The weekend of the NYC Half is finally here! I haven’t been this excited for a race in a long time. Maybe it’s because it’s my first “destination” race. Maybe it’s because I love running in New York City so much. Maybe it’s because I know so many people who will be running with me on Sunday. Regardless, ask me what I’m doing this weekend, and be prepared for a gushing response.
I’ve crossed off all my training runs and made my packing list. I’ve downloaded my registration confirmation and shown my husband how to use the tracking app. Since it’s Friday, I’m joining the Friday Five 2.0 link up hosted at Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness, and sharing five other ways I’m ready to run the NYC Half.
I Booked My Hotel And Train For The NYC Half
As soon as I learned I’d gotten in to the NYC Half, I booked a hotel room at the New York Hilton Midtown. I’ve stayed there a few times for work, and know it’s very close to Central Park. It also was surprisingly affordable for such a nice hotel.
A few weeks later, friends who had run the NYC Half before suggested staying near the finish, at the Holiday Inn Express. Since their reasons made sense, I booked a room there too. (Both places had penalty-free cancellation policies.)
Once my husbanded decided to accompany me, I was leaning towards staying at the Hilton–I knew he’d want to spend time in Midtown, walking along Fifth Avenue and visiting Rockefeller Center–but I didn’t make my final decision until this week. Since I will be more stressed about getting to my corral on time than getting back, I opted for the Hilton. I will just have to deal with getting back up to Midtown after I’ve got that medal hanging around my neck. 😉
I wished I’d booked train tickets as early as I booked my hotel. Amtrak prices change with demand, and I’m sure I could have paid half as much if I bought them earlier. I first booked a train that got in to the city early in the afternoon, but then panicked about having enough time to get to and through the expo, and switched to a train that gets in late morning. Thank goodness Amtrak has penalty-free reservation changes!
I Studied The Course Map
For The NYC Half
One reason I am so excited about running the NYC Half is that I will get to run in Central Park and run in parts of the city I’ve never seen.
I’ve run the Central Park loop several times, and love the contrast between the scenery inside the park and the skyscrapers that border it.
I’ve walked from the Hilton to Penn Station, so I’m also familiar with the route to 42nd Street, but it will be totally different–and much more fun–running down the middle of the street.
After the turn onto 42nd Street, I will be in unfamiliar territory. While I plan to push my pace, I hope to be in enough of a groove to take in the sights as I run by.
I am prepared for cold wind along the Hudson River, but hoping it won’t be too brutal. I’m also excited to see Battery Park, although I may be in too much of a haze by then to notice much!
I Studied The Elevation Profile For The NYC Half
Of course, the road map only tells one part of the story, so I’ve studied the elevation profile for the NYC Half as well. It looks intimidating with all those hills in Central Park, but I keep reminding myself that I’ve run those hills, I know those hills, and I can handle those hills.
I Set A Goal Pace For The NYC Half
I don’t usually go into a race with a specific finish time in mind, but I do have goals for the NYC Half. My main goal is to finish within 2 hours. My dream goal would be to finish at about 1:50, but I’m not sure that’s realistic in a field with 20,000 runners, several hairpin turns, those Central Park hills, and ….
I’ve Stalked The Weather For The NYC Half
The theme for this week’s link up is winter fitness rants, and while this winter hasn’t given me too much cause for ranting, March sure has tried my patience. It was 20F for the Reston 10 Miler, balmy a few days later, in the 20s again last weekend, and a snow/ice storm kept us home from work on Tuesday.
Last weekend the NYC weather forecast looked like this:
Now it looks like this:
That looks better until you get more details on Saturday night:
If there are 1-3″ of snow on the ground come Sunday morning, all bets are off. Hopefully the race won’t be canceled so we can still run for fun.
With the weather so changeable, I really can’t decide what to wear. Good thing Amtrak doesn’t charge for luggage–I can pack several options and change my mind several times before I head out to my corral on Sunday.
[Tweet “Stalking the weather and getting ready for the #UnitedNYCHalf #runchat”]
How do you decide what to wear for a destination race?
Has Mother Nature been moody where you are?
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You are so ready for this race! I really hope the weather cooperates for you. You can never plan for that. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Have a wonderful time
Thanks! I really am so excited!
Good luck this weekend at the race! I know the weather is looking less than ideal, but hopefully the anticipated snow will not come on Saturday night into Sunday morning.
I really wouldn’t mind running in the snow, I’m just worried about the road conditions!
I hope you have a wonderful race and can’t wait to hear how you do! I didn’t realize more snow was on the way in NYC…grrr! It looks like you’re ready to go!
Thanks! Since I don’t have to drive in the snow I’m not too worried about it.
I loved taking the train into NYC. It definitely made things so much easier than worrying about traffic and where to park. Good luck this weekend, both weather wise and for the race.
We’ll be Ubering around town a lot, but I could never drive there!
Weather permitting, you’re going to have a great race! When I run a destination race, I bring lots of options. Looks like it’s going to be a chilly one. I swear we’re paying now for our mild January and Feb. For the life of me I don’t remember CP having those kind of hills. Maybe the marathon course doesn’t go there?? I’ve run loops in CP a few other times too. Maybe I’ve blocked them out.
I think the flat second half makes it look worse than it is, but there is a legitimate climb at the north end of the park.
I’m so excited for you! I hope you have a a great finish time & a great time overall. I hope the weather cooperates too, but we’re used to it up here & usually pretty good about snow removal.
Just don’t stand too close to the train platform if there’s snow around (did you see that video?). You should be safe, though, since Penn Station is inside.
We’ve stayed at the Hilton in Times Square a couple of times — it’s a nice hotel!
LOL, that video was crazy! And, yes, Penn Station is way underground! I’m glad I picked a hotel I’ve stayed at – reduces the stress level so much for me!
As you know how to dress for the weather is stressing me out. I never gave a thought that the race could potentially be canceled. I wonder if they would alter the course at all.
This is not our first trip to NYC but I do believe any plans we had for playing tourist may be postponed for another trip if saturday’s forecast is what it is. I may go pick up my bib and then hang at the hotel.
I hope you have an awesome race and that you pick up speed on the second half and crush your goal!
Thanks! No we are stressing over meeting up afterwards, so we may try to head down to Battery Park after I go to the expo.
I can feel your excitement coming through this post! We just got back from NYC and I was just thinking about you. You are so ready to run those streets! Hopefully Mother N. will cooperate. I find for destination races I pack a little of everything just in case.
Have fun and can’t wait to hear all about it!
You got in so much sight-seeing! I don’t think we will have time to do much but I’m hoping to squeeze in a few non-race related things for my husband’s sake!
Good luck with the race- I hope the weather cooperates!!!
I am excited for you and because it’s my bucket list race and I want to read your recap. You will knock your goal out of the water. Hope the weather cooperates.
Thanks! I’m excited to see how it all turns out. 😉
I’m guessing you won’t get the 1-3″ of snow. I hope you don’t anyway. Sending you all the awesome racing vibes!!
That’s still the forecast – I’ll let you know. 😉
I’m so over this winter. I’m tired of the ups and downs. (Remind me of that when I’m hating on the summer heat LOL)
Have fun this weekend! Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and you have an awesome race.
Thanks! I’m planning on awesome fun no matter what.
This weather has been so all over the place that Im sure its tough to figure out what to wear! Hopefully the weather cooperates for you. Good luck and have fun!
Thanks. It looks like the snow will prevail, which I do think is better than rain, right?
I’m glad you have all your travel details settled so you can focus on your event. Enjoy NYC! Looking back, I remember the venue and the people I spent time with at events, often more than my performance at the event itself!
Yeah, usually after a race it’s all a blur, but I hope to savor the experience!
Best of luck! Sounds like you are definitely ready for the race. I ran NYC Marathon in 2014 and loved it. Would love to come back to NY again.
It should make it an interesting race if there’s snow. Hope they don’t cancel it though.
The forecast hasn’t changes for a few days, so I think chances of cancellation are slim!
You got this!!!
We have the crazy weather here too. I’ve got Kim here and we’re trying to prepare for our lakefront 10 miler tomorrow. All you can do is prepare the best you can.
Good luck!
Destination races are a tough all for clothing…..especially when the temps can change so much. I do the stereotypical overpacking LOL Good luck! T
You totally got this!!!!
It sounds like you are all set! I would love to do a race in NYC, such a great place!! Enjoy 🙂
Have fun and good luck! Can’t wait to hear all about it!!
You are most definitely ready and I hope you have/had a great time! Yes, I stalk the weather, parking and all that jazz. Some reason my outfit is last! If I didn’t like to post the FlatSkippy I would probably wait till morning to decide…..
Oh I hope the weather has cooperated for you this weekend! The past two weeks of weather have just been nutty, and certainly not ideal for running. Here’s to a great race!
Hope you had a great race! It’s one of my faves!!!