From NYC: pre race experience!

It’s pre-race eve and I am living THE experience! Gosh! I can’t believe I am writing this. Everything has been perfect, i’m so afraid to jinx it!

It started with me hitting the jackpot with the sleeping situation. I bought the shared room package as it was over 1000 cheaper than solo. But guess what, I am occupying both big beds!!! Someone canceled and I got the room all by myself! What a great way to start the journey right?! Even the room size is bigger than average NYC hotels.

I slept until 7am, as I got to the hotel 11pm, smooth travel. I ate the bagel I packed and went to the race briefing. It turned out that this tour company from UK had 1100 runners! Wooooo! Can you imagine in a room with so many obsessed runners?!

we got tips from two coaches from NYRR to give us tips. The lady is hilarious!

Then i went to meet with my coach that I met online when I moved to brazil. our sessions have ended but we agreed to meet when i visited. It was super nice.

then i went to the expo to get my bib.

the wall with names of all runners is super cool

there was less food samples than other marathon expos but I got to try the pasta

This is what I am supposed to do. I managed to hit the min on day 1 during travel time as I packed all carbs snacks.

I had chipotle bowl for lunch and then was craving dumplings. it was easy to find it in NYC so I got it for dinner.

I went to bed 7:30pm and slept like champion! Feeling sooo grateful for the solo sleeping situation

I joined the tour organized shake out run, chatted with few runners from UK, all 50-60 years old and chasing the 6 majors! Gosh! they inspire me and feel that everything is possible. I love how fellow runners inspire each other. Then I chatted with this filipino fellow, indulging me with his accent.

we bumped to this couple from youtuber that I watch often, so cool. They are both shy and not what I expected.

after quick shower and change. I left the hotel to meet with an old colleague. I got a banana on the go before getting my NY bagel for the carb. this place is insane with toppings!!! I was the most boring one, just plain bagel with avocado.

I had coffee and a nice catch up with K who i met in Jakarta and now works in DC but came to NY for the weekend. I also went to salomon to get a new pair of trail shoes for my next year’s ultra.

then I went to Trader joes to get “essentials” before going back to hotel and then lunch, more dumplings

and wonton which I couldn’t finish them all. carb loading is not as easy as one may think.

I walked around 5th avenue for a while to digest, otherwise I’d fall asleep, and found this exotic display

then walked back to the hotel that is near times square. NY is packed, so loud, so many tourists! Are they all here for the marathon?! I can’t imagine living in this city, so caotic.

Now I’m about to start preparing for tomorrow’s outfit and what to pack for the waiting time before the start. I will also pack my luggage with all things i bought because energy tomorrow is unpredictable, hopefully low but happy. So I want to advance as much as I can now. The plan is to eat another carby dinner but not too much to disburb sleep. And then to enjoy the experience, the crowd, the fellow runners, and the entire city ready for welcoming the runners.

Until then! 🙂