First, I want to thank my family and friends who came from Connecticut and Virginia to watch me race and spend time in NY. We had a great weekend.
It was very difficult to qualify for this race. I ran my fastest half-marathon at 1:22:45 to get in. I only qualified by 15 seconds. Knowing all of that I was very happy to be a part of a great event. Especially since I now know that the qualifying times have been pushed down to make it harder to get in.
So let’s get started. I woke up at 4:15AM because I had to catch the 5:30AM ferry. By the time I rode the ferry, took the bus to Fort Wadsworth and walked to my green village, it was still only 7AM. I took a quick nap on the grass and then woke up only to realize I missed my wave entrance. There was one entrance blocked, but not manned so I hopped over and waited for the 9:45AM start.
Start to Mile 2 – Staten Island
I began racing at 9:45 with Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York in the background. I took off in front of the Verrazano Bridge – such an exciting start and the temperature was perfect. But to start, I kept my gloves on. The Verrazano bridge was steep, but I couldn’t feel the climb because my legs were fresh and I had the adrenaline going. We descended on the Verrazano and into Brooklyn. As I descended I past a man with an Ironman costume. I told him, “Time to blast off, Ironman”.
Mile 2 to 13 – Brooklyn
A lot of people in the streets. I ran on the right side because we had to separate when we ran through Brooklyn. I told my mom and girlfriend to meet me on the right side at mile 5 near the hotel. All along I was giving high-fives to everyone-almost everybody especially the kids. I may have been burning myself out. But I was excited. Then I saw my mom and girlfriend and surprisingly my cousins and aunt, who came down from Connecticut instead of waiting at mile 19. My cousin was 2 yards into the street and gave me a big high 5. I didn’t see my coach after but he did see me.
Everyone was yelling at me, ‘Peruvian Power’ because that’s what I had on my shirt. Such an exciting run through Brooklyn. And my pace was pretty quick too. Sub 7 minutes for the most part.
Mile 13 to 16 – Queens
Throughout Brooklyn and into Queens I was raising my arm up getting everyone to cheer. I may have started too quick because my pace started to drop from 6:40 cumulative average to 7. And then I had to run up the Queensboro bridge. My pace really started to slip as my average dipped to 7:10. When I came down Queensboro bridge, I was done. I sweated alot and didn’t drink enough. Sometimes I would reach for gatorade, but only drank water and I only drank at every 4 miles instead of 2 like I used to. I didn’t consume alot of energy gels either. Also my right hip (always the right side) started to bother me a little and so I had trouble accelerating. The tightness would not allow me to push hard.
Mile 16 to 20 – Manhattan
But still after climbing and descending a quiet Queensboro bridge, I can hear the rumbling and then I was on the wide street of 1st avenue in Manhattan. Even though my pace was really slow, I was excited to hear all of that crowd noise. I was also close to a near accident. A lady in her wheelchair tried to cross the very wide 1st avenue street and a runner almost took her out. But otherwise the streets were clear and filled with different bands, from Rock to Rap. I started to give my Jersey fist pump or at least I tried 
Mile 20 to 21 – Boogie Down Bronx
I waved at the cheerleaders to scream. Even though my right hamstring, started to tighten, I knew I was almost there. The bridges coming in and out of the Bronx were tough especially after 21 miles. But I should be good to finish.
Mile 21 to Finish – Manhattan
A great finish as we approached Central Park. Just like in mile 19, I saw my family and now my brother, friend Julio and my cousin Silvia who took the train down from Connecticut. With the hamstring and hip problems, I was worried if I would have knee issues. But I never did, thanks to the orthotics. Going much slower now at 9 minutes per mile, I tried to push but was running almost on empty. For the last half-mile I tried to pick it up. I tried to push myself to catch the guy running with a big sombrero. And finally I finished at 3:23:02 pace of 7:45/mile.
First half-marathon was at 1:33:57 and 2nd half-marathon was at 1:49:05 with paces of 7:10 and 8:19 respectively.
Although I tried some new things with training: Insanity workout and drink every 4 instead of 2 miles, I learned to throw that out, because it hurt instead of helped. Knowing this, along with more training, I am already pumped about the last fast marathon in Miami in 12 weeks.
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