Running and Sketching – the New York City Marathon

[By Veronica Lawlor in New York City, USA] Several weeks ago in early November, I ran the New York City Marathon to raise funds for Gilda’s Club, an organization that provides FREE cancer support for cancer patients and their families. I ran in honor of my beautiful sister Patty, who lost her fight with breast cancer in 2014. Gilda’s is a tremendous organization, you can read more HERE.

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It seemed appropriate to run a marathon in Patty’s honor, as she was a runner her whole life. I did my training and got myself ready for the big day…and couldn’t resist sneaking a tiny sketchbook into my fanny pack to document this event. The marathon runs through all five boroughs of New York City: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, where the race begins.

I arrived at the starting area in Staten Island with my friends Andrew, Tony and Frank, who’d also signed up to run. There were lots of people milling around, getting ready for the start of the race.

The star athletes were there too, and WOW do they have long lean muscular legs! I am not exaggerating the length of this man’s legs in the slightest.  

Everyone wears extra layers of clothing while waiting for the race to start, and leaves them on the ground once the race begins. All the clothes are donated to charity from there.

Some fanfare, helicopters, the Star Spangled Banner, a cannon fired, and we’re OFF!

As we crossed the Verazzano bridge and landed on the other side, people were yelling “BROOKLYNNNN! WELCOME TO BROOKLYNNN!” Quite a welcome indeed! People are cheering you on every step of the way; there were also musicians, drummers, and church choirs. Musical energy helps the runners along.

We ran through Brooklyn, into Queens, and over the 59th St. bridge to Manhattan. It was a beautiful morning and the views were spectacular!

The 59th St. bridge was quiet – no spectators – but our friend Andrew played the song “New York New York” on his iPhone. Very appropriate! As we got closer to the Manhattan side of the bridge, we could hear the dull roar of the crowd…

WOW – the crowds on First Avenue were AMAZING!!! People were four deep standing on either side, with signs and slogans – cheering and giving us so much energy to get uptown! 

The clouds were gorgeous, white and billowy, as we ran over the Third Avenue bridge into the Bronx. The Bronx is one of the shortest parts of the marathon, but it’s where you hit the crucial spot – 20 miles. That’s where everyone says you will “hit the wall.” I didn’t know it, but “the wall” was about to arrive for me, too. 

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As we entered back into upper Manhattan, around mile 22, I suddenly felt a wave of pain hit me EVERYWHERE at once – “Ow!” I yelled, “what the heck was that?”

“You just hit THE WALL,” said my friend Andrew. So now I know what it’s like! After that, my right leg was starting to feel weak, and I switched into a slow trot to continue. There was no way I was not going to cross that finish line! My vision got very small, just looking at my two feet moving on the street – trying to avoid manhole covers, and going up and down the hills of upper Manhattan and into Central Park. Andrew kept telling me that every hill was the last one – thanks Andrew, kept giving me hope! Ha ha.

Even at this tough stage, the whole experience was still super exciting, and, since I’d helpfully written my name on my shirt, complete strangers were saying, “you GOT THIS Veronica!” as I moved along with Andrew and Tony. Our other teammate Frank had decided to sprint the last two miles…we laughed and wished him well! (And caught up with him at the finish line later.)

And then, there it was – the marker for MILE 26! Woo hoo – only .2 miles to go – and ONE MORE HILL! We can do it….

I crossed the finish line, very, very happy, and a little bit dazed. A kindly volunteer said, “Come here!” as she wrapped me in a plastic poncho, handed me a bag with some fruit and other goodies in it, and put a medal over my head. I didn’t know you get a medal! Nice.

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What an experience! Considering that as of late June I’d never run more than a 1/2 mile; I never, ever, expected to run a marathon. I was thinking of my sister Patty so much during the race, how she always put her best foot forward in life, not just when running marathons but in everything she did. And how much she loved to laugh – she would have loved how much the four of us were laughing as we ran the 26.2 miles together – laughing together was what Patty and I did best. I’m so glad that I was able to raise $5000 for Gilda’s Club, in honor of her. That’s a good feeling. Thank you so much to everyone who donated.

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New York City is amazing place – still can’t believe how many people came out to cheer the runners on! Thanks NYC!