It finally happened...I finally ran the New York City Marathon on November 7, 2021. Of course, because of COVID, this was a longer journey than expected. I registered with my charity in February 2020 to run the 50th NYC Marathon. I ran my first marathon in Akron in 2019 and that was an amazingly special accomplishment for a variety of reasons...but to run NYC, on its 50th anniversary, after a year postponement, was an incredible privilege!
I decided to run this race in honor and memory of friends and family affected by Cancer. I found a worthy charity partner in the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation to support. The SWCRF is focused on getting to the bottom of why normal cells in our body go bad and become cancerous so they can develop treatments that stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Shelly and I also did the Abbott Dash to the Finish 5k on Saturday morning, which I used as a shake-out run before the marathon and Shelly got to be a part of the race weekend. The run went through midtown Manhattan and finished in Central Park. It was a beautiful morning and a great way to start the weekend!
We managed to meet up with a Facebook Group called “Runar’s Runners” in Central Park and then down to the Javits Center for bib pickup and the expo. Saturday evening we had dinner on the Upper East Side with Sue and Helen from Samuel Waxman and the other member of the Team Waxam runners, Waldemar Sirko. The bowls of pasta were overflowing and I got plenty of carbohydrates stored up for the race.
I woke up at 4:45 on race morning without much sleep, but it didn’t matter, this was the day I have been training and anticipating for so long and I was ready! It didn’t take me long to get dressed, and I was out the door and on the subway heading to the Staten Island Ferry in short time. The ride was quiet and full of runners...probably in disbelief that it was actually happening...at least, that’s what I was thinking. We quickly made it onto the 6:15 ferry, where NYRR volunteers greeted us with enthusiasm. The morning air was clear and crisp, so I stood outside most of the ride, taking it all in and watching lower Manhattan sparkle in the twilight and the Statue of Liberty come into view as we crossed the bay to Staten Island. Busses took us over to Fort Wadsworth where I tried to stay warm as I absorbed the excitement of the moment and cheered on the pros and the first and second waves of runners. Time went quickly and before I knew it, it was time for my wave to enter the corral.
The cannon sounded, Frank Sinatra was singing, and the race had begun! Two miles across the quiet Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and then came roaring Brooklyn. The crowd support was even more than I could’ve imagined and the running was fast and easy. Here I was, a guy from Ohio and it seemed like all of Brooklyn was shouting ROBBIE! It pays to put your name on your shirt! It felt so good to see friends at mile 6 and then Shelly at mile 9. Before I knew it, I was in Queens and then the dreaded Queensboro Bridge. People warn you about the bridge because it has a tough incline (at least for mile 15) and there are no spectators. This bridge did get to me. I got my first leg cramp running up it and what was probably a small hill seemed to last forever. Runners actually cheered when we finally started our way back down!
On the other side came 1st Ave and I got another shot of energy. This section felt like a party with thousands of spectators and music for a mile. I also saw the Samuel Waxman folks and Shelly and her crew again. Pretty soon I was headed over the Willis Ave Bridge and on into the Bronx. Things were rough in the Bronx with my legs. It felt like every single muscle in both legs had tightened up and it was difficult to walk, much less run. I had to stop and stretch a few times and eventually willed myself back over the famous “Last Damn Bridge” and back into Manhattan.
With 5k left to go, I was back into a rhythm...slow, as it was. I had finally reached Central Park and the crowds were closing tightly in on the course. They were loud and supportive...exactly what I needed to get to the finish. I made the turn at Columbus Circle and saw the signs...800m, 400m, 200m...FINISH! For the first time ever in a race, I didn’t have it in me to sprint to the end, but that’s okay because today, I completed the New York City Marathon!
2021 TCS New York City Marathon
November 7, 2021
Robert Vaughn
04:44:52