Week 10.
Eight weeks before the big day!
My parents are here for three weeks. I also have to go to work and have to run 17 miles at the end of the week.
I'm saying to me: "If you'll pass this week, you'll be fine finishing the Marathon."
We decided to go for a long week-end in New York City, for sight seeing and to visit some relatives; I've planned my running route through Central Park, so exited to see New York first time and to run on my designated route.
I live in Chicago for more than 5 years, but seeing New York I was so impressed, so big so crowded, so dirty in the weekend. I was like a child with the mouth open seeing first time Times Square, but running in Central Park was by far the greatest experience.
I woke up at 5:30 am Sunday morning, ready to run 17 miles, charged with Gatorade and gel bars doing my stretching exercises out of the hotel on the empty streets of Manhattan. I start running. First people on the streets: runners with tag numbers on their shirts. "Something is going on!" I said to myself. I entered The Park. I had a map with me, trying not to get lost. Ok... I got lost.
Many times. But at least I forgot, for a while, about my miles. You can get distracted by many things like: the Obelisk, the Zoo, the Reservoir, the Art Museum, Strawberry Fields; but the one thing you will never forget as a runner are the Hills!
I did not practice running up hills, so now I felt them in my legs! I planned to run through Central Park two times but the second time I chose to run around it, to avoid the hills.
I was right, there was something happing that day there: "The New York City Half-Marathon". Silly me I didn't know that. I saw a lot of people preparing for the race: stretching, running to warm-up, checking their gear. Our paths intersected at the end of my 17 miles, where I had to run parallel with them because the other routes to my hotel were closed.
I saw others passing the guards and running on the race path with the participants. I did the same, hard to run on the sidewalk, and curious to see how is to run there applauded by spectators, encouraged by them to do your best. My adrenaline went high. I got so exited passing the all the runners ahead of me. In Times Square were singers and dancers.
It was MY ending route point, but not for the Half Marathon. I ran so easily, impossible to stop there, having the impression if I'll do that I'll disappoint the spectators! Finally I stopped, getting out of the race path, trying not to look on my sides in order not to catch any unwanted looks from the others.
I was smiling on my way back to the hotel, so happy, so proud of me, so full of energy for the rest of the day.
Those 17 miles were the easiest miles I ever ran, although I was already tired from the week before, the City and the other runners gave me enough energy to feel great that day.
