NYCM2005 - Shari Hayden Race Report

Race Report

New York City Marathon

Sunday, November 6, 2005

I won't take time to describe the course, the support and the wonder
of running the NYCM because it's been so well done by others on

these lists and on Ron Horton's site. What I WILL do is tell you
what NYCM was for me!

I shouldn't have run NYC this year, but I did it. My first 3
marathon times were 5:45 and 6 hours. This one took over 7 hours.
Here's

Having the wonderful, love of my life boyfriend Dan there with me
every step of the way. He got the weekend off his new job as
Sergeant in Manhattan to be with me. He went to Saturday night
dinner with a bunch of strangers and wore his honorary Penguin name
tag. He called me on my cell right before the start and periodically
to track my location. He met me at Mile 17 with tears in his eyes
and gave me a much needed hug and words of encouragement. When I
started to bonk around mile 20 he continued to call me every mile or
so to keep me going. At the finish, he was there waiting and picked
up my bag for me, gently removed my running shoes and wrapped
me in the mylar blanket. When we couldn't find a cab and I told him
I didn't think I could make the few blocks to the subway he hailed a
"bike taxi" to take us back to the hotel, even though it was
outrageously expensive. He got ice to pour into the tub over my legs
before my shower, then topped off the night by taking me out for a
steak dinner!! When I lay in bed that night groaning that I would
never run another marathon, and that I would never even RUN again he
just chuckled because he knows me too well!

Meeting up with Sue McNulty (also from Buffalo) and her husband Ben
right off the shuttle from the airport.

Meeting with Penguins for dinner Saturday and meeting up with
Daniel, Nancy, and Bonnie at the start.

Running over the Verazano bridge and the first few miles with
Bonnie, until she left me in her dust (hehe).

Seeing Karen B. at the expo and more importantly at mile 18. She
immediately knew it was me because I wore my pink Penguin hat and
a pink tank top. Without hesitation and in spite of my obvious state
of stink and sweating she hugged me and said I looked great! When
I complained that my feet hurt she gently reminded me that they
SHOULD hurt because I am running a marathon! LOL

Reality check...seeing an Achilles runner, a young woman with 2
prosthesis legs. Suddenly my feet didn't bother me so much....

Putting my name on my shirt was the BEST advice!!! It made a huge
difference to hear that and I smiled almost every time.

Going back to work and having a banner on my desk, signed by my
coworkers AND getting flowers and cake! I told them I FINISHED,

Really, the whole marathon experience was very positive. The
logistics, while daunting, were not unmanagable as I had made a
visit to NYC this summer. The organization of the race is
incredible. The one BAD thing was the nasty rude bus driver we had
to the start of the race. At a place where traffic was stopped a man
pleaded with the driver to let people off to go to the bathroom as
others around us were doing (we had a 45 min. line to get on the bus
and over an hour bus ride). The driver REFUSED and became very
volatile, telling his dispatcher that we were RIOTING and
threatening to kick the doors down (not true, of course)!! At one
point the driver said he didn't care if we relieved ourselves ON the
bus because he doesn't clean it, but that no matter what he would
not let anyone off! The one male runner who pleaded his case finally
just got off the bus, even though the driver told him that if he got
off the bus he would not be allowed back on. THEN another runner
made a statement to the driver about what a jerk he was and the
driver kicked HIM off the bus. Initially the runner did not get off
and the driver stopped the bus in the road and said if HE didn't get
off he would NOT drive ANY of us to the start! The runner got up to
get off and the driver threw a cup at him and said a few choice
words!! I sure hope those 2 guys were able to get on another bus to
the start... Now I know that they have rules to follow, as the
driver stated, but it seems that this was a unique situation and he
could have shown some compassion and empathy, as other drivers
around us were. To give you a little more incite into what kind of
person this driver is, when we were on the Verazzano bridge I
noticed him burst out laughing as he looked out his side window. I
looked to see what he saw and there was an Achilles runner, with one
leg and no arms, on a wheelchair propelling himself backwards with
his 1 leg and surrounded by his escorts.... I wanted to go up to him
and smack him, but by this point I figured nothing I could say or do
would change this man! His bus # was 8576 and I wonder if I should
report it to the organizers??

The course is difficult and I was not prepared for it. Truly, I was
not prepared for ANY marathon course. My training in July got
derailed by a callous/sore left ankle/sore right hip flexor injury.
The summer was HOT and I had a really difficult time running in the
heat that we are not used to getting in WNY. Then when the weather
cooled and I picked up my running I twisted my ankle stepping on
a garden hose (of all things) and lost a few more weeks. SO...my
long runs consisted of 5, 10, then 15 miles. That's it and the 15
miles was 2 weeks before the race. I should NOT have been at the
start. At least that's how I felt next to all the other runners who
I KNEW had prepared and deserved to be there! So...WHY was I there?
Because I had already deferred NYC 2 years in a row and did not want
to do that again. Also, my previously mentioned boyfriend is there
in NYC working. I wanted to be there but doubted I would finish. My
very first marathon was Disney and I had only run 15 miles because
of shinsplints, BUT I was younger, 20 pounds lighter, and overall
in much better shape. SO....there I was at the start, truly not
knowing if I would finish. Mind over matter took on a new
meaning....

The first 10-15 miles were fine. I had a great time and really
enjoyed the crowds. I was able to do my run 5/1 run/walk routine up
to 15 miles. Shortly after that everything went downhill quickly.
My bottom of my feet were KILLING me, on fire, aching so much. I
took some Tylenol and it helped for a while but not nearly enough.
When I saw Dan at mile 17 I told him I didn't think I could finish.
But I saw the tears in his eyes, the look of pride and amazement and
heard his words of encouragement and I just HAD to keep going. Then
I saw Karen B. at mile 18 and got a boost from her. I began to walk
more than run. The bridge into the Bronx was awful and the crowds
had thinned out. The Queensboro bridge was awful! My feet were
screaming. I knew I was in the BMZ at mile 20 when my cell rang
and I wanted to yell at Dan for calling me so much! LOL By this time
it hurt more to walk but I could not actually run, so around mile
21 I began to "shuffle". It wasn't a run or a jog or a walk. I
SHUFFLED for the last 5 miles! By mile 21 I called Dan and said that
I had decided I could finish, because if I quit I would be in just
as much pain as I would be if I shuffled for 5 more! From mile 20 on
I can't tell you how badly I wanted to walk off the course and tell
someone that I was done, to take me to the finish... I cried some
around mile 21 and 22. By mile 23 I knew I would make it and I just
wanted to get there. I knew Dan was waiting and I actually passed
some walkers while I was doing my "shuffle". I crossed the finish
line, didn't even look at the clock, and almost forgot to get my
medal. I didn't feel much emotion at the finish, as I had already
ran felt them all during the race. At the finish I was numb,
physically and mentally. Thank goodness Dan was there, I don't know
how I would have found my things and made it back to the hotel.

Mind over matter and the human body are powerful, amazing things!
Yes, I was sore for a few days but I completed a marathon on
barely no training and here, one week later am no worse for the wear
and tear.

That said, this is NO way to do a marathon! My time was over an hour
longer than my slowest marathon when I trained. It was grueling.

The last 6 miles were pure hell. If I had not had someone waiting
for me at the finish I probably would have quit.

I don't really feel too much sense of accomplishment because of my
lack of training. I just feel I did something foolhardy and didn't
really earn the right to be there. I earned the medal, yes, but I
did not earn my place at the start.

I will NEVER do a marathon in this way again. I WILL do more
marathons and I WILL train for them!