NYC Marathon 2017

When my daughter (Baby #2) was born in 1st March 2017, I was filled with so much joy and love for her and us as a family, as for anyone that has a family of their own it is an incredible experience and rough ride at times.

I was also at peace with the fact that my family was complete and that it was soon going to be time to be able to focus on myself again at some point, on my career, my studies, and my LOVE of running!

I needed a goal, a bucket list, a pretty damn motivating excuse to get up and go to training with a newborn and a 1.5 year old.....so I signed up for the New York Marathon.

Never had I ever imagined how much it would affect my life, my perspective of myself changed, my courage, determination and willpower quadrupled, I was and still am living off the high of being able to not only have successfully completed it but still LOVE running haha much to the dismay of my partner it actually made me love it more! and love of LONGER distances haha

The trip over to NYC was one that was surreal, to be able to step onto a plane with no babies or toddlers of my own and experience my own company overseas for the first time in a few years. I went over with an agency called Travelling Fit, who are absolutely amazing! Guaranteed entry, accommodation, meet ups, warm up runs, events, pre and post race meetups). Check them out www.travellingfit.com

I had 2 days prior to the race to explore a little (my 7th time to NYC), but as I didn't want to walk too much it was mainly eating, catching up with friends, massage, searching for NYC best coffee and getting over jet lag!

We did need to get to the Event pavillion which was on the Hudson downtown to collect our bibs/tshirts and any merchandise. The pavillion was amazing, so organised, so many people!

NYC marathon eve!

We had a light 4km jog around Central Park with the whole Travelling Fit team- so surreal running around the finish line part of the course! The city is a buzz of activity, people EVERYWHERE..and not just people but runners! with over 56 000 people competing it makes for a very active tourist!

I would like to briefly touch on one of the events which comes together with Travelling Fit and thats The Indigenous Marathon Foundation- Robert DeCastella is the main spokes person for this program- which offers running programs and sponsorship of Indigenous men and women to run a marathon overseas. They than bring back all of their knowledge and passion for healthy lifestyle and fitness to their community. It has had such an amazing outcome, and such great positive flow on to rural and remote communities. Find out more here: http://www.imf.org.au 

The day....New York Marathon 2017

Jet lag still has me and Im awake at 3am! 2 and half hours before Im meant to...darn it!
I had worked out that the Starbucks next door opened at 5am- so there I was getting a capuccino getting ready to run in a few hours! 

I head back into my room for some final preperation making sure I have everything....its actually happening!! The temperature has dramatically dropped which is welcome...I head off with my dressing gown and pillow which I bought at Vinnies in Manly.

Even though my start time isnt until 10:30am we re all off at 6am on the bus....The team had decided that this option is better as keeps us warm and dry for the travel time, as there s usually a long delay before the start, I had read a blog of a competitor last year who suggested a dressing gown and pants and beanie as you can be waiting up to 3 hours to start!! Lining all the start corrals are bin after bin of clothing bins ready to collect all the unwanted gear before we start.

The Village was set up at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island - its actually crazy how many people are here and how well organised everything is, perfectly sign posted and helpful people to direct the human traffic. Security is ridiculously tight given what happened only days earlier- (the very unfortunate terrorist attack) I counted 20 check points just to get to the event village front gate, there was at least 5 helicopters as well as Army and Police.

Theres facts around the event village that 125 different countries are represented by over 56,000 runners this year and its seriously amazing to be surrounded by so many people!

Into your corral (the area that they seperate you into-colour-time ) where theres things like, bad coffee, hot chocolate, bagels and doughnuts...I think I ll stick to my sports supplements. 
Off to the start line you go...the National Anthem is sung and you can’t help but embrace the patriotism....the cannon blasts and you’re off to the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing New York. Nobody does over the top like America and it’s bloody awesome. Feeling PUMPED!

The start is up the Verrazano Bridge with sweeping views of New York to your left but there’s no time to take them in...it’s 2km uphill and the same down..one foot in front of the other as you try and find your rhythm. By the time you actually cross the bridge I had a wave of humour in my head...well great only 40kms to go that was too easy...

Brooklyn is your first Borough and what a way to hit the 5km marker...its just too cool here..hip hop music blasting..people rapping and break dancing on their stoops..so many people, so much noise...it lifts you and your feet fly..there is so much love in the air and it takes all that you have not to sprint. 

At this point you  start to notice all the signs that people are holding and you can't help but laugh out loud! Some of the signs include:

"your running better than our government"

"chuck norris has never run a marathon"

" 1 out of 4 people poo their pants are you one of them?"

"stuff this lets go and get a beer!"

"wrong way go back"

Over the bridge and into Queens, the music here is electric! The crowd are really cheering you on and enjoying a few wines at the same time! The party continues as the mix of races explode in a sea of colour and noise, Williamsburg hill nearly kills you and the legs are screaming...at this point I actually started to get a little overwhelmed with the noise and the people its just SO LOUD the screaming is insane! Even the notoriously quiet conservative Jewish section is politely, yet quietly cheering you on. You can see the kids faces smudged against the windows inside waving you by...giving you a moment to collect your thoughts, do a body scan and push on. Then you hear the theme from Rocky and you lift again as you hit the Queensborough bridge.

Once your over the bridge your coming over into Manhattan! You re over half way woohoo and onto First Avenue...It really is everything you’ve dreamt of...a sea of hundreds and thousands, both sides of the street screaming at you to keep running and not to stop.Its a tough really really straight stretch so this part is where the race actually really starts. The body starts to ache by the end of 1st Ave as by now you’ve hit 32km and in perfect NYC style as you turn around the bend theres a hit the wall party!! A huge grandstand with cheering and a massive LCD screen await you as you turn the corner all screaming "HIT THE WALL HIT THE WALL" and you grab that energy have a chuckle and push on!! This is where the Marathon really begins so soak it up, reset yourself and get ready for the real race.

Next turn and your into the Bronx & Harlem...Gospel Choirs on one side...Rap and R&B on the other and all I can think about in my head is "Im just Jenny from the block!" Yes so cool...

Peeling back down into Manhattan for the last 7km...5th Avenue another slog along a straight and painful incline (probably only 2% but it feels like EVEREST!) , you start to recognise a few icons from the warm up run just yesterday....a few quick turns, Columbus Circle & then you’re there...Central Park.

2km to go...the crowds are right on top of you...the noise....incredible....it’s as if the whole city has stopped just for today...2 Million people cheering you on..

Your body is screaming at you to stop but your mind is telling your body to shut up. Then you see the sign...800 metres to go....200 metres to go and then it’s there, the Finish line.
As you cross the line you scream, you cry and you scream some more. I felt like I was going to fall over..

You’ve done it, you completed The New York Marathon!! I actually cannot believe it!! 4:30hr, a heavy and seriously cool medal gets hung around your neck...you smile like you have never before...your soul is smiling too

Within a few minutes your famished and cold...but never fear you get wrapped in a space blanket while still cueing to get out (its takes about 1 1/2 hr to get out !) than a bag is handed to you with protein shakes/bars/snacks and I literally gobbled everything down...around another bend and you get wrapped in fleece lined poncho with NYC marathon finisher on it....Thats right! Thats me!!

Finally out onto the streets random people congratulating you...straight to the hotel into a hot salt bath.. 

Travelling Fit organised an after party at "The Empire Hotel" and the real party starts...

The next day I managed to walk around doing Museums/brunch/whilst wearing your medal the city is FREE! everyone congratulates you and galleries and museums are on the house!

I found an amazing Thermal Springs Massage place in Tribeca which honestly saved my legs and was the best thing I have ever experienced! pure LUXE https://beaire.com/en/aire-ancient-baths-new-york/

If you have ever thought about doing a Marathon...I cannot recommend NYC marathon enough!! loved it!!

Bring on the next one!