I finished the 2007 NYC Marathon in 6:18:40 with my partner in crime Steve Gross. He suffered terrible cramping for the last 10 miles, and it was amazing that he was able to finish at all (don't think I could of if it was me)! Highlights included:
- Pre marathon minyan with 50 Jews from all over the world (Argentina, England, France, Italy, Teaneck...) picture $150 running shoes, sweats, tallis and tefillin outside in 47 degrees and morning light. 25th annual, with next year's falling on the anniversary of Fred Lebow's passing. Intensly moving...
- Standing on the Verrazano 50 yards from the top male Marathoners in the world Martin Lel, Hendrick Ramaala, Rodgers Ropp, (previous NY Marathon winners - the all-stars of their sport), Stefano Baldini (Olymic Gold) as they warm up, 8 helicopters swirling overhead, firetruck in the harbor spraying Orange, Blue & White (marathon colors), moment of silence for Ryan Shay (died from a heart attack the day before in the Olympic trials in Central Park on Saturday), singing the National Anthem amongst a crowd of 38,000 (half from out of the U.S., 46% running their first marathon, taking countless pictures of friends on their cameras prior to the race)...
- Cannon shot for the start, then 26.2 miles / 6:21 hrs./min. of people constantly cheering your name (cause it's written on the front of your shirt). Running to the sidelines and sticking your hand out to hi-five the crowd (at any point in the race) - and they get excited that you touched them - like you're a rock star! Speaking of...100 garage bands (one every 1/3rd of a mile) crankin out every song about moving that's ever been written (Going Mobile, Keep on Truckin. Rockin Down the Highway...) Images of old ladies dancing with canes to some funk in Harlem - shimmying for me with toothless grins, a dozen Hassidic girls in beautiful wool coats huddled together with their young mothers in Sheydels (wigs) in front of them - looking at us like we're from Mars - while their husbands with Peyis (bannana curls) in black vest and rolled up sleeves hold out bottles of Poland Spring for us....
- making a right on Columbus Circle, the last 400 yards, running a slight uphill, stadium seating on either side, the PA announcer Ian Brooks (who does all NYRR races - the Bob Sheppard of NY Road Runners, and has recovered from a near fatal accident in March) giving the play by play, the crowd and music roaring, and you realize that YOU DID IT, that indescribable rush of adulation, you scream out at the top of your lungs and pump your fists, cause that's the only acceptable/appropriate response - like when you're on a rollercoaster...
and then it's over. A 60 year old cheerleader greats you with a a beautiful sincere smile and a medal, you bow your head like you're on the podium as she places it on you, while someone else drapes you with a Tyvek blanket as you try to retain your heat, but as you walk up the west side path of the park and get handed a goody bag with a Powerbar, Gatorade (as if you haven't had enough of that shit for the last 6 hours ;-) apple and bagel, to find the 1 out or 74 UPS trucks that has your clear plastic bag with your sweatshirt/pants) you get cool, cold, colder, then walk out of the park to meet your family that you saw at miles 9, 16, and 1/2 a mile from the finish - but feel like you haven't seen in days - because you kinda feel like you're a different person, and you kinda of are, because you've accomplished something that most people don't, won't (want to) do, and more often than not can't understand why you did.
So that's it, aside from lifecycle rites of passage, I've never done anything that's more fufilling, so yes I'll do one again although not for a couple of years - kinda like childbirth, I'd guess - hopefully with Spence (speaking of childbirth), and anyone else who wants to saddle up. If all this sounds kinda crazy - go watch it next year live - and you'll understand.
