Running the NYC Marathon

4 months of training.  53,000 runners at the start. 5 boroughs from Staten Island to Manhattan. Million spectators who cheered from the sidelines. 42.2 kilometres – a journey I will never forget. A lot of people have warned me that this race will change my life.

I took my training very serious. I did not missed a day, I followed a strict diet. I also include strength training, twice a week. Standing on the bridge in Staten Island on November 3rd made me feel proud. I’ve heard from several people who have ran this race before that New York marathon is one of the hardest races in the US. I had so much respect for what I was about to do and I knew 100% that I can do it.

While I was running the first kilometres on the Verrazano Bridge, I felt everything from joy to pure anxiety. The first five kilometres was intense. Entering Brooklyn after the Verrazano bridge was like running through one of the biggest open air parties you can possibly imagine. I saw everything from DJs to choirs, and people dancing and singing for the runners.

I kept my pace steady and easy and told myself to save the energy for the final 10 kilometres. I was flying. Cruising to the finish. And then there she was: Queensboro Bridge. The most difficult portion of the course.

The last 10 kilometres from the Bronx to the finish line was supposed to be my final push. But my body started to feel the fatigue. My legs were exhausted. The crowds were going crazy but I didn’t even hear them. I put my head down and concentrate on my running. I meditated on my cadence and allowed myself to become numb. Heading into the heart of the central park, I saw the clock. I saw the banner. I saw my husband and children shouting and cheering for me. I saw the finish. I crossed. My time: 4:22:11. One of my life’s greatest moments was just created, but really, it was so much more.

What I now realize is that doing a marathon isn’t just about the finish and the time. It’s about transforming the way I think and feel about running, because running is life. You feel pain, joy, happiness, and sorrow. You struggle, you achieve. Just like life, it is a yoyo, complete with the ups and downs.

Tips to note

1. Wear an extra layer that you can throw once you start
2. Save as much energy as you can for the second half
3. Activate your mental game at the final 10K
4. The long walk after finish is a torture, it’s loooong, go with it and celebrate your finish
5. Running NYC Marathon is a gift, enjoy the course and the people

The New York City Marathon is something special, I truly believe it’s something you need to run it in order to really experience it. The crowds, the supports, the vibes — it’s absolute magic. I don’t think I’ll run this race again. It was so perfect to me and I don’t want anything to change this amazing image I have of the race.

New York, I love you.