Somebody forgot to tell Bridget about daylight savings, so she woke up around 6:30am on Sunday morning and didn't want to go back to sleep. I took her downstairs to play for a little bit then put her back to sleep. I have to admit I wasn't very put out about getting up because she is always so happy in the morning. That day in particular I was excited about getting up because it was marathon Sunday and I wanted to watch the pre-race coverage on the local news.
I had already gotten into the marathon spirit by volunteering at a race on Saturday in Central Park handing out cinnamon-raisin bagels for 45 minutes to ~7000 runners as they crossed what would be the marathon finish line. This run was a marathon warm-up run that took runners from the UN to Central Park. Most of the runners had come from other countries to run the marathon, with lots of runners from France, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands. The park was buzzing with runners and people setting up for the marathon.
Runners on 1st ave
Although we hadn't planned on going to watch the marathon, I realized that next year at this time I'll be out on Staten Island waiting to start to run myself and will problably never see the marathon in person. Neither of us wanted to miss this opportunity so we rushed to get ready and out the door just as the first wave of men crossed the starting line. 
Blockng the wind from Bridget's face
We didn't wait around to see if the rest of the band was behind him
Blockng the wind from Bridget's face
We didn't wait around to see if the rest of the band was behind him
The trains were filled with people going to cheer on the runners. It was fun to hear everyone on the trains talk about running so openly and the best place to watch and seeing the signs they'd made.
Our first stop was 1st ave at about the 18 mile mark but we missed the frontrunners. We then walked over closer to the finish line, stopping on 5th ave and actually saw some of the same people that ran past us on 1st ave. Random people were handing out bananas and licorice to any runner that wanted some. There was constant noise, cheering, and bells/horns.
There is just something so exciting about marathons that every time I watch one I forget about all the training needed and can't wait to run one. Knowing that I'll be running this one next year made this even more exciting. Next year I won't just be watching "the Superbowl of running", I'll be in it.
3 comments:
I always get a little emotional when I see, or watch, or even read about someone doing a marathon.
So exciting.
I really think that I will try to come and watch you run next year. That would be so great.
Me too! I totally choke up even when watching people finish the half. I feel so proud for the accomplishment of total strangers. It always makes me want to run one. I'm going to enter the lottery for next year and if I get in I'm going to do it! I'm going to start running now just in case.
That is awesome that you guys went to watch the marathon. It bet it was pretty crazy with people everywhere. But I guess you are probably used to people everywhere now! That would be fun if we all went out next year:)
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