Yesterday was the fifth of the New York Road Runner’s Five Borough Challenge – the Staten Island Half.
This year the race held special meaning as it was the first time the NYRR hosted a race in the borough since the marathon was canceled last year. And, to the club’s credit, they went in full force.
Rather than only hosting the 13.1, they decided to add in a festival post-race and a 1.5 mile fun run. There aren’t any stats readily available on the NYRR’s site, but the announcer mentioned that more than 7,000 people were in attendance (while he was vamping at the start to wait for the course to be cleared).
This is a popular race for a few reasons. As I mentioned, it’s the fifth (and last) of the New York Road Runner’s Five Borough Challenge (completing four of the five earns guaranteed entry into next year’s New York City Half Marathon) and it’s the last long race the NYRR hosts before the big dance on the first Sunday in November. A lot of runner’s (myself included) take an early ferry, check a bag and log extra miles before the race. In my case yesterday, seven.
I would comment more on the post-race festival, but by the time the race was over I was so crushed, it was all I could do to collect my bag, change into dry clothes and make it back to the ferry so I could collapse at home.
Why was I so crushed? Two to three times a year one of our neighbors, whose parents are either out of town, or are a renter in the area, host a party and blast music all night and we’re lucky enough to share a courtyard with them. There’s nothing we can do about it. See, all of the buildings are shaped differently, and since we don’t know them nor can we see the offending apartment it could be anywhere on the block. Basically, we’re at the mercy of these inconsiderate (excuse the French here) shitheads. As it turns out the lucky nights this year were (so far) Friday and Saturday last weekend. I went into the race with less than three hours of sleep.
As usual, I had the GoPro with me and planned to document the race but decided at the start to just check it with my dry clothes. I wasn’t sure I was up to carrying it with me and concentrating on taking photos and videos. It was all I could do to keep my head in the game.
The seven miles before the race were awesome! I ran about four miles out on the course (partially closed at that point) and was greeted by groups of multiple and single runners, all different ages, sizes and abilities doing the same thing I was.
I did have a hard time pacing myself, I was trying to keep it at a 9:20 pace since I had run 10 miles on Saturday at an 8:30 average (what I hope will be my Philadelphia Marathon pace) and didn’t want to get injured doing the same thing back to back. On my way back to the start, I fell into step with a guy running close to a 9:00 pace and stayed with him until the end. We weren’t running together per se, but he kept turning his head half way around when crossing open intersections, which I assumed meant he was looking to see if I was still on his heels. He was a good pacer and I was thankful for the perceived company.
Like I said, I finished the first seven and felt AWESOME! Like I could conquer the world. I was worried before I got out there, but in the back of my mind, I sort of knew that all the best races I’ve run I’ve done on very little sleep.
Turns out there’s a HUGE difference between running 13.1 and running 20 on very little sleep.
I got back to the starting line just in time for the National Anthem, almost perfect timing. The only glitch was the course wasn’t clear and they won’t start the race until the lead trucks give the thumbs up that everything is Kosher (a valid safety precaution). After an additional five minutes or so, just enough time for the wind that was kicking up to chill me through and stiffen me up, the gun went off.
The gun finally went off and I shot out trying to keep my pace just below 9 minutes. For the first seven miles, I did alright. Then I got to the halfway point and needed to turn around. Not only did the wind smack me in the face, but I faced some of the only hills on the course.
It was all I could do to keep myself moving. And if I were to be completely honest here, I would admit to walking a few times – something I haven’t done in years.
However, after a great night’s sleep and some Motrin, I can look at the numbers (which are facts) and admit that I’m not that disappointed in the results. Was it my fastest 13.1? Not by a long shot. But it’s also not the slowest. The only claim to fame I can make about yesterday is that it’s the one
I’ve run on the least amount of sleep.
I’m not going to let this interfere with my confidence for either of the Big Dances I’ve signed up for in November.
And, I got to spend Monday with my wife eating pizza as payment for all the miles I logged.
Can’t beat that!!
