15 Reasons Why I Love the NYC Marathon

This Sunday I will toe the line at the New York City Marathon. It will be my 15th time running NYC. When I cross the finish line, I will be a “streaker” and thus will be guaranteed entry for life. Yup, that’s a thing!

marathon pics
Fun at #14 in 2013!

In honor of this personal milestone, here are 15 reasons why I love the NYC marathon.

  1. The crowd – literally in the millions!
  2. The energy – it’s unbelievable.
  3. The boroughs with all of their individual character – I especially love Brooklyn!
  4. The bridges. I am a sucker for punishment!
  5. The fact that everyone is nice to you in NYC – just for one day.
  6. Many friends in the race and on the course and all of the strangers who cheer for the runners as if they were friends – really, really good friends.
  7. The swagger – like everything else NY still has attitude.
  8. The international runners – you hear so many languages, accents and cheers for nations from all over the world.
  9. The fact that you never know what you are going to see/hear on or off the course – one of my faves the Hasidic man and rapper fist bumping in Williamsburg.
  10. The silence of crossing on the 59th Street Bridge followed by the amazing roar of 59th St. that carries all the way up 1st Ave.
  11. Hundreds of inspiring athletes from Achilles and the Wounded Warrior Project to root for.
  12. You never know who you are going to see or meet. I think Tate Donovan was in my finisher pics one year pre Damages!
  13. The size and scale – it’s BIG. The millionth finisher is expected to cross in about 4:10 on Sunday.
  14. Central Park in November. Can’t wait to get there!
  15. After Sunday, I’ll be IN for life!

Thanks to all of my friends who have run with me in training over the years and listened to me talk about this (sort of) insane pursuit of 15. Thanks for all of the support and well wishes along the way. My goal for Sunday is simple: have fun and smile from Staten Island to Brooklyn to Queens to Manhattan to the Bronx and back to Manhattan. I have some time goals, but at the end of the day, I just have to get to Tavern on the Green and cross the line. Then, the NYC Marathon is open to me – for life!

My mantra will be “this is my day. this is my race.” Amen.