Hi all, it’s been a while I am training for a big endurance run called the Dopey Challenge. For those unfamiliar, the Dopey Challenge is a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon completed over four consecutive days, totaling 48.6 miles.
This weekend was a big running weekend. I ran 3 miles on Wednesday. 6 miles on Thursday 13 miles on Friday 17 miles on Saturday
It was my last Dopey Simulation weekend!
Today, I am officially in taper town!!!!!
The training runs were hard, especially the 17-miler.
Now I am going to rest!! My feet are sore!!!!!! Lol but its worth It
In less than three weeks, I will be at Walt Disney World.
I also had a very nice Chanukkah. Family fun …….. I had lots of yummy potato pancakes and goodies. It was a very full week. I need a long nap !!!!!
I finished! This Bubbie, Grandmother, Still Has IT!!!! I had a good race.
Number 3 New York Marathon is done!!!!!!!!! Team for Kids! Improving the life of children through running!
Ed, Thank You for keeping me company this weekend and being my cheerleader. Love ya!
Saturday
Saturday, my spouse and I flew from Boston to New York.
We took the early 7:30 flight.
I had a delicious breakfast at the American Airlines Lounge, and then we boarded our flight.
It was a quick one-hour flight.
Once we landed, we took an Uber to our hotel.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Midtown Manhattan hotel.
It is very welcoming.
The room was clean and spacious with a nice king-size bed, a lovely bathroom, and a large vanity area.
Once we checked our bags, we strolled around the city.
We also decided to do a “practice run” on the New York MTA red line train to familiarize myself with the transportation system on Marathon Sunday.
Once we were on the train,
I was counting all the train stops from our hotel’s nearest train station to the closest train stop located near the marathon finish line.
My goal was to be familiar with how to get back to our hotel once I crossed the marathon finish line.
Later in the day, I went to the Javits Convention Center to pick up my bib number.
I also wanted to double-check that I am registered for the ferry to take me to Staten Island for the start of the New York Marathon.
My spouse and I walked around a bit, and then it was time for dinner.
We had dinner at our hotel.
After dinner, it was time to head back to our room and sleep.
Sunday
The next morning, I was on the way to the Marathon!!!!
I met up with the (Wave 4) Team for Kids runners, and we all boarded the 8 am ferry to begin our trip to the start line. Once we arrived in STATEN ISLAND, we all boarded buses for a 15-minute ride to Fort Wadsworth, the starting village of the 2025 New York City Marathon.
I love being part of Team for Kids because we had our own private tent at the starting village that provided us with coffee, tea, bagels, and bananas.
Around 10:15, our team coaches lead us in a warm-up stretch.
Then all the runners headed to our Wave 4 corral.
Time to get excited, nervous, anxious, and feel all the emotions as we stood at the start line of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
The National Anthem played, and then thousands of runners were on our journey to Central Park, New York.
We also heard Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York playing in the background.
My plan for this race is to use Jeff Galloway’s “The Run-Walk-Run Method”
The course goes through the 5 boroughs of New York (Staten Island/ Brooklyn/ Queens/ Bronx/ Manhattan).
Staten Island Mile1 and 2
The first 2 miles were awesome. I love running on the Verrazzano Bridge. THE scenery from the bridge is epic.
Miles 3-10 Brooklyn
I love all the cheering fans on the course.
Running through Brooklyn is like a big party on the course, especially downtown Brooklyn.
I was having a really good time on the course.
The fans are dancing, drinking booze, and are amazingly happy. I had so many fans giving me high fives.
I honestly felt like a superstar. Luckily, no one high-five me to hard!
Miles 11 and 12
This part of the course has a very different vibe, but I still love it!
Runners pass through the Hasidic Jewish enclave.
It is very quiet.
No one is cheering us on.
Marathon Sunday is not a holiday in this stretch of the race!
Peace and quiet at last!
Trust me, the silence is so refreshing after running through the noise from the previous miles.
I love the quiet!
The men go about their regular Sunday business. The women enjoy walking with their children to Hebrew school or around the neighborhood.
Miles 11 and 12 are also known as the modesty miles; people living here look away in modesty as runners pass.
Mile 13 and 14 Queens.
The fans are very cheerful.
For the first 13 miles or so, I felt awesome. I kept up with my plan of walking and running.
Yeah, I am halfway there!
Miles 15 and 16.
I absolutely hated this part of the course. Crossing the Queensboro Bridge is the most dreaded part of this race for me. The race started to get tough mentally.
The Queensboro Bridge seems to go on and on and on forever. The scenery is ugly, and there are no spectators.
Mile 17 – 19 Manhattan
I finally made it to the Mile 17 marker! 9 more miles
I just kept on putting one foot in front of the other and enjoying myself.
Mile 20 – 22, Bronx
The race enters the Bronx at mile 20.
6 miles to go.
Mile 23 to 25 Back to Manhattan
We are now heading to Central Park.
I am enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Marathon.
It is dark now because of Daylight Saving Time!
I am officially in
Manhattan.
The last 3 miles of the course are lit up for our safety with so many glowing lights! Its beautiful.
I can see Central Park, the location of the finishing line.
New York City at night is truly magical, with all the city’s lights from the tall buildings.
Mile 26 Central Park.
I entered Central Park.
The marathon finish line was lit up for a dramatic visual effect.
I crossed the finish line.
Best feeling in the world. My time was………. 07:10:20
After the race, I manage to find my way back to the hotel. My hotel was just 5 red line train stops away from the finish line!
I had a few nutrition runners’ bars for dinner. I got into my pajamas and snuggled up in bed as I wrote this post.
I had a good Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It was nice seeing the family.
The marathon is one month away. I’ve got my last long run in today. (22 miles – holy shit) Yes, 22 miles!!!! It was a successful run. I estimate I will finish the New York Marathon around 7 hours and 15 minutes. And now it’s taper time. Ilike to taper an extra week, because I am 56.
The average taper is 3 weeks.
Tapering means reducing your training load before a competition to optimize performance on race day. It’s the rest period before race day to reduce the effects of muscle fatigue, brought on by months of rigorous training.
I have also been doing more swimming.
My pool stayed open until the last day of September, so I was able to enjoy the warm fall days of summer outdoor swimming.
Saturday!!!!!Long Run Done!!! 20 miles!!!! Yes 20 !!!!
It went well.
I estimate, through various marathon calculators online, that this 56-year-old Bubbie( grandma) will finish the New York Marathon in approximately 7:15 -7:20 hours.
Last year, 2024, I finished the marathon at 7:13:17.
On Friday night, I had a delicious Italian dinner at Antique Table Lynn.
I love that restaurant.
The next morning, I was running!
My body seems to be very aware that I am in peak training.
I ended up not swimming or taking a barbell class this past week, to prepare for the long run.
Marathon Day is exactly 6 weeks from today. Time to book a flight !!!
Tomorrow is the start of Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to greet one another with blessings and good wishes for a good year by saying “shana tova!” Time to enjoy the holiday!
Sunday, I watched my daughter run the Salem Wicked Half Marathon. We were able to catch her in three different locations: 5, 8, and mile 10. www.middleageslowrunner.blog
Training For New York, Week 7 🏃🏃 Run for Team for Kids 💚
This week was rough. I was tired from last week’s 16 miler. I caught the old lol ( muscle recovery is slower Thursday 3 miles Saturday 9 miles
I also swim for 45 minutes and did a barbell strength training class at Life Time.
Next week, I have a long mileage run. The Jewish Holidays are also coming up. It’s beginning to look a lot like Rosh Hashanah in our home ! I love decorating my house for the fall and the holidays. Amazon loves my money!!!!
Anyway, I am hoping to squeeze in my significant runs before the holiday.
Training For New York, Weeks 5 and 6 💚Team for Kids💚.
Week 5 🏃 I had a great vacation visiting Las Vegas.
I was able to enjoy some workouts besides running while I was on vacation. The hotel had a nice pool, and I was able to do a 45-minute lap swim a few times at 8:00 am. In Las Vegas, it was very easy to swim at 8:00 am because most guests were sleeping. I had the pool basically to myself. No one gets up that early except for my spouse and me!
I also enjoyed using the exercise weight room. It was also empty of people. Lol…I was able to moan and groan without being stared at as I lifted weights.
My spouse and I also did a lot of walking along the Vegas Strip. **************************************************** Week 6. 🏃 I flew home and relaxed a bit. I had an excellent Labor Day. We had our kids, their spouses, and grandchildren visit our home for a BBQ.
Saturday, I ran 16 miles. I like my pace. I was also well rested going into my long run. I am hoping to finish the NewYork Marathon held on November 2nd in around 7 hours.
Long run 16 miles Yeah !!! I have 8 weeks until the Marathon to push hard on the Long runs!!!
Another week of training done. As you read this. I am in Las Vegas for vacation. Exciting times. My days are spent sitting by the pool, followed by big dinners.
Tuesday. nice 45-minute swim
Wednesday 8 mile
Saturday 3 miles
Sunday 5 mile
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Middle Age Slow Runner Robin's Running Stories 