Dear Ernest,
Thanks for your letter. I appreciate the effort you have made to find me and am flattered that you consider my story worthwhile. To follow is the email that I sent to a few friend’s post-marathon followed by my current status:
To follow are the details of this past weekend. First the score:
November 5 – The New York City Marathon – 2:58:35
The “Tale of the Watch”
| Each 5 Average Total Average |
| Distance Mile Split Per Mile Time per Mile |
| 5 Miles 31:48 6:21 |
| 10 Miles 31:56 6:23 1:03:43 6:22 |
| 13.1 Miles 1:24:17 6:26 |
| 15 Miles 33:48 6:45 1:37:31 6:30 |
| 20 Miles 35:08 7:02 2:12:39 6:38 |
| 25 Miles 37:53 7:34 2:50:32 6:49 |
| 26.2 (1.2) (8:02) 6:56 2:58:35 6:49 |
1st half – 1:24:17 / 6:26 per mile
2nd half – 1:34:18 / 7:12 per mile!
THE STORY
Prologue
After suffering from right hamstring, right groin and right backside problems in a 10-mile race five weeks ago, my training was curtailed. My heating pad went everywhere with me, and I was never more delighted to drive a car with a heated seat. However, with, a ½ marathon and 10-mile races in early October plus two 20-mile training runs, I still planned to get through comfortably with no damage to my Achilles tendons.
Race Day
Up at 5:30 with John MacSween and off to the buses at the library. Joining a cast of 33,000 entrants we looped around and around like sheep in lines until boarding. The bus ride to the Fort seemed to take longer than the race. At the Fort there were horrendous lines for the Port-A-Potty’s.
Having been given # 114 as a result of long-past glories, I was assured a good start position. However, during my last (!) visit to the Potty, they let huge numbers into my start area and eventually I ended up about fifty meters behind the start banner. No warm-up other than shedding clothing and tossing it aside in the final minutes. The sun was out. It was cold and very windy.
0 – 5 Miles
Eventually, the Howitzer went off and we surged (!) forward. The times above are the “net times” of when I actually started the race – crossing the start line some 21 seconds after the Howitzer went off. It became a comedy of errors trying to run the first mile uphill onto the Verrazano bridge zigzagging around people who should never have been close to the start. At the top of the bridge, the wind was blowing people sideways. It was about at 1 ½ miles that I finally passed the Fat-Guy in the Moose Suit – more details when I chat with you all!!! Onto the flat roads after the bridge, I discarded my gloves at 2 ½ miles and settled into a rhythm.
5 –10 Miles
Miles 3 – 14 were into a headwind. The day is now overcast and would remain so. Shortly after mile 7, my left upper groin area began to ache with discomfort. I was concerned that I had pulled something with the broken-field running through and around people on the bridge. Ten miles passed and I was exactly where I hoped to be time wise, but mentally stressing about the increasing discomfort in my leg.
½ Marathon
Over the Pulaski Bridge (Bridge #2), the timing device on the road electronically measuring and recording each of us hummed louder than an Aerosmith concert. One could hear the timing devices from over a hundred meters way. Each runner had a “Chip” attached to his or her laces to record their start/finish and several split times.
10 – 15 Miles
The fifteenth mile is in the middle of the one mile long climb up the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge (Bridge #3)
15 – 20 Miles
This should have been fun as you come off the bridge to a 180 degree turn and then a 90 degree turn onto 1st Avenue and the large crowds. However, we were now entering the 4 mile stretch up 1st Avenue directly into a cold headwind. The temperature with the wind-chill was in the mid 30’sF!! Ann, somewhere on the roadside at 16 or so miles, found me easily as she said I was running completely alone with no other runners close by! Shortly after 17 miles, the right upper groin began to ache making each stride somewhat uncomfortable. During this stretch I began to recognize the back of people’s singlets, who I had passed in the first five miles and who were now moving past me. Just before 20 miles we cross the Willis Avenue Bridge (Bridge # 4). Off the bridge is a left-hand turn and I noticed that the outside of my left knee was beginning to ache as my iliotibial band become sore. Beginning to shuffle instead of running…
20 – 25 Miles
After crossing the Madison Avenue Bridge (Bridge #5), there are a series of turns through Harlem that had each side of my groin talking to my left knee, but the miles continued to pass. Onto 5th Avenue, we headed towards Central Park. A cruel injustice to this course is the sneaky 150 metre climb from 5th into the park, followed by a series of rolling hills to the 25 Mile mark. As I slowed significantly in the park (for the statisticians, see the above splits), the thought of running under three hours was slipping away. However, the clock at 25 miles, although further along than my watch because of the gun/net time situation, gave me hope.
25 Miles to the Finish
Swinging out of the park and onto Central Park South by the Plaza hotel, trying desperately to surge, I began picking off dozens of runners on the long climb to Columbus Circle and the entrance back into the park. This last section from the 25 Mile mark to the Finish was a blur as runners slid behind me all the way. Entering the Park and past the 26 Mile mark, there is yet another cruel climb all the way to the Finish. Under the banner and stopping the watch at 2:58:35.
The Finish
– Thrilled to get through.
– Pleased to have finished with a 2 at the front of my time.
– Disappointed with a Personal Worst (but to be expected);
– Disappointed with the groin and knee problems.
– Delighted to have come through with sound Achilles tendons.
– Delighted to have fought hard.
Thanks to all who knew I was going for the support and encouragement. Out of touch traveling for a few days. Hope to chat with you all soon.
– Bruce.
Between 1970 and the end of 2000, I have run over 96,500 miles. Throughout this period, I have had thirteen leg operation – nine on my achilles tendons – plus numerous stress fractures and assorted injuries all the result of pushing well beyond the normal limits.
Since the New York Marathon, I have yet to run a step. The groin/hip flexors on both legs, that severely diminished my New York performance, continue to plague me with discomfort. Ultrasound and stretching continue to be part of my daily routine. However, I remain truly optimistic that the year 2001 will be a sensational year for running.
Ernest, please email me back should you require further information. Thanks for your interest. Happy New Year!
Best Regards,
Bruce
Reflections on Running & Life 