Our runners reminisce...
Neil Robinson
"I can't believe its only 6mnths ago that my name was chosen to run the 40th New York Marathon on behalf
of the company and the Friends of Cynthia Spencer Hospice; it seems so much longer now that November 1st
has passed and the big day is just a memory.
"We arrived in New York on the Friday afternoon and after checking into the hotel we headed down to the Expo to register. Saturday was a day off but I still kept my fitness levels up following my wife around the shops!
"Race day arrived earlier than expected when at 5.00am my wife received a text message from one of her friends asking how I had done in the Marathon! After not being able to get back to sleep I got up and ready, setting of at about 6.20am to meet Tanya outside her hotel to catch the Bus to the start. When we arrived at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, it looked like a huge festival site with tents and stalls everywhere and 40,000 runners all milling around waiting for the 10.00am start.
"After a cup of tea, 2 bananas and an energy bar for breakfast 10.00am arrived and it was time to make our way to the start, the Verrazano Bridge loomed overhead and before I knew it the gun had gone and we were off! Crossing the bridge really brought home to me the size of the challenge ahead as I looked over to my left to see Manhattan just about visible in the distance (see pic) it looked like miles away...it was...26.2 miles to be exact!
"Once over the bridge we headed onto the streets of Brooklyn, 4th Avenue lay ahead for the next 5 miles and I settled into a steady pace, just enjoying the crowds cheering and the music on my iPod. Every couple of blocks there would be a local band set up on the street corner, some playing Rock, some playing Blues, some playing Salsa, showing the real eclectic mix of nations and cultures in the neighbourhoods. At mile 13 we crossed the Pulaski Bridge into Queens and I was feeling good, my training was paying off and I was actually enjoying myself, the crowds were amazing and I must have 'High Fived' about half of New York!
"Between mile 15 and 16 we crossed the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge and into Manhattan and I was heading into unknown territory as my training had only taken me up to 17miles (injuries had caused my schedule to fall behind a few weeks). I received a text message from my wife to say I was averaging 8 minute miles and she was in the crowd at the end of the bridge. Coming off the bridge the crowds were noticeably larger and I couldn't spot my wife. (she saw me though and apparently I was running well and grinning like an idiot!)
"Ahead of us now lay 4 miles straight up 1st Avenue and I was starting to feel my legs aching, at the mile 18 Gatorade drink-stop I walked for about a minute until my iPod randomly chose 'Move on up' by Curtis Mayfield which inspired me to kick on and into the Bronx over the Willis Avenue Bridge. After a mile through the Bronx with the local bands being replaced by the local Hip Hop Crew's sound systems on each street corner, we headed over the Madison Avenue Bridge and down into Harlem. Running down 5th Avenue towards Central Park the crowds were still huge and I passed a massive Gospel Choir around 125th Street that really lifted me, my legs by now were killing me but I knew if I stopped now I wouldn't be able to start again!
"I got another text message from my wife to say she had now found a good spot near Central Park and the last
5miles flew by as I concentrated on trying to spot her in the crowd and totally forgot about my aching legs! I
finally found her with only half a mile to go but only after I had run past her! I heard her shouting my name from
behind me so I had to turn round and run backwards to give her a big kiss! This obviously meant stopping, and
starting again was a real effort. The last half a mile was the worst and I had a horrible feeling my legs were
just going to buckle under me, they hurt that much!
"With the finish line in view my pain disappeared and I kicked on to cross the line 4mins and 13secs under my target time of 4hrs 30mins! The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming and I couldn't believe I had made it! After collecting my medal and some fruit and more Gatorade I headed out onto Central Park West only to find all the Streets shut and no Taxi's .... So I had to walk 32 blocks back to the Hotel! Owwww! .... but at least it was all in a good cause!
"I would just like to thank everybody for all their support and encouragement; it really was appreciated, and if you have yet to complete your sponsorship please follow this link: Neil Robinson Justgiving Site."
Tanya
"Wakey wakey rise and shine, that was my mood on the morning of the marathon, I took myself down to reception and met Neil and hopped on the coach together at 6.30 in the morning. The coach set off, no turning back now! As we were driving we getting further and further from Manhattan, the journey felt like a like a life time. When we finally reach our destination, Neil and I found out that we had been assigned different "villages" which meant we had different start points. We went for a stroll around the villages and it was like a car boot sale! It was very peaceful, the calm before the storm I guess!
"As our start times loomed, Neil and I parted company and went to our start points. I got talking to a few people in my pen and I was shocked at how far people actually travel to take part in the event, one couple in front of me had travelled for 3 days to get to NYC, dedication! As we emerged from our pen, I saw the start points, and the bridge looming over me - this was it, what the last 6 months have been about! As I came off the bridge the other side, I met my first supporters and had my first wave of high fives...this was the most amazing feeling and really spurred me on - these people were her for me and supporting me on a cold morning - the feeling was phenomenal!
"However, as the run went on it turned into bit of a disaster to be honest which ultimately resulted in me being unable to finish. By 9 miles by back had started playing up which I had been ignoring, but by the next check point I had stopped at my first medical point - The pain in my back had turned to pressure and I was having massages, heat rub and ice applied to my back, at this point one of the point one of the staff advised me that I ought to pull out as 'you can't risk you back and if this isn't helping you may end up having to go to hospital'. I declined his advise and made the decision to continue by the I carried on for while (although now at a snails pace) but had to stop again - I had the same treatment as before, massage, heat, cold compress...except this time i had stopped for about 30-40 minutes - I'd hurt my back quite badly! Again I was advised not to continue, and again I chose to ignore the advice.
"My next goal was to get back into Manhattan - crossing the bridge was crippling I thought it was never going to end, however I had managed a down hill jog! In the end, I stopped just shy of the 19 mile marker, further than I thought I would get but not the 26 I had hoped for but physically I couldn't carry on. I was so disappointed. My partner literally carried me to the taxi where I proceeded to sob all the way back to the hotel - I felt I like a failure and that I had let everyone down. However after a few encouraging words and messages from friends and family at home I felt fractionally better.
"Back at the hotel after bed rest, I discovered that my feet were covered in blisters and now my legs had seized up! My partner found it highly amusing! On the plus side, the pressure I felt on my back and kidney area had subsided and I now I was suffering with just an achy back.
"Earlier on in the day I had planned to meet with Neil and his partner for a victory beer and as much as I didn't feel like celebrating I really needed a drink I wanted to toast Neil and his super time! With that determination, I hobbled across time square to our suggested watering hole, time square was filled with so many people hobbling just like me, all proud and showing off the medals they had achieved from the run, for me it was so disheartening - however I also had the utmost respect for every single individual that took part - even the lady that my partner saw earlier on in the race that stopped for a bucket of chicken on the way round and was knawing on chicken legs!"
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