NYCM2005 - Ricky Scott Race Report

Race Report

New York City Marathon

Sunday, November 6, 2005

Two years ago, we came to New York and before I got off the Verrazano-Narrows, I was alone with 30 some thousand people

Two years ago, we were with about 10 other people at the start of the New York City Marathon. Before I got across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, I was alone with 30 some thousand people. There were so many people I could not find any of our group. 2005 was going to be different. I was determined not to repeat my mistakes.

My wife, Sharon, and one my running buddies, Tommy, made up our little group this year. It was funny to watch Tommy around New York. He was as excited as a kid at Christmas. Tommy had never been in a marathon this large. Since I had done this one before, he referred to me as his tour guide. My plan was to run this event with Sharon and pace her. Tommy decided he was going to run by himself. So, I prepped him on everything I could remember. None of us were nervous about doing the marathon, however I was nervous about pacing Sharon. If I pushed her too hard, I ran the risk she would revolt and I would be eating my own cooking for many months to come. She had trained well through the summer in her preparation for Pikes Peak and it paid off there. Although she had not run much the last three weeks leading up to New York, I felt she was in shape to PR. Could I lead her to a new one? Would she still talk to me afterwards? Well there’s only one way to find out.

The weather was nice, actually too nice. With 6 AM temperatures in the mid 50’s and a forecast for midday temperatures to be around 70, I knew it was going to be tough on us. We arrived at Staten Island before the sun was up and made our way over to the blue starting area. In the predawn light it appeared that is going to be a clear day, not a cloud to be seen. After finding a place to relax for the next three hours, we waited for the sun to rise and other runners to move in. Just as the sun rose high enough to see, fog moved in and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge disappeared. It also started feeling colder. Great! I knew we’d be okay, but knowing it was 3 hours until we started was the pits. The weather stayed that way until we walked out for the start. Still while we waited, the people continued to stream in. It was getting crowded. Tommy was amazed at all the people.

Finally, people starting lining up and eventually we started slowly walking. As we followed everyone out of the waiting area, I told Sharon to take her time getting to the chip mats, no use wasting energy no matter how long it took to get there. While others started running way before the chip mats, we walked. Starting in the blue start we were on the right side of the bridge. We found the first mile not crowded, which surprised me. I glanced over to the other side of the bridge and unlike our side it was really crowded over there. As we crested the bridge it was still quite foggy, but it was clearing up. We did not have much of a view of the city and then it occurred to me that I did not hear Frank Sinatra singing New York, New York. What’s up with that?

Our plan was to run 5 minutes for every 1 minute walked. I talked Sharon into running downhill from the crest of the bridge since it was not crowded. She ended up almost at 2 miles done before she took her first walk break. I hoped that would not come back to hurt us later.
As we made our way through Brooklyn, the crowd was as usual amazing. We had not put our names on our shirts as we did not want to constantly hear our names being called. While usually its nice to hear your name called, here in New York you hear it all the time.

At the first water stop, I noticed that we lost a lot of time getting water. I decided the best thing to do was let her keep moving forward and I would fetch the water or Gatorade for her. (This was probably the best decision of the day). After making that adjustment, when we were running, our pace was about a 10:30 pace. Adding in the walk breaks we were maintaining overall about a 11 minute pace. If she could maintain that, she’d break 5 hours. I did not tell her any of my calculations. Sharon seemed to be comfortable with what we were doing so I just kept telling her that she was doing good, which she was. She hit 5 miles in 55:30 and 10 miles in 1:52:42. A little over 7 minutes ahead of a 12 minute pace and right on target for a sub 5 hour marathon. (The goal was to PR, I wanted to see if I could get her in under 5 hours.)

As we made our way through Brooklyn, I was amazed at how much I was remembering from doing this marathon in 2003. It was coming in handy for what I was trying to help Sharon do. All that stuff I had told Tommy should be coming in handy for him as well. I wondered how he was doing and on occasion, I would look around to see if I could spot him.

Our first challenge since the start was the Pulaski Bridge, Sharon did well on it. Although she walked more here than she had at any time so far, we made it past the halfway point in a time that almost matched her half marathon PR. This was the first time she seemed to think about how fast we were going and how well she was doing. She did not seem to be struggling so I just tried to keep her doing what we had been doing pace wise. She didn’t ask any questions and I did not mention anything either. Other than encouraging her to keep it up.

Mile 15 came in 2:52:55. We had maintained our 7 minute cushion on a 12 minute pace. With the Queensboro Bridge in front of us, I knew this was a good sign. Only 11 more miles to go. I started to think the possibility of Sharon breaking 5 hours was real. The Queensboro Bridge, seemed real long, as Tommy told us later, he thought it started in Delaware. This bridge seemed to break Sharon somewhat as this was the first time all day she had expressed any thing to me in a complaint form. I knew we had to get off this bridge. Finally mile 16. That was a 12:55 mile, the slowest so far, hopefully the next four miles would be easier.

First Avenue in New York City cannot be described accurately. You have to experience it. The crowds are so loud and runner friendly. So loud, we got right in the middle of the road to avoid having one ear go deaf. That said, we contuined to make our way as we had been doing all day, just moving forward. The walk breaks increased for Sharon, and our pace never recovered. She was still averaging under 13 minute miles. I knew the 5 hour time was starting to slip away. Finally at mile 17, she told me that was all she had. I knew my real work was about to begin. I asked her to do her best until we get to mile 20 and then I could tell her were we were. She did not say anything, but I could tell she was trying. The truth is, it was very hot. She had not once complained of the heat. I had already taken some salt to avoid cramping. I was sweating badly. I even had to do something I had never done before in a marathon. I stopped to get some vaseline. My clothes were so wet they were sticking to me and beginning to rub me raw. Of course, I told Sharon to not stop, I’d catch back up to her. She followed orders and when I caught back up to her, I stayed behind her so that she did not see me. I wanted to give her a break from me pushing her. Of course, when she did finally see me, she directed me to get in front of her, as that seemed to help her the most. Whether it was me blocking people out of her way, or just giving her someone to follow, I’ll never know as she has not told me yet. Maybe she put me there so she did not have to listen to me say, “you’re doing good honey, just keep it up”. Her following me, came in handy at the Sponge Bob sponge stop. 1st Avenue was yellow with all the Sponge Bob’s laying in the road. I felt like a snow plow as we continued onward.

Finally mile 20 arrived, we crossed a bridge covered with carpet into the Bronx, it was our slowest mile yet, 13:27. We had lost time, but we were still under 4 hours. 3:57:41 to be exact. I told Sharon that we had an hour and twenty seven minutes to do a 10K and thus set a PR. We need to run the downhills and walk the uphills as much as we could. She kept didn’t say anything negative. I knew she was trying. She had not given up yet.

At mile 22, she told me something other that “walk break”. She said, “I’m already sore and I’ve got 4 more miles to go.” It was her slowest mile. I knew she had to dig deep. So I told her, you can be sore for the rest of the week, you can do this, come on.

More and more people were walking now and that was making it difficult for us to run. I ran in front of her to open holes for her to run through. When I could not get by people I had her walking, no since in wasting energy. Luckily for us, there were several downhills in those last four miles. Her mile splits were dropping back down. We were now back running under a 13 minute pace. We hit mile 25 in 5:04:01. We had 20 minutes to do 1.2 miles. She could walk that and PR. I did not tell her that, I was afraid that is what she would do. Then the best thing that could have happened for her occurred next. A sign came into sight that read 1 mile to go. I told her that she was in position to break 5:20. She was quiet. We ran out of Central Park and into more people that you could count. She asked how much more. Then another sign appeared, 1/2 mile to go sign. I told her that we would be done in 6 more minutes. Turned out there were signs that said 800 meters, ¼ mile, 200 yards, 100 yards and I was able to use those to motivate Sharon. With 100 yards to go, I grabbed her by the hand and we crossed the finish line together. She had run a 5:19:13 and PR’d by about 5 minutes. She had done it and did not seem to be mad at me for pushing her all day.

We walked forever, met up with Tommy who had run in 4:26:39, had an experience getting on the subway for the ride back (that’s another story), had a well deserved supper and Sharon is still sore today! What a great day!