Erin Chenoweth ran the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2 with 50,866 amazing people!
Here’s what she had to say about the amazing event after running a fast 3:04.43 for 84th place:
It had been a dream of mine since I was a little girl, and when I went to run two years ago and the race was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy, I knew it would happen one day.
It was the most amazing experience of my life. To be surrounded by the elite athletes at the start, and to watch them warming up, was exhilarating!
The weather was New York’s way of saying- we want the best from you and we are gonna give you all we got! It was freezing and winds up to 50 mph for the entire race. So much so that the race clocks had been blown over, the tents at the start had all been taken down, and without exaggeration, we were being blown sideways into each other as we ran. The group of girls I was with could not stop laughing! We were tripping on our own feet, because you could not tell which direction it was going to come from!
What you learn, is that if you can race in that, you can race in anything, and there is no fear about that from here on out!
The crowds in NYC are something that are always talked about. You hear, you dream, but to experience it first hand is truly one of the best things I have ever witnessed in my life. The view of the city at the top of the Verrazano Bridge for the first 2 miles is breathtaking and silent. Then you hit the road, and from then on the crowds are 5 people deep, screaming your name ( Lots of people write their names on their jersey so people will cheer for them.) I had not written my name, but was wearing the pink Janes jersey and everyone screamed “Go Jane!” Every time, I smiled! They love to see a girl amongst men.
The course is challenging with the hills of 5 bridges and the hills in Central Park in the last 2 miles, but I must be honest and say this is my new favorite course. They give you little goals through the race and makes it go by quickly.
The people of New York live for this day, and they did not disappoint. In fact, they changed my life. The crowd, the volunteers, everything.
Such an honor to run with such amazing people, in such an amazing city! Can not wait to go back!
