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Race Report

New York City Marathon

Sunday, November 3, 2002

Hi everyone, I didn't run the NYCM this past weekend but I did go down for the festivities and what a weekend it was.

First a BIG ole thank you to the Penguins. Let me tell you they know how to have fun, now if we can only change the team color.. Why you ask? We'll get there but first.

Well it all started innocently enough. As most of you know I spent most of the summer training Julia Kim (and a few others). Although for Julia Disney is the goal race NYCM was to be a good barometer for her training. We traveled from Boston on Thursday and I immediately started on my quest to gain 5 pounds :) at a place called the Heartland Brewery. We met up with a great group of people and after some good food and better beer we went to see the Halloween parade.

Friday dawned with more food (and more food and some more food) at Carmine's. Again the company was great and everyone went home in a wheelbarrow. Saturday Daniel put on his world famous feast at Padrone's and I decided never to step on a scale again. The food was great and I got to meet up with new friends and old friends including sitting with Neil and Sweet Julie (who declared us the second cutest dead couple.). Personally my vote is for the KK twins in CA :), Cathy Morgan and as luck would have it, Josh and Maryann Knight. After a few words, we found out the Josh had a seat on his team bus that left 5 miles from where we were staying (my sister's). So on Sunday morning Julia jumped on the Taconic Road Runners bus and race day had begun.

When we left our story I was 5 pounds heavier and being wheeled home. So what should I do race morning. Meet for breakfast :)

I meet up with Milt Link, Lisa, and Milard and Violet's kids. What an adventure. After breakfast we headed for Brooklyn. Since this was maybe my 10th time in NY I figured I should try the expert navagation system that Neil Cook suggested. We hopped on the subway and ended up on 4th Ave to follow Cher (Milt's wife), Scott (lisa's husband), Julia and anyone else we could see. We arrived in time to see Harriet Kang and Karen Bingham walking with some achilles runners. They were in high spirits, we had a group hug and they left moving along well.

At this point Lisa pulled out three PINK flags. Did I mention the color? It was Pink. It seems that the penguins color is pink and that was our symbol. At first I was thinking NFW I'm waving a pink flag. But after about 5 minutes of 20 deep runners I grabed the flag and started waving it over my head. The only thing worse than a pink flag would be waiting for 2 hours and missing our runners. I was getting many thumbs up with my pink flag.

We watched the lead women and lead men come through looking FAST. Shortly thereafter the crowds of runners started to come. We first saw Jerry Worthing from Austria, Pam Fells (Sp?) from Jersy, we saw Nangel, Daniel Wellner, Milard, and then Julia almost knocked me over. I missed her but she saw my pink flag. Scott came by less than one minute later followed by Cher and Mary D within the next five minutes. We rolled up our flags and headed for the subway to get to the 14 mile spot.

After navigating the subway and giving directions to countless lost souls (Do I look like a New Yorker??!!) We come out at 23rd street in Queens 14 + miles in. The crowd was loud. I had been timing since we last saw them trying to gauge if we would miss them. Shortly after we got there we spotted Julia looking strong, followed quickly by Scott. By this point, my pink flag is starting to show signs of wear from all the mad waving. We saw Millard again and Nangel and Daniel. We were starting to get worried but then we saw Cher and Mary D. Oh good. Cher was cold and we gave her some gloves. She was not happy, but we determined it was early enough in the race for her mood to change. It did, but she can tell her story.

Back on the subway we take off. Times was getting tight to see them on First Ave in Manhattan. On the number 6 train our group split up. I knew Julia had already gone by First Ave so I cut over to Madison hoping to catch her at 22 miles. At this point you can see the toll the race has taken on the runners. Some are walking, most are struggling. All know both how far they have come and how much more remains. Finally, I see Ms. Kim. She is hurting but still moving good. I run along side her for a few seconds to make sure everything is okay.

At this point about a 100 yards up the road they stop the race to let a couple of fire trucks (TWO BIG FIRE TRUCKS) cross the course to return to the station. What were they thinking? Fortunately Julia was to far away to have to stop but many runners did. I can't imagine being forced to stop 22 miles into a marathon for a minute. Julia is very tired but still moving.

I want to run with her but know I can't because I don't want her to be disqualified. :))

So I run up a couple of 100 yards stop and start screaming and waving my pink flag furiously. She comes by I run up ahead again and repeat. Again and again and again. She gives me THE LOOK. I ignore it. Run up again. She tells me I am a nut. I reply yeah an almond. Run up again. Now they turn into the park. I am running along trying to stay ahead. Finally, I am stuck at a fence and she is gone. Now I head to the meeting area. Still holding my pink flag. I'll leave the details of her and everyone else's race up to them.

But let me add that over the course of the day I did get 15 date proposals while waving my pink flag. Unfortunately none of them were from females. So Penguins, The flag is a good idea but how about a more neutral color next time..... :))