STATEN ISLAND HALF MARATHON RACE REPORT 2014

Well NYRR made some changes to the Staten Island Half Marathon this year, and it was a significant improvement.  Last year the stadium was off limits (except for the kids race) but this year, the stadium was the focal point of the race.

There were two HUGE logistical improvements to the Staten Island Half this year: 

For starters, they offered race day packet pickup at the stadium where the race was being held.  Last year, packet pickup was a store location somewhere on Staten Island.  Unless you lived on Staten Island and knew exactly where this location was, you didn't want to chance race day packet pickup.  Convenient race day packet pickup is a big thing IMO!

In the past, the parking lot located next to the stadium was completely closed off to traffic.  This year however, that parking lot (entrance on Jersey Street) was open and you were allowed to park your car in the lot.  Major improvement points there!

The start line was at the same location this year as it was last year.  I made sure to pay closer attention to the mile markers so that I could give a more accurate race report. We ran along the water, then turned up and onto St. George Avenue.  We continued along St. George Avenue onto Bay Street.

Runners ready to run the Staten Island Half

The first noticeable incline was at 2.8 miles, followed by another decent incline at 3.5 miles.  The 3.5 mile incline was the one that gave me side stitches last year.  This year...no side stitches.  I learned my lesson from last year.  Another smaller incline awaited us at mile 4.

After mile 4, you run under an overpass near the Verrazano bridge.  They always have a DJ playing music there.  As you  approach mile 5 you get a nice downhill where you can pick up some speed. A timing mat was located at the 10K mile marker, and the turn-around point was close to the 7 mile marker.  I would say miles 5, 6 and 7 are pretty flat (and boring) along Father Capadanno Blvd.

Then comes miles 8 and 9.  The end of mile 8 into the beginning of mile 9 are the toughest on this course.  Mile 8 ends with a grade going up and mile 9 begins with a challenging uphill climb.  Last year I had to run/walk the hill, but not this year.  This year I was able to trudge my way up without having to stop and walk.

After the big hill, the course flattens for a while and you even get a small decline at one point. I noticed the next incline was around mile 11. At that point I wanted to stop and walk so badly, but I didn't.  The last uphill climb is during mile 12 and it's the final push that brings you home.

Once you make it past that, the road flattens and you get to run down the ramp towards the stadium. This is where a lot of spectators hung around and cheered. We came down the ramp, took a left hand turn and ran into the Staten Island Yankees Stadium. We ran across the ball field towards first base, where the finish line awaited.  They had the big screen showing the runners as they crossed the finish line.

Tom, my brother and I wearing some
nice looking bling

The use of the stadium was a significant improvement this year! This year, the kids race started at noon whereas last year the kids race started 2 hours after the half marathon began. Several runners missed seeing their children partaking in the kids run because they were still out on the course themselves.  Noon was a much better start time, IMO.  There was plenty of water and Gatorade stations on the run course. More porta potties would have been nice since there seemed to be a long line again.

A PERSONAL FOOTNOTE:
At the beginning of this race I decided to follow the advice of an article I read in Runners World magazine.  Not once did I look at my watch or at the pace clocks.  I simply ran the very best that my body could run.  6.75 miles into the course, a runner was receiving CPR on the side of the road.  It was a very upsetting scene to witness. Apparently he suffered a heart attack during the race, but NY's finest managed to resuscitate him.  He is currently in critical but stable condition.  After witnessing that, it was no longer a "race" for me.  It was about running with a grateful heart!  I feel guilty that it took something tragic like that for me remember that I should be always be grateful for what I am capable of physically achieving.  I ended up finishing in 1:45:48, a new half-marathon PR for me.  And I made a promise to myself that I would try to run with a grateful heart as often as possible.  "The race is long, and in the end it's only with yourself".  Sage words to live by.