Training has been steady throughout the year, so I like to think I will get through it as long as I stay injury free. How long I take will be another matter.
Of all the big city marathons New York is known to be a little hillier than others as the route goes over various bridges around the East River and Harlem River, and the last three miles through Central Park are also undulating.
This will be my first time in New York - in fact my first time in the United States. So I don't know what to expect, and I don't really want to overstretch myself given that I also want to have a bit of energy to visit the city.
Earlier this year I ran the Paris marathon. That was fun but I did a pace just to get round, stopping to take photos and do social media. Injury had meant I'd only had two months to prepare for it, and for me the importance was to be able to continue running after the event without needing to take a long break or rehabilitation afterwards.
So my training for New York has been a steady build-up since May. I like to think I am on track, since I have got up to 18 miles, and then in a couple of weeks I will start my tapering.
It is a little strange to say that I am only just going to New York, given that I have been on earth for over 50 years and have visited other places like Cuba, North Africa, and on two occasions South America. But yet I have never been to North America. I don't know the reason why, but there is probably a subconscious reason for not having gone there sooner and in a way that makes me slightly apprehensive about my forthcoming visit.
I am hoping to do some cycling over there and maybe even do some cyclocross racing. I also plan to hire a car and visit an area called the Catskills, in the mountains if possible. That area looks quite pretty.
The thing that has bothered me though, is the architecture of some of the hotels just looks quite ugly and characterless, and that has made it difficult for me to choose accommodation. Furthermore, when looking at Google maps to check out an area where I hope to stay I feel quite concerned at how many fast food places there are nearby. It is seriously tempting to take a supply of my own healthy food and portable cooking facilities just to be sure I eat correctly while there! Maybe I am over-reacting, but I think it is this fear of being in an unrefined, sterile place that bothers me.
Enough of me putting a downer on my own trip! I am looking forward to running the New York City marathon and I have heard that atmosphere there is even crazier than what you get in London. So I am definitely looking forward to that aspect. As for the rest, I will take things in my stride literally - and be just content to say I got the T-shirt from New York.
Related posts
Another day another run - at South Norwood Lake
Marathon preparation running on Farthing Down
So how is my Paris marathon training going?
No comments:
Post a Comment