Even though TCS NYC Marathon 2020 was canceled because of this d*mn pandemic, I decide to celebrate (or commiserate) it by running the last 13.1 miles of the NYC Marathon's route.
Last half of NYC Marathon’s route
I know that many folks participated in NYRR's Virtual Marathon, but I just do not have the emotional fortitude to run 26.2 miles alone. I gotta say more power to those folks. Although it was nice to do my own thing for my half/fake marathon, it was kind of depressing and very eerie to run the (last part) of the marathon's route without the large crowds, the signs with funny running puns (e.g. chafe the dream), the medals, the bands, the blue line marathon marker, and the folks handing out beers around Mile 17.
GETTING IT ON - PULASKI BRIDGE, BROOKLYN, NY
Although the last half of the NYC Marathon takes you through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Manhattan again, the Brooklyn part for me was pretty much the beginning of the Pulaski Bridge. Getting to this section of Brooklyn was a bit of a challenge because I was supposed to take three trains - the 2/3 to the 7, to the G. Keep in mind that the G train on normal days is quite a struggle, so one can imagine how much of a struggle the G train would be on an early Sunday morning. Actually, a lot of the struggle getting to my starting point was caused by me. I was so invested in my book, "The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us", that I missed my connecting stop.
Overall, I had a nice little run around NYC. Since I started around 8 am (the plan was to start at 6:45/7 am), there were not too many issues with automobile traffic. Phew. Also, the mid-40F temperature was perfect running weather for me. Fortunately for me, I finished before the rain started. Although there were no major crowds, which made the streets feel desolate, there were a few random people along the route that were clapping and cheering while running (no pun) their early Sunday morning errands. Also, other folks were running the marathon route so it was nice to feel like I was not the only nut doing this.
I will say that this running my fake marathon has inspired me to get back on track (no pun, again) with my physical training. Also, it made me realize that I have been babying myself during my regular runs. Normally, I'll run a mile and walk 0.25 miles and do that for 6-7 miles, so I definitely need to start pushing myself during my daily runs.
I will say that Central Park is absolutely beautiful in the fall, especially now that the leaves are changing colors.
There was some sort of finish line in Central Park near the official finish line. I guess this was for the runners that ran the virtual NYC Marathon.
“Finish line” in Central Park
Although it did not feel the same crossing the multi-colored finish line and having the chance to see your name on the large jumbotron, it was a nice gesture for virtual finishers. And, I took my shot.
Hopefully, things will get back to normal pretty soon (although I know they won't) so we can have a marathon next year. I wonder if NYRR is going to make next year's marathon even larger than the normal 50K running field. I ask because I imagine that many folks, including myself, who were supposed to run this year's marathon will want to run in 2021. The same goes for the folks, including myself, who were supposed to run last year's marathon. I guess time will tell.