This race kicks off the 2011 racing season and honors Fred Lebow, co-founder of the NYC Marathon and president of the New York Road Runners, who changed the world through running before his untimely death from brain cancer in 1994.
Before Sunday, I'd only logged 5 miles twice before (once on New Year's Day - it was balmy) and the other a few days later along the West Side Highway.
I knew I could run the distance...but the question that lingered over my head in a cartoon bubble was, "can you handle the three Cs?":
- crowds
- corrals
and most importantly
- the COLD
Cold is an understatement! At 7:15am, it was a numbing 24˚F as Benjamin and I arrived at check-in on E. 102nd Street.
As race novices, we didn't quite think the whole situation through. I should have dressed my 'race hubby' like Ralphie from A Christmas Story, minus the Red Ryder BB gun. We're not that smart. Poor Benjamin had to stand at the start/finish line and freeze his ass off as I got to run in the glorious chilly morning with my dear friend, Jenn Goldstone. When we crossed the finish line and reunited with Ben, he was a complete "hubcicle," muttering something along the lines of "I missed the shot of you finishing because my hands were frozen to the camera."
Yes, I might have finished my first 5m race...but I failed in my wifely duties.
Luckily, Jenn told us the golden rule of 'race husbands.' Seems like Benjamin only has to attend my first race (check!) and then gets a bye until the big race (mine being the NYC 1/2 Marathon on March 20th).
So, the race was actually fun...and not daunting as I feared. It was postponed a day due to a huge blizzard that never really hit, so the course was a bit icy.
I finished in 49:30, not so bad for a newbie.
Onward!
Note for Mom: they handed out bananas at the finish line.....you'll be happy to know I devoured mine!
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