New York City Marathon 2007

vestar wrote:

where do the 500s get situated? blue course

Blue on top of bridge. Plus I'm pretty sure the local competitives hook up with the blues just past the 5K, so there'll be more runners (but still not many) along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. Last year, many of the sub-elites who fell off the pace early were completely alone on 4th Avenue, like one or two a block, while there was a comfortable number on the other side of the road. (The field is split until mile 8.)

Remember that many 3 digit numbers will be in either the sub-elite or the local competitives, so that'll be the smallest group of 1000, with a goodly number the elites. The numbers around 100 are for celebs (at least they were last year), which reduces the numbers further. Also, I got a number in the 800s, but I was 302nd last year. You should have a real clean run.

I've maxed out at 82 with a lot of low 70's. Lot's of workouts totaling 16 miles with w-up of 3 and w-down of 2. A long run of 22 that felt great another at 18 and 2 days ago did 16 with a lot at 6:25 ave with the last 4 at 6:10 pace and felt great. I've bounced back real well too, I felt great today for an easy 75 minutes.

I've thought I was in 2:45 shape before, but got over aggressive and blew up at 20 and ended up at 3:18(my really weak PR), so I want to be smart and run much more controlled. I really think I can run 2:45 or faster, but the stories I'm hearing about the course are scaring me, so I've been thinking of trying to go out in around 1:24 and hopefully negative split it. Does this sound reasonable to those experienced on the course??

Thanks,

Scott

Does anyone know where the F200 orange range is at the start? First time running NYC...goal time is 2:46

I'll be running it with a goal of 2:38-2:43. I just got my number on monday and am in the blue corral, #407. So if I'm reading this all right I should be starting just behind the elites and won't need to worry about any congestion on course?? That's great to hear. Thanks for all the info.

My standards for "uncongested" may be a little more lax than most, having run enough 6000+ entrant races in NYC where I started behind too many walkers and joggers seeding themselves up front. But in the last two years my numbers were 5xxx and 3xxx, and even in the 5000s the crowding just wasn't a huge deal. The start is very, very wide and the seeding, while not perfect, is effective enough that you don't need to weave through hundreds of slower runners in you first mile.

And if the crowd costs you a few second on the bridge, that just may save you more than it cost toward the end - since so many run the bridge too fast. That downhill second mile especially.

I've cancelled for the third time in four years due to injury.

Will try again next year when I will be 50.

My chances of a NYC course P.R. are drifting away as I ran 2:41:14 in 1976!

Sub three for 2008.

ladygriz wrote:

Does anyone know where the F200 orange range is at the start? First time running NYC...goal time is 2:46

You will definitely be at the front of the first women's corral, and may even qualify for a sub-elite start (don't know if they're doing that this year...have you checked?).

Once they walk you up, the view from the bridge is amazing. You should be able to watch as the elite women zoom by on the other side of the median. Oh, and if you're prone to excessive nerve- or hydration-induced pre-race peeing, and you're not too terribly modest, the women's start lets you do like the guys and relieve yourself there on the bridge. It's a little gross (watch your feet!), but effective.

Good luck!!

Sub-Elite:

Sub-Elite Program

Building on a sub-elite initiative that began in 2004, the ING New York City Marathon 2007 is offering an enhanced start experience for the most competitive non-professional entrants. The program is open to men who plan to run between 2:20 and 2:35 and women in the 2:55-3:05 range. Included are: dedicated transportation to the start, a special staging area, a clear starting position at the front of the orange start, and a dedicated baggage/reunion area at the finish. Any interested, eligible runners should email Jonni Lord at:

jlord@nyrr.org

.

Either way, note that on Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, you'll be on the west side and there will be lots of men on the east side, so it'll be a bit lonely until the merge at mile 8.

I was planning to run w/ my buddy. He got 600-something in the blue corral. I'm 1187 in the green corral. I know you can move back corrals to start with a friend, but can you also switch colors? Will he be able to start with me, so we can run togegther??

Thanks,

Scott

I've been thinking of trying to go out in around 1:24 and hopefully negative split it. Does this sound reasonable to those experienced on the course??

For me. No. Others here will offer different opinions but it is extremely hard to neg. split NYC.

It is much like Boston in this way, although the occurence of the hills is quite different- but the net effect is that the topography of the course makes it extremely difficult to negative split, even for the most disciplined runners. Adding to the complications are the psychological effects of the mass of cheering people on First Avenue- immediately after you have just flown down the QueensBoro Bridge and hit mile 16. You have just run one of your fastest splits, and the crowds give you no reason to slow down. Worse, the crowds thin out to almost nothing right at mile 19, just before you begin the climb up the bridge to mile 20 in the Bronx, and when the legs are beginning to protest continued effort. The bridge into the Bronx begins a series of up and downs which go on all the way to the end. They are briefly interrupted by the relative flat of 5th Avenue in Harlem (miles 21 to 23) but the series of hills which end the race begin with a vengance as you start mile 23, and of course, the damned race ends on an up.

I am playing this up a bit. But the results of many other runners makes positive splitting NYC by far the rule, and I would just say save yourself for the end. If 2:45 is your goal, then 1:20/1:25 is a much more likely result than 1:24/1:21. If you want a better plan, even splitting may a be the most reasonable goal, but expect to slow up a bit (1:22/1:23).

This is all great info. I am a first timer (for NY) hoping for 2:45-2:50. This will be my 10th marathon...I suppose I get to call myself a marathoner now. I have always had a habit of negative splitting (including Boston in the Nor'easter) so hope to do the same by 1-2 minutes.

Anyone else have advice?

I think i remember alot of people saying that the second half is technically faster (i could be wrong about that) but from what i remember the second half seemed much tougher. I don't remember the bridges seeming too bad, but i remember 5th ave leading into the park as being tough and i remember it being tough inside of central park. I'm looking to run sub 2:40, but i'm going to plan on running a small positive just to be safe.

310 blue corral...can't wait...getting jittery..:) Long term outlook has temps looking pretty normal. Low in the 40s, high in the 50s

Alan

Runningart,

What are you looking to run up there?

Go here and research your favorite runner:http://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/start.cgi/mar-programs/archive/archive_search.html

Positives:

2:10:28 1:04:26 4:58 Abdelkhader El Mouaziz 1999 (4th place)

2:10:09 1:03:08 4:58 Abdelkhader El Mouaziz 2000 (he won that year by over 2 minutes)

2:08:07 1:03:49 4:53 Rodgers Rop 2002 (won)

2:11:11 1:05:39 5:00 Rodgers Rop 2003 (2nd)

2:23:10 1:10:51 5:27 Paula Radcliffe 2004 (won)

2:23:13 1:10:52 5:27 Susan Chepkemei (right behind Paula)

2:09:28 1:04:17 4:56 Hendrik Ramaala 2004

A few winners have been even or slightly negative:

2:07:42 1:03:52 4:52 Tesfaey Jifar 2001

2:09:30 1:04:57 4:56 Paul Tergat 2005

2:09:58 1:05:36 4:57 Marilson Dos Santos 2006

2:24:41 1:13:02 5:31 Jelena Prokopcuka 2005

2:25:05 1:13:52 5:32 Jelena Prokopcuka 2006 (WOW what a neg. split)

But it's much different for the top guys running for the win- they have the adrenaline to push into a negative split. Positive splitting is by far the rule at NYC.

Best advice you can get for this race is to get on the bridge early and with the people running your pace. Couple years ago I was in 2:40 shape, couldn't make it past the 8 & 9 minute milers. spent the rest of the day trying to make it up then burnt up in the park. The people in the park will bark at you if you walk...

Best case scenerio would be sub 2:30, maybe 2:28. About 90% of my training might as well have an asterisk attached to it giving the weather detail. I've run workouts just as good or better than last year at this time, but the effort has been increased because of the high temps. Have run more and better long runs this time around. Was ready to go under 2:30 at Chicago last year, but needed near perfect conditions to do it...we had a lot of wind that day so I ended up with a 2:32:45 PR with my best 2nd half split ever (1:15:00/1:17:45).

So...going for at least a PR with a possible assault on 2:28. Depends on how well I handle the course and where the wind is coming from. Should be fun.

Alan

Anyone here get their official sub-elite invite/information yet?

hey alan,

are you startting in the sub-elite corral? if so, there will be a few of us from the boston area (2 representing greater boston track club and 2 from the BAA, including me) that will be looking to run sub 2:30. we could have a nice pack. let me know if you are interested and we can try and meet up prior.

ian