It's race week here in NYC! As barricades go up in Central Park and brand pop-ups take over Soho, barrels of pasta and oatmeal are being consumed in living rooms across the city.
If you are one of the lucky ones that are chugging pasta relentlessly, you'll want to bookmark this blog and come back to it over the next few days as you mentally prep for your race, because we're going over everything you need to know to crush this race on Sunday.
The Commute
As New Yorkers smugly like to say, the NYC Marathon gives you a true taste of New York living, where NOTHING IS EASY. Expect around a 3 hour commute to get to the start line if you're taking the ferry. To figure out when you should get to the start, work backwards from your start time:
- Ferry: One every 15 minutes, with about a 15-20 minute ride. Expect to wait for at least one ferry before you get on one.
- Bus Transfer: Continuously running, but expect up to a 30 minute wait to get on one. It's then a 20 minute ride to the start line.
- Start Village: Corrals close 10 minutes before start time. Pro tip: There are bathrooms IN the corral, so don't stress about waiting in the long lines in the main village.
The Start
Verranzano is arguably the largest hill you will tackle in this race, but not to worry! Your adrenaline and tapered legs will combine to give you superpowers here. The key is to NOT blast off from the excitement. To ensure you're going out at a chill pace, let people pass you, don't pass them!
You can make up some time coming down the bridge, but again, keep it conservative, let gravity do the work, and SAVE your quads for later.
Brooklyn
South Brooklyn is pretty chill and quiet. Lock into your flat road pace, find your rhythm, and run. Expect to get passed left and right; DON'T TAKE THE BAIT!
The heat starts to turn up around mile 7 in Downtown Brooklyn, and by the time you hit Williamsburg, the energy is absolutely electric. Take it all in -- you worked for months for this moment; even if you're racing for time, don't let the joy of this race pass you by. Remember that Bedford Ave will turn into a bit of a tunnel, as the crowds push in and the road effectively becomes one lane. Rather than fight the river of runners, just protect your space and run your line without trying to bob and weave.
The halfway mark of 13.1 is marked by the Pulaski Bridge, bringing you from Brooklyn to Queens. Yes, you'll feel your legs. Yes, it's normal to feel tired. You just ran a half marathon! Celebrate that win without looking too far ahead at how much more there is. Check in with your body here, and assess how you're feeling. Are you are target with pace and plan? Do you need to make adjustments?
Queens
Commonly referred to as purgatory, the roads in Queens are nice and flat and open, but the crowds thin out quite a bit. Use this time to regain your breath, settle your heart rate, and mentally prepare for Queensboro Bridge. You may think this is time to make up some time - it's not. Stay chill, stay measured.
Crossing the Queensboro Bridge is a journey through time and dimension. You'll experience the Great Silence of zero spectators (if you like music, now is a good time for it), followed by the Wall of Sound that is the hoards of spectators at the start of First Ave (take those headphones out at the top of the bridge so you get to experience this). Check in with your body again: how are you feeling?
Manhattan
It is electric, is it wild, it is more epic than any other marathon on Earth (I said what I said). It will be tempting to ride the wave of adrenaline into a faster pace, but as you can probably guess by now, it is STILL not time to light it up. Let the crowds lift you up and give you hope that you will get through this, but stay measured. Yes, still.
The wheels of the bus start to fall off a little as you approach the Bronx. The feeling of running away from the finish line is a tough one, but remember, it's just a QUICK jaunt through the Bronx before you're headed back south.
The Bronx
The Bronx certainly brings the party, and for some, the cramps. If you start experiencing them, pop some extra salt pills and drink some electrolyte water/gatorade, or maybe even accept pickle juice from a spectator. As you cross the 20 mile marker, have a little party with yourself, because you've officially reached the homestretch! Check in with yourself again. If you've got extra gas in the tank, you can start chipping away at your pace now. If you're not sure, wait until the 5k mark to give it full beans.
The Finish
The last 5k is arguably the hardest of the race, but not to worry! You've made it this far, you'll make it all the way home. The infamous 5th Ave hill starts at 110th street, and while it's not steep, it is clearly visible. Whatever you do here, don't stop moving entirely. Your body is looking for any signal to shut down and close up shop for the day, so even if it's a slow shuffle, just keep it moving.
Once you enter the park, the crowds will surge. The road turns narrow again as they push in and scream, and NOW is finally the time to ride that energy! The park consists of rolling hills, but remind yourself that what goes up, must come down. The last half mile before the finish is a grinding uphill, but keep your eyes up and hunt that finish line down.
Don't forget to smile and celebrate as you cross the line! Don't let your finish line pic be one of you pressing the button on your watch! Take your time exiting the finish as there will be medals, snacks, finish line photos, and more.
After the race, as with the start, NYC once again makes you "commute" from the finish line. It is over a half mile walk from the finish line to the exit of the finish village, but even then it can be extremely crowded. Plan to meet up with your family a few avenues away or in a specific subway station to avoid the crowds.
And there you have it! Your race course preview, with a few strategy tips sprinkled in there. Remember that the marathon is not a 26.2 race, but rather a 10k race with a 20 mile warmup. Be chill, stay controlled, and save the big effort for the end.
