Healthy Kidneys

Found out just before bed on Thursday night that one of our friends had to go to Boston at the weekend and was entered to run in the NYRR UAE Healthy Kidney 10K in Central Park on the Saturday. He said I could do it, all I had to do was pick up the race number on the Friday.

So I went to get the race packet when I was out at the doctors getting them to check all my vaccination paperwork. The UK doesn't vaccinate for chicken pox, or something like that, so I may have to get that here, they took a blood test to see if I'm immune, as I had no paperwork (or memory) to show I had already had it. Chi-ching £100 thanks.

Then at night we went to the Bowery Ballroom to see Rob Delaney, I reckon he's the funniest person I follow on Twitter.... and that's basically all I know about him. They did film the gig so maybe he has plans to release a dvd? The iPhone didn't take a good pic so here's the official one.

© Bowery Ballroom

We got home around 11.30pm and despite being in bed for midnight it was still touch and go whether I was going to run the next morning. But it's all still new & exciting to me, so of course I did!

From our house in Brooklyn to the corner of Central Park in Manhattan takes about an hour on the subway. Allowing extra time for the not-so-regular weekend trains and time to get my bearings at the race I left the house at 6.30am and got there with about 25mins to spare so had plenty time to check out my surroundings and runner/people watch. Didn't know how much time I'd have and the baggage area was 6 blocks north of the start so at least the weather was decent enough to just travel ready to run with a little SpiBelt to hold my MetroCard and keys.

Back of the tee

Sponsored by the United Arab Emirates there was big prize money, including $25,000 for 1st place so it attracted the USA's Marathon three man team for the London Olympics as well as some other top athletes. The winner, Daniele Meucci form Italy raced round in 28.28, ha ha.

© NYRR

There were just under 8000 competitors and I've never actually ran in a race with that many people for such a narrow roadway. If it wasn't for the fact it was all new to me racing a loop of Central Park, (in a clockwise direction), I don't know if I'd necessarily enjoy it, you really have to watch where you are for the entire race. Chopping your stride a few times to avoid running into people.

Putting my hand on some guys sweaty back as he ran in front of me and then decided to stop completely, without stepping of the course first. It really is just like the freeway driving!

My compartment syndrome in my shins has previously prevented me from partaking in pure road races at pace, but having switched to a lower shoe (Saucony Kinvara) and attempting more of a midfoot landing this has certainly helped reduce the pain, they got mildly sore within the first mile but never got any worse. Will be interesting to see how sore they are for the next few days though.

So "cruised" round comfortably-ish in 46mins, would have been a lot worse if 95% of the route wasn't shaded by trees. Even about 16° feels warm for me in a race, especially with all the concrete and so little wind. At least the walking afterwards heading to the 20°'s feels nice, no after-race sweats/jackets required!

©Brightroom

On the way to the subway in Manhattan I came across some filming for The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. Heard the "Action" call and watched two guys run up the street while they filmed for 30secs before letting the traffic back through. Will now wait until 2013 and see whether that makes it in the film!

Interestingly, there was no medal today, not that I'm bothered, but they did hand out bagels at the finish.... soooo New York.