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MY Merms,
I want to let everyone know
that my last marathon, for me,
was
absolutely perfect!
It took some time to make that
decision, and there are many reasons that I
did so. Since that time
I have had a lot of time to think about what it would mean
and how I would feel.
I told
Lew that I was going to run 13 minute miles. My official
pace
was 13:05. I said I wanted to savor every minute of it, that I
had two
million people to say goodbye to. I usually run along the
left
side of the street and I always wear my name on the front of my
shirt,
just one of the many tricks I learned from the Merms for my
first
marathon, and people call out your name when you run by them.
This
year I ran mostly in the middle of the street because I wanted
to be
the spectator. I wanted to watch the crowd. I wanted to see
the
people who stand there for hours and strain their voices yelling
support
for strangers. I wanted to know what streets I was running
on. I'm
sure you will not be surprised to know that in the six
previous
times I have run this race I had no clue where the hell I
was. I
looked at all the street signs. Who knew I ran on Lafayette
Ave. the same name of the street I lived on for
the first 13 years of
me
life. I actually figured out when you leave Brooklyn and enter
Queens. I actively looked at the faces in the
crowds and searched
for
people that I knew. It was my hair colorist (ok, so now you know,
I am
not a natural blond!)who was thrilled that I spotted
her. I was
so busy
watching the action on the side that the miles just melted
by. I
also was amazed when I was on the 59th
street bridge thinking how did
I get here already. That is when I started to mentally preparing
myself
for the "final run ". I knew I would see my family and
friends
at mile 16 on First Ave.
but I also knew it was going to be
my last
time running up 1st Ave.
And there is nothing better!
The crowds
on 1st Ave.
are always truly amazing, but this year
they
were better than ever. I ran on the left and thanked strangers.
I ran
on the right and shook hands with the police officers. I talked
to
people in front of the hospital. And I loved the wild ones in
front
of the bars. New York, don't ever close the
bars on Marathon
day!! I
loved hearing the guy with the bullhorn yelling, "Welcome
to the Bronx". They were yelling their hearts out for
everyone.
I was
feeling incredibly excited, peaceful, and totally enjoying
every
moment. But, when I reached 5th
Ave. in Harlem
it all started
to hit
me. This is it. You are on your way home to Central Park
for
the
last time. This was reflection time. I thought about all the
wonderful
years Lew & I had in NY. The incredible friends we made,
hopefully
for life, and the Saturday morning runs that I will miss
more
than anything else. And I thought about the only regret that I
had.
That my Father did not live to see this. He would have loved
it. So
I talked to him. I don't know what the communication system
is
wherever he is, but if he heard me he now knows all about the
NYCM.
That's when I realized I had to have a plan to get thru to the
end. I
had to keep it together if I was going to make it to the
finish
line one last time.
I can
honestly say that I never felt as good at mile 24 as I did
this
year. Once I was in the Park it was like I owed it. I was
home,
this in my park. The crowds on CPS were there only for me to
see me
run my final mile. The big test was seeing Lew waiting for me
at mile
26 for the 7th and last time. I was doing pretty well and
then he
pointed out my friend Gary standing there with a purple &
white
sign that said "Pat & Lew Thanks for the Memories, Love, The
Merms
and Wannabes". You people were so determined to make me cry for
those
last .2! Fortunately for me I could only read the big print
since I
had no glasses on. I kissed Lew, swore to him it was my last
marathon,
said goodbye to my friends who were there with him and took
off up
the hill. I took great care to get a good finish line photo,
hands
in the air, head up, big smile, 
and just as you have it down right somebody runs right in front of you!
It
doesn't matter, because I have the greatest memories in the
world.
Thank you.
"THERE'S
NOTHING LIKE RUNNNG THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON"
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