Here’s what the New York City Marathon looks like from last place. Very last place. Very, very last place. It was 5+ hours into the race, and we were still here in Greenpoint Brooklyn, not even at the half-way point. Me, and 3 very plucky, cheerful, amazing, tiny Japanese women. We spent the next 5 hours and 19 miles on the sidewalk.
The city streets had been re-opened to traffic, and life in NYC resumed. No water tables, no crowds, no support. All the mile markers were removed. We got some disbelieving stares and a few thumbs-up by people surprised to see us still out on the course. We went into bodgeas and bought bottles of Poland Spring. Long Island City was desolate. It got dark and very lonely on First Avenue in the 90s. NYPD wouldn’t let us cross into the Bronx, so we needed to figure out how to make up lost mileage and headed across 125th street past takeout chicken places, laundromats and people out and about who cheered us on, making us feel unbelievably good. I love New York.
Central Park was dreamlike. It was dark, the race and crowds long gone. 2 volunteers manned the finish line. Surprised to see us, they showered us with hugs, blankets, and finishers medals. I’m proud to say we were the last ones in, and the strongest. You can keep your 5-hour marathon time. We had twice as much fun. Miyoko Tanaka and our Achilles team finished in 10 hours and 5 minutes. I’d do it again in a second.
-submitted by Alan K.
