*The day before the marathon I meticulously laid out everything I would need for race day.
Doing that helped me feel more ready than ever and it also helped to calm my nerves.
Just how preoccupied and jittery was I leading up to the race?
A quick visit toDr.
He’s an aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon who also specializes in skin treatments.
I’m glad I went because he helped fix me up mentally more than anything.
Worrying about what 26.2 miles would do to my kitchen wounds was a distraction I definitely didn’t need.
Advice from a colleague’s husband who is a doctor that specializes in burns also helped!
I’m just glad I didn’t injure anything else before the race.
What a family tradition!
Super model Veronica Webb was on our bus!
Now we know why she’s so amazing inside and out–she’s a marathoner!
We also got well-wishes from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and met former NY Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer!
Chilean miner Edison Pena was even in our midst.
Only in New York!
Let’s just say that wasn’t ideal.
I’m told it was one of the coldest starts in years.
But things quickly warmed up as each wave of tens of thousands of runnersset off across the Verrazano.
I’ve never had such a mixture of emotions all at once.
It was so exciting that I almost forgot about the more than 26 mile journey ahead of me.
I got chills…and it wasn’t just from the weather.
Once you come off the Verrazano you are in Brooklyn.
Those Brooklyn crowds immediately prompted me to chuck my iPod playlist.
There’s nothing like having millions of fellow New Yorkers cheering you on for HOURS on end.
It’s the biggest rush ever.
You really forget that you are even running for a while.
Neighborhood rock and jazz bands along with bagpipers help push you through each of the five boroughs.
People make hilarious signs of encouragement for thousands of runners they don’t even know.
My favorite sign read “Clearly You’ve Got Stamina.
We Should Date!”
Once you get across the 59th Street Bridge into Manhattan the crowds are just insane!
I was doing surprisingly well at that point, in the 4:30 and then the 4:20 pace group!
But I hit a wall in The Bronx.
I dreaded shedding clothing I’d gotten rid of when I finally warmed up because it got cold again!
Despite fueling pretty well before and during the race my legs totally cramped up.
That helped, and it got me running again.
As soon as I got into the Park, my family was right there with the COOLEST signs ever!
My parents were so excited and my cousin Michelle was here all the way from Texas to watch!
For me those were the toughest miles ever.
I’m glad she was there.
My official finishing time was4:54:46.And ____ apparently this is only the beginning!
I have about seven to ten days ahead of me for my body to recover.
Will I or won’t I?
you’re able to comment below to weigh in on whether you think I’ll keep going!
By the way….CONGRATS to speedySELFfitness editor Sheila Monaghan for finishing the race in03:19:27.
Really Sheila, must you be such a slacker?
He’s my new honorary bro!
We waited together for about an hour-and-a-half for the race to begin.6.With supermodel Veronica Webb.
She also ran the marathon for a cause, for the Michael J.
See what can happen when you run a marathon?
