8 days before the start of the marathon, I started getting that "feathers in the back of the throat" cold comming on sort of feeling. Then came the runny nose and the coughing. Well, I thought, lucky I have some time to rest up and get over this. I'll probably be good as new come race day. I always get over a cold like this in 2-3 days.

THIS ASSUMPTION WAS INCORRECT!

The night befroe the race, I was still coughing as I sat in my living room eating pasta with my supportive family (my inlaws over course) who looked at me and asked if I was feeling strong enough to run a marathon.

Then I had a hard time going to sleep. Me, a person who is ususally fighting to remain awake past 10:15 pm most nights. Finally, I had a medicinal shot of Glenlivet at 1:30 and slept in one hour intervals for the rest of the night.

I took Westchester roadrunners bus to the start line, meeting them at Burger King on Central Park Avenue in Yonkers. We went to SI by way of New Jersey. I sat in the last seat in the bus and watched people get up to go to the lavatory the whole trip.

I started from the Red area on top of the Bridge, with a Halls Menthal cough drop in my mouth. I got off to a pretty good start and found myself running pretty well (for me); first 10K in (clock time) 54:52, 13.1 in 1:58:42. I easily got over the Queensboro bridge and found myself going up first avenue. I thought to myself I've got a PR for sure.

AND THEN...

My left knee started to hurt a little as I got to the Willis Ave bridge. I kept going and in the Bronx the pain got a little worse. Now for me, this is something new. I never got knee pain before. I didn't know what to expect. I was still able to keep running and I thought I would be able to make it but as I got in Manhattan it became worse and worse. By mile 22 it hurt so much to bend my knee.
I though about dropping out right then and there, which in hindsight I should have done. But the finish line was so close, I talked myself into the idea of trying to walk for a little while to see if the pain might go away.

Well, I wound up walking the rest of the way pretty much, getting shouldered aside by girls in pigtails and old men and all. Really embarassing. If there is one place you don't want to get injured it is the New York Marathon, for the runners show you no mercy. They try to run through you like you are as unsubstancial as a ghost. I finished in 4:30:07 or chip time 4:29:03.I got on the last Westchester bus going home and rode it ALONE, is that creepy or what. The bus driver was advised not to go up Madison Ave, but he did it anyway and it took 2 hours to get back to Yonkers. My wife took me straight to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Tarrytown, where I ate a porterhouse with the medal still around my neck. Great Martini, too!

I spent all of yesterday just limping around the neighborhood. Today it is off to see Dr. Winters about the knee, my friends say I should make sure it's nothing serious. Maybe he can give me something for this cough, too! With good luck I will be back next year.