Running for Joy

Well, we did it. I had no internet access (without a large cost) in NYC except for Rachel's IPOD so after returning and trying to sleep off jet lag for the past day and a half, I am updating as promised.
There were so many emails from everyone - Believe me I read them all. I wasn't able to type out everything that happened on each email. I believe I used the word 'amazing' over 1,000 times alone. But you were all referred to my website blog and I will try to capture what I felt was one of the most amazing (1001!), incredible, fully exhausting, emotional things I have accomplished.
On my last entry I think everyone knew a little of my emotions. I was excited and a bit afraid, nervous of the unknown. I arrived in NYC at 11:00 pm Friday, Oct 31. I got in my first (and last) cab ride from JFK Airport to Manhattan at the DoubleTree Hotel. Rachel had arrived a few hours earlier and after a quick hug we pretty much headed to bed. A hotel room in NYC is full of sound all night. I am used to the 'city' sounds of sirens and horns but Rachel, coming from a quiet farm in Alberta didn't sleep as well! Annie had been heading in overnight on Greyhound from Ottawa in the meantime. Rachel and I met her in the lobby with Starbucks in hand. All three of us set out to the Expo to pick up my marathon entry package. I mentioned that JFK was my first and last taxi ride because the girls took over with subway mapping and, besides walking, the subway was our main transportation mode. We made it to the Javits Centre and after picking up my entry package and a few Marathon souvenirs hopped on a free bus to the Farmer's Market. Marathon entrants were offered a free lunch at some places as well as a commemorative pin from the Empire State Building on Saturday. After lunch we toured the Empire State Building and then took the Subway back towards Grand Central Station, walking to our hotel to meet for dinner. Rachel and Annie at this point decided to try out two for one transport on the subway. I won't say more as it could be incriminating but we later found out that there can be a heavy fine for doing this (it seemed funny at the time, who knew?).
We had a good laugh after a group of young girls enlightened us with the cost of their fines for a similar incident and decided (after one final attempt) that we would look blank if stopped and either say "I am Canadian" or have Annie speak French. Luckily we did not have to try this out.
We met our group and walked a distance through NYC to the dinner. On this trip we had a real chance to see the city, whether running the marathon or just doing all the walking that we did. The streets are clean - we met no panhandlers. There were less homeless sleeping around the subway stations than I have seen in Vancouver. The stereotype that I had of NYC was completely false. It is a clean, safe city. The dinner, unfortunately, was a little disorganised. Without getting into negatives, there was a kitchen problem. Annie had her dinner at 6:30. At 8:00 Rachel was fed. My dinner didn't show along with half of the group. I finally left after eating a salad but the girls kept everything positive. We grabbed a milk steamer along the way at Starbucks and I went back to the room to set everything out. Rachel and Annie were in charge of waking me at 0300. I slept well from 900 pm till every alarm in the room went off. We had also faced daylight change that night so all clocks had to be reset. The girls had both their cel phones, the hotel wake up call, the in room alrm going. It was great. I got up, stepped into my race clothes and bagged my breakfast, 'throw away' clothes and headed down to the lobby. Rachel and Annie came down in pajama pants and the Run for Joy t-shirts. Most people in the lobby looked pretty exhausted, but excitement was everywhere. I was asked how I slept and my response was 'Excellent'. Unfortunately not everyone else had the same story; they woke constantly checking they hadn't missed the alarm. If I hadn't had the girls with me, it would have been the same for me. Rachel was albe to commiserate with many of them. Annie and Rachel hadn't slept well either making sure they got me up. After a group photo and quick hugs to family we started the walk to the bus for Staten Island while the girls headed back up to the room to grab a few more hours sleep. We stood in line and jumped on a bus, driving approx 45 minutes to the Army base at Staten Island. It was set up with giant tents and coloured balloons ands signs advising entrants where they were to go for their start 'wave'. I found a spot behind a tent, wrapped myself in a solar blanket, etc with my pillow (gift from Sylvia - thank you!!!) and tried to rest. The wind was pretty biting when it blew past. It was still very dark and volunteers started handing out large garbage bags. Myself and one other girl (the only English speaking girl around me) grabbed two and they were so big we climbed inside like a sleeping bag. I managed to doze off a bit. Everytime I woke there were hundreds of people tight around me, every language being spoken. Lines for tea, coffee or bagels snaked back and forth in the crowds. I was actually pretty relaxed; the race was finally here. The loud speaker constantly announced start wave times, UPS truck pick ups, etc in several languages. It was somewhat like an outside convention of the United Nations. Some of the late arrivals around 8:00 am were showing up in just shorts and tank tops. I gave my solar blanket to a young fellow who was shaking with cold, bent over, trying to stay warm. After almost 5 hours my wave start was called. I headed with thousands of others for the walk to the Start. I stood beside a 'pace bunny'. These are men or women that have a sign saying 'PACE' with a time ie 4 Hr PACE, 4. 15 PACE. They run a set pace to help runners keep their times, especially for those trying to gain entry into time qualifying races like the Boston Marathon. The start cannon sounded and a huge cheer went up from the crowd. The start took us over the first bridge leading out of Staten Island. Frank Sinatra's version of 'New York, New York' played over all the speakers and we began our marathon. There were hundreds of volunteers collecting clothes at the start as we began shedding our warm 'throwaway' outfits. There were thousands in front of me running and then I realized that there were thousands on a deck below running as well as thousands running in a simalr cloverleaf below to my right. It was like a twisting of roads, with thousands of bobbing heads, the smacking sounds that you realized were footfalls all heading to one converging spot down the road. People were taking pictures and there was a general excitement and hum; at the beauty of the view off the bridge as well. Volunteers stood on cement dividers, cheering us on but nothing prepared you for the crowds and welcome as we all converged onto the roadway ahead. People were lined up on the roads. Young children in mittens and winter jackets stood off to the side holding out hands for high fives. People read your shirt or entry and shouted your name. I was wearing my marathon shirt and if someone yelled "Run for Joy!" I called back 'thank you!" One man put it in better perspective. Unless you were the elite runner or trying for a qualifying time this was not a race for your personal best. This was something to never forget. We ran through 5 boroughs and over 5 bridges. Sometimes it felt like 5 countries. We ran from Staten Island to Manhattten and every corner was something new. They had bands playing in different areas. One area was mainly African American. Everyone was dancing to the loud music, continual shouts of 'You go, girl' or "Run for Joy, Baby!" Lots of us ran over high fiving all the little kids as we went! We ran through an area in Brooklyn that is mostly Hassitic (not sure of spelling) Jews. The men had the long hair and curls on either side of the head, black hats and long coats. Most of the women had long woolen jackets, skirts and tams. It seemed like stepping back in time except many of the men had briefcases or blackberry's in hand. This area was different for fans as well. Here many of the men walked along the sidewalk, watching as they went on their way. One or two of the women were at the side of the road with their families but there was no cheering or handing us fruit, candy etc in this area. The runners carried on.
There was a large Spanish contingent at one point, fantastic music, lots of cheering and of course there were always thousands of volunteers at the water stations. First the gatorade. As you ran, you grabbed, drank and threw the cups. The road surface became extremely stickly with our shoes making sucking nosies as you ran over thousands of cups left from those running ahead. The water offered next cleaned the road and your shoes somewhat; then you ran on again.
Along the route their were markers stating miles or kilometres and the time elapsed. I had been watching a runner ahead of me; an elderly man in shorts and a singlet. He was a bit bent over as he ran but I remember thinking how good a pace he was running. Around 15 miles I noticed him again but he seemed to be bending slightly forward at the shoulders. It was odd as he bent more and then started to pick up his running pace. I remember thinking 'Is something wrong? Why is he running flat out and starting to bend over?" Then the unimaginable. He fell in to my left, face first, right into the road. There weren't as many spectators in this area. Many people gasped or yelled. Another woman and I ran over; a man cheering from the sidelines was there and rolled this fellow onto his back. The spectator said 'Lets get you over here to sit down'. I thought the older fellow appeared to be coming around. A woman yelled 'Call 911" and I turned and ran a few paces back shouting to a group, 'Call 911'. I turned to them and said "Are you okay, then?" They had the fellow off the road and we began to run on. About a kilometer further was a medic station. Another woman and I ran in there. She was pointing back; I ran to a male and said " A man collapsed back there about a kilometre!" This medic started running back. We continued on. As we entered Manhatten I came around the corner and the crowds were fantastic. I had told the girls I run on the left but over to the right I thought I heard my name, yelling above the rest "Run for Joy, Jan!". I turned my head and didn't see them but it was Rachel and Annie.
Eric was tracking me on the computer with the Athlete 'alert' on my racing chip. He was texting the girls and my Dad who was phoning Sandra. Ralf was tracking my progress as well and the girls were jumping on and off the subway following me! What an amazing thing to hear later. Dad said he was Communications Central with texting flying back and forth.
We were coming off yet another bridge (5 in all) and there was a downhill with some uneven, rough asphalt. I fell beautifully! Others had fallen earlier and the gasp of the crowd and the embarassment on others faces said it all. I felt myself falling. I put out my hands (thanks Dad for telling me to wear my leather palmed biking gloves!!!!!!) and landed on my right knee, rolling onto my right side. It was the perfect shoulder, barrell roll!. I landed on my back facing the hill and two other racers came up on either side of me, holding out their hands. I grabbed them both, jumped to my feet, said 'thank you boys' and carried on.
I had worried this might happen with my right leg so I definitely slowed my pace to work on keeping my right foot and leg going. But what a blessing! That I wore those gloves (tore the leather away- imagine my hands), that I had long pants on and just scraped my knee, not my whole lower leg, etc. etc. I stopped briefly at the next medic station to inspect the knee; minor! It really could have been the end of my race. So I kept running.
They asked me later if I hit the 'wall' during the race. I felt pretty good, obviously exhasution sets in and I definitely wanted to make sure after my fall that I didn't fall again. I saw the signs for Central park and I think for me the hardest part of the race was the last 3 miles. They went on forever! I just describe fully the mind games needed sometimes to keep running, especially if someone is walking faster than you run!! I was sure the girls would be near the finish; I found myself scanning through all the faces to my left as I ran. People saw this and were cheering me on. By now I was not high fiving so much as concentrating on getting to the finish but still called out my thanks to many who yelled 'Run for Joy'. The miles never seemed to shorten; but suddenly I heard my name. I looked up and it was Rachel and Annie against the fence to my left. They were wearing their grey Run for Joy Shirts and I had been emotional looking for them over the last two miles. Now I found myself breaking down and I ran over to them, crying. Rachel had a big smile, "Mom, keep going!!" But I couldn't. I needed to hug them both. I gave them a huge hug and inspired pulled out my necklace with mom's ring on it and ran the last 300 metres. 5 hours and 7 minutes, running all the way. I had finished.
Imagine the feelings. I was very tired but euphoric. They moved us along, photographers took the pictures as we posed with our medals, we grabbed our food bags and moved to the end. Unfortunately, they had everyone file into a narrow chute and we came to a shuffling standstill. After all that running the last mile took one and a half hours to walk out. People were definitely feeling the effects around us. I was feeling a little nauseated as well but again, with my medal and my solar blanket around my shoulders I carried on to meet the girls. There was a delay while we found each other and the euphoria I felt when meeting them was as high as the one I felt finishing the race. The rest of the trip was sightseeing and is perhaps only important to me and my family as the race was over and that's what you want to hear about.
Rachel and I took Annie back to the Greyhound station at 11:00 pm after a special dinner together that night. It was hard to say good bye. Rachel and I did the most amazing sight seeing tour Monday and on Tuesday met with Jason, (see his website wheniwalk.com) for a great hour to talk about the race and meet one another.
One sad note was to find out the fellow in front of me died from cardiac failure (as well as another man that we passed later in the race.)
But I am home again and I don 't know how many times I have said this; this was truly a moment in time for us. I am getting final tallies in but believe we made our goal of $10,000 for the MS Society of Canada. We made friends on the trip, other marathoners who stated they will be back to run. Other people asked if I will do this again. I am ready to do another race. I am healing from the few bumps and bruises but who knows what the future holds. I can't lie when I say I am feeling a bit of the let down you experience when something planned, organized and worked for has 'ended'. But my next event may be Mount Kilimanjaro. One of the ladies in the group said she had done that last year and she was in her 60's.
Hmmmm, Climbing for Joy?
Well, you never know.
Thank you all and God Bless

Jan
p.s. And before I forget - Happy Birthday mom. You were with me all the way.