New York New York!

I did it! I ran the NYC Marathon!!!!!!

Amazing.

One of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Absolutely amazing.

I didn’t think it would take me this long to post about the marathon…it completely wiped me out for a couple of days.

I don’t even really know where to start. So here it goes:

• For as much of a wreck that I was the week leading up to the marathon, I was totally Zen as soon as I woke up Saturday morning to leave for NY. I was never nervous, not once, not even at the starting line. I was calm. I trusted in the fact that I was prepared. 

George Washington Bridge. Not part of the marathon route, but stunning.

• I met a lot of really cool people. From a guy named Mike at the Staten Island Ferry (told you I’m a magnet to people named Mike), to a guy named Jeffery, who looked like a guy I knew named Jeff, to a guy from the Netherlands who looked just like another on of my friends to a lady from London…there were so many great friendly people. 

• I saw my running partner cheering me on around mile 17 and holding a banana for me. I almost cried. I can’t begin to express how wonderful it was to see someone I knew…to see HER, among thousands and thousands of cheering people. I almost cried. It was one of the high points of the race. If it weren’t for her I would have never even considered running at all. She is the one who trained me, who guided me, and never stopped encouraging me. Everyone should have not just a running partner like her, but also a friend like her.

Here I am, mile 17, (76th and 1st Ave) beyond thrilled

 to be seeing my running partner...and the banana

• The people of New York treated the runners like rock stars. Seriously. The people in Brooklyn are the best. They are so wonderful and supportive; it made for a very easy first 13.1 miles. And the bands, don’t even get me started on the bands! Incredible. There was one point where a band was signing “Walking on Sunshine” and all the runners began singing with the band. Runners, just singing along with the band and crowd!

• Coming off of the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan around mile 16 is unbelievable. All of a sudden you’re in Manhattan with the sidewalks blocked off so the crowd doesn’t spill out into the road. There were crowds six to eight people deep, all shouting and cheering. 

• I hit the wall. I hit it hard. Mile 22. Everything hurt, my legs were like lead, there was a devil sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear. It said to quit. Give up. I couldn’t do this; it was stupid to even try. I started to believe it. But then I thought of everyone tracking me and all of the people standing on the streets screaming for me to keep going. I thought about my running partner. It was one of the longest miles of my life. I have never been so emotionally and physically torn down in my life. I kept going. It got better. By mile 23 my legs had pretty much gone numb and while they were still like tying to move lead, it was easier.

• I almost had a religious experience in Harlem….I think it was Harlem. There was a gospel choir singing outside of a church about Jesus, and goddamn they were they good. I’ve only every seen gospel choirs like theirs on TV, and let me tell you it was incredible in person. I wish I could have hung around there longer.

• After the marathon…many hours after the marathon I checked twitter and saw everyone cheering me on the entire time I was running. I really think all of that support and cheering helped me through my darkest miles. I was overwhelmed by everyone’s support. Thanks you guys. And not to just the people on twitter – to everyone who reads my blog. New and old followers alike. Thank you for all of the support through the training and thank you to everyone for all of your kind e-mails and comments. Avery special thanks to The Fragrant Muse for the wonderful, fantastic, amazing massage on Monday! I'll be back in heels in no time thanks to you!

I have so many wonderful experiences and stories from Sunday, it’s all kind of jumbled together and disorganized. Is there anything that you want to know? E-mail me or leave a question in the comments and I’ll do a post responding to your questions. It’s probably easier that way, rather than me just rambling on.