for myself

UPDATE: If you weren't able to view the videos, I've since fixed it...Enjoy!
I am writing this post mostly for myself, and since I already know it will be a long one, y'all don't have to stick around to read it. The reason is I want to capture as much as I can from from Sunday, from marathon day. I want to simply list all the thoughts that I had while I ran, small snippets that I might want to hang on to, that might be forgotten if I don't record them now while they are still fresh in my mind. This way, in a couple of months from now, when that itch to do something weird, crazy, challenging and somewhat insane (like say, run a marathon?) hits again - because oh, you know it will - I can have good, solid facts to base my decisions on. Also, quite frankly, family and friends are getting a bit sick and tired or hearing me blabber on about the run, so this post is also for their sake. So here it goes, a list of things I need to remember from this run, both good and bad.

• The giggling madness and excitement at 5 a.m. in the morning on the bus ride to Staten Island.
  

• Forcing down a peanut butter bagel and coffee down without gagging.

• 4 hours of waiting, in the cold, with constant butterflies in my stomach.

• Porta-Potties... stinky, smelly, nasty, dirty, porta-potties.

• Being asked by two girls to take a picture of them and finding out they are not only Italian, they are from my home town of Verona!
  
• A surge of pride in my gut as I tied the race chip to my shoes (or as I watched Elizabeth tie the chip because my hands were too cold and twitchy)...

• Snipers at the start line. Huh?

• Final freak-out.

• The sound of that cannon blast at 10:08am.
• Seeing the first wave of runners on the Verrazano bridge, and feeling the crowd around me explode.

• Everyone discarding the extra layers of clothes (don't worry, they are sent to charity).

• Crossing that start line... finally.
• The calm quiet on the bridge, with only the noise of thumping feet and breathing accompanying us.
  
• Catching the first glimpse of the City's skyline, visualizing the route ahead and that finish line in Central Park.

• Being surprised at how quickly mile 1-2-3-4 zipped by.
• People along the route, holding up signs in memory of Ryan Shay.
  
• Turning onto 4th Avenue in Brooklyn and being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people shouting and cheering us on.

• Seeing Kari and then Matt on the sidelines on 4th Ave.
• Constantly hearing "GO AMY! GO ELIZABETH!" being shouted by complete strangers and every time in completely different accents.
  
• Seeing Gillian run by us with a great big smile on her face.
• Seeing Mallory as we approached Atlantic Avenue and then nearly bumping into Ramin's giant lens.
• Seeing Mom, Dad, Shamim, Sharim, Matisse, Ash, Naishon, Neda for the first time - TNT caps, cow bells and all.

• Being totally surprised by seeing Sahba, Kapono and then Lucas in Clinton Hill.
• Making the wise decision of turning on our iPods at about mile 10.
• The odd feeling of running in a music video - loud music in your ear and people mouthing words at you around you, but you can't hear what they are saying.
• Andrea Bocelli at mile 11 (sorry, the video is just cheesy, but it's just about the song really).
• Bumping into yet another "Veronese" - running his first marathon at 60 years of age. He tells me "Now that I'm nearly half way there, I think I'll be able to finish". I'm inspired.
  
• Feeling a sudden and unexpected bolt of pain in my lower back and knowing immediately that it would be with me till the finish line. It was.
  
• Approaching mile 13 and the halfway point.

• An awful mile 14 in Queens - dead, silent, empty industrial area. No one cheering us on.
  
• Looking for Alex and Shamim Maani as we approached the 59th Street Bridge and being blown away by seeing our family and friends there as well!
• Getting rid of my camera.
  
• The pitch black lower level of 59th Street Bridge - mostly uphill.
• The madness of First Avenue.
  
• Josh&Sophie spotting us in the crowd, screaming and running after us.
  
• Seeing Shamim et al, again, eagerly awaiting us.

• Mile 18 and 19 flying by thanks to the buzz on First Avenue.
• The Bronx, the drums, the temptation of a pretzel and thankfully the quick return to Manhattan.
• Stomach pain at the thought of another Gu, Marathon Jelly Bean or Fruit Gusher.
• The physical inability of downing any more Gatorade.
• A tingling feeling in my arms, hands and fingers that I just can't shake away.
  
• The beeping sound of the check point as we cross the 35km post.
  
• Finally being back on 5th Avenue and at the same time basking in the crowds and trying to drown out the noise from my head.
• Being refused Tylenol at the medical station and consequently being on the verge of tears.
• Hearing Elizabeth mumbling prayers to herself and me, praying silently in my head that I can make it through.
• The excruciating length of miles 22 and 23.
• Coach Christine running up to me, grabbing me a Gatorade, talking me through the rest of the course, telling me the entrance to Central Park is just a few blocks up and then, well then... "You're nearly home".
  
• The curve into Central Park - tears stinging me eyes, and struggling to choke them back.
• Shamim on the side line, walking as fast as we are running, shouting something about jacuzzi and slush puppies.
• Seeing our cheering team on the side line -- Sharim, Neda and mom running beside us.
• 59th street - an insane amount of people cheering.
• Elizabeth speeding up, and me, begging her in my head to slow down, just please, for God's sake, slow down.
• Re-entering the park at Columbus Circle and seeing ourselves on the jumbo screen.
• The sudden realization that it's nearly over, that I can actually SEE the finish line.
  
• The "100 yards left" sign.
• Sprinting.
• Crossing that finish line, stopping bent over and just sobbing because it's really, really over.
  
• Realizing that both Elizabeth and I are smiling and crying and in shock.
• Swearing on all things holy that I will never, EVER run a marathon again.
• Walking ahead, getting our medal and blanket, posing for pictures and then starting the long long long walk to the trucks to collect our stuff.
  
• Seeing coach Steve, getting a big hug and then walking some more.
• And then, more walking.
• And some more walking, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE I JUST RAN 26.2 MILES, WHY NOT MAKE ME WALK ANOTHER 20 BLOCKS?
• Exiting the park, finally ... and seeing family and friends.
• The long ride home on the subway.
• The fully-clothed, teeth chattering, ice bath I had to take.
• Food. Finally, real, good, proper food.
• The excruciating pain in my back, legs and feet.
• The fact that I made it to the end with all my toe nails intact.
• The amazing feeling of accomplishment that is still pushing strong, getting me through the pain which is also, still, lingering. Can I have some more drugs please?
  

So, in a couple of months, when that urge hits, to do something mad, here is a list of alternatives that I might like to consider, you know, just because I do have options, and really, who needs to run 3 marathons anyhow? So I could, for example...

• Learn a new language.
• Make all the recipes in my cook books, like these ladies are trying to do.
• Weave a carpet.
• Watch all the Star Wars movies back to back (as you once did with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, extended edition).
• Read and memorize the Bible, cover to cover. Or the Kitab-i-Iqan.
• Do a triathlon (wait a second...?)

But these are just a few ideas...there are hundreds of other things I can think of.
For anyone still reading this - there are more pictures here and here.