New York City Marathon 2007

Ran it last year in 2:35, hoping to improve...training suggests I can. Just ran a 1:11 half on 90 miles weeks. With a taper, who knows.

Advice--take some throw away clothes to the start line, it is cold on the bridge...the first mile is up hill, second down hill, so don't panic....the next 6 miles are pretty flat and easy. Watch out for the Mile 8 (big hill in Brooklyn---but great crowd support--best on the course), the hill at the halfway marker is tougher than I expected, and then of course the monster climb at mile 15 over the 59th St. bridge breaks a lot of people (hope you have been doing hills in practice because you need to). From Mile 16 to mile 18 along 1st are loaded with people, but beware don't push too hard there or you will crash. Grab gels at 18 and just tough it out through the Bronx and Harlem, the miles seemed to click by fast (despite the ache by here). Along 5th Ave. before you go into the park at mile 23 is tough (I rcall a tough incline), but you are almost there. It gets pretty rolly for the last 3 miles, but it is awesome in the park...Have fun.

Thanks, oldlegs. A lot of wonderful advice. Let's tear 'em up.

Not me this year. Good luck to all.

others?

I'm running. Hoping to break 3:00. At minimum improve on my 3:11 PR. Only my 3rd marathon and first "big city" event. Good luck with 2:45!

Ran it as my first marathon last year. Perfect conditions last year.

Like the second poster said, bring you crappy, work clothes to the start. Also a big garbage bag to sit on since you'll probably have to sit on grass.

I found the race didn't start until halfway 59th street bridge. I ran a 3:06 last year, but probably went out too fast 1:29. It just didn't start feeling tough till around mile 17-18. The 59th st bridge is a steady quiet uphill. Just like the Verazzano Bridge its amazing how quiet these are versus the crowd sections.

Also, 5th ave is a bitch as is the downhills in Central Park when your at 24-25 miles and your legs are shot.

Also, Central Park South is nice little uphill they put in there at the end that you don't realize.

Enjoy the race also, NYRR puts on a good race considering the amount of people involved. Hopefully you'll have perfect conditions like last year, but considering the weather has sucked for Boston and Chicago in 07 I wonder what it holds for New York in 07

I'm out this year. Did Reach-the-Beach instead.

Some advice; I was 2:48 in 2006. Importantly, you should have a pretty clean run right from the start. There were a number of people near me throughout, which was very good, but no crowds.

As others say, if it's a bit chilly, most people take a long sleeve shirt to the start, and discard it to the side shortly before the horn; they all go to charity. Some guys bring-wide mouthed bottles as well and discard them to the side beforehand as well. Long pre-race lines at the port-o-sans. Err on the side of underdressing, as it warms up on the course.

Take water at every stop; they come every mile after 2 (except on the 59th Street Bridge (which is not that big a deal, although I struggled on the downhill stretch)), with Gatorade as well every 2 miles. There is also a Gel stop at mile 18; if you train with Gels, remember the color of the label for flavors you've used and grab that one (for me it was the blue of vanilla or the red of strawberry; I got the blue).

Most important thing: From a sign I unfortunately did not see in 2006: "Take it easy, it's not a 10K." The crowds on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn are unbelievable and can really push you too hard without you even noticing (even when you're checking you splits). The first 2 miles will give strange splits because of the bridge and the traffic. Focus on pace when you hit 4th Avenue and take it easy. I came through the half just under 1:20.

I hesitate about giving this final bit, but here goes. If you need to stop late in the race to gather yourself, it's not the end of the world. A few seconds, walk a little, catch the breath, and start up again. No need to panic. In 2006, I did it at 21, 23, and 24.5. (I have a photo between the first and second time I stopped. At the finish, I still beat most of those guys.) But, remember, I hadn't seen that "not a 10K" sign.

Outstanding. Thank you.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm in. What was it like for you guys at the start? This is the one thing I'm worried about. I come in with a 2:40. Do we have to line up two hours before the start like I have been hearing? What's the situation like with overhydrated people standing around needing a bathroom?

I ran a pr at New York City- though I would say its the toughest course Ive run on (including Boston and Chicago).

You should have a low number, blue probably 1-1000. If this is the case, you will have no problem with porta potties. We had our own staging area with about 20 porta potties for 1000 people. Never once did I wait in line. I believe the next 1000 also had their own staging area as well. I took extra sweats and just laid around on the grass. They called us to the starting area about 20-30 minutes before the start. Dont worry about forcing your way to the front too much.

I thought the weather was rather cold the morning of, but the crowds are great and NYC is a fabulous marathon. Good luck. First mile will be slow, second fast.

If you get to the start by bus or ferry like the vast majority of racers, you'll be milling around the start area for hours, but don't actually line up until a more reasonable time - as I recall, something like a 20 minute process of inching up toward the line + waiting. Might want to have a towel or something to sit on before lining up. Bring a trash bag to use as poncho if there's any chance of rain.

Porta-potty lines are long. Before you line up a quicker option for dudes is "the world's longest urinal". Once the lineup process is under way, well, that's why a wide mouth bottle was suggested. Drink the G'rade, reuse the bottle.

About the start, I can only comment on the start for Local Competitives (members of NY-area clubs with certain unspecified times). We started at the front of the bottom of the bridge (no matter what color your number was). So we had a clean start. If you're 2:40ish, remember that the sub-elites are 2:35 and faster. I think they start in front of the women. You would start right behind the elite men (assuming you have a blue number below 1000). Because many of those numbers will be elsewhere (elite, sub-elite, local competitives), I would think it's a relatively small group, but others can comment on that.

They bring groups out in order, and you'd be among the first. Be aware of peeing immediately beforehand if you can, although some use bottles and some just go on the bridge (watch for urine rivers at your feet). It's fairly relaxed until the next 1000 runners are brought out, as they try to move up. So the first group tightens up, but at that pace, people are pretty cool about things. I did not feel like a sardine or like I do at other NYRR races.

Horn goes, and you'll have some people who are too far forward. But it's a wide start, and a few elbows and you should be in the clear pretty quickly, but again, you're on an uphill and keep it under control for the first mile. Don't let an adrenaline rush get you.

I was concerned about the start too, but it turned out to be a non-issue. Just remember that your group will be brought out first and you'll be there for a while as they line other groups up behind you. But they didn't have ropes separating the groups once they were brought to the start.

Thanks guys. That makes me a little less nervous about the start anyway. I'll try to keep it under control in the first mile. I think I'm in more danger of slamming it in mile 2 when I get free of other runners and it's downhill. I'm worried I'll go sub 5:40 for that mile if I'm not careful especially if I see a 6:30 at mile 1.

Go out SLOW the first mile. It's all uphill, but it's so gradual. Coming down off of mile 1 you need to be in control as it's easy to fly at that point. Be smart and save yourself for the 2nd half. I ran nearly perfect splits in NYC last year between my first and second half but I studied the course. Look at the elevation charts and plan for the hills the 2nd half. Also be ready to run in control after coming off the bridge from 15 to 16 cause hitting first ave is like walking into a party. It's packed with people and you can easily start to run out of control.

My only caution is to be ready for the last 10K. It's much more rolling and the hills of CP are just enough to tax your legs. Awesome venue though. Good luck...wish I was running there again instead of going through what I did last weekend in Chicago.

i'm running for the first time.

goal is under 2:40.

ran 3:00 in philly last year.

20 min. improvement??

Good advice everybody. I'm looking to run close to 2:30 - I ran 23 miles today, which helped to remind me that the distance is tough on you no matter what pace. I e-mailed to get into the sub-elite section, but I haven't heard back yet. Otherwise I'll be screwed - i'm in the 14th section.

Good luck everybody!

What's the 14th section?

I was in the sub-elite last year and ran 2:35, and I am still trying to get in this year. ( I am hopeful as my races so far this year have been faster consistently). We did start just in front of the top women-except for the elite women who start 30 minutes earlier...The start for us was easy and relaxed. My brother ran 2:46 and said the start was no problem for him and it was not too congested at all.

Again, the first mile is uphill and I was 6:02, second mile 5:02--yikes. watch it. A lot of guys were coming back to me from 15-19 miles and I was hurting last year, so be careful on your pace on the first half.

I would say overall the course is about 3-4 minutes slower than most courses, because it gradually gets you with the slopes. But the race is simply awesome, so many people run really well....I am hoping for 2:30ish

Just did my last 23 miler today, and with the heavy training in my legs I am glad the taper is starting soon.

Oldlegs: Please e-mail me so I can make sure you are in the sub-elite list. It's being finalized now: dmonti@nyrr.org.