Scoobie Do NYC

It’s 4AM on Sunday, November 2nd,

Shaggy uses the “Jean Paul Jean Paul” technique of alarm setting. First you set the alarm clock on the nightstand making sure the VOLUME is on LOUD, then he calls the hotel front desk wake up service making sure not to upset the wake up person, thirdly comes the alarms on our two watches making sure they reads AM.

5AM: Head down to the lobby to catch a cab to the library were I meet my 5:30 AM bus to Staten Island and the wait begins.

This year they have a new wave start system. There are 3 colors, green, orange and blue and inside each color there are 3 starting times and inside each starting time there are 6 corral assignments. It sounds very confusing but it seemed to work out rather smoothly.

After finding a spot to lay out my blanket I was able to bundle up and stay relatively warm, a cup of hot tea, my banana, a bagel and 5 visits to the porta-potti and before I knew it, we were called to the starting corals at about 9:00 AM.

After 43 minutes the canon fired and we were off, this year on the lower level of the Verrazano Bridge, trying to stay away from the sides so not to get rained on if you know what I mean.

I know the first mile will be slow because it’s all up hill and the second is fast on the way down the other side of the bridge. As I hit the 5k mark I check my watch 25:37 a little faster then I wanted, so I say to myself slow and easy. At 10k I’m 50.40 I’ve picked up more speed, not good. My next mark will be at the ½ marathon hoping to be about 1:52:00 to 1:53:00. The half comes at 1:48:06, out of the 2 million spectators screaming I’m sure I can hear Shaggy yelling, “Slow Down!”

After running through Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens I now hit the Queensboro Bridge this is the quietest place on the course, there are no spectators allowed on the bridge but as you come down off the bridge you begin to hear a roar. Jerry says, this is what the Olympic athletes must feel when they enter the stadium. The noise is deafening as you exit on to 1st Ave in Manhattan, they say there are over a million spectators. I’ll never get use to this; it kinda gives me a chill.

Mile 17 ½ I see Shaggy, this gives be a boost of energy. I smile and wave and continue up 1st Ave, which seems a lot longer than last year. Into the Bronx and mile 20 I’m still moving forward. Now I have 6.2 miles to go, just like running a 10k.

Now we head back south through Harlem and down 5th Ave to enter Central Park, as we pass mile 24 the rolling hills of the park start taking their toll. At mile 24 ½ I hear Shaggy again screaming encouragement, you’re almost there, you’re looking great, only 2 miles to go. It was just what I needed.

The last 2 miles came and went and I am headed up hill to the finish, all I could think about is to shut off my watch and look up at the camera. I crossed the finish at 3:43:53 a new PR.

Later I find out that my friend and training partner Linda K. has finished in 3:55: her personal record by more than 14 minutes. I can’t wait to tell her she has qualified for the Boston Marathon. What an outstanding day… …I love New York!

Footnote: In case you were not aware of the results, Scoobie finished 4th in her age group!