Ready for this one?!!?! I am a bit afraid AND horrified! this one should be really fun…
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Ready for this one?!!?! I am a bit afraid AND horrified! this one should be really fun…
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#2
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#5
Before this: NYCM2011: All over the press / NYCM2011: At the NYCM Press Conference
It turns out, I have a million rituals come race week. Every day I swear I will eat better and go to sleep early. That’s usually a FAIL. Thursday I go to the expo, Saturday I try to keep it quiet (though this year I am going to cheer on the 5K, coach a couple of hours, dinner with a team I coached for the marathon, etc, etc…).
Rituals are good. They give me a sense of stability. When you have a non-stop-crazy life, they really do help.
Race Week Wednesdays, I go to the Footlocker Run with Ryan Hall and Bart Yasso (here is last year’s post, when Steph and I dared chick Ryan!).
As soon as I got there… overload!!! I knew EVERYONE there. Is that why I am Miss Manhattan? Seriously, everyone! So I had to catch up super fast with everyone. Not easy, it’s such a busy week with SO much happening!!!
You know Steph in the far right (an accidental runner!!!), man I love that girl. And you’ve seen Blaise before too, my training partner. On the left are two team mates: Lisa and Alejandra.
Carrie Tollefson was there too doing some interviews and we chatted for a bit. Somehow, I didn’t take any pictures…
John is one of NYRR’s coaches and the brain behind all the math and genius put into the NYRR training programs. I got to test them before they launched earlier this year and they were pretty fantastic! He’s also a fabulous runner (and a fun to watch rabbit!), with an 800 meter specialty. Obviously, we can’t run together!
Before I even made it inside, with all the chat, I (and Staten Island) got called in to take picutes with Bobby Curtis, who will be running his first marathon this weeekend! He’s from PA and did his first half this year in Philly, with a 1:01:53. Ridiculous.
The guy is super sweet. We talked about the course a bit and I asked him to not pass us on Sunday without pacing us for a few miles. Because, why not? I really hope he does well!!
Soon after, Ryan and Bart and Mary made it into the store and there was some talk about a certain marathon…
Steph… a runner in love…
This is Janine, who works 24/7 and is SO amazing. She’s been with NYRR for 7 years and you’d think she’s 15! I love her. And she lives very close to me so I’ll be stalking her to come run with me soon after all this is done!
My Footlocker peeps. Also amazing people. I have to say, out of the whole Footlocker Five Borough Challenge experience, the thing I love the most is the people I have met. Seriously ridiculously inspiring and amazing and fun people. Love you guys!
Ok, enough talk and pictures, running time!
That’s Ryan Hall right there. Somehow, Steph, Blaise and I were keeping up. How does Ryan do 9 minute miles??? I am sure it hurts. He had said earlier his easy pace is 5:30, pffffffff.
Should I post this picture, should I not??? Steph, sorry, I sent it to you last night so YOU could post it, but I can’t resist. I love these two sooooo much, I HAVE to post it: (SORRY LOVE!)
I have to mention I kept saying all day, and repeteaded thru the run: I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD. I do. Speaking of which, back in the store after 3 miles…
The guys doing their thing… and I was doing mine!
Ooooops, I was directed to pose in for a pic with all of them!
How on earth did I blink for this????? SOOOO not me!!!!!!! Re-do! Re-do!!!
After this: NYCM2011: Have you seen a Marathon Morning like this? / NYCM2011: Get Ready, Set, GO! / NYCM2011: Beyond The Finish Line (finally the last post!) / NYCM2011: Marathon Monday (Ed, the breakfast, Carrie, the press conference, etc.!) /
Before this: NYCM2011: All over the press
Yesterday was the press conference for the Footlocker Five Boro Challenge team, at the Marathon Pavillion, which is where Tavern on the Green used to be. Everything will happen in there this weekend, the interviews, the NYRR shows, more press conferences, and come race day… this will be epicenter. It also helps that it is located just a few yards away from the finish line.
I got there early and took some pictures. This is the week when Fall officially starts for me, so the trees are gorgeous (the ones still standing after the Snoctober we just had, around a 1000 trees in the park suffered, and they need to clean it all up by this weekend for the marathon!)
In Central Park West there are already lots of preparations going on.
That’s my city!!!!
Going into Marathon Pavillion/Tavern on the Green/The finish line!
They’re starting to build the finish line!!!! Bleechers have been up for over a week now!
And onto the Marathon Pavillion, where all the Press stuff is already set up. This is where they do the NYRR TV!
The Tiffanny Cup the Five Boro Champion gets. I really would not even know what to do that with. Who are we kidding, I’d break it in 5 minutes…
Oh hello, picture time already?
I guess I’ll sit here then!
Yeah, my marathon nails are out and not embarrassed! My team starts to get there! Rob/Bronx! Sal/Queens!
Then the conference starts… NYRR and Foolocker spoke about the Challenge and gave some info. Then we each did our own little talk, for 5 minutes. I wanted to do a little collage of the pictures of me speaking (but I didn’t): it looks like I am dancing. My hands are just everwhere!!!!
I know you must be wondering what on earth is she talking about that she’s gesturing so much? Spreadsheets, processes, systems, Linux, C++.. ah, I am so dramatic!!!
Then a few photos with the team!
Again, who knows what I’m doing…
What is this about??? mmmm, not sure. Oh, oh, I guess I am telling them how we’re gonna JUMP UP!??!?!?
Then God, I mean, Mary, comes over to say Hi.
On the other side of the room, NYRR is on. And guess who is there… yeah, Carrie!
She’s super sweet. Loved her!
Other press conferences happening in the room: Kim Smith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Overall, not a boring day, I’d say! 😉
After this: NYCM2011: FootLocker Run – Bart, Ryan, Bobby, Carrie, Steph, well… everyone was there!/ NYCM2011: Who wasn’t at the expo? / NYCM2011: Have you seen a Marathon Morning like this? / NYCM2011: Get Ready, Set, GO! / NYCM2011: Beyond The Finish Line (finally the last post!) / NYCM2011: Marathon Monday (Ed, the breakfast, Carrie, the press conference, etc.!) /
Remember when I told you about the Five Boro Challenge? Post is here, small recap here:
Every year the Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge brings together five ING New York City Marathon runners, each one representing a New York City borough. Their goal: be the fastest finisher out of the five and become champion of the Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge! This is your chance to take your 2011 Marathon experience to a higher level and show your pride for your borough.
The Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge team will be treated as VIPs and will be featured on the NBC4 New York live television broadcast on race day. The runner who finishes with the fastest time will become the Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge Champion, and will win a Tiffany & Co. trophy and citywide bragging rights.
Must commit to running the first 13.1 miles of the marathon with the Challenge Team (after that, you’re free to run alone or stay with the group). Must be available at select times during marathon week to participate in a pre-marathon media event.
This is HUGE. We have our own start and we basically run on our own through the Verrazano. Last year I saw the 5 challengers in the papers, on tv, everywhere… so I am sure everyone in NYC is going to be sick of seeing my face 😉
Photo Shoot and Pretaping with NBC, in a very secret location (Central Park, yeah!) is next week. If there is one person in NYC that doesn’t know me yet, I am coming for them!
😉 SO exciting!!!!!!