New York Marathon 2009

Yes there's an expo and you HAVE to collect your number/chip/finishers shirt on Fri/Sat (not sure what day it opens). Last time my flight was delayed so I got to Manhattan late on Friday so went to the Expo first thing Sat morning and was pretty much the only one there!  I bleieve it gets pretty busy later in the day. It's in javits centre which is an easy walk from Tmes Square and has the usual range of tat found at expos. I was in and out in 5 minutes.

I put an expected finish time of 3:30 on my ballot entry this year but I think I put the same time last year and didn't get through.

TortieT wrote (see)

... has the usual range of tat found at expos. I was in and out in 5 minutes.

Oh dear, that's a shame. I was looking forward to actually finding something useful. Somehow I was expecting NY, the great NY, to have an expo that offered more than average.

Over the Hill. Welcome. It's nice to get a sense of who's on the boards so if you felt like giving a short introduction about yourself, that would be nice. Intros for many of us can be found by looking back over the previous posts. And if you felt like sharing your goal pace for NY, that would make the list below look tidier. (Ditto Dave, Steven, Tony, Tricia - with apologies if you've already said and I missed it.)

Tortie and Wolf, you both sound very sussed about the NY experience. Any advice on flights (e.g., which NY airports to avoid), hotels, anything, would be more than welcome.

Gary. Gosh, the podhotel sounds a bit challenging, especially if you get cramp like I do. Have you already booked?

Tiptree. A 'free' teeshirt is more than you get at some places, Berlin for instance. And as you seek, ye shall find, I'm sure.

Chowster. Don't give up on your routine too quickly. Washed up sewage indeed. Sounds like you might have esteem issues.

NotCat. Fetcheveryone??? You are so hip and trendy. I'll have to get Googling.

Trin. You've got the job. Congratulations. And thanks for applying.

I've just done my long run. Because my knee is a bit sore, I wasn't sure how far I'd go. I was very slow; not because of the knee, it just went that way. But then the strangest thing happened. I was about to turn left at 12 to get home in about 15 when my body (I swear) decided I wanted to run along the cliffs, despite this meaning I'd have to do a 19 with substantial uphills towards the end. (I've not done more than 15 since Boston 5 weeks ago.) So that's what I did. Thanks, body.

                                              Goal 

• Champagne          3:30
• Chowster                3.59.59
• Djwolf                      3:29
• Gary Jones             2:44
• Hudds Dave
• Kiwidave                 3:29
• L’ardvark                 3:05
• NotCat                     3.10
• Over the Hill           
• Steven S                
• Tiptree                     3:45
• Tony Hodge 6
• Tortie T                    3:35
• Tricia Hurst

No advice about airports, aren't they all pretty much the same? I flew into JFK last time with BA but am booked with Continental to Newark this time. Again, I tend to find hotels pretty similar. All the tripadvisor reviews say that Manhattan hotels are noisy with thin walls but I stayed in the cheapest hotel Sportstours offered (Travel Inn) and it was absolutely fine. I've gone for a cheapo hotel in New Jersry but as long as it's clean I'll be happy (has free wifi in rooms too which is an added perk).

I find the best thing is to look on the NYC Marathon forum on the runnersworld.com site as that's filled with folk runnining this race. I used it extensively in the run up to 2007 and have had a quick look at last years posts to suss out the ferry option.

Did a 7 mile fell/trail race this morning which brought home how unfit I must be 'cause it killed me.

Hi all,

Will be my 5th New York  Marathon and 33rd marathon in total.   PB is 2:56 but am aiming for 3:30 in NY this year.   Curently working in Kabul with the MOD and then posted to Germany for 5 years in September.   Ran this year's London Marathon and then the Kabul Marathon within 2 weeks of each other!   Just love the New York Marathon despite the early start and if I could give one tip, it's to take an old sleeping bag or cheap throwaway 'Tesco' tent to the starting area on Staten Island because at least you can keep warm while you wait for 3-4 hours.   Will post more tips in a couple of days.

Thanks for the tips, Tortie and Tony, and thanks even more for the promise of tips to come. Kabul marathon? Gosh. And that's on top of the goshes for the 5 NY, 33 marathons, and 2:56 PB.

                                              Goal 

• Champagne          3:30
• Chowster                3.59.59
• Djwolf                      3:29
• Gary Jones             2:44
• Hudds Dave
• Kiwidave                 3:29
• L’ardvark                 3:05
• NotCat                     3.10
• Over the Hill           
• Steven S                
• Tiptree                     3:45
• Tony Hodge 6        3:30
• Tortie T                    3:35
• Tricia Hurst

Hi there, I am 32. I moved to marathon distance last year, after three london rejections thought it was about time I found another marathon. Decided to run Dublin, is a great race if anyone fancies it(not a marathon major but good). After that hooked on running marathons, had a choice between Abingdon and New York. 

I guess my aim in New York is hopefully break 3:30 or equal PB. I hope to enjoy the day and make up for London. I will try not put too much pressure on myself, I think I do better when I dont put pressure on myself if today half marathon is anything to go by.  

I heard New York is not a PB course?, I am going over couple people from running club. Ones got a place though ING.

 I done the Wokingham half today warm morning, not far of PB. I was not feeling that great this morning, its funny how it goes . I was supposed to be have a steady run.

Steven. Well done at Wokingham, especially in this heat. Marathon training often does wonders for half times. I suspect you'll be chomping that half pb before too long. Thanks for the Dublin review. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who doesn't like Dublin. Abingdon or NY - hm, that must have been a tough decision. My understanding is that NY is an unlikely PB course if you are at a similar level of fitness as your previous PB (depending on where that was, of course). However, if you are steadily improving and haven't done too many marathons, I wouldn't rule out NY as a possible PB. I'm trying for one, for example (despite my last two best and most recent times have been done at Berlin and Boston - completely flat and downhill respectively).

                                              Goal 

• Champagne          3:30
• Chowster                3.59.59
• Djwolf                      3:29
• Gary Jones             2:44
• Hudds Dave
• Kiwidave                 3:29
• L’ardvark                 3:05
• NotCat                     3.10
• Over the Hill           
• Steven S                 3:30
• Tiptree                     3:45
• Tony Hodge 6        3:30
• Tortie T                    3:35
• Tricia Hurst

ooh thanks L'a!

Ra ra New Yoikers!!

*shakes pom poms*

I have only done the NY marathon once before, last year, (through sports tours),but was married in Central Park a few yars ago, so got to know New York (manhattan) quiet well.

Newark airport is a fair way out. JFK is much nearer, you can get a bus from the airport to the Port Authority or Grand Central station ( both good for Mid town Manhattan). A cab from the airport will cost around $60 I think, but buses are good. I think there is info on the airport web sites about cost and frequency of services.

If you stay Mid town everthing (except start) is walkable, otherwise subway is safe and cleaner than London tube!

Hope this helps

You can get the airtrain from Newark and the other one (can't remeber the name) but even better you can get the subway to/from JFK.

People always say that NY is a hilly/undulating course but it's totally relative to what you're used to. I live in Yorkshire where you're hard pressed to find a flat road so to me the course was not remotely hilly. I'm certainly hoping for a pb but plan to do way more training for this one than for any of the others.

One important thing to remember is tipping!!

If someone as much as opens a door for you they usually expect a $ tip. If you get a cab they expect 10 - 15% tip, on arrival at the hotels the cab drivers are in league with the hotel staff, and they will have your cases out of the trunk before you know it, usually at least 2 of them, thats another couple of dollars each! Restaurants expect about 15%

If you wish to eat on the cheap (breakfast at least) then there is a healthy food chain called PAX. They are excellent value, they serve fresh bagels (some toasted bread), with loads of fillings, tea, coffee, fruit juice. If you google them you will find lots around Manattan. I will post later, when I remember where the cheaper pasta etc restaurants are! One bonus you are not expected to tip at the PAX type restaurants, as they are basically self service. There are also plenty of shops/supermarkets where you can pickup salads, sandwiches etc.

Dining can work out quite reasonably cheap if not drawn into the posh restaurants

My goal for NY is 3hr 59. This would give me a GFA time as will be 52 then. Did my first marathon this year in London in 4hr 13, but had to stretch out a muscle giving me jip every couple of miles from mile 10 so feel I can do it quicker. However seems a slow time compared to all of you!!

Tony Hodge- liked the advice about the throwaway tent, as i'd heard it can be cold standing around before the run.

has anyone got any major races planned leading up to the big one ,or is everyone saving themselves?

just planning one 10k  and a half marathon leading up to november myself with the major aim being to stay injury free (tell that to my achilles) .

Trin. You're an inspiration. If only you'd been at Newcastle yesterday for that lovely Alan Shearer.

Djwolf. Thanks for the tips, esp. re: airports and the sensibleness of staying in midtown (that's the message I got from what you said, anyway. Please let me know if I completely misunderstood!). Congratulations on the marriage. Did you ride bikes in Central Park, etc., during your honeymoon?

Tortie. I absolutely agree that hills are relative. However, as a cramp sufferer, it's the bridges that worry me most!

Tricia. Times are relative, too, as are ambitions. You're planning on burning Chowster, for example!

Chowster. Good question. When I write out my detailed training plan, I will include a few 10ks/halfs, as instructed (by the Pfitz plan). Before then, a loal running club has asked if I will do 3 legs of the South Downs Way Relay. I did it last year (for a different club) and it is very pretty and satisfying, so I think I may well say "yes". I don't know if that counts as a "major race" in your books. (I know, Trin. It's a warm-up, even if you do it in a team of 1.)

                                              Goal 

• Champagne          3:30
• Chowster                3.59.59
• Djwolf                      3:29
• Gary Jones             2:44
• Hudds Dave
• Kiwidave                 3:29
• L’ardvark                 3:05
• NotCat                     3.10
• Over the Hill           
• Steven S                 3:30
• Tiptree                     3:45
• Tony Hodge 6        3:30
• Tortie T                    3:35
• Tricia Hurst             3:59

When is everyone hoping to arrive in NY? Would be great if we were all on the same flight

Am booked with 2:09 and we leave Heathrow on 28th Oct, staying till 3 Nov so can do some sightseeing whilst there. Any suggestions from those of you have been there before what is a must to see?

Sorry Guys

I have not been on for a good few days as I am looking after my 11 year old son and I have to have new activities for him every 2 mins!

I am aiming for a 3:50 at NY, please can somebody go over four hours as I am feeling like a real slowcoach on this forum.

 Had a 6 miler at 7:00am this morning, what a great morning for running.