Hopefully you stopped by the Babykeicher Blog to read the marathon recap! But there are a few more details I'd like to share. Important ones...like what we were wearing!
This is Emily's Team Shirt - thank you to team member Mandy and her family for embroidering the shirt. I might get a little frame for it, like how signed professional jersey's are framed? Too cute to leave it in her drawers.
You'll see my team shirt below, but here's a little detail - a dragonfly on my shoulder. I had the same one on last year's shirt.
This was an ad outside the Expo on Friday. It was great to see all the billboards and buses and signs around the city. It really helped grow the excitement for the impending race.
The marathon attracts a high volume of runners from around the world. In 2010, Italy had the highest volume of runners with 3780. France had 3244 runners, Germany had 2369, Great Britain had 2367, Netherlands had 1571, Canada had 1500...and the list goes on from there
On our way out of the expo I noticed the forecast - a beautiful day on tap for Sunday!
The first New York City Marathon, though, was a humble affair. In 1970, 127 runners paid the $1 entry fee to NYRR to participate in a 26.2-mile race that looped several times within Central Park. Fifty-five runners crossed the finish line. Six years later the course was redrawn through all five New York boroughs, and it had 2,090 runners lined up at the start for the chance to run from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to Manhattan.
In 2000, NYRR added an official wheelchair division to the marathon. Now the ING New York City Marathon has grown to become one of the most competitive wheelchair marathons anywhere in the world, with more than 200 wheelchair and handcycle athletes. In addition, a wide variety of ambulatory athletes with disabilities participate.
I came in 32,635 place; placed 9913 in my gender, and 1862 in my age (and, next year I move to the next age bracket, which hopefully helps my placing)
My overall pace was 11:05 (goal was 10:41. I had run all my long runs at the 10:41 pace, including all my "longer long runs": 2 22-mile runs, 2 20-mile runs, and 3 18-mile runs ). Here's the breakdown of my pace along the course:
5K 10:43.90 - I expected to be a few seconds off ace the first two miles by conserve energy, not going out too fast, and focusing on navigating the thousands of runners around me.
10K 10:47.76 - too far off. I made a conscious effort to make up some time, but conservatively.
15K 10:44.48
20K 10:45.10
13.1 miles/half point 10:46.41 (2:21:08 actual against a 2:19 goal) At the half way point I made the decision not to make up the three minutes I was off. I knew the Pulaski Bridge was coming up (which was fine/no biggie), BUT, the Queensboro was right around the corner at about 14.4 miles.
25K 10:49.72
Oh Queensboro. The elevation is not nearly as severe at the Verrazano. The Verrazano reaches and elevation level of 250 feet just before the 1 mile mark. But it doesn't seem bad at all... when you have well-rested legs carrying you AND the adrenalin of starting the race. By mile 14...well, your legs/body is getting tired, and mentally you are in a different zone. Max elevation on the Queensboro is 140 feet. And the downhill portions is killer - a steep decline, and sharp turns. By the time I cruised onto First Avenue, but of my calves were killing me. They felt like they had exploded and blown through my skin. I spent the remainder of the race running through the cramps and pain.
30K 10:53.98
35K 11:00.19 Despite the fact that I was really running hard, the Garmin was not my friend and I saw my pace time get higher and higher. BUT, I knew I was pushing hard, giving it my all.
40K 11:03.53
26.2 miles 11:05 (4:49:59 finish time)
I finished right in the middle of our team. Team member Mandy had the fastest time of 4:01 (9:13 pace!) and my sister Katie was came in at 4:13. Congrats to both of them on some amazing times!
From there, I finished behind two teammates who had finishing times of 4:42 and 4:45. The Monday after the Marathon the NY Times published the names of all runners who finish under 4:30, but often they will publish later times if they can still meet the press deadline...and this year they published more times and I made the cut! It was awesome to see "E. Keicher 4:49:59" in print!
The event attracts more than 2 million spectators and is broadcast internationally. It produces about $340 million in economic activity for the city according to a study produced by the New York Road Runners, which hosts the event.
Marathon Monday, 6:30 AM. Reflecting on the race. Trying to grapple with knowing all that hard work was for yesterday...and it's done. Mixed emotions: elation that it's over, and that I hit sub 4:50. Sad that it's over, that the moment has passed. Thinking about next year's marathon.
The financial impact from the NYC Marathon is estimated to be 300 million. In 2010 $30.8 million was raised for 86 Charities.
Heading back to Hoboken after Marathon Monday. Thinking about the 6 hour car drive home...
Line 'em up: a bevy of Asics Gel Kayano's. Last year's marathon sneaks, this year's training pair, and the second training pair (and the ones I wore for the run), and my new kicks on the right.
The picture on my header are the pair on the right, purchased at the Expo. These limited edition shoes have the sweet "NYC 2011" markers on the back, the marathon emblem on over the laces...
And a map of the course...always just under your feet, even once the marathon has passed.
So we drove back home Monday and Emily and I took the week off: from physical therapy, from aquatherapy, from speech, from occupational therapy, from doctors appointments, from cleaning, from running, from spinning (well, I did run Thursday and Saturday and went to 1 spin) and just hung out. We baked a lot, and had a nice celebration dinner with my Mom on Tuesday.
It was glorious.
And Saturday night Chris and I went out, for an indulgent evening. I was decked out, new dress and all...and wouldn't you know it, half way through our dinner at Tempo they seated a table across from us and the woman had on the same exact dress (hers was minus the belt...). What are the chances!
We had 9 team member this year on Team Take That!, and each one crossed the finish line. Collectively we raised $51207.65 for the Spina Bifida Association. The team had 5 parents who have children with Spina Bifida. What an amazing testament to Emily, Joshua, Max, Hayden, and Brenden, about how much they have inspired and motivated us and friends/family. Considering the average age of the kids we represented was three and a half, that is quite an accomplishment for these kiddos.
It makes me happy to think about just how much they will have accomplished by the time their average age is 20...or 55...or 80.
I want to say Thank you to everyone who donated to our fund raising. We raised $6450.20 in honor of Emily. So many of you gave, and gave generously, to show Emily that her cause is am important one. I want to say Thanks to Chris, and my Mom, who put up with my ridiculous training schedule and demands, for helping with Emily so I could run and go to the gym; and for putting up with the marathonmarathonmarathon talk the past 5 months. I want to say thanks to Team Take That! for working so hard to raise this money, and give up their time and energy to train for the marathon, raise money for, and educate other's about Spina Bifida.
In just 2 years, $85,000 has been raised for the SBA through the marathon efforts. Thank you to my sister Katie, who was the brain child behind all this and enabled this to happen. As a result of the success of the NYC Marathons, the SBA is now an official charity partner for the September 2 2012 Kauai Marathon. They have an unlimited number of spots (which is awesome; for NY we have a limited number and essentially have 5 spots permanently taken) - if you, or someone you know, would like to run the full (or half) Kauai Marathon this September on behalf of the Spina Bifida Association, please email me (elizabeth_webb1976@yahoo.com) and I will answer any questions and put you in contact with the SBA.
This is Emily's Team Shirt - thank you to team member Mandy and her family for embroidering the shirt. I might get a little frame for it, like how signed professional jersey's are framed? Too cute to leave it in her drawers.
You'll see my team shirt below, but here's a little detail - a dragonfly on my shoulder. I had the same one on last year's shirt.
This was an ad outside the Expo on Friday. It was great to see all the billboards and buses and signs around the city. It really helped grow the excitement for the impending race.
The marathon attracts a high volume of runners from around the world. In 2010, Italy had the highest volume of runners with 3780. France had 3244 runners, Germany had 2369, Great Britain had 2367, Netherlands had 1571, Canada had 1500...and the list goes on from there
On our way out of the expo I noticed the forecast - a beautiful day on tap for Sunday!
The first New York City Marathon, though, was a humble affair. In 1970, 127 runners paid the $1 entry fee to NYRR to participate in a 26.2-mile race that looped several times within Central Park. Fifty-five runners crossed the finish line. Six years later the course was redrawn through all five New York boroughs, and it had 2,090 runners lined up at the start for the chance to run from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx to Manhattan.
In 2000, NYRR added an official wheelchair division to the marathon. Now the ING New York City Marathon has grown to become one of the most competitive wheelchair marathons anywhere in the world, with more than 200 wheelchair and handcycle athletes. In addition, a wide variety of ambulatory athletes with disabilities participate.
I came in 32,635 place; placed 9913 in my gender, and 1862 in my age (and, next year I move to the next age bracket, which hopefully helps my placing)
My overall pace was 11:05 (goal was 10:41. I had run all my long runs at the 10:41 pace, including all my "longer long runs": 2 22-mile runs, 2 20-mile runs, and 3 18-mile runs ). Here's the breakdown of my pace along the course:
5K 10:43.90 - I expected to be a few seconds off ace the first two miles by conserve energy, not going out too fast, and focusing on navigating the thousands of runners around me.
10K 10:47.76 - too far off. I made a conscious effort to make up some time, but conservatively.
15K 10:44.48
20K 10:45.10
13.1 miles/half point 10:46.41 (2:21:08 actual against a 2:19 goal) At the half way point I made the decision not to make up the three minutes I was off. I knew the Pulaski Bridge was coming up (which was fine/no biggie), BUT, the Queensboro was right around the corner at about 14.4 miles.
25K 10:49.72
Oh Queensboro. The elevation is not nearly as severe at the Verrazano. The Verrazano reaches and elevation level of 250 feet just before the 1 mile mark. But it doesn't seem bad at all... when you have well-rested legs carrying you AND the adrenalin of starting the race. By mile 14...well, your legs/body is getting tired, and mentally you are in a different zone. Max elevation on the Queensboro is 140 feet. And the downhill portions is killer - a steep decline, and sharp turns. By the time I cruised onto First Avenue, but of my calves were killing me. They felt like they had exploded and blown through my skin. I spent the remainder of the race running through the cramps and pain.
30K 10:53.98
35K 11:00.19 Despite the fact that I was really running hard, the Garmin was not my friend and I saw my pace time get higher and higher. BUT, I knew I was pushing hard, giving it my all.
40K 11:03.53
26.2 miles 11:05 (4:49:59 finish time)
I finished right in the middle of our team. Team member Mandy had the fastest time of 4:01 (9:13 pace!) and my sister Katie was came in at 4:13. Congrats to both of them on some amazing times!
From there, I finished behind two teammates who had finishing times of 4:42 and 4:45. The Monday after the Marathon the NY Times published the names of all runners who finish under 4:30, but often they will publish later times if they can still meet the press deadline...and this year they published more times and I made the cut! It was awesome to see "E. Keicher 4:49:59" in print!
The event attracts more than 2 million spectators and is broadcast internationally. It produces about $340 million in economic activity for the city according to a study produced by the New York Road Runners, which hosts the event.
Marathon Monday, 6:30 AM. Reflecting on the race. Trying to grapple with knowing all that hard work was for yesterday...and it's done. Mixed emotions: elation that it's over, and that I hit sub 4:50. Sad that it's over, that the moment has passed. Thinking about next year's marathon.
The financial impact from the NYC Marathon is estimated to be 300 million. In 2010 $30.8 million was raised for 86 Charities.
Heading back to Hoboken after Marathon Monday. Thinking about the 6 hour car drive home...
Line 'em up: a bevy of Asics Gel Kayano's. Last year's marathon sneaks, this year's training pair, and the second training pair (and the ones I wore for the run), and my new kicks on the right.
The picture on my header are the pair on the right, purchased at the Expo. These limited edition shoes have the sweet "NYC 2011" markers on the back, the marathon emblem on over the laces...
And a map of the course...always just under your feet, even once the marathon has passed.
So we drove back home Monday and Emily and I took the week off: from physical therapy, from aquatherapy, from speech, from occupational therapy, from doctors appointments, from cleaning, from running, from spinning (well, I did run Thursday and Saturday and went to 1 spin) and just hung out. We baked a lot, and had a nice celebration dinner with my Mom on Tuesday.
It was glorious.
And Saturday night Chris and I went out, for an indulgent evening. I was decked out, new dress and all...and wouldn't you know it, half way through our dinner at Tempo they seated a table across from us and the woman had on the same exact dress (hers was minus the belt...). What are the chances!
We had 9 team member this year on Team Take That!, and each one crossed the finish line. Collectively we raised $51207.65 for the Spina Bifida Association. The team had 5 parents who have children with Spina Bifida. What an amazing testament to Emily, Joshua, Max, Hayden, and Brenden, about how much they have inspired and motivated us and friends/family. Considering the average age of the kids we represented was three and a half, that is quite an accomplishment for these kiddos.
It makes me happy to think about just how much they will have accomplished by the time their average age is 20...or 55...or 80.
I want to say Thank you to everyone who donated to our fund raising. We raised $6450.20 in honor of Emily. So many of you gave, and gave generously, to show Emily that her cause is am important one. I want to say Thanks to Chris, and my Mom, who put up with my ridiculous training schedule and demands, for helping with Emily so I could run and go to the gym; and for putting up with the marathonmarathonmarathon talk the past 5 months. I want to say thanks to Team Take That! for working so hard to raise this money, and give up their time and energy to train for the marathon, raise money for, and educate other's about Spina Bifida.
In just 2 years, $85,000 has been raised for the SBA through the marathon efforts. Thank you to my sister Katie, who was the brain child behind all this and enabled this to happen. As a result of the success of the NYC Marathons, the SBA is now an official charity partner for the September 2 2012 Kauai Marathon. They have an unlimited number of spots (which is awesome; for NY we have a limited number and essentially have 5 spots permanently taken) - if you, or someone you know, would like to run the full (or half) Kauai Marathon this September on behalf of the Spina Bifida Association, please email me (elizabeth_webb1976@yahoo.com) and I will answer any questions and put you in contact with the SBA.
