Why I don’t plan on running the NYC marathon
When meeting new people, my conversations inevitably shift to the NYC marathon. Running is a common hobby for those looking to be or staying in shape, those looking for new friends, or looking for a quest outside of work. It’s a broadly relatable activity and can spark many follow-up questions. Especially THE question: are you training for or running the NYC marathon?
I get roped into watching the marathon each year to cheer on my friends and indirectly celebrate months of training and (sometimes) hard and consistent work. Some are running their first marathon ever, while others are doing it as an afterthought of their latest triathlon. Some are high school athletes, looking to race once again, while others are excited for the limelight for the first time, to attempt to accomplish a long race! Once you start watching, it’s easy to become inspired. It’s a common trope of the people I interact with in NYC: watching the marathon and running the NYC marathon exactly 2 years later.
Don’t ever catch me running the NYC marathon, while I think it’s an accomplishment for those who want something athletic, for me, I have long past the thrill of racing. I’ve jumped off the starting blocks too many times to count, I’ve had the thrill of hearing the starting buzzer of my swim races. I’ve felt the energy of the crowds cheering me on, and it’s exciting! I’ve already experienced reaching a physical goal and it is a similar feeling across many physical activities. Eventually, the excitement fades, and I’m happy it did so I can pursue new things!
Running the marathon is expensive, regardless if you sign up via charity or via the 9+1. Race fees add up, with the actual marathon fee itself over $250. Then there’s the running shoe phase, where you’ll spend hours comparing and buying pairs of running shoes, each one expensive, but worth it. You’ll also have to buy running attire to combat the cold and don’t even get me started on energy gels!
The 9+1 races also consume multiple weekend nights as you prepare for the races leading up to the marathon. It involves pasta carb loading and the early exit of nighttime social activities. It means going to central park at 6 AM to wait a couple hours before running a 5k and praying that the weather isn’t too hot or wet. For those who are serious in their marathon training, it also involves a long run every weekend. It means early nights and mornings as you try and run 10+ miles in before the summer sun comes out in its full strength.
Running is also injury prone. At first, I thought it was due to inexperienced runners attempting to ramp up mileage too quickly with poor form (have you ever wondered why it’s one of the few sports that many people do intensely with very little instruction? If you just walk around the west side highway, there are many people who run with bad form). But now, I think it’s just the curse of running too much. There’s not much non-concrete people can run on and potholes and uneven slabs of concrete crisscross the city. I have a couple friends that are constantly injured one way or another. While some will take a break once an injury happens, it can be hard to decide how long to rest for if you know that the NYC marathon is coming up. I’ve seen people make non-optimal choices that could lead to further injuries. Lastly, on the actual marathon day, I see the pain in the runners’ eyes as they stumble past the mile 21 marker, knowing that they need to finish the marathon. It's their bodies telling them to stop, but knowing that they’ve already come this far. I would hate to have to take a months long break after running the marathon because I injured myself on the run.
I still love running. I run when I’m not near a pool, to catch up with friends, or when the weather is particularly good outside (especially when exploring a new city). I actually enjoy waking up early to do a long run on weekend mornings (especially NYC’s open streets). But I like reserving the ability to flake on my run if I decide to sleep late. I like being able to stop running if I feel like something's off. I like the freedom of running on my own accord. I’m pretty confident that I could run a marathon, and the thought of having to wake up at 4 AM to get to Staten Island holds zero appeal. So for now, I do not plan on ever running the NYC marathon.
