Following the end of soccer season and a rousing Halloween Parade, I left school on a Friday afternoon and raced to the airport.
After a red-eye into Newark, I departed the plane with a rolling suitcase and a dead iPhone. One to use my resources, I had indeed packed my iPad. Looking ever like the tourist, I grabbed my tablet, asked Siri a few questions, and rolled along with my suitcase onto a train and then the Subway. As it was only 6am the morning after Halloween, I was able to get a few pre-race warm-ups in whislt hurdling over drunks in full-costumes who spent the early morning in Subway tunnels. Thankful for my tablet, I was able to pop up out of the Subway, and land right in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The iPad guided me to Rockefeller Plaza where I took out the sign my afterschool program made for me, and walked up proud and center onto the Today Show. Those that know me well, know how much I wanted to be the next Today Show cohost in my youth. However, that's many years and a stuttering impairment behind me. As I held my sign in the rain and asked skeptical tourists to take my photo with my tablet, I'm sure I also blew the producers away with my red-eye hairstyle and smudged makeup. I'm still trying to figure out why I haven't been called back to sub for the hosts. Luckily, I did make it onto the show and several folks back home were able to see.
While experiencing the Today Show I made friends with a runner, her sister, and nephew. In retrospect, it wasn't a good idea, but I did accept their offer for a ride to race expo. The expo was unbelievable and I was able to get an autographed copy of Kathrine Switzer's book. Google her. Amazing. Still hauling my rolling suitcase and using my tablet, I made it to the Upper West Side to my loaned apartment. Incredible. Out of a movie. Perfect. I spent a few hours sleeping and organizing my race items for the next morning. I met up with Vanessa, her friend Jerzy, Niki, and Kelli for dinner at a nice Italian place. Before retiring to bed, the Nash girls and I did make an attempt to get to the roof of the building. Our efforts failed, but it was then I realized the howling winds. . .
I awoke at 4am the next morning and dressed in as many layers as I could. I hailed a cab and headed to the New York Public Library where I hopped on a bus to Staten Island. After the bus ride I was herded into my corral. Each corral was roughly the size of our county fairgrounds. Inside of each corral was hot coffee, semi-trucks of bagels, and lots of porta-potties. This was my new home for almost four hours. Thank God I dug through Bradley's hunting supplies and was able to gather up some hand and foot warmers. I have NEVER been so cold and miserable as I was waiting.
Soon it was time to bundle up the clothes that we needed at the finish line and put them into our bags. At this point we entered our running chutes and waited another hour. Before the start we walked up to the bridge and awaited the guns. Running across the Verranzano Narrows we faced 20+ mph headwinds and an amazing view. I won't bore you with every twist and turn of the course but know the energy was palpable. There wasn't a spot past mile two that the crowds were not three-ten people deep. I was lucky enough to spot my sister and Jerzy twice along the course. It was hard and I felt great. I pulled a rookie move and bought a newer (smaller) Garmin at the Expo. It worked great, but I couldn't see my overall time. I knew I was close to my BQ goal of 3:35, but I didn't know how far back I had started. If I wouldn't have stopped to use the potty, I think I would have made it. From mile 18 on, my legs killed me. I honestly don't remember the last two miles. As soon as I crossed Bradley called and I remember asking my time, because I honestly didn't know. Crushed that it was 1 min 23 seconds too slow for a BQ, but completely overwhelmed by emotion. It sounds simple, but it was incredible. The entire experience.
After I finished, it took me two hours to make it back to the apartment. One hour was spent walking through the finish chute to get my bag. I couldn't get a cab, so I had to ride in a pedi-cab back to the apartment. Thankfully, my sister ordered me some hot soup, which followed by a hot shower made for a nice nap. Dinner and drinks with Ness, Jerzy, and the girls made for a delightful evening. We made it to a bar that happened to be directly across the street from my cousins' apartment. More fun was had with them, but I dont' recall a lot after that point. All I know is that my legs stopped hurting.
The next morning I packed up my things into my rolling suitcase and hailed a cab to the Battery. Although I'd seen it before, my breath was still taken away by the Statue of Liberty. From there I walked a few blocks up towards the Freedom Tower and the 9/11 memorials. The memorials were incredibly moving. At this point it was time to begin the journey home. All I can say is that I want to do it all over again. It was simply AMAZING.
The week ended with parent/teacher conferences. Carter is doing an amazing job academically in school and is a friend to all. Bradley and I were proud parents. We only get this life once. Grab it, enjoy experiences, run away with opportunities. Concrete Jungles to mountain landscapes. We are so blessed in this life of ours. All of us.
