It’s been one month since I completed the New York City Marathon….

One month since one of the greatest days of my life so far! I knew that this race would be a memorable day, but I was not prepared to have such an amazing experience, that is in some way indescribable.

I ran for 3 hours, 53 minutes and 23 seconds straight. And if that sounds like a long time, it is! But my legs carried me 26.2 miles through all 5 boroughs under 4 hours. Finishing in under 4 hours was my goal, so the fact that I was able to achieve that with some time to spare was beyond my imagination! I was ecstatic to cross that finish line feeling so strong.

Instead of writing this the day after the race, I waited thirty days to see if my feelings remained the same. And I can confirm, I am still looking back at my experience on November 7th with so much happiness, appreciation, and pride. I’m so grateful to have had the race that I did, the support that I had, the strength and energy I felt, and the mind-blowing crowd in New York that day. Stars aligned, and I’m still in awe of this experience.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also note what a journey it was, and that everyone’s experiences are different. So I’m sharing my own personal experience as a reference for anyone who has ever considered running this marathon! My hope is that it will excite you and prepare you for what’s to come. And be sure to catch my biggest take-aways from the race 😊

The Anxiety of Race Week

In the days leading up to the marathon my nerves were extremely high, even though I was so eager and excited for it. I came down with a multi-day migraine and ultimately had to see a doctor. To process my excess nervous energy, I completed about 15 different organizational tasks throughout my apartment. Since I was trying to rest my legs and stay off my feet I did quite a bit of writing, work, and online shopping. I shaved my legs 2 days early so that I knew I wouldn’t have any razor burn, and I moisturized constantly like a freak. I finished laying out all my clothes and tools a week before the race, then tried on the complete outfit yet again that Friday night and questioned everything! Is any of this normal? Totally unsure.

One of the best parts of the week was picking up my race bib at the expo. There was such an exciting atmosphere with so many runners gathered to experience it together. There were also tons of photo opportunities, official marathon merchandise for runners, and booths sponsored by brands with race gear.

The day before the race I went for an early 3-mile shakeout run with the Paragon Running Club, added my name in duck tape to my race shirt, and secured my bib. Then tried to keep my nerves at bay by spending the afternoon reading in the sun on my terrace. I had an early 5pm dinner with a few of my girlfriends who were in town for the marathon, a last supper of sorts! One final pasta dinner to fuel myself before the big day. It was the perfect distraction to clear my head and nerves before bed. I fell asleep before 10pm and though it certainly wasn’t my best rest ever, I slept as much as I could before my alarm went off at 5am on race day.

The Morning Of

I woke up feeling good and ready to go. The day was finally here! I got dressed, made myself some hot tea for my walk to the busses at the NY Public Library, and let Ryan pump me up and cheer me on throughout the morning. I was signed up for the busses at 5:45am, but I wasn’t starting the race until 10:40am, which was designated based on my expected finishing time. I knew it was going to be a long morning, so I was happy to start the day with a friend. I met Katie at the busses, and we talked all the way to Staten Island. When we arrived around 7am I still had hours to kill before I would be lining up, and Katie and I were designated to different start times and waiting areas.

I didn’t know what to expect marathon village to look like, but it was huge. Hundreds of porta potties, a Dunkin Donuts station, a VIP area. As I was assigned to wave 3, green corral A, I had to wait in the green area, and she would be starting 40 minutes before me. Thankfully as I was walking towards my waiting area, I bumped into everyone from Paragon Running Club and was so happy to pass the time with friendly faces! Rather than draining my phone battery I tried to distract myself from the freezing temperatures by huddling for warmth and talking all morning long!

Around 10:00am I was able to enter my corral. I had layered up in old sneakers and sweats to stay warm so right before taking off I shed all my clothes down to my race outfit. The great thing is all clothes are able to be donated! When the corral opened and we could start processing towards the entrance of the Verrazano bridge I was too cold to feel my feet, but I moved them slowly towards the starting line.

We heard the singing of the star-spangled banner, and the firing of a cannon to start the third wave of the race.

The Race

I have heard people say that the first mile is a blur, but to me that first mile I was laser focused and aware of what was around me. After the gun goes off the crowd immediately starts moving forward and I was eagerly to get my body going and feel warmer. All runners who are placed in the green section are designated to start on the lower level of the Verrazano, so after waiting in the cool shade of the bridge I was covered in goosebumps on my arms and legs. But as I approached the official starting line checkpoint, I felt a wave of adrenaline roll through me like a burning lava. My legs in faster motion now, propelled forward by the eager crowd, I suddenly realized I was running this race.

I kept my headphones out so that I could be fully present in this thrilling moment on the bridge, as I had always heard there is a lot of excitement, cheering and energy amongst the runners as the race begins. After a couple thousand feet I realized that the distant cheers I heard were from the runners on the top of the bridge. It must have been a bit of a different experience up there, and one I hope most people get to enjoy. On the lower level what I witnessed was a race.

Something kind of exhilarating was that there were only about fifty people ahead of me as I started my run. In all the races I did I had never been anywhere close to the front but because this was the beginning of the third wave it ended up that I was in group A and starting at the head of the pack. I knew there were thousands of runners behind me, and I was slightly intimidated by the number of people passing me on the bridge. I was falling further and further behind, outrun by people who seemed to be weaving around me, and breaking into a sprint to pass the runners around them.

I was so aware of how cold my feet were, They were numb. And of how I had a knot in my stomach. And all that can’t be a good way to start this day right? But I tried to ignore the negative thoughts and looked out at Manhattan skyline in the distance. I laughed internally about how crazy it is to run from Staten Island to the Bronx. The sky was so blue and clear, and the sun was already high and reflecting off the World Trade Center. The air felt cold and crisp in my lungs. It was a beautiful day. A perfect day for a marathon, and I knew what a gift that was.

At a point I thought to myself, when the hell am I going to start feeling my feet again? I had already completed mile one while still on the bridge and I knew this was the biggest hill of the whole course at almost 300 feet above sea level! I was already on the descent and hadn’t felt the incline. What a quick mile! Then - oh no, my Apple watch buzzed and told me I was ahead of pace which I was trying to avoid. 8:22 seconds and completely not sustainable so I slowed down further and let the runners continue to pass me.

The green course takes you on a different course than blue and yellow which exits the bridge and merges onto Fourth Avenue. I didn’t know this before the race so it was interesting to imagine where I was going, and when I would finally reunite with the blue and orange runners. Turns out, they exit the Verrazano at 92nd street and merge right onto Fourth Avenue in Fort Hamilton, whereas I continued on the Gowanus Expressway into Bay Ridge. I passed some construction workers on the highway who cheered for the runners and that made me smile, and I realized for the first time that we still hadn’t seen spectators and we were already at mile 3, but it wouldn’t be long. I merged off the highway and up an exit ramp, and immediately there were crowds of people lining either side of the street. I took out my headphones again to embrace it. And that was the first time I heard people shouting my name! These utter strangers were connecting with me with every word

“Let’s go Gab!!”

“You got this Gab!”

“You’re killing it Gab! Keep going”

I had heard that wearing your name made the race that much sweeter, but it was EVERYTHING. And my biggest recommendation to any runner is to share their name with the crowd. People want to connect with you!! The first few times it happened I was too stunned to squeak out any words but I laughed and smiled. Then it got a little quiet again as we turned on 74th street to the Bay Ridge Parkway. I was almost at mile 4 when I FINALLY saw the other runners and knew that Fourth Avenue was ahead.

I was not prepared for the crowd. I was not prepared for the screams, or the cowbells, or the horns, or the music!! The noise flooding the six lane street, and the road stretching ahead of me as far as my eyes could see. After the excitement of the initial crowd, I could hear my name a bit more clearly as people cheered me on, and I could finally will my voice say THANK YOU!! I wish I could truly stop and thank them all, because every time someone picked me out of the crowd and shouted my name I got a huge surge of energy.

All I can say about my first 13 miles was that Brooklyn brought the energy. From mile 4 to mile 10 I felt like it was a party. I was having so much fun with it all that I didn’t even realize that the G on my shirt fell off until someone else told me. I tried to stick it back on a few times because I loved the crowd connection so much but I knew eventually I’d have to take them off, so I ditched the name and lived vicariously through the runners alongside me. When the crowd said “lets go Sarah” I just pretended it was me and Sarah. Plus, at that point the area around Barclays and Atlantic Avenue looked and felt like a concert. People’s arms were raised in the air with joy, and reaching out for high fives and pats on the back.

Nothing but being in this moment mattered. I wanted to remember every second, take it all in.

The church choir on the steps of their church singing for the runners.

The fire department sitting upon their trucks outside the station and cheering us on.

The bands set up alongside Fourth Avenue.

The packed outdoor set ups with people spilling beer and singing along to the music.

It was just a slice of life in New York city that I got to watch, and I never want to forget it. It was everything I love about New York. The New Yorkers were putting on a show, and I had a front row seat.

One of my favorite parts of the race was how the streets narrowed on Lafayette Avenue so that the crowd closed in. The first 8 miles the runners were spread out and the two sides of the street felt like a mile apart. But then suddenly the crowd on right and left were separated by only 10 feet. I had been looking for familiar faces throughout Brooklyn, people who told me where they would be but I must have been on the opposite side of the road and so I sadly missed them. It wasn’t until then that I started seeing friends!! Starting with my Christina on Lafayette Avenue - I was so shocked and happy I jumped in her arms! Then Liz on Bedford Avenue. Then Bria with a megaphone. Then Katy and her entire family. Every time I saw someone I stopped and hugged and jumped with them! It was the greatest joy – because there were no guarantees I’d catch anyone let alone so many people from various parts of my life.

For all these reasons, the first half of the race flew by.

While I was spatially aware of the runners around me throughout the first half of the race, I was distracted by the crowd. But when the group dissipated I tried to take in the runners around me, and realized I wasn’t seeing the same faces anymore. I was starting to catch up to people who were in the first two waves.

I passed a guide leading a blind runner, smiling so huge by the noise around him.

I was passing by men and women well into their 80’s wearing shirts that said “45 time Marathoner”.

I passed a father who was pushing his disabled adult daughter in a stroller so that they could complete a marathon together.

People from every walk of life, every physical form. It shattered any stereotype or assumption people have about the type of individual who runs a marathon. It could be anyone, motivated by a million different reasons, and that was truly amazing to see.

Queens was quick and exciting. The energy was high like Brooklyn! I knew the big bridge was ahead - I had trained for this. I was ready to take on the Queensborough. As we climbed the hill I turned up the music.. We were at mile 16 with much left of the race ahead, but the difficulty on this part of the course is high and a lot of people begin walking. I don’t know what came over me but I finally felt this wave of confidence that told me I deserved to be there. I started encouraging the other runners to keep going, they were almost at the top! It felt so good to run that half mile downhill towards Manhattan. It was the reoccurring visual I conjured in my mind throughout my training. And I couldn’t believe I was finally in this moment - living it.

Coming off the bridge into Manhattan the crowd energy was so high. I realized it was different than Brooklyn because First Avenue is so wide. But every few hundred feet I was seeing a friend - plus I knew my cheer squad was less than a mile away. The last .3 miles before I reached them were uphill, but I pushed forward until 78th street and until I saw their faces.
And it’s a picture I will save in my mind forever. I started choking up but then shouted and laughed in joy - every emotion running through me. MY PEOPLE!!! Knowing they were there kept me going for 17 miles, and would push me forward for the last 9 miles too. It was like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. I knew I could do this because they believed I could.

I felt strong, and I carried forward with that stable confidence all the way uptown into the Bronx. The Willis Avenue Bridge was draining, just as it had been every time I practiced it. But the crowd in the boogie down was shockingly electric! Everyone had said it was quiet in the Bronx but I loved it. I saw more familiar faces before making my way over the last bridge. I was at mile 20 when I realized that I could finish under 4 hours if I just kept pushing forward at this same pace.
I felt the pride and spirit of Harlem. There was some form of music on every corner. Little girls handed out orange slices. Someone threw me a mini water bottle and I chugged it quickly.

I battled against the slow incline of Fifth Avenue from Harlem into Central Park. Soon at mile 24 I would see my family and friends again, and I raced towards them running at my full capacity through the park. I had never ran this far in my life before and they were there celebrating it with me! Only 2 miles left.

I had done these last 2 miles at least five times before. I knew that for every uphill there was a downhill relief. The crowd on the last two miles was momentous. There were difficult moments, especially the slow incline of 59th street. And the last .2 miles are uphill but you have come so far and it’s almost over.

I saw the finish line ahead of me in the distance and I knew that I was going out strong. I lifted my arms in the air and cheered. When I crossed the finish line I took a moment to feel the joy, bask in this accomplishment. I looked down at my watch - 3 hours 53 minutes. I did it!!

I started as bib 16408 and I finished in 5,987 place out of 24,948 people. I am so proud of my run. I worked so hard for months to enjoy this experience and it was all worth it for that feeling. Finishing 26.2 miles in the best city in the world! It was truly one of the most memorable days of my life.

The Celebrations

After finishing the race the runners are given a medal, a race poncho, and a bag of food and drinks to consume. Then you walk 3/4 of a mile to exit the park and meet your family and friends. I was feeling super sore from the sudden shut down my legs had just endured, but I couldn’t wait to see them and it was the best reunion. I was so overwhelmed with happiness I burst into tears!

They walked miles that day to find me along the course, and I was so appreciative. I just wanted to tell them how happy I was! What a feeling.

Katie and I had organized for all of our friends to gather at our local bar on the corner, The Gem Saloon. I was completely on cloud 9 to see everyone there for us. It was so fun to celebrate with my amazing friends, and recap the day! It made it all that much more special to have them experience this feeling of joy with me.

I felt shaky from the overwhelming high I was on. Every muscle in my body was tensing up - I couldn’t eat, and I could barely gulp down water. It was like my stomach was sore and cramped like a leg muscle after a long run. It took a few hours for my body to relax, but finally as the night went on I could enjoy some much deserved beers with my friends! It was such a blast.

I couldn’t believe how little sleep I was running on, and how awake I felt. Somehow Ryan and I were the last two left at the party. We fell asleep on the couch after buying 4 slices of pizza and only eating a few bites.

What Did it Feel Like the Next Day?

Honestly, it was not that bad. I was prepared to wake up to some severe soreness and pain. But I was so relieved to have been spared a lot of that.

I took the day off to rest and recover, but rather than staying on the couch I ended up being able to make the most of a beautiful day! Ryan and I woke up to grab some coffee and the newspaper so we could find my name printed in the New York Times as a marathon finisher! Then I spent the morning going through texts, pictures, and videos from friends and re-living it as much as I could.

Since it was a quiet Monday I was able to snag a highly coveted reservation at L’Artusi in the West Village and since I was feeling good Ryan and I slowly strolled down there for lunch. After a great pasta meal that refueled me, we split a cookie from Milk Bar, and walked home. I was feeling blissfully thin before this but every bite was so worth it.

I was overwhelmed by my sweet support system - everyone who reached out before to wish me luck, tracked me along the race, and celebrated with me after. I’m so grateful to those who came to be there in person, and my angel friends who sent me the best gifts and treats to enjoy after the race. I’m still not over it!

I felt some lingering stiffness through the week, but I was able to run again by Wednesday morning. Overall the recovery was pretty easy, but I definitely attribute that to the training. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that any work you put in before the race will come back to serve you during it and after you cross the finish line.

Would I Ever Run A Marathon Again?

For those who may be wondering (no one) the answer is YES. It’s safe to say that I’ve officially “caught the bug” and I don’t believe this Marathon will be my last. While I’m not signed up for another, I don’t think I’ll be able to stay away for long. I’m not sure in what capacity I’ll be able to take this hobby on, as training for one marathon has confirmed what a huge commitment it is. But this first marathon has sparked a fire inside of me, and checking this off my bucket list of course just made me think “so what’s next?”

Though I don’t know for sure, one goal of mine is to complete all Six World Majors. Now that I’ve done New York City, I would still have to run five more marathons. The Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, and Tokyo Marathon. Once you complete the six world majors you earn a Six Star medal! Will running NYC every feel the same way again? Who knows! But the thought of running all over the world in pursuit of this goal is pretty thrilling.

But with my wedding coming up next Spring I think I’ll have enough excitement to handle for one year! While I usually move a mile a minute, I’m trying to adopt a new motto of one step at a time.

And if I’m ever feeling unsure of myself, or in need of some encouragement, I have to remind myself – I CAN DO THIS – I ran a fucking marathon 😉

Biggest Lessons Learned

If you’re looking for the skim notes. Read no further:

Think backwards. Rather than telling yourself at mile 22 that you have 22 miles left – turn it around. At 22 miles left you’ve already run 4. You’ve run 22 miles before, and you can do this. That way you’re not thinking about those last miles as getting harder, they are miles you’ve already mastered. At mile 20, you only have 6 miles left!! At mile 24 rather than thinking “I’ve never ran this far before” I thought to myself I’ve ran 2 miles thousands of times. I know Central Park like the back of my hand. I counted down those miles until I had none left ahead of me. It may seem simple or obvious, but it was the trick that made all the difference for me
Stick to your pace, and to your marathon plan. Since my goal was to complete the marathon in under 4 hours, I set a notification on my Apple watch for 8’55 rolling pace. When I was running ahead of pace my watch vibrated as a reminder to slow down. When I was behind pace I received the same notification so that I knew I could increase my speed confidently. The tricky thing is that the energy and adrenaline is so high in the beginning of the course that many people speed unknowingly. Others bank time early in the race when they’re feeling good and on the flatter miles so that they slow down purposefully later on. But this was not my plan. My plan was to stick to my comfortable pace that I’ve sustained for 22 miles before during training. If I was feeling good, I knew I could finish this race based on that plan. And I realized that’s why conditioning is so important.
Enjoy the race, stop and embrace your people, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Hey, I wasn’t going to win. I’d be lucky if I finished by 3pm and before the sky started getting dark. But I was having so much fun the first 16 miles that I didn’t think about the time too much. I’m very proud of my race, but the only thing I wish I did differently was spend more time with my family and friends at mile 17, and again at mile 24. I was so excited to see everyone and overwhelmed with emotion. Even though I was scanning the crowd I couldn’t find every person that I wanted to see or knew was there. It was as if I had blinders on. I hugged and kissed whoever I saw but a part of me was scared to slow down for too long and lock up. If I could do it all over again, I would go back and spend just one more minute with them. I’d get a really good look at everyone who had come out for me that day. The people who woke up early and traveled into New York and waited all morning for me to arrive. I’ll never forget the look on their faces - how lucky am I to have that memory!
You don’t need to rely on music for the New York City Marathon. I didn’t have music in for most of the race actually. Even though I didn’t run with anyone else, or have someone to talk to, the entire experience is so stimulating that I didn’t find myself needing that extra energy or distraction as much as I did during training. Here are some areas you may want to pop those headphones in though:
- Lower Level of the Verrazano bridge through Gowanus Expressway
- The Orthodox neighborhood in Williamsburg where the crowd dies down
- The long and quiet Queensborough Bridge
- The Willis Avenue Bridge
- The last .5 mile (if you’re struggling)
One thing I didn’t plan to do but I think helped me greatly was stopping at every single fluid station for water or Gatorade. I tried to switch it up often. Sometimes I ran with the cup and spilled it all over myself, barely ingesting anything. Sometimes I walked five steps and took huge gulps. I was hydrated throughout the entire race.
Remember to refuel. I had about five different Gu’s and chews throughout the race starting at mile 5 and all the way through mile 24 providing me continuous energy. I ate before I felt the hunger or exhaustion.

I know this was my first marathon ever, and it took place right here at home. But it was an amazing marathon, and one to remember. I think part of that is because the 2020 race had to be cancelled to really appreciate all that we lost last year to get to where we are now. Even looking back today, I think it’s what made the crowd so warm, the hugs so tight, and all the high fives feel that much sweeter. While the future of this race was unknown for a period of time, we never gave up hope that we’d get there and cross the finish line one day. It was certainly worth the wait.

I hope if you are considering signing up for your first marathon that this post may be the little push you need. I know I’m biased, but I had the experience of a lifetime and maybe you will too!

Xx Gab

How It Feels to Run a Marathon