TCS New York Marathon 2023

I balloted for New York marathon since 2020, 2022 when the results for 2023 ballot came out and I lost it, I was thinking maybe I should just do charity or buy a slot from the tour organisers.  But just a few weeks after the ballot results were out, I received an e mail saying that if I purchase the guaranteed virtual slot for 2023 at a higher price, the physical slot for 2024 will be secured.

So I managed to secure my slot at about US$295.  I personally felt that this was a better deal than having to go for the charity slot.  Not sure if this only applies to this particular year, but I was glad that I managed to secure the slot.  After making the payment, my first plan was to book the air ticket as I thought the earlier I do so, the cheaper it will be and true enough I got a nice price for the Qatar Airways Q suites, it was really fantastic.

Registration

The registration was all done through the New York Road Runner website, you need to set up an account. https://www.nyrr.org/  From there you will be able to find many other ways to join the marathon, this is especially good if you live in the US.  The ballot can be pretty tough as I tried three years, I am not sure what is the average for the ballot.  But it seems like to be average going at 5-8 years, however, the ballot method is really based on luck.

Confirmation

From the dashboard you will be to see whether you are registered for the event, and also whether there are any outstanding payments.  If you are indoubt, you can contact their support which are very responsive.  They usually reply in a day or two, I got the confirmation pretty right away after making the payment.  Then after that it is all about waiting, the number bib and collection information are released out nearer to the date of the marathon.  Detailed information are also shared on Facebook and Instagram, I feel you can go to the social media to get more information.

Travelling

This time I chose to go via Qatar, this is because I still have some point from the Greece trip last year and I thought I might as well use it up.  Qatar flight was very good and I too the Q suites Business class this time, with really good service and food too.  This was a very long plan so I will be stopping by Qatar, then Dubai , Paris and finally New York.  The Paris New York leg was with Air France, another of my favourite airlines although I got worried about their staff going on strike.  But this time I was lucky and the flights were all on time. So I got a short transit at Qatar and Paris.

For the New York Hotel, I chose YMCA West Side, although there were many mixed review about it, I felt this place was the most affordable and also it was near to Central Park which was the end point for the Marathon. Being near to the Columbus Circle area means that it was well connected.  Another good point is that it has fitness and swimming pool facilities!

A little bit about New York City, I think its is a dream destination for some people but for me I find the place really too urban.  The only green part you get is the Central Park and Bryant Park which is around 5th Avenue.  There are many sights and beautiful buildings here but I think it is a place maybe I can stay only a few months at most.  Things are actually becoming affordable in this city and its cosmopolitan status makes it easier for Asians to live there too.  This time visiting it after covid, I feel the city has kinda cleaned up and people seemed to be a bit friendlier, they might seem a bit aloof but generally they are very willing to help and guide you.

Race Pack Collection

After many legs of flights, I reached New York wee hours of the Thursday morning of 2nd of Nov 2023. A small tip, do try to reach the city earlier as the Taxi is not joke expensive.  There are cheaper options of taking train and buses to Manhattan or other parts or NY.  Unless your ticket is super cheap for those late flights, the better choice will be to come earlier and it is safer also.   The race pack collection actually started today and will go through till Saturday for the late comers.  This time they held the collection at Javit Centre, which is on the Manhattan island itself.

As usual the Race pack collection for Majors is always very massive and large, but one thing is the flow is never busy and queue is also not long.  I guess because they always let you pick a collection time slot to prevent overcrowding and jams.  The only bad thing was that I came the second day in the evening ( due to the slot timing which can be chosen at the New York Runners website) some sizes for the ladies went out, I went for the second best.  Could see the volunteers having a hard time trying to pacify everyone.  There was nothing much in the race pack just the shirt, bib and also bag for your drop bag dropping which you can drop it off anytime before the race at the Central Park end point.

There were many exhibitors at the hall, as usual selling all sorts of sporting gears related to running.  The official booth by New Balance was very busy with all the runners trying to grab some official merchandise.

Race Day

You are able to chose your way to the start line by responding your choice on the website again.  There us one by boat ( which later you will still need to change to a bus) or fully by bus all the way to the start point in Staten Island.  I only remember going to the Island once for the outlet shopping, which this time was not on my agenda.  I chose the boat way and was not disappointed despite having to wake up earlier to take Subway, from the St Columbus circle, there are many lines that goes downtown to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal to take the boat.  From the boat, I could see the bridge that I am about to run on from the Island to Brooklyn which I later found out was called Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The boat ride was scenic, in fact I was lucky that all the time I was there for the marathon, the weather was sunny and fantastic.  It was not at all hot ranging from 9 deg cel- 14 deg cel in the day.

After getting down the boat, we were channelled to take the shuttle bus to the real start line.  It was cute as the bus were all the yellow school buses.  The bus ride took about 30 min because the drop off point was a bit jammed.  From there you will need to maneuver to the start chorral.  There were many different colours and also different pen in each chorral.  This showed how massive the event was.

Start time!

I reached about 8 plus in the morning and had to wait to 10:20 am before I was flagged off, during the period it was cold and everyone just huddled around their pen.  Dunkin doughnuts was kind enough to sponsor some small drinks and snacks for the participants. Your bib will show clearly your chorral and pen so you can only start from the place you are designated.  I wore an old jacket from the Chicago marathon, and opened up my emergency blanket waiting in the cold.  This time I remembered not to wear too much and also didn’t carry the hydration pack like the Athens marathon. Had a couple of coffees and then my pen was called, I checked in and was surprised it was not crowded at all.  The volunteers for the race were all so chirpy and energetic.  Took my last starter picture from a kind stranger and we were channeled to the real start line where we could see the bridge!! Excitement and up beat music got us excited.  Folks in Singapore were all preparing to sleep when I started my marathon.  There was singing of the song American The Beautiful, its their patriotic song.  It kinda boosted the runners spirit and after the song was finished the gun went off which was a real motar.. BOM… we were flagged off exactly 10:20.

5 Boroughs!

Being brought up in the metric system, some of the measurements used in US was not easily phantomed by me.  26.2 miles, the pacing got me blurred! But nevertheless I finally understood what five boroughs mean ( although it is not related to the metric system).  The marathon route starts on Staten Island and winds through the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Once runners enter Brooklyn, the route goes through Queens and Manhattan. The route then enters the Bronx, and back down into Manhattan again toward the finish at Central Park, at 67th Street on West Drive.  All marathons after all are the same, the torture is the same, the pain kicks in around the same time.  The only different is the people, the runners , the hydration points and atmosphere and I must say majors give you an experience money cannot buy.  42km of running from the start ( beside the bridge which wins for the scenery), till the end! Cheering music, and people from their own district coming up with their unique music and dance to cheer you on!

There were a lot of runners from around the world which got me really excited and when we are in the pen we all become one, cheering and wishing each other good luck.

So for NYC marathon, you have to run 5 bridges before entering to Central Park and there you will experience more up slopes!! Some how I enjoy running in somewhat a bit of undulating ground rather than flat all the way.

To Central Park

My mojo went down at about 30K and there I started to slow down, trying hard to pick up the 5. something pace, I just couldnt, so I ended going water point by water point.  And I told myself , I am not here to just get another sub four, I pushed! Eventually around 32Km, which is 10 km left I was only left with 50 min.  I knew I cannot make it sub four.  Was a bit saddening but I was not going to let Athens repeat again.  So I pushed on to the last bits.  The final timing could have been better but at least not as bad as last year.

To speak the truth, hydration point was really ample and there were some energy gel and stuff at certain points.  Signages were all clearly marked to keep you motivated, at least I am one person motivated seeing the distances to the water points etc.

I was glad I wore vibrams again for this marathon.  Shoes are just not for the roads I guess.  The feet was a bit painful but still bearable.  And I wasn’t really breathless, just dizzy.  I took the chance to take more pictures with the marathon fotos! forgetting that I have not bought the package!! But well I am happy with the photos.

After Thoughts

I really could go on and on about this marathon, but I guess its got to stop somewhere , well, its really a good experience.  But I still feel in all my majors I enjoyed Japan the most, maybe it was my first time in such a big event.  And also the rest and relax in Japan was nice , my mother was with me too.  But New york has its charms too, and I like the way it was organised, very orderly, no cock ups, safe and all that small perks like that fluffy poncho and recovery pack in the end.  Dunkin Doughnuts warmer hat and breakfast at the start.  Most of all the chirpy volunteers!! Really enjoyed this race with such good weather.  2 more to go and I am done with this Major dreams!