The ING New York City Marathon
So you want to tackle the Everest of road races, the marathon? And not just any marathon, but the ING New York City Marathon. Well, good luck because you have a lot of company. Last year, there were 44,969 total finishes, 16,124 of which were women. These runners represented thousands of local runners, runners from all fifty states, and thousands more from over one hundred different countries. Whether you can keep up with the Kenyans or stay just steps ahead of the street sweeper, it is an experience like no other. From the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island with thousands of runners eagerly awaiting the sound of the starting gun, through Brooklyn and its incredibly enthusiastic crowds, onward through Queens and the Bronx to its final culmination in Central Park, every step of the way is like magic, even if your feet are cursing you. So you've made a good choice. Now just find a way in!
Lucky Lottery
Until April 19th at midnight, you can apply online in a lottery system in order to secure a spot for this year's New York City Marathon. Hope you're feeling lucky. For the 2009 lottery, there were 102,500 hopeful entrants. This past year, the number rose to 125,500. It is anticipated that the 2011 lottery will increase yet again, possibly by ten percent. With the starting field capped at 45,000 runners, one's chances of securing a coveted spot is growing smaller. One should not abandon all hope, however. One could qualify by time in age-graded categories. Say you run a decent pace in a half-marathon or a previous marathon, this could be your ticket to New York City. If not and you happen to be a native New Yorker, you could earn your way by running at least nine New York Road Runners sponsored races. Not an avid road racer? Well, if you are patient, after three consecutive attempts to secure a spot with no luck, the race organizers will take pity on you and let you in. Rather not wait several years? There is another option.
Charity Begins Before the Starting Line
More than six thousand runners, representing seventy-five different charities, raised money and claimed a spot in last year's New York City Marathon. Even if you do have an ulterior motive, fundraising for a worthwhile cause is always a noble endeavor. And with seventy-five charities to choose from, you are sure to find your calling. Team Kids raises money for the New York Road Runners, youth services; Fred's Team-named in honor of the late, Fred Lebow, founder of the New York City Mararthon, raises money for research; Team Reeve raises money for spinal cord research as part of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation; and Team in Training raises money to fund research for leukemia and lymphoma. As part of one of these teams, you not only benefit others through your efforts, but also you are the recipient of the camaraderie of group training leading up to the marathon and wildly enthusiastic support during the marathon. What could be better than that?
And Now You're In
Whether you qualified to earn your spot, raised money to claim it, or somehow possess the luck of the devil through the lottery, you made it. Don't spend too much time gloating, however, as November 6th is really just around the corner. Training is essential not only to getting across the finish line, but also to maximizing your enjoyment of what truly is a remarkable feat. There are numerous online training programs providing guidelines on weekly mileage, optimal nutrition, and injury prevention. Charity teams usually organize local runners to get together on their long runs. Train well and train smart. However you reach the starting line, just remember to wrap yourself in an old warm blanket while standing for what could be forty minutes or more on the Verrazano Bridge. Once that gun goes off, you do not want to begin your journey of 26.2 miles with frozen muscles!
Elaine Gilmartin - null
