The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of New York Road Runners.
In the last two weeks, the New York City Marathon has come up in conversations with fellow runners. On a run with @chrismalenab we talked about our upcoming races for 2014 and he mentioned that he was doing NYCM. Then last weekend on a run with @KineticFix, a friend of hers asked me what some of my favorite marathon races were and I, of course, had to include it.
I have only run the race once and it was a few years ago in 2010 (read about it here). I was coming off an ITB injury, so the race was going to be at a comfortable pace for me. My goal was to soak it all in and enjoy it. Since NYCM is a lottery, once you get in, you have to take advantage of it. There was no way I was going to let this opportunity slip away and I wasn’t going to defer to the following year.
How did it feel?
Intense. Energetic. Emotional. There is so much going on that day and the WHOLE city comes alive to support it. It’s like nothing I have ever experienced. When people ask me, the one word that always comes to mind is EXHAUSTING. If running a marathon wasn’t already a challenge, imagine doing it with thousands of runners (2010 had almost 45,000 finishers)… then imagine doing it with the streets lined with people shouting at you and cheering you on. Don’t forget that you are running through the five boroughs of New York (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan) and across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge and finishing in Central Park… and you’ve got yourself one heck of a race. But that is only the beginning of trying to explain how it feels.
I’m the kind of runner that likes to thank people as I run: volunteers, person with a funny sign, etc… after a few miles, I was exhausted. I can’t run 26.2 mile thanking everyone. They also encourage you to put your name on your shirt so that people can cheer you on individually. I wrote MONKEY and everyone had a good time yelling “GO MONKEY!” There is so much energy that while you are running that the only quiet sections of the course are crossing the bridges and through an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn — which is a moment I will never forget for the almost sheer silence. It was as if all you could hear were the footsteps of the runners… it was such a sharp contrast to the remainder of the courses that it is a moment I will never forget. On the other end of the spectrum would be going up First Street around mile 16 after the Queensboro Bridge. It was like going down a runway where people line both sides of the street and scream their heads off at you.
Wear that Medal:
Another one of my favorite things was wearing the medal AFTER the race. Not just that day, but the following day as well. It was sort of a “thing.” Runners were rocking them over regular clothes and giving each other nods and high fives. Strangers would congratulate you or tell you about how great it was to see everyone running. It really made the whole experience much more than just a race… much more than just a marathon. It was a community. It was a celebration.
Oh ya, and you get some awesome tourist photos of you with your bling. Here I am the following day ice skating in Central Park with my hardware in perfect form:
Thinking about entering?
It is absolutely something that I think every runner should experience once.
In fact, I want to experience it twice. I just threw my name into the lottery on Tuesday. If I get chosen, looks like I’m going to New York in November 2, if not, then I’ll try again next year. There is an $11 fee to enter the lottery, but it goes to NY Road Runners and I can justify that as less then I’ll spend on coffee this week.
Sweepstakes:
For the next 6 weeks (Feb. 3 – March 10), 10 winners will be chosen each week to win a guaranteed, non-complimentary entry to the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon. That’s a total of 60 winners that will be chosen before the official drawing in March. Once you apply, you are automatically entered into this sweepstakes and the official drawing, so no need to enter twice or click anything special. Just apply and hope and wish and dream… oh, and train just in case.
Applications close March 18.
Twitter Chat:
On Thursday, February 6 at 9 p.m. EST there will be a twitter chat going on with the hashtag: #TCSNYCMarthonApply. The chat will be a Q&A on marathon training with Coach John Honerkamp. He ran the 2010 NYCM race with me, but finished a few hours in front of me at 2:44:22… ya know, no big deal.
Follow me on twitter: @PavementRunner – as I’ll also be joining in on the chat.
One thing I am also looking forward to if I get in again, is the shopping. I bought some stuff and I wish I had bought more. It’s one of those things where you want to buy everything and you think it is too much, but then afterwards you wish you had purchased it. Luckily, NYRR has previous year’s gear on sale after the race. I may have bought a few things.
Have you ever run NYCM?
Do you want to?
NYC Marathon is an amazing experience. An incredible way to experience New York. Look forward to cheering you on in November! ;-)
I entered the lottery last month. I know my chances are slim but I told myself that I have to run tow more fulls. New York and San Fran. Crossing my fingers!
AH HA HA! The NYC Marathon would NOT accept me, even if I paid triple the entrance fee, they would say I am far too pathetic to run! ;)
I’m in the lottery, fingers crossed!
I’m in the lottery! Fingers crossed. I want to experience the thrill of the crowds!
can i meet you there for the shopping part? ;)
Good luck with the lottery. Have not completed a marathon yet but it sounds like I need to start working towards that.
The first running blog I read was when the blogger was training for and running the NYC Marathon. It was her first and it was so inspiring. Gave me the bug for sure.
i definitely want to run the NYC Marathon but I am wondering if I should run the MCM first since it is local to me. My buddy who ran NYC last year applied again for this year because she said she loved it. best marathon exp of her life.
I ran the NYC Half last year and felt the same. And I wish I had bought a few more souvenir items too ;)
I entered on the first day they opened (Cyber Monday, I think) and it was only $5! NYC Marathon is certainly one of those races that every runner would love to do…I’ll find out soon enough if I’ll be there in 2014!
Ive never even done a full M let alone the NYCM but it seems like such a great experience! As soon as I graduate to that distance Ill start with the lottery entries.
I am running the NYCM this year! After 3 years of being denied entry, I am finally in and I cannot wait. I am going to enjoy every last moment of this experience!
Well, if I were to ever run a marathon, this race sounds like a FUn one :)
I entered the lottery on Cyber Monday for $5. It’s the first time I’ve tried to get in, and my fingers are crossed! My fall race schedule will all revolve around this, so the drawing can not come soon enough. I hate the wait!
I have never ran a full marathon, let alone NYCM. BUT once I get to training for a marathon, I think this one would be a great one to run. So much to see and all the people. I can see how it is exhausting though! Good luck to you! I hope you get the golden ticket to the NYCM! On a side note, I’m subscribed to your newsletter but never seem to get them. Can you help out with that? Thanks!
Hmmm…this might have just convinced me to give the lottery a shot. I was lucky enough to run it in 2009 and would love to run it again…it’s a really great race.
I am running NYC this year!! I am so excited!!! November can’t get here fast enough!!!
I was supposed to run it in 2012 but then Hurricane Sandy hit. We still went to NYC, I picked up my race packet only to find out about 3 hours later that the race was cancelled. I still have my race bib in it’s plastic sleeve! :) I did get to join about 25,000 other runners that Sunday on a few loops through Central Park. That was pretty cool! I’m hoping to get back there next year.
Same thing here @Phaedra, only we were on the bus from La Guardia when the news hit. We flew in from CO so we opted to stay and enjoy the weekend. We ran Sunday anyway, after hitting the Expo Sat. (Btw, it was the saddest Expo EVER, but I digress. All the air had been let out of the room. I know, I know. First world problems.) Our run took us along the West Side HW to Battery Park, through Wall St area, across the Brooklyn Bridge, and finally to Central Park. It was humbling to see all of us out there, and the few fans that were there made us cry. We both opted to take the refund and not return, as the 4 day stay cost us both over $1000. I still long to go back, though. Watching it this past Nov on TV made me sad. It just looks so awesome. My 2012 bib remains in the sleeve, unopened, along with the official program. I have an ear warmer, vest, and sleeves from the weekend that I wear proudly. Someday, NY. Someday.
I’ve run NYCM three times. It was my first marathon and will probably always be my favorite. The crowd support is unparalleled. The entire event is just electric.
NYCM is definitely on my list once I am more confident that I have overcome my hip injury. I have the Marine Corps Marathon this fall since I had to defer last year- but would love to run the streets of NYC next year.
I ran my first (and so far only) half marathon on the same day as the 2013 NYCM. I absolutely love NYC, so I think it’d be awesome to go. I’m pretty slow though–I’d have to read up on the course limits before taking a chance.
I entered the lottery this year. I feel the same way – it is a race you have to experience once and I hope that I will get in one of these years. When I run it, I plan to take it easy and take pictures the whole way – I bet there is all sorts of crazy to take pictures of and experience. Fingers crossed!
I entered the lottery last November on Cyber Monday. I believe the fee that day was $3. I’m hopeful that I will get in, but like thousands of other hopefuls, it’s a wait and see moment. If I do get in, I will disregard any time goal and simply enjoy the majesty of New York and seeing all five boroughs on foot. What could be cooler?
Happy running,
Austin
When you train hard your muscles need proper recovery. Just taking some rest may not be enough. According to nutrition scientists BCAA is one of the key nutritional compounds to help your muscles recover properly. I tried this product myself. Purchased it at amazon http://www.amazon.com/enhanced-L-Glutamine-capsules-Military-Tested/dp/B008JHQ1JK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394122798&sr=8-2&keywords=military+grade Impressive results! Easier recoveries and more strength for further trainings!