NYC Marathon - The Aftermath

Crossing that finish line was amazing. But I have absolutely no idea how I made it to baggage. I kept moving. Someone peeled off a Heat Sheet and put it around me. Then another woman wrapped it and put a sticker on to hold it in place. Thankfully they were there because I couldn't have figured out the Heat Sheet in my state. It felt so fantastic around me. I never quite knew why they were needed but loved it so much I kind of wanted to keep it.

I kept waddling on but somehow managed to miss the bags of food. I thought it was behind me though and I didn't want to go back. My knee was hurting a lot and I wanted to sit down, though I knew I had to keep moving to get the blood flow back to the rest of my body besides my legs. I hobbled up and took off my hat so someone could place the medal around my neck. Fantastic! Keep moving. I got my picture taken at some point because I thought I might want it but I look so much like hell and couldn't really muster a smile yet that there is no way I want the photo! Keep moving. I headed to the truck that had the appropriate number for my baggage and picked up my bag. Keep moving. I pull out my cellphone and try to text Ren. Because of a lack of communication, my family wasn't at the finish line. Everyone felt bad but there were indeed where I told them I wanted to meet them. Still, I called my Dad to find out for sure. And I kept walking. I must have been limping because a woman walking next to me asked if my knee was hurting. She said she was walking the same direction and offerred to carry my bag for me. She said she had had knee surgery and knew how hard it was to move. I thanked her and told her I had only a block or so to go.

My Mom, Dad, wife, and friend Larissa were all waiting for me! They carried my stuff and asked if I needed anything. If I had been more with it, perhaps I could have gotten some neat things but was able to coax my wife into a bodega to get me a chocolate milk. Then she tried like hell to hail a cab. No can do. Most of the cabs were full and the one guy who stopped for us refused to take us to Queens! He was supposed to have to take us to anywhere in the 5 boroughs but wouldn't, even after my wife explained we were just going to the other side of the Queensboro Bridge and that I had just finished the marathon. What a jerk! Eventually, I decide I'd rather struggle with the subway steps than wait any longer. I was getting cold and just wanted to get back to the hotel.

I had to take the subway steps backwards because it was just too painful to go forwards. The air from the tunnel blew my Heat Sheet up and over my head. I'm sure I was quite a sight! But eventually we made it to Queens and we slowly made our way the two blocks to the hotel. My Dad stopped to buy me some fruit salad, which was the first thing that looked remotely edible to me. We got back to the hotel and I soaked in a cold tub for 15 minutes. Ren took such good care of me. Once I drained the tub and started to shower, I asked her to go get me some Neosporin. The chafing from my sports bra really ravaged my chest and I was red and sore. Then I said maybe I could eat a chicken sandwich. So she got food orders from my parents and headed out to pick up everything.

Finally I was clean and warm and hobbled over to my parents' hotel room with my ice pack on my knee. We all sat and ate and talked. Such an amazing day.

The next morning Ren had to head to work. My parents and I went over to the diner to get some breakfast. I had a huge plate of blueberry pancakes, with eggs and bacon! Yum!! We had several refills of coffee and talked for a while. Then we got up and went to pick up the paper. I knew my time was too slow to be printed but wanted to read the race coverage. Then my Dad helped me pack my car and we had to say goodbye.

As I write this, it has been just 10 days since the marathon. For a few days, I was stiff and hobbling. But the muscle soreness has faded and people are now done asking what it was like and wanting to see my medal. The chafing on my chest is really the only physically obvious problem that I still feel. And I have since been on two runs, both less that four miles!

Already, my team is talking about next year. All the money isn't even in and counted yet and we have raised over $325,000! This video coach Jeff put together really says it all. Beware: you will get choked up! Thanks to the whole team for being a fantastic group. I can't WAIT for next year!