NYC Marathon Five Borough Challenge- Great Experience
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
Last year was my 12th NYC marathon that I completed. Last year was especially exciting after learning that I was chosen for the Foot Locker 5 Borough Challenge. After speaking with the staff from Foot Locker, and meeting my fellow runners, it was thrilling and challenging.
First, to be challenged to run the race in a time of 3:30 - 4 hours was a great incentive. As I continued my training unfortunately, I severely sprained my left ankle with about 3 weeks left to the race. The days leading up to the race were very exciting, attending a pre-race interview on the weds prior and being part of a race within the race. Marathon Sunday was very special - we all arrived very early and were treated like VIPs.
What a difference from the usual out within 35,000 runners. A heated tent, with private bathrooms, food and drink … pre race relaxation. We were interviewed live by a number of TV stations including channel 4. My whole family was thrilled. Co-racers were great participants and friends that morning, adding encouragement, comradery, and a level of friendly competition. We got onto the bridge to watch the elite women and wheelchair athletes take off.
Then it was our time. Just the 5 of us on the bridge for the world to see… Adrenalin pumping - the gun sounded and we were off. We ran as a group through all of Brooklyn, escorted by motorcycle and bicycle the whole way. High fiving viewers, some for me who were family and friends since I grew up and went to school in Brooklyn. Mile 8 the lead male runners come flying by. By mile 13 ,we are still all together. First ave, NYC, exhilarating despite my ankle pain, with the sheer crowd on this beautiful November Sunday. The race for me now is to just finish. Jogging with a significant limp, my wife, daughters and cousins see me around mile 17 hurting. They are concerned but I am determined to finish.Winding through Bronx back to Central Park and now the finish line with family all waiting.
Finished 4:30 !!! Toughest race because of injury but as big of a thrill knowing that I had the fight to persevere and part of this because I was running on behalf of my borough - Staten Island representing all of its 500,000 people. Thanks to Foot Locker for making this a most memorable and thrilling day and for getting me up to the challenge. Although I didn’t come close to winning the event, I was a winner for finishing and running with 4 other great participants in the greatest city in the world. Will be tough to going back to be a normal racer this year, but as I run I will remind myself during the race of where I was last year. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity.
