and eventually passed a joggler (a person who runs and juggles at the same time).

Halfway point (13.1 miles)

Ran through the checkpoint in the middle of the Pulaski bridge, checked my Nike pacing band and I was right on pace.

Mile 14-15

Feet started to hurt, especially the balls of my feet. Maybe I should have worn thicker socks. Chatted with a middle-aged man whose pace was similar to mine. Then it was up the Greensboro bridge. Almost everyone was walking up the bridge. Since there were no spectators on the bridge, it was quiet...an eerily quiet march of the walkers. And then I felt a twinge in my left knee...ITBS flare-up! I think this was one of the most disappointing stretch of the marathon. I wasn't sure if I could continue running or if I should just walk the last 10 miles. Walking 10 miles would take a lot of time :( Said many short prayers for God to keep the ITBS away. And I also felt a pre-cramp on the back of my right knee/calf. At the medical station in the middle of the bridge, I asked for and then ate a packet of salt

Mile 16-19

1st Avenue (Manhattan) was supposed to be the stretch with the most and the loudest spectators but I was too caught up in mind with the ITBS flare-up to enjoy the spectators. Besides by the time I got to 1st Avenue there weren't as many spectators around compared to when the elite runners ran by that area. I decided to keep to my "run 1 minute: walk 2 minutes," but when I ran I made sure I ran fast. After a while I realized my left knee wasn't hurting badly, it was just a twitch uncomfortable when I ran.

It was a funny sight because most of the slow people were either walking or running slowly and here I was running fast passing many people and the crowds was excited to cheer on the lone fast (or slightly faster...hehehe) runner. But when my 1 minute was up, I would start walking so it would seem like their cheers didn't spur me on :) It did but I had to keep to my strategy.

Mile 20-22

Tough stretch. It's all a blur. Feet hurt, exhaustion. I walked a lot and was around 2 minutes behind according to the Nike pace band.

Mile 23-25

The stretch to the entrance to Central Park seemed so so long. Occasionally my mind was in a haze. Hmmmm... I wonder if this is what hitting the wall feels like. I had to eat another energy gel to get some sugar in me. I was rather worried that I might faint. When I was running, I kept chanting to myself, "Run and not faint, run and not faint, run and not faint." It is actually "run and not be weary, walk and not faint" but "run and not faint" worked. Or I'd keep running this line in my head, "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." Both taken out of context :D but I needed something to keep my mind focused.

Saw Christine and Ivan cheering and taking pictures. Raised my hands and kept running.

Last 1.2 mile

I wanted to keep running but couldn't sustain it, had to walk and run. 300 yards to finish line, I had to walk to conserve some energy so that I could run across the finish line.

I saw the finish line around the corner and started running. There was a group of 4 male runners in front of me. I tried to stay back from them so that my finish line photo would not be obstructed but they were rather slow so I couldn't run fast across the finish line.