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Cynthia Conquers New York
03/12/2017
As quoted by Martin Luther King…..”I had a dream”, of one day running the biggest Marathon in the world ….New York…. and it certainly didn’t disappoint, in fact it was bigger, bolder, louder and more inspirational then I could ever imagine.
New York was my 4th marathon, the other 3 were Melbourne events, and I must say there is a certain pride in running on home turf and especially arriving at the MCG. New York though was something else…….
Image lining up with 50 000 people of all different nationalities, speaking different languages but still we felt a sense of togetherness as we embark on this huge event. The canon fires, the Straten Island bridge trembles, and we all take off, up and over the bridge with the beautiful distant view of New York City.
Imagine the arrival over the bridge and we turn into the crowd, millions of people line the street and they are all screaming, cheering, holding out their hands for a touch. With my name on my shirt so many spectators scream out my name “Cynthia from Australia, you are doing well, you are doing awesome, come on”. So of course I feel strong and head out fast, my five minutes of fame accomplished!!
We ran along main streets through the 5 boroughs of New York, Straten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Each one unique with its own individual people and buildings. It felt like I was running through a continuous row of rock concerts, playing music from Village People to Rap. Spectators and runners alike where moving to the music, we where all singing and dancing and of course running.
The inspirational part began, as we ran passed the people with disabilities and illness, they had started the event earlier, and they where AWESOME. Blind people being led by seeing people, people with illness such as MS, Motor Neurons, Parkinson’s , one lady in a frame with terminal pancreatic cancer. They were all running 42kms also!!!! We were running past cheering them and patting their backs …42 km is a long way being fit and healthy, it is an incredible achievement for these people.
Finally after 4hrs I arrived at the finish, I was wet and getting cold, and yes pleased to stop but in many ways sad that the journey had come to an end. It was like the most fantastic ride of my life had come to an end…did that really happen. Wow! 4 hrs felt like 1 hr, it was the best run I have even done and I didn’t stop until the end.
So you might say….it was AWESOME!
Thank you to all lovely people at the Dolphins that took an interest in me doing this event.