Race Recap: Fear of Death Makes You Run Faster
I was both excited and not fully looking forward to the Staten Island Half on October 13, 2019. I was pumped for another 13.1 distance to try to beat, but I heard the course for this race was less-than-stellar. Some runners I talked to at my volunteer +1 credit said that it was always super windy, cold, too crowded at the start, a pain for everyone to get to the island, and that the out-and-back course was boring for that distance. With those expectations in mind, I made sure I added a few more fun songs to my playlist to break up any monotony that may come my way.
Unlike the rest of the runners, I had to take an Uber before dawn to get to the start because I was in Wave 1 and it didn’t make sense to take the PATH, the 1 train, and then the ferry was only every half hour. I didn’t want to get stuck in a later corral or Wave 2, so a car ride seemed like a good idea. However, my driver at the early hours of the morning seemed to have never encountered a traffic circle in his life and almost went the wrong direction up an exit ramp. I had to yell at him and point him in the direction of the signs that literally said “Staten Island” and had to quiet my mind from thinking I was about to die in a car crash and nobody was going to find me. I was shaking when I reached an area close enough to the start where a bunch of runners were walking and I stepped out.
It was very windy; I was cold through my zip-up. I decided not to check in a bag because the area seemed too unorganized and you had to go through a bunch of security checkpoints where they had metal detectors to see if you were carrying a gun. We’re not in Jersey anymore, I thought.
I packed into the corral with my fellow sardines and felt relief once those around me were able to spread out after the start line.The course took us through some neighborhoods that I never would have seen if it hadn’t been for this race. There were a few sparse locals with signs, but otherwise in terms of spectators, this is not the race if you need external motivation. My drive came from the accountability factor; I was going to meet some friends for brunch back in Hoboken to celebrate my birthday and had already set a time for the reservation. Logistically, I needed to be speedy to make it on time.
The first few miles were pretty boring except for seeing some of the semi-pros who already went around the hairpin turn and were running faster than my sprint in the other direction. It was hard to fathom how they were able to make their strides look so effortless and long and lean, and meanwhile on this particular day I could feel everything on my body tense up, including my upper traps and scalenes (which affect accessory breathing). I made mental notes to look into material about running form.
I got around the hairpin turn in what seemed like a half hour later, and then the difficult (and more scenic) parts of the course started as it led us to the Verrazzano Bridge. I still had another 3 weeks until I would run on the upper level of the bridge to get to Brooklyn, but this course brought us to Fort Wadsworth, where the Start Village will be on Marathon Day. I felt chills and neuropathic shocks throughout my body at the sight, and struggled to both run and take photos of the bridge in the distance as I was about to run under it. Just 21 more days, I thought.
I felt the motivation kick in, but it could have also been the Honey Stinger gel sending glucose right when needed. I had to climb a hill to an overlook that many runners were stopping on to take photos, but I didn’t stop. The course then brought us along the windy lower coast of the island, and then the last mile or so involved climbing very steep roads to get to the finish line, where I obviously gave it my all.
Right after the finish, I got my medal, goody bag, and wrapped the space blanket around me to warm up. I took a quick trip to the bathroom, then headed right to the ferry to make my journey home and have a fantastic birthday (boozy) brunch with good company. For those who have never had a drink after a half marathon: the booze hits quicker, even after you downed your meal thanks to the high caloric deficit from your tough run.
For a course that I wasn’t too excited about and trying to change my mindset from “I’m about to die in a head-on car crash” to “let’s get a PR”, I consider this a mental success since the training miles brought the physical work for the day. I was amazed that some of my times in the later miles were negative splits, and I think some of the downhill slopes after the steep inclines really helped, though these hills weren’t as tough as the Palisades. I clocked in at 1:51:08 for an average 8:29 minutes per mile; a new personal best for a half marathon! I was 123 out of 886 for F30-34, so I’m still doing great for my age with the potential to be even better!
I cannot describe the excitement of seeing where I’d be preparing to start NYCM within days!