I dodged a big bullet before Sunday's race.  I felt like a hammer hit the top of my left foot last Friday, October 24.  Therefore, I passed on running the 5 mile Poland Spring Run with Kal, Kathleen, and Linda a couple of days later.

The pain persisted and I went to physical therapy on Monday, October 27.  One of my Deep Water Running buddies diagnosed it as a stress fracture and another diagnosed it as plantar fasciitis.  I was about to cry as my whole year of training including Everest Base Camp was in jeopardy.  However, I got another opinion on Tuesday.  Dr. Dan diagnosed it as tibialis muscle starting below the knee and it goes along the shin and becomes a tendon near the foot.  Basically, it's "only" tendonitis and I was medically cleared to run thank God!

I asked Dr. Dan to give me the arnica painkiller shots on marathon morning.  (Arnica is a non-steroidal pain killer.)  I also took 6 Advils before and during the first half of the race to get me through.  Since this is my fifth and final NYC Marathon, I'm going down swinging.

That said, I almost slipped near the start.  I liked the rolling start in waves but couldn't find my 4 hour 15 minute pace group.  I only saw the 3:50 and 4:30 pace groups.  I thankfully paced myself pretty well through the first half at 1 hour 58 minutes. 

The painkillers and Advil kicked in and I couldn't feel my legs on the 59th Street Bridge.  Wait, this feels like the road to Pengboche except for Steve telling me to stop at the top of the hill but the hill just kept going and so did I.

Speaking of Steve, it was great seeing Steve, Kathleen, and Linda on First Avenue!  Thanks for showing up and cheering me on!   

After the race, it was great hanging out at the Fred's Team Party with Karen and her friend Francis, Kal's Party, and Runner's Post Party at the Hammerstein.  After being up for almost 23 straight hours, time to catch up on football games on Sportscenter and get some sleep.

On Monday at Tavern on the Green, I met up with my friend Claire and her Mum Brenda from the UK.  I had never met Brenda before but she recognized me because she was standing right next to Steve, Kathleen, and Linda while they were cheering for me on Sunday.  What are the odds of total strangers meeting someone who just happens to stand next to someone out of 2.5 million spectators and 40,000 runners?  Pretty long, eh?  I guess I should buy a Lottery ticket. 

Anyhoo, Claire and Brenda are both big Paula Radcliffe fans.  Paula was supposed to be at the Boathouse in the morning where Claire and Brenda tried to see her.  However, she ended up going to Tavern on the Green but Claire and Brenda didn't see her there.  Claire and Brenda said why don't we take a chance and back to the Boathouse.  Sure, I said because the Boathouse was on my way to physical therapy at Dr. Dan's office.  We confirmed that Paula was inside.  Before she came out in less than a half hour, Men's Marathon Winner Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brasil came out and Claire took this photo.



Paula Radcliffe then came out a few moments later and we're pictured below.  



Bottom Line: Since I ran the first half at 1 hour 58 minutes, I wanted to run a little faster around 4:15 or less.  But, I got a 4:34 PR.  I can still walk and grateful for that.  The stress fracture/tendonitis was a big scare.  The weekly pain in physical therapy over the past year has been pretty fierce and I'm afraid of long term injuries. 

Moreover, I want to quit while I'm ahead to focus on shorter races and my music career.  My voice has healing powers which can foster world peace.  For instance, if Joe the Plumber can get a country music contract, then my first album should sell at least 10 million copies/downloads.  I have sung karaoke on six out of seven continents (except South America) and word is spreading of my musical talent.  As the founder of Slavic country hip-hop, I have immediate cross over appeal.  I didn't need a DJ to cross me over because the I have two "DJs" in my last name. 

My next and last marathon is the North Pole Marathon with Dr. Dan and Kal is not for a PR.  It is for only to (1) destination before the ice melts, (2) celebrate Admiral Perry's 100th year visit to the North Pole, and (3) raise money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a member of Fred's Team.   Mega thanks to those who have already donated!  Due to the economy being in the tank (no pun intended) and North Pole Marathon in April, I asked Fred's Team to keep the fundraising webpage open until May 1, 2009.  So, if you can't donate now, please donate when you can.

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_%20id=113

I've been through a lots of blood, sweat, and tears over the years but it's been worth it.  After September 11, I had to rebuild my friend base as many of my high, college, and other friends left NYC, got married, or dropped off the map.  I am grateful for the Antarctica trip as one of the key points in my life.  There would be no Steve and The Tank, Everest Base Camp trip, etc. without it.  When you take unique trips, you meet special people and I am blessed to have made many life long friends. 

Posted by a grateful Tank reporting live from the NYC Marathon in the world's greatest city. 

The Tank is running his penultimate marathon today and Queens born Kara Goucher is trying to bring home a first place finish in the NYC Marathon today for the USA. We’ll be cheering them on, live from Mile 18 on First Avenue in Manhattan. Stay tuned…

Due a sharp hamstring pain last Saturday morning, I passed on running Greta Gallop's, the half marathon honoring nine time NYC Marathon Women's Champion and cancer survivor Greta Waitz.  It pained me because of the hamstring pain itself.  More importantly, I am running for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in honor of Greta.  (We are pictured below after last year's Greta's Gallop.) 

However, I erred on the sign of caution and signed up for this morning's 20 mile Running Center training run.  I started running (not racing) at a good pace, touch wood.  After we finished the first loop of the reservoir, one of my fellow runners shouts "Howard Stern!"  I thought she was listening to a recording on her iPod of previous Howard show.  Nope, it was the real guy running with a blue running head band.

Howard was unfortunately running in the other direction.  We missed an opportunity to talk and see if I could guest host for him. 

Congratulations to Howard for his recent wedding with Beth Ostrovsky!  Good luck to Beth who will be joining me (touch wood) and about 38,000+ of our closest running friends in the NYC Marathon three weeks from tomorrow!

You know I always want to meet celebrities like Howard Stern.  However, I'm focused on the run against cancer.  Please sponsor me below at this fundraising permalink OR copy and paste the link below into a browser:

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_id=113

Many thanks in advance for your support in these difficult economic times for a great cause.

Posted by a grateful Tank running against cancer in Central Park.

Yes, it's true, The Tank had his head shaved yesterday in Kathmandu by a professional barber, NOT Steve.  I trust Steve with my life but NOT my hair.  I am a man of my word and promised everyone on the trip that I would get my head shaved as part of my "Extreme Makeover, Nepal Edition".   

More importantly, I am running to benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Fred's Team.  If you wish to sponsor me, please use the secure Fred's Team homepage. 

Homepage:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_id=113

If you wish to sponsor me offline with a check, please use this donation form:

Donation Form:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=donateForm&user_id=35640&event_id=113

which has a link to a PDF form.  Please fill in my name at the top -- many thanks in advance.

On my Fred's Team website, I have a picture of Aubrey Barr, now a 40 year old woman.  When she was a little girl, she was diagnosed with cancer and given little hope to live.  Now, she is the mother of two children and has finished 25+ marathons.  Besides my Mom, Aubrey is one of my heroines.   

You will also note a picture of Frosty the Snowman.  I included it because I dressed up as Frosty in December 2001 to cheer up my colleagues after the September 11, 2001, attacks.  My office was nine blocks south of the World Trade Center.  I was and am grateful to be alive to dress up as Frosty. 

I also used the Frosty photo as I am planning to run the North Pole Marathon in April 2009, God Willing and global climate change permitting.  (I am not a good swimmer if the ice melts.) 

The November 2, 2008, New York City and April 2009 North Pole Marathons are my two final marathons in my marathon career due to injuries. 

All donations are greatly appreciated.  No money goes to me.  All funds benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  Please check with your accountant to double-check tax deductibility (which it should be).  Thank you very much and see you at the finish line!

Posted by a grateful Tank in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Hello sportsfans, this is the Tank checking in with you after running the 2007 ING NYC Marathon earlier today.  I ran it in a personal best of 4:39.  It's not a great time but am grateful given being on the mend most of the past year.  For instance, I did not run for five months after last year's NYC Marathon because of injuries to (1) gastroknemesis or the muscle that goes into the right calf, (2) water on my right knee, and (3) strained soleous muscle and tendon around my right ankle. 

This year's injuries include a slightly tore my left calf on the Japan Day on Sunday, June 2, and retore it at the Fred's Team workout on Thursday, July 12.  After a second opinion, my physical therapist Dr. Dan wanted to check for a stress fracture.  I had my first MRI in late July and it was negative thank God!  Against the advice of Linda, Steve, Kathleen, and many others, I ran this year's race even though I am 15 pounds heavier than last year BUT ran it 17 minutes faster than year.  I didn't run a great race but I ran a smart run with 26 one mile runs instead of one 26 mile run.  I walked each water stop to proper hydrate and recover my legs.  It helped me in later miles and feel better than last year thank God.  Woooo!

Speaking of later miles, I want to thank great and treasured friends like JH for showing up on 82nd and First Avenue.  Soon thereafter, Fiona ran the last 7.2 miles with me.  I also want to thank the great fans of NYC, especially those in the Boogie Down Bronx who allowed me to take the microphone at their music stage to throw down a hip-hop rhyme that I recently wrote for a colleague for a national conference.  The crowd went crazy.  As I transition out of marathon running over the next 18 months due to unbearable pain and fear of long term injury like not walking well.  I'll still do fitness running God Willing so I can tour the world with the healing power of my unique blend of music.  I don't have studio time lined up yet but you will all be invited to the album release party. 

Lastly, I want to thank Steve, Columbus Craig, Kal, JH, Aussie Rod, Buffalo Steve, LI/Vermont Bill, Maria, John the European, and everyone else who sponsored me this past weekend.  A big shout out to friend and Fred's Team Coach Antarctica Jeff.  If you still wish to sponsor me, please do so before December 15.  As I am only $775 short of my goal, any and all contributions are greatly appreciated, no monies go to me, and are tax deductible.

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_id=53

OR

https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=donateForm&user_id=35640&event_id=53

Posted by a grateful Tank on the road to beating cancer in the 2007 ING NYC Marathon.

What is the Run to Home Plate (RTHP) you may ask?  The New York Road Runners and the Mets combined to give the average fan a chance to run to home plate at Shea like a Met.  What a thrill! 

This is my second year doing the RTHP.  It was rescheduled from a few weeks ago which was when I was battling a slight tear in my left calf.  Today is my first race back so I am a little nervous.

The 7 Train thankfully made good time out to Shea as there is hardly anyone on it is almost midway between the finish of Friday night's game and the start of Saturday night's game.  I looked up from writing and happened to see PS1 which Kathleen suggested as a group get together.  My idea was to
see Erasure and/or the Beastie Boys at McCarren Pool.  So many good ideas, so little time.

Time to get ready for the 5k (3.1 mile) race that begins in the Shea parking lot, goes to and around the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow Park, run back around Shea, and into Shea through center field, take a quick left, run along the warning track to the right field line, and then a quick right down the first baseline to finish at home plate.  The thousands of us didn't actually step on home plate because of possible damage to it and the field but you get the idea.
         
Back to the start in the Shea parking lot.  There isn't much of it left as cranes move metal and concrete around to build the new Citi Field.

I am grateful that the regular NYRR announcer isn't making his usual annoying announcements.  The regular announcer must be in Central Park at training run.  Steve and Kathleen and Linda are somewhere are in Denmark and Upstate, respectively, smiling. 
                                           
The new announcer does double duty and a great job singing the National Anthem.  The starting horn is about to go off as I pray for a healthy race.

"Errrrr!" blasts off at the Start Line and I am off.  I have to stay within myself and run slow and steady.  I promised my roommate and other friends to take it easy.  It's hard to do as my juices get flowing as
the "Let's Go Mets" theme plays after the starting horn goes off.  My left calf tightens about a quarter mile in and I had to stop to stretch it out.  Back on the course.  I pass under the Grand Central Parkway
coaching myself to keep it slow and steady.  The pain diminishes slightly as I get to the first water stop which I walk through to rehydrate and rest my legs.  Time to move and I get to the Mile 1 marker in 8:45.  OK, slower than last year but I need to finish this year as my third of nine qualifying races for guaranteed entry in the 2008 NYC Marathon. 
                 
I see the Unisphere and know if I get around it that I am more than half home.  I start getting a good rhythm where I get good speed and can bear the pain in the left calf.  I run the second mile in 8:33 (17:18 total) because I didn't have to stop to stretch and the walk stop is on the other side of the Mile 2 marker.  I walk through the water stop to rehydrate and rest.
       
I can see Shea and know it's almost home.  Through the parking lot and by my normal gate, Gate B, and around Shea to the entrance.  I reach Mile 3 in 8:02 (25:20 total).  Only a tenth of a mile (0.1) left.  I
usually love running on a softer surface like along the reservoir in Central Park but I have to extend and pull the calves too much to get traction.  Therefore, slow and steady and I finish in 26:25.  Hey, a minute slower than last year but I'll take it.  "Put it in the books!" as Mets radio announcer Howie Rose would say after each Mets win.
                            
My fellow runners and I aren't allowed to hang out around home plate except for those with medical emergencies.  My left calf is tight but okay thank God.
                     
Posted by a grateful Tank live from the Run to Home Plate at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens

After intense emotional therapy, I can now share the following story with you. 

Training for a marathon has its share of obstacles and I encountered a unique situation a couple of months ago.

I was finishing up my workout and heard the manager say through the locker room entrance that he was locking up soon.  I looked at my watch and it read 8:59 pm. OK, the gym closes at 9 pm and I am almost done.  I finished packing my clothes.  As I exited the locker-room to walk up the stairs to leave the gym, an alarm bell started ringing very LOUDLY!

What's happening?  I am trying to leave the gym NOT break into it.  I looked around and didn't see anyone.  The lights were out.  I went to the front door and saw that it was locked.  Did the manager forget about me?  The alarm continued to ring as I unlocked the front door to LEAVE the gym.  I saw a doorman in the building next door and asked him if he saw anyone leave. He replied no as the alarm continued to ring.  We tried to figure out what to do and I asked him to watch my gym bag as I went back inside and checked both locker rooms.  Being a gentleman, I of course knocked on the Ladies Room door and asked if anyone was there.  No one answered and then I checked back upstairs and there was no one there.  I didn't know what to do as I wanted to go to watch KAL, a Roma (Gypsy) band, at 9:30 pm and wanted to grab something to eat.  I conferred with the doorman and asked him to watch the building as I went over to Ray's Pizza to grab something to eat.  (He didn't want anything to eat.).  I went back to the gym and the doorman didn't see anyone.  I tipped him a few bucks and asked him to watch the building until the gym opened in the morning.  The show must go on and I was running late to Joe's Pub right around the corner.

The concert was good and I enjoyed the rest of the evening.

When I went to the gym the next weekend (as I normally workout at the downtown gym during the week), the manager was very apologetic as my motion from leaving the locker-room activated the alarm.  After the alarm went off, he was alerted on his beeper.  He called his colleague who lived nearby and turned off the alarm around 9:40 pm.  He apologized again and gave me some complimentary vitamin waters as endorsed by Mets star third baseman David Wright.  I won't name the vitamin water until they advertise with us. 

Posted by The Tank in NY.

We met Craig Wanner on the Antarctica Marathon trip in February 2005.  Craig and his wife Kathy have been happily married for 30 years and reside in Columbus, Ohio.  Kathy was also on the Antarctica Marathon trip and she is a very nice lady.  Craig and Kathy have two beautiful daughters that the Tank recently met during the NYC Half Marathon weekend in late August.  Craig served our country for four years in the US Navy and has an MBA from Xavier University.

Craig's main hobby is running.  He started running in 1983 and has run at least one marathon every year since, an impressive 24 year streak.  He has run a marathon in every state and now working on Seven Continents.  He started with continents ending in the letter "a" and working his way through the alphabet and only has Africa, Australia, and Europe to go.  He has completed 63 marathons and thankfully has zero Did Not Finish (DNFs), touch wood.  He also runs marathons in very good times breaking the four hour mark.

Hi Craig,

            How are you?  Well, I hope.

Thank you very much for agreeing to do the "Steve and The Tank" Interview.   

 

1. How did you get started in running?     Had back surgery and realized my career as a professional bull rider was drawing to a close.

 

2. Why do you run?  Admit it you just don't have much else to do. I’ve been running so long I can’t remember. It’s like asking why I breathe.

 

3. I assume your friends are like mine, they can't even name the 50 states.  It obviously was not for bragging rights, so why did you run a marathon in all 50 states? On all 7 continents?  I was the most ignorant person I knew when it came to Geography…. One of the downfalls that comes from running with grade school teachers. Also it works better for getting out of the house without the mate.  That gives at least fifty excuses to get out of town with the guys.

 

4. The Tank looks like a Tank when he runs he is so banged up from running too much. Do you have any knee issues, etc?   No real joint issues to speak of.  Been very lucky in that respect.  Clean living I guess.

 

5. Ever run a marathon with an injury?  I’ve run marathons with a pain in the ass, but I just pretend to have to pee and let them get ahead so I don’t have to listen to them anymore.

 

6. Best state to run a marathon in?  California (see answer to question 9).

 

7. Worst state to run a marathon in? A drunken state.

 

8. Favorite marathon story? 18 miles in to Big Sur there was a shapely, beautiful blonde (girl) writhing on the ground. I thought she was shedding clothes due to the heat. She stripped down to nothing but her running shoes, put her bib number in her teeth and posed for a picture with arms and legs spread out. I had a tough time finishing the race after that due to a severe relocation of blood.

 

9. Congratulations on finishing a marathon in all 50 States and 7 Continents.  How long did it take you to finish both?   I haven’t finished the seven continents yet (3 to go) It took me twenty years to do the fifty states. I plan on seven years for the continents. One a year should give me time to enjoy them more.

 

10. What possessed you to do it?    I’m still trying to figure that out.

 

11. What is the strangest thing that was ever confiscated from you in Customs? Strangest travel story?    The only thing I’ve ever had regarding a customs agent was coming back from the Toronto Marathon.  The agent asked if I’d been in Canada on business or pleasure and I said neither.  When I told him I was there for the marathon he said he guessed I was right and let me pass.

 

12. I think you did some hiking of the Grand Canyon last year with our fellow Antarcticamaniac Eric Stover.  What was that like?   We’ve been hiking the canyon for over ten years.  It is one of the most fantastic hikes you can do for endurance and a good butt whipping.  As with most of the Antarctica bunch, it is always great to see them.

 

13. You had a chance to spend some time with your wife Kathy and two daughters during the NYC Half Marathon weekend.  What was the social and running experience like?  What was most memorable?  Had a fantastic time.  Went to shows, ate at delis, went to Chinatown.  Running was strange.  Heading south along the river to Battery Park I kept trying to imagine the Towers still there. Having only seen them a couple times on prior trips I don’t know how locals can take it.  That was the visual version of silence being deafening.

         

14. What's next?  Any other destination marathons you want to run?  Next continent will be Victoria Falls, Africa.

                     

15. As you passed me after I injured my back in the Fin Del Mundo Marathon in Ushuaia, Argentina, you said there is a beer waiting at the finish line.    We knew you had to be hurting the way you were walking. You were only a mile or two from the finish and we knew you’d tough it out. We do this for the pain and boy do we get our money’s worth.

 

16. What is your favorite beer? My quick answer is “any” …actually given the choice I go for Bass or Harp’s.  I have been know to drink warm, flat  light beer. I have yet to get to the point of drinking spilled beer out of an ashtray so I guess there’s still hope.

 

(Instead of beer, I asked for a chiropractor and got some codeine or an equivalent prescription drug from a runner from the other boat but I still had sharp back pain through the night and on the way home the next day.).

 

17. Being that you live in Columbus, Ohio, home of the Yankees AAA affiliate (changed since question was posed), what players have you seen come through there over the years?  Have you had a chance to meet any of them?  Besides running, what other sports do you follow?  Ohio State Buckeyes football?  Well, since this writing I’m sure you know Columbus is no longer the Yankees affiliate.  We got canned and now are the Nationals affiliate.  We’ve seen Strawberry.  Buckeye football rules the fall in Columbus.  We do have the NHL Bluejackets now and get to see your Rangers,  Islanders, and the Devils.  I’ve had season tickets since the opening year.

 

18. Outside of running, you are an entrepreneur if memory serves.  How did you start Wanner Metalworx?  Congratulations on the OSU stadium project.  (BTW, the Buckeyes are The Tank's pre-season college football #1 pick)  You could call me an entrepreneur but the fact is that I just couldn’t work for anyone else.  My travel and vacations would be hard for someone else to put up with.  My secret is to hire people smarter than me and get out of their way so they can do their jobs.  Few people object to a boss who doesn’t micro-manage them.

 

19. During the Antarctica trip, you were (in)famous for your knowledge of Monty Python.  What is your favorite Monty Python movie?  Quote?  By far, my favorite movie was the Holy Grail. It is so full of quotes that I can’t really pick one. Spank me next, I only want to sing, merely a flesh wound, what is your quest, trivia:

a. The four capitals of Assyria are located in what is currently Iraq.

b. Funds earned by Pink Floyd’s album "The Dark Side of the Moon" went towards funding The Holy Grail.  The band were such fans of the show they would halt recording sessions just to watch  Monty Pythons Flying Circus.

Factual errors: When they are in the cave and reading the message in Aramaic their heads move from left to right.  When reading Aramaic your head moves from right to left.

 

20. Steve is being stalked by supermodel and X-Men movie star Famke Jenssen as well as hot Turkish singers. Anyone stalking you?   Sometimes it seems like the IRS is.

 

Steve's Bonus Question:  Any cute SINGLE daughters or nieces to set The Tank up with?  I tried and Julia Stiles does not return my emails.    Seems like the Tank would intimidate mere mortal women with his knowledge of sports, music, religion, and life.  I think if the Tank is looking for equals he should travel to places like Mount Olympus and hope for women of mythical proportions.

 

Thank you very much for your time.  See you on the roads.

 

Sincerely,

 

Steve and The Tank

 

P.S. The photo below is Columbus Craig and the Tank drinking beer and orange juice, respectively, in the Ushuaia, Argentina, airport enroute home on, March 7, 2005, or so they thought.  After running the Antarctica Marathon on February 26, 2005, and the Fin Del Mundo Marathon on March 6, 2005, little did Columbus Craig, the Tank, and the rest of the Gang were beginning of their third, unscheduled, and hardest marathon of the trip.  The long road home started on March 7, 2005, and got longer through a long layover in Buenos Aires, weather delays to Atlanta, and finally home.  

 

After being bumped off at least four flights from Atlanta to New York (including first class with NH Diane) on March 8, 2005, the Tank offered to take the Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith look-a-like pilot up on his offer to fly the plane to Hawaii because none were going to the Northeast.  The Tank flawlessly slipped into one of his characters (my pscychologist doesn't like me to call them "personalities") Murdock in his patented crazy role from the "A-Team".  (Like Murdock, the Tank knows how to fly a helicopter as he took a helicopter lesson with BayRidge Bob, Howard, and one of Howard's friends in August 2002 near Princeton, New Jersey.)  The Tank quickly recruited "Face" and "B.A. Baracus" look-a-likes to round out the crew.  Atlanta Homeland Security did not bother arresting the Tank because they know he is a loveable lunatic and a non-terrorist in the need of sleep, shower, and a soulmate.  After a few hours, the Tank finally got an Atlanta hotel room and got the shower and sleep he desperately needed.  He didn't care that he landed the next evening on March 9, 2005, in LaGuardia and his luggage landed in JFK because his back hurt too much from the second marathon in eight days and didn't want to schlep it anyway.  Soulmate still pending.  Keep checking back for more on the Tank and his love, running, and sports adventures.      

 

Posted by Steve and The Tank in NY.

 

 

 

Or Steve at Mile 10.

The highest point of the New York City Marathon is around Mile 1 at the crux of the Verrazano Bridge’s span. We were staging for about 3 hours in Staten Island and had to abandon our jackets, pants and other stuff that we wore to keep us warm.

10:10am-The foot of the Verrazano Bridge

The cannon goes off. Go Lance Armstrong!!

10:15am-The foot of the Verrazano Bridge, we finally get through the start line. We run uphill, a long steady climb. About a 10:35 minute mile.

Miles 2-7 Brooklyn rocks!

We plow through Brooklyn from Bay Ridge (my old town), Sunset Park, Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. Tons of people are lining the streets, I high 5 about 100 kids. A talk to a 10 year old girl with a “Run like Reyes” sign. A kid gives me a lollipop, much better than gu or powergel. Linda accuses me of hamming it up. (I was.)

11:25am Mile 8: Looking for Slander

As we cruse through Carroll Gardens and Park Slope we look for Sarah. She is nowhere to be found. Good news for us and bad news for anyone we told to look for us, we are about 20-30 minutes ahead of our expected times, we thought we would take at least 15 minutes to get to the start line as well as run slower miles. All of us are very strong.

12:20pm 13.1 Miles (1/2 way point) The Pulaski Bridge 2hours 4 minutes

As we leave Brooklyn and enter Queens I shout “LET’S GO METS!!!” And Linda and some other Queens natives chant some Mets in 2007 cheers.

12:50pm: The span of the Queensborough Bridge Mile 16

Ug, the first major uphill challenge in a while. Bridges suck. As we get to the center of the span of the lower deck after about a mile climb, we enter a section in complete darkness. I ask Kathleen and Linda if I blacked out. We get behind some crazy Brazilians who start singing Ole! Ole! Ole! Someone also starts a “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!” chant. We descend into Manhattan into the legendary crowds up first avenue.

Miles 16-19 1^st Avenue

We are all still strong, Kathleen and Linda run into the Tank who is not doing that well and tell him to look for me since I fall a little behind at this point. I don’t see the Tank until 8pm at the bar. As I pass 30km (18.6 miles), Lance Armstrong finishes. He said it was the hardest race he ever did, even said “I don’t know how you do it!” He bonked, he is Human!!!

1:30pm Mile 20, The Willis Avenue Bridge 3:20 pace

Bridges suck. I try to tell myself that this is the next to last one. Linda and Kathleen pull ahead for good and I am on my own so I break out the MP3 player and crank up the tunes. My legs start to get tired. I feel great but start to slow down. I notice that by mile 21 I am now doing 10 minute miles. The Bronx gets jiped, only about a mile in the Bronx.

1:52pm Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan Mile 22

Back to Manhattan and holy crap only about 4 miles to go! The legs are now screaming in pain and the bottoms of the feet hurt. I am just looking forward to E 90^th Street and the entrance to Central Park, my home turf.

Mile 25, Central Park 4 hours 14 minutes (4:09 pace)

As I pass under Mile 25, I am almost in tears of joy and pain. I find out later that Kathleen and Linda and just crossing the finish line, rock on!!!

The 1 Mile to Go Sign!

Woo hoo! We leave the park to run on E. 59^th Street back to the park.

Mile 26, reenter the park.

Only .2 of a mile to go. This honestly is the longest .2 of a mile in my life. I see the finish!! I pick up the speed and thrown my hands in fists in the air and scream as the crowd roars. The clock says 4:26 and change, so my official time will be about 4:20.

The Aftermath.

You have to walk through the finish and get water, your bad check (UPS shipped them from Staten Island) and then reunions. We get medals and space blankets. It took about an hour, everyone is in pain and walking very slow. I barely can walk at this point. Luckily 37,000 people can’t walk either. Due to all the road being closed I have to walk home. Lot so of folks give me congratz.

8pm, The Mad Hatter Pub

After the best burger and beer of my life, Steve and the Tank are reunited. Steve says he is retired from running and will do tennis and yoga now. The Tank says he will slow down.

Posted By Steve, in marathon pain.

While getting ready for Sunday's 18 mile NYC Marathon Tune-up, the Tank woke up early and felt empty.  Not so much from the fact that I haven't eaten in 12 hours, but disappointed that the Yankees did not join their cross-town brethren the Mets in advancing to the League Championship Series.  Therefore, this is Subway Series closure denied.

I often feel that I live in an alternate reality and I thought I had seen it all until I saw a man much bigger than the Tank knitting on the D Train.  Yes, knitting.  I thought I had seen it all but this takes the cake.

Did the Yankees lose?  Did the Mets win?  It is way too early to start writing this.

Onto the issues at hand, perma-guest Jack nor Steve thankfully did NOT take their lives this week.

Congratulations to the Mets!  See you Wednesday night at Shea for Game 1 of the NLCS.

As for the Yankees, the result was disappointing especially after fighting back through the Matsui and Sheffield injuries.  There are many questions for hot stove season and they need to be answered in short order.
                                        
1. A-Rod: Steve and I have had limited success in channeling the spirit of Tony Robbins to help him through his issues.  Let's face it, A-Rod is not meant for post-season in Pinstripes -- only for fantasy stats during the regular season.  If he is open to a trade (especially to the Marlins where he lives in the off-season), please God trade him for an ace like Dontrelle Willis.  If the Marlins don't work out, consider doing it for some prospects with the Angels because we're not going to get Jered Weaver.  His mom is reportedly ill in California so it could help him out.  Speaking of moms, Linda's Mom didn't take my generous offer of A-Rod and the entire Build-A-Bear Company for David Wright during the summer.  Since Christmas is coming up, I would be willing to trade A-Rod for Build-A-Bears for my four Goddaughters.
                       
2. Mussina: Re-sign him but for much less than $19-20 million.  Probably for $5-10 million plus incentives.  Moose needs to also get away from the snide comments during the season because he couldn't hold the 3-1 lead in Game 2 against the Tigers.
                
3. Front-line pitcher: Use Mussina's $10-15 million in savings to get in the Barry Zito Sweepstakes.  Granted, he isn't the same Barry Zito as a few years ago but better than we have right now, except for Wang.  The Yankees are going to have stiff competition from the Mets and other teams.

4. Give Youth a chance: Rasner and Karstens pitched good.  Give them a chance in Spring Training and hopefully beyond.  Please sign Bruney as a potential successor to Mariano because Farnsworth isn't living up to
his potential.

5. Sheffield: Tough call to re-sign him because of his bat and grittiness.  Only about nine or ten games at first base is not enough of a sample plus Giambi is signed through 2008.  If A-Rod is gone, consider moving Sheffield to third which he played years ago.  He definitely has the arm.  A radical idea but the Tank is known for his out of the box ideas. 

6. Melky Cabrera: Melky is the key to a healthy clubhouse in 2007 and beyond.  He and Cano are fun to watch and give the team much needed energy.  How do we deal with Matsui who only has one year left?  Maybe
platoon, DH, and rest when needed with the understanding that LF is his once Matsui's contract is up. 
                                         &nb