Destination: NYC

So I arrived here and I'm doing homework at Lats' parents' house (were those apostrophes grammatically correct???). I did not feel like lugging around my two carry-ons in the City; mind you, I did an unprecedented- I packed light, but dem johns were still heavy!

The weather is surprisingly warm and I'm kicking myself for wearing so much winter gear. I loved the last leg of our red-eye flight- namely for the sweet seats behind Business Class, which had so much leg pitch it was ridiculous. I hope we can snag the same seats on the way back home. edit**** I LOVE the fall weather here! I miss the seasonal leaf changes and the brisk, cool air against the unabated greenery. The intrinsic 'history' of the East Coast you feel immediately after not being here for a while is definitely reticent in the vibes emitted off of the indigenous flora, fauna, & folk.

In light of NYC ING Marathon taking place this Sunday here in the City, I'm leaving you with this article regarding the history of this marathon (which I hope to be running next year!) and some reader questions:

edit***Apply here for the lottery into the 2010 NYC Marathon next year: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/apply.htm
. I believe the lottery registration opens after Nov. 2nd of this year.

October 19, 2009
Talk to The Times: New York City Marathon

Liz Robbins, reporter, is answering questions from readers, Oct. 26-30, 2009, about the New York City marathon, in Talk to The Times. Questions may be e-mailed to askthetimes@nytimes.com.

Most recent answer: click here.

Ms. Robbins has been a reporter for The New York Times since 2000, covering the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, the N.B.A., the New York City marathon, the Olympics and the U.S. Open. She is now a reporter on the continuous news desk at The Times (covering breaking news for nytimes.com), and still writes for the Times sports section and the Well blog.

Her book, “A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York” (HarperCollins), chronicles New York’s famed marathon, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary race this Sunday. Fascinated by what drives people to run and to win — from high school to the world stage —Robbins was drawn to the spectacle of the marathon, its lasting stories of hope, pain and perseverance.

Having played on courts and fields most of her life, she credits the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies for igniting her love of sports.

Other Times staff members have answered questions in this column, including Executive Editor Bill Keller, Managing Editor Jill Abramson, Managing Editor John Geddes, Deputy Managing Editor Jonathan Landman, Assistant Managing Editor Glenn Kramon, Obituaries Editor Bill McDonald, National Editor Suzanne Daley, Living Editor Trish Hall, Entertainment Editor Lorne Manly and N.B.A. reporter Jonathan Abrams. Their responses and those of other Times editors, reporters, columnists and executives are on the Talk to The Times page.

These discussions will continue in future weeks with other members of the Times staff.

The Best Places for Spectators

Q. Where are the good places/neighborhoods (not super crowded, not super hard to get to) to tell my friends and family to watch the race? Do those places even exist?

— Jocelin Shalom
A. The most popular and boisterous fan experience is on First Avenue in Manhattan, after the Queensboro Bridge. From 59th Street to about 90th street, you can contribute to the roaring canyon of sound and spur an unsuspecting runner into a dead sprint.

There are barricades, though, and sometimes the crowds can be six or eight deep. If you are running the race, you won’t need your family and friends at this point — but you definitely will need them farther ahead on First Avenue. Past 100th Street or so, when the pandemonium dies down, the sidewalks open up, making it easier to spot sign-holding fans. And that’s where a well-placed friend or relative can offer food, drink, warm shirts, new socks and emotional support. Take the No. 6 subway.

Of course it depends where your friends and relatives live, and what’s convenient to them. Brooklyn hosts 10 miles of the race, and is a continuous party. This year, the race will go by McCarren Park (a great place to run a few laps on the track). I love Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint, if not for its 1950s feel of shops and streetlights, then for its steamy blintzes in the Polish section of the block. Harlem is rocking off the Madison Avenue Bridge and the brownstones around Marcus Garvey Park. And runners straggling in the final miles on the deceivingly hilly stretch of Fifth Avenue always appreciate the encouragement.

If you stand on the west side of the street on First Avenue, you can walk to Fifth. Keep in mind, crossing First Avenue is highly difficult on Marathon Sunday.

Check out the spectator guide on the New York Road Runners Web site for subway maps and more information.

What If I Miss the Boat?

Q. I am scheduled on the 6 a.m. ferry to Staten Island. And I am slotted for the 9:40 a.m. start in corral D. My question is if I miss the 6 a.m. ferry, what is the latest time that I can catch while still comfortably (not frantically running/pushing to get into the start corral) making it to my start corral. Also, do the race officials enforce the ferry assignments? In which case what is penalty for missing your assigned ferry time — the inability to run in the marathon?

— Nicholas Karellas
A. Hello Nicholas: Now, why would you ever dream of missing the 6 a.m. ferry? Don’t you set three alarms?

Thank you for your very precise question. I will answer this one, but for all readers wondering about their own transportation or other issues regarding their individual marathon experience in Sunday’s race, please send your questions to the New York Road Runners. They have people especially waiting to take your e-mails at marathonmailer@nyrr.org and respond to them. Also, there will be plenty of people at the Marathon Expo, which starts Thursday at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, to answer questions as well.

If you miss the 6 a.m. — which I do not recommend because it's simply not worth the angst — you can likely go on the following ferry (people do line up early). The problem you will encounter, though, is in Staten Island, where shuttle buses are waiting to take you from the ferry terminal to Fort Wadsworth’s start village. That is where your reservation counts. If you miss the 6 a.m. ferry and take the next one, in Staten Island, you will likely have to go near the back of the line for the shuttle bus, behind the people who have made it to their time slots.

Yes, this is a complicated procedure. I call it a “mass evacuation” to Staten Island. But for all the griping and the standing around in the cold, the experience of starting your marathon by running over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, feeling it move beneath your feet and seeing the breathtaking and unparalleled views of New York Harbor and the island of Manhattan, makes it all worthwhile.

Is New York Really the Best?

Q. How has the NYC Marathon established itself as the ‘best’ marathon to run in? Many sports commentators and writers pick New York as the Marathon to run – it’s not the fastest, it’s not the most prestigious, but everyone seems to want to run it? PS I ran New York in 2007 wearing a Phillies hat— even through Queens and got a bit of respect!

— Michael Rowbotham
A. Michael, the New York City Marathon is not the most prestigious -- in terms of tradition. That goes to Boston, running since 1897.

It’s not the fastest — Berlin (home to Haile Gebrselassie’s 2:03:59), London and Chicago take that mantle among the world marathon majors.

But what makes New York unique, and for most runners, so memorable, is the chance to be part of a grand spectacle. More than 40,000 spectators run through New York’s vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods in all five boroughs, crossing over five bridges beneath the backdrop of skyscrapers and expansive avenues, cheered virtually the entire way by 2 million fans. A 26.2-mile standing ovation, as more than a few runners have described it. Bands, bagpipers, accordion players and church choirs serenade marathoners throughout the course. And participants get to experience the melting pot that is typical New York, as about 51 percent of the field comes from outside the United States (118 countries).

All the pageantry aside, New York’s marathon is an incredibly challenging course. The hills on the bridges and those in and around Central Park demand smart tactics and strong legs. Crowds can at times be frustrating, as can be the long wait at the start. New York tests runners, so when they do cross that finish line, they feel that much more triumphant.

Finally, I must commend you on your daring choice of lids. Even Mets fans would agree: “Ya Gotta Believe.”

Making the Printed List

Q. I had been training to come in under 5 hours so that I could get my name in The Times. Then, yesterday, I noticed that the paper changed the cut-off time to 4.5 hours. I probably won't make it, and I'm pretty disappointed. Why the decision to change?

— Jason R. Goldstein
A. Talk about motivation! Here’s the good news: Your name has just appeared in The Times.

More runners than ever — an estimated 3,000 more — are expected to finish the 2009 New York City Marathon in less than five hours, which brings new meaning to “all the news that’s fit to print.” The New York Road Runners estimates that more than 40,000 people will start the race, and there's a good chance that the number will be more than 42,000, depending on weather and about 300 other factors.

The special section that The New York Times publishes the day after the race is about 22 pages long. Of that, 5 1/2 pages are advertising, 4 1/2 pages are for articles, photos and graphics about the race, and 12 pages are set aside for the list of finishers' names.

In 2008, those 12 pages were able to fit in the names of 29,979 finishers, from the winners down to the 38-year-old male runner J. Bunce, who finished at 5 hours and 43 seconds. Based on the expected number of runners and their estimated finishing times this year, though, the 12 pages of space we have will probably only accommodate finishers down to about 4 1/2 hours.

Enjoy the race. You’re not going to win, but consider finishing your victory.

Deaths in Marathons

Q. How many people have died after running the marathon? I knew a man who died, Matt Hardy, but it was in his home a few hours after it was over. Would you have counted him in this number?

— W. Steven Ward
A. Several readers have asked about running deaths, which has been a hot topic over the last couple of weeks, if not the last couple of years. The quick answer is that recent studies have shown that marathon deaths in this country occur at an approximate rate of 1 in 100,000. The most recent study, out of the American College of Cardiology, put the rate slightly lower, at 0.8 deaths in 100,000. Tara Parker-Pope got into this in a post on the Well blog last week, “Are Marathons Safe?”

In the 2008 New York City marathon, three men died from participating in the race. One had a heart attack around Mile 22 and was hospitalized, but died 11 days later. At the time, the Fire Department reported that at least two other runners had heart attacks on the course and could not be revived.

The man you knew -- Matthew P. Hardy, 50 -- died at his home three hours after completing his 12th New York City Marathon in 2007. An autopsy confirmed that he had a coronary artery blockage. But the New York Road Runners do not count his death as a marathon fatality; the club counts only runners who seek or receive medical attention during the official period of the race.

That same weekend in 2007, at the men’s Olympic Trials held in Central Park the day before the five-borough race, a 28-year-old elite runner, Ryan Shay, had a heart attack at Mile 5. An autopsy found that he had had an enlarged heart with patchy scars that suggested previous damage, and that his death occurred after his heart started beating in an irregular rhythm.

Before 2007, no participant in the New York City Marathon had died since 1994, when two runners, both French-born, suffered heart attacks after crossing the finish line.

More people are running marathons in this country than ever before: participation surged to about 425,000 in 2008 from 340,000 in 1999. Newcomers to the sport would obviously be more likely than seasoned marathoners to have an undetected medical condition that could pose dangers for a long-distance runner, so an influx of newcomers probably means the odds of deaths during marathons are rising. With 425,000 participants, a rate of 1 in 100,000 deaths would translate to about four deaths a year in American marathons, on average.

Race medical directors emphasize that all runners should be checked by their physicians prior to training for a marathon, and it’s a good idea to stay in touch with the doctor before running the race. A runner who feels any kind of chest pain should report it to a doctor right away.

Running is good exercise that can save lives and offer many other benefits, but like any strenuous activity, it will always involve some risk.

Another reader (who wished to remain anonymous) expressed concerns that drinking water — either too much or too little — can lead to deaths in marathons. Most marathoners should be aware of the needs of their bodies, having trained under guidance (from a plan or with a team) over a period of months. “Drink to thirst” is the recommendation from the International Marathon Medical Directors Association, but everyone has his or her own specific needs. Medical aid captains along the race route are quick to look for signs of hyponatremia (drinking too much) and dehydration (drinking too little) in runners. There is more about staying hydrated on long runs in this post on the Well blog.

Just-in-Time Spectating

Q. What time will the leaders reach 82nd Street and First Avenue?

— Martha Cox Popichak
A. I gather you would like a precise time that you should put down your bagel and lox and head downstairs?

I will do my best, based on course record times, the speed of the runners and wheelchair racers who are entered, factoring in the weather forecast and how everyone slept the night before, to estimate just when the top athletes will come through your corner, five blocks after Mile Marker 17.

Here’s how you should plan your morning on the Upper East Side: The professional (push-rim) wheelchair racers start in Staten Island at 8:20 a.m., so that means the men ought to come by your corner around 9:15, and the women wheelers about 10 minutes later.

The professional women runners start in Staten Island at 9:10 a.m. Paula Radcliffe loves to run out in front, and very few can stay with the fierce pace she sets. She ought to burst past Mile 17, her head bobbing, her necklace swaying along with her blond pony-tail, with about 1 hour and 34 minutes on the race clock — providing she is on the course-record pace. But she has already declared that she thinks she can break the course record, and with route changes this year that straighten out some sections, that might happen. So get downstairs even earlier than 10:40 a.m.

The elite men start a half-hour behind the women, at 9:40 a.m. The men’s leaders are a little harder to predict, but look for these top runners to be among them: Ryan Hall, Martin Lel, Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Hendrick Ramaala (who loves to sprint your section of the course, baiting other runners), Meb Keflezighi and James Kwambai. Again, with course changes making for slightly faster times than before, the elite men should rush by your corner about 11 a.m.

Friends and Bandits

Q. If I wanted a friend to run with me to help make it through the toughest stretch — say miles 18-23 — is there a New York City Marathon protocol for that?

— Tim Bacom
Q. My friend is running on Sunday and many of us will be there to cheer him on. This is the first marathon I will attend, and I am unsure of the ground rules. Are there any penalties (to him or to me) for running in the street next to him, or pouring water on him, as he goes by our viewing point?

— Mike Wilbert
A. Mike, There are no “penalties” unless you count loss of your friendship if you pour water on your runner! Since it’s not supposed to be a hot day, your friend might not appreciate such an impromptu shower which will leave him wet and cold a few miles down the race.

Race organizers do not let people who have not registered, and are not wearing a bib or a timing device on their shoe run on the course. This is as much for safety as it is for fair play. Imagine if everyone had an escort, the streets would be burgeoning with 80,000 people, not 40,000.

The New York Road Runners has a volunteer group called “bandit chasers” and they systematically remove unauthorized people from the course. The bandit chasers have a zero tolerance policy near Columbus Circle, right before the finish line. A colorfully dressed older man (not registered) pushing a poodle in a baby carriage on Central Park South was the most memorable bandit yanked off the course in recent years.

That said, I do know of people who have jumped in and run later portions of the race with their friends, especially if the runners are injured or struggling. But it is not officially allowed.

And Tim, as for those tough 18 to 23 miles from upper Manhattan, through the Bronx and back to Manhattan, yes, it would be wonderful to have an escort. But don’t you want to say that you did it all on your own?

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Q. Can you please offer tips for running the marathon in the rain, just in case the clouds open up. Suggestions for clothing, gear, ponchos, jackets, preparing for it or ignoring it would be helpful.

— Nancy Herrmann
A. Hi Nancy, How many times have you hit the refresh button on weather.com today? How many different forecasts have you consulted?

If you are like every other runner in the race — and more than a few readers with rain-related questions — then you are highly anxious about the ever-changing weather forecast. As of this post, the Weather Channel says “few showers,” 30 percent chance of precipitation. That’s a 70 percent chance it won’t rain!

Remember, you should always do what has worked for you best in training. If you live in New York City and ran the marathon tuneup on Sept. 27 in the pouring rain, you’re ready.

I consulted a coach for the charity group Fred’s Team, Jeff Rochford, who was very adamant that runners should NOT wear plastic bags, ponchos or any other non-breathable jackets during the race. You’re going to get wet. You will not melt. Mr. Rochford says just wear your regular long-sleeved wicking shirt. Do not wear anything you have never worn before during training.

He recommends bringing plastic garbage bags to sit on for the long wait at Staten Island, and wrap your sneakers in plastic bags, too, to keep them dry before you run. Remember, of course, to discard the bags when the race starts.

Most important, though, try to have a friend or a relative somewhere on the course with a fresh change of shirts, socks, and even shoes. Running in water-logged shoes will drag you down, could cause blisters, and other complications.

Finally, there is not a darn thing you can do to change the weather. Roll with it and think of the stories you will be able to tell!

By the way, it has not rained for the New York City Marathon since 1997.

Wait Till Next Year

Q. I am a transplanted New Yorker living out of state. How can I sign up for next year's race (I am, of course, assuming that it is too late for this year). I have heard the rules are changing — besides the information on the Web site has always been a bit cryptic.

— David Squeri, Honolulu
A. You assume correctly, David. You are a wee bit too late for this year.

The New York Road Runners is opening lottery registration the day after this year’s race (Nov. 2) on its Web site. Here is the page on the Road Runners' site explaining how to enter the 2010 race.

You would have had to have run nine races as a member of the Road Runners and volunteer for a 10th during the calendar year of 2009 to qualify for the 2010 marathon. That’s not exactly realistic considering your location.

You might still be able to qualify by your time.

Or you can sign up with a charity running team.

Good luck!

Measuring 26.2 Miles and Beyond

Q. Do you know how they measure the course distance? Is it down the middle of the street or is it the shortest path, in other words from the turns?

— Jay Warshaw
A. Hi Jay, To certify the New York City marathon course, officials measure using a specially designed bicycle with a counter — known as the calibrated bicycle method. Then they measure the "shortest possible route," 30 centimeters — or 11.81 inches — from the curb, according to rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

To find the shortest possible route, measurers (like smart runners) follow a straight line through the curve. This is known as running the tangents.

In addition (literally), these rules state that a certified marathon course must build in some wiggle room to take into account any variance resulting from imperfect roads. This ensures that competitors do not actually run less than the required 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers. As a result, they might end up running more.

The "short course prevention factor" mandates that an extra 0.1 percent be added to each kilometer of the course. Taken together, that’s an extra 42 meters or 138 feet in the race.

So what’s a few more feet among friends? At least you know what you ran was certified!

Beware if You're on Lower Level of Bridge

Q. Are the rumors of golden showers on the lower level of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge accurate? I’m one of the lucky ones in the Green wave, and I’m wondering if I should buy an umbrella hat for myself.

— Michael Larkin, Richmond, Va.
A. Michael, "Golden showers" — couldn’t have put it better myself.

There’s not much modesty in marathoning. For those people who can’t deconstruct a metaphor, it is true that many male runners on the upper deck of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, having had too much water waiting in Fort Wadsworth, or having too much nervous energy, simply relieve themselves over the side of the bridge in the race's first mile. Beware the wind. Pity the people on the lower deck of the bridge.

An editor friend of mine, when running New York for the first time, said he wondered why the side lanes of the lower deck of the bridge were so wide open. He was excited to move into the space, until he started feeling and smelling some pungent precipitation: golden showers.

Stick to the inside of the lower level, just to be safe. A baseball cap might be more aerodynamic.

From Here to Eternity?

Q. Is there any consideration being given to starting the marathon at some place other than on Staten Island? Having run it for the first time in 1978, and most recently in 2003, I find the most frustrating aspect of the whole event is getting to Staten Island, and then lounging around in a semi-frozen state for hours and hours waiting for the start. I plan to run it again in 2013 when I will be 80 years old, and I'm hoping for a more convenient starting regime.

— Dan Taylor
A. Dan, In order to create a five-borough marathon, there are two choices, only one of them logical. Either the race starts in Staten Island and finishes in Manhattan, or it starts in Manhattan and finishes in Staten Island. No offense to the fine, overlooked borough of Staten Island, but do you really want to run UP the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to finish the race? Besides, it would be impossible from a city perspective to close the bridge for hours upon hours until everyone finishes. If you’ve got a better idea of how to incorporate all five boroughs (contiguously), please do send them along. In the meantime, good luck training for 2013! That’s a remarkable goal at any age, let alone 80.

2029: A Marathon Odyssey

Q. Given that you have closely followed the New York Marathon both through historical research and watching it in person, how do you think the race will differ for runners in 20 years as compared to today? What about for fans?

— Michael McLatcher
A. Michael, I think it’s safe to say the race field will continue to expand. This year it will be about 40,000 runners. Soon it could grow to 50,000, provided the city, including the police and fire departments, and race officials can all agree on logistics. That likely means parts of the route, especially the finish, could change as well to accommodate a larger field. (Central Park’s congested finish can be frustrating for runners who must straggle in dense crowds to reclaim their baggage.) Could there be in 20 years 60,000 runners by then? Perhaps. Especially if race officials continue with the "wave start," setting thousands off at distinct intervals.

Remember, though, the marathon is a race of tradition. An old-fashioned foot race. Technology may change, but a runner still has to put one foot in front of the other. The physical experience will likely remain the same.

I wonder about the future. In 2029, might we see a young woman named Isla win the New York City marathon like her famous mother, Paula? Will the sprinter Usain Bolt decide that he should come out of retirement and conquer new territory? Science fiction aside, I do think that in 20 years people will be running sub-two-hour marathons. We’re almost there already. Will it be Paula Radcliffe’s daughter who does it?

Too Young for the Marathon

Q. I read with great interest the recent story in The Times about Wesley Paul and those other two boys competing in the marathon in the 1970s. What a fascinating story! While the rules have changed, do you think that marathon organizers might ever consider allowing young people to race again, especially since physical activity and diet are being encouraged these days?

— David Tulanian, Los Angeles
A. David, Wesley Paul, Howie Breinan and Scott Black were indeed remarkable for what they accomplished at their age — not only for their speed and stamina, but for their self-discipline. As much as their fathers pushed them, these runners pushed themselves even harder. They might have been the exception rather than the rule.

Times are different 30 years later, but the rules in New York and those prescribed by the International Marathon Medical Directors Association will not be changing any time soon.

The New York Road Runners made its minimum age requirement 18 in 1988. Mary Wittenberg, the chief executive of Road Runners, told me she is adamant about restricting the marathon to runners 18 and older. She believes that it is too risky to have children running marathons, concerned about the toll it takes on their bodies and the pressure it inflicts on their psyches. She emphasizes physical activity and a healthy diet for young runners — just as long as they keep it below marathon distance and save that for later in life.

The International Marathon Medical Directors Association has also declared its strict 18-and-over policy, and the research it cites in its position paper is comprehensive. But, as other sports medicine and pediatric physicians argue, that research is not conclusive. There are other marathons that do let children run — for example, the minimum age to run Houston is 12, the Twin Cities Marathon has let children as young as 7 participate, even if it is rare these days that anyone younger than 13 requests to participate there.

Children are at risk participating in any sports, from cheerleading to soccer, as the Times has reported recently. Physicians emphasize the importance of parental monitoring and moderation to ensure a lifetime of activity.

Wesley, Howie and Scott are still running — maybe not the New York City marathon, but 30 years later, they still enjoy the sport.

Tracking a Runner

Q. I have a question about cheering on a friend who is running her first marathon. The Boston Marathon provided text message updates on a runner's progress (connected to the race check points), but the New York City Marathon does not appear to have that option. I'm worried that, with 40,000 people running, I will miss her in the crowd! I'm already planning to be in a low-density area, maybe around mile 20 in the Bronx. Is there some way I can track her progress, or give myself a better chance to spot her?

— Melody Blass Fisher
A. Melody, Going to the Bronx is a terrific idea to avoid the dense crowds and give your friend a lift when she might need it the most. The New York City Marathon offers the same type of “Athlete Alert” service that the Boston Marathon does. You can sign up with the name of your athlete and you will receive e-mail updates every 5 kilometers, as well as one from the half-marathon mark (13.1 miles/21.1K), and the finish. You can follow up to four participants.

Here is the link: www.ingnycmarathon.org/athlete_alert.htm.

Also, on race day, you New York Road Runners site will allow you to track the progress of participants from your computer.


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