With each day, the 2007 ING New York City Marathon seems exponentially closer. Beginning on October 1st, I will have 26 consecutive blogs where I will analyze each mile of the run. One of the fun things about New York City is its abundance of history and iconic references.
Just casually reading maps, I’ve learned that there are countless references to movies, historical events, and unique facts. One moment, at between miles 10-12, runners will be in artsy neighborhood of Williamsburg, an area where so many well known rock bands became famous.
Then, at mile 15-16, there will be a hill where many of the first group of unprepared marathoners will begin to hit the wall at the Queensboro Bridge made popular by Simon & Garfunkle’s poetically playfully and flirty song, “59th Street Bridge (Feeling Groovey).”
In my brief research, one moment, we’ll be running through a neighborhood where Scott Baio lived in during his childhood, the next moment, we’ll pass by an area of Brooklyn where the first major Battle of the American Revolution occurred.
Pat Benatar grew up as a child around miles 12-13, and it also happened to be the area where Mae West was born. The starting line is in proximity where most of The Godfather and Scent of a Woman were filmed.
I especially look forward to running through the ethnically diverse regions of New York. There will be Jewish, Dominican, Italian (more than one), Chinese, Russian, and perhaps other Districts of Ethnic celebration.
Regrets of the New York Marathon Course
Although it is too early to speculate, I am evaluating the course and its attractions and will try to determine if there’s a way it could be more encompassing. This course does go through all the boroughs, but the following are aspects of the course I would have preferred to see:
The course going on the Brooklyn Bridge
Running in Little Italy, The Village and Tribeca, Wall Street
Possibly starting in Times Square
Running along Coney Island
Passing by Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Running along 5th Avenue
Having said this, these areas not covered are spread out possibly over a distance that could not cover the current areas.
Also, the current course takes us through areas we’d otherwise ignore while visiting New York. Of course everyone will visit Times Square, of course everyone will rub the horn of the Bull nearby Wall Street. But does anyone every make it to Staten Island? Does anyone know about the ritzier parts of Brooklyn like Dyker Heights?
Plus, Central Park in the Autumn is the only place that this run could finish. Central Park in November is the gentle heart beat like an eye in the storm of busy Manhattan chaos. I cannot imagine a more fitting ending than running my final 3 miles by Central Park. Central Park, where Jack Lemmon was caught fondling a young child for some money to make a phone call. Central Park, a block from where John Lennon died. Central Park, Dustin Hoffman’s character used to run at to train for Marathons in the movie, “The Marathon Man.” Central Park. Leaves yellow, green. Leaves red and brown. As the colors decide to paint the ground, we are reminded of New York’s cruel winter just a short cab drive away in terms of time. Like the leaves, tourists will fall off after November and New York will be in its self-exploratory mode again, until the Macy’s Day Christmas Parade. Then, when the St Pat’s Parade arrives, New York’s heart will beat a little faster until the entire city is sautéed by the summer.
Whenever I have a down run or worry about running that “god awful long distance of 26.2 miles,” I remind myself of the course. I remind myself of New York, the world’s heart beat. The very center of the Universe might very well be New York.
What a marathon to be in, running through its 5 ventricles and finishing in the aorta of Manhattan.
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