Alice's Adventures in Running Land
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

The New York Marathon: Race Day From the UK

11/4/2015

0 Comments

 
'Although I was not one of the thousands of runners who took to the streets of New York at the weekend to tackle the New York City Marathon, I was able to enjoy my own unique marathon day experience from my home in Lincoln. Sunday 1st November had been marked in my diary as soon as I found out my friend was going to be running the event. Since flying out to New York to spectate was sadly not a realistic option, I knew I would have to find some other way of being able to support her and take in the race.

I must admit, although I have always been aware of the New York City Marathon, I have never really taken the time to fully appreciate the race. From the build up on social media the days before the event I soon realised what I had been missing out on, and how it appeared the whole city becomes struck with marathon fever. I just could not get over the Opening Ceremony either - what an amazing way to kick off race weekend! Seeing my friends photos from New York and reading her messages it seemed a bit surreal she was actually there in this wonderful city and immersed in the running environment. 

The time difference between New York and the UK meant the Marathon started at roughly 2pm UK time, so armed with our home made banners (see image), my friend and I settled down to watch a live stream of the race. I felt nervous as the commentators continually went over the race, the course, the running surfaces, the weather - it felt as if I was about to run it! As the elite runners set off my excitement for my friend grew as I saw the route she would be running, and listened to the commentary team real off the sights she would be passing. I was also armed with my mobile phone, the New York Marathon app firmly opened, ready to track my friend. I anxiously kept refreshing the app until finally she set off.

Watching a little icon edge robotically on a map along the streets of New York was ridiculously addictive, and the countdown to every 5km point - when the app gave you the split breakdown along with a predicted finish time - was almost agonising at times. My friend started really well and I was a little scared at first in case she had gone out too fast. At one point the tracker stopped moving and a small wave of panic did rush through me as I feared she may have stopped! But my friend's icon went on, and her pace also maintained strong. As the race went on I no longer felt worried for her, but instead was just in awe of how her little icon just kept on going!
Picture
Picture
'Watching' the last couple of miles was the worst. I knew by now my friend was going to record an incredible time and that she would be well within her aim for the race, so that was not the fear. But I suddenly had flashbacks to my own marathon and how this final stretch felt - the overwhelming tiredness, the constant mental battles and conversations going on in your head, and the way you someone just about manage to keep your legs moving despite the pain. The little icon on the app was my friend after all and it was hard to think of her going through this, whilst at the same time being so happy that she was about to smash a PB! As my friend's icon inched over the finish line I felt incredibly proud of her, and just wished I could have actually been in New York to see her physically cross the line! I will be there when she runs the 2016 London Marathon though, and if watching that race in person is anywhere near as memorable as watching it on an app then it looks set to be a special day. ​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Alice's Adventures In Running Land

    Read about my adventures in running land...


    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    Ashby 20 2019
    Bassingham Bash 2015
    Bassingham Bash 2016
    Bassingham Bash 2017
    Bassingham Bash 2020
    Berlin Marathon 2016
    Berlin Marathon 2017
    Boston Marathon 2017
    Brighton 10k 2015
    Brighton Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2018
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2019
    Cambridge Half Marathon 2020
    Chicago Marathon 2019
    Clumber Park Half Marathon
    Doncaster 10k 2017
    Doncaster 10k 2018
    Doncaster 10k 2019
    Finsbury Park 10k 2015
    General Running
    Great Newham Run 10k 2016
    Great North Run 2015
    Harewood House Half Marathon 2017
    Hedgehog Half Marathon 2018
    I Am Team GB
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2018
    Leicestershire Half Marathon 2019
    Lincoln 10k 2015
    Lincoln 10k 2016
    Lincoln 10k 2017
    Lincoln 10k 2018
    Lincoln 10k 2019
    Lincoln Colour Dash 2015
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2016
    Lincoln Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2015
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2016
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 2017
    Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon 2018
    London Marathon 2015
    London Marathon 2016
    London Marathon 2017
    London Marathon 2018
    London Marathon 2020
    Manchester Marathon 2016
    Milton Keynes 20 Mile Race 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2017
    Newark Half Marathon 2018
    Newark Half Marathon 2019
    Newton's Fraction Half Marathon 2019
    Normanby 10k 2020
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2018
    North Lincolnshire Half Marathon 2019
    Nottingham 10k 2016
    Oxford Half Marathon 2015
    Parkrun
    Park Run
    Robin Hood Trail 10k
    Round Sheffield Run 2016
    Round Sheffield Run 2017
    Round Sheffield Run 2018
    Round Sheffield Run 2019
    Royal Parks Half 2016
    Santa Run 2014
    Santa Run 2015
    Santa Run 2018
    Santa Run 2019
    Sleaford 10k 2019
    Stamford 30k
    Sydney Marathon 2018
    The 401 Challenge
    The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2016
    Thoresby Half Marathon
    Winter Run 10k Liverpool
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2018
    Woodhall Spa 10k 2019
    X Runner 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from marksteelenz