Staten Island Half Marathon: Someone Else’s Legs

I think I borrowed someone else’s legs today!

The morning started out like any other race morning!

Our race necessities were laid out, ready for action.

We each had the pre-race breakfast which has quickly become a ritual. Breakfast is always a cup of coffee with a peanut butter and banana sandwich on light wheat bread. I’ve started adding Crofter’s Jam instead of honey for a little natural sugar.

We quickly headed downtown to catch the 7:30am ferry to Staten Island. The half marathon began at 8:30, therefore the NYRR suggested no one take a ferry later than 7:30. I’m glad we listened! We have been on more ferries in the past month than ever before! (Governor’s Island and Bainbridge Island)

The ferry was packed!

I ran into Sara before the race. I love how small the NYC running community really becomes after a few races! She warned me about the hills but also told me that this was her half marathon PR last year. (Great job Sara on your awesome race today!!)

After a quick 15 minute ferry ride, our course came into view.

Staten Island looked flat and friendly from afar.

After a quick sprint to the ferry terminal bathroom for a last minute stop, we headed down to the corral. Due to the constant calf pain Bo has been dealing with since his speedy run in Portland, we decided to start the race together. I knew I wanted to keep my goal marathon pace (11:20) today in preparation for the marathon.

We were ready to get this run started! The weather was perfect, the wind wasn’t blowing too badly, and we were towards the front of my corral (aqua).

The course was an out and back route, including a few rolling hills and one steep incline from mile 7.5 to 8. Overall, it reminded me a lot of the Philadelphia Half course in that it had some great views and was a relatively easy course compared to multiple loops in Central Park or Prospect Park.

I felt wonderfully throughout the race. In fact, I felt as if I’d borrowed someone else’s legs! I was smiling ear to ear, talking with Bo, and taking in the sites. I thought we were starting out slow until Bo told me to slow down as he was sure we were going faster than planned. I looked down at my Garmin only to see that we ran our first three miles at an average pace of 9:47. We decided to stick together for the rest of the race due to my fast pace.

After the first three miles, we kept our pace at a 10:05 until we climbed the hill at mile 7.5. That hill irritated Bo’s calf and reduced him to a limp until we stopped for a quick stretch a few strides later. He spent 2 minutes stretching and massaging his calf. We started again and continued another three miles until 10.5 when it started to tighten again. This time we stopped for 2 minutes for more stretching and a quick debate. Bo realized at this point that 20 wouldn’t be possible for him and that finishing the half would be lucky.

I suggested we slow down for the last 2.5 miles so we could finish together. He would never leave me in a race while in pain and therefore I wanted to stick by his side. We finished the next 2.5 miles in a 10:45 pace. Even with this slow finishing pace, I still ran my fastest half marathon since December 2007!

Time: 2:16:47

Avg Pace: 10:27

I couldn’t stop smiling. I wanted to keep running since my goal today wasn’t the half marathon, but instead my first 20 miler!

I completed a 2 mile loop while Bo stretched and rested his leg. After the quick 2 miles we headed towards the ferry in hopes of catching the 11:30 ferry back to NYC. Bo had to be back home for a conference call and I knew that running 5 miles along the Hudson River would be the perfect ending for my 20 miler.

Less than an hour after parting ways at the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan I was back home giddy with excitement!