Five Boroughs, Five Bridges & Those Never-Ending Hills!
My third World Marathon Major, one seriously tough course and an unforgettable experience.
Well, New York, you certainly know how to put on a marathon!
Just nine weeks after running Sydney, I found myself on the start line of another World Marathon Major, ready to take on 42.2km through the five boroughs of New York City.
Having already tackled Sydney, which has more elevation gain than New York, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what was coming.
How wrong was I?!
New York was HARD. Five bridges, endless long inclines, warm weather and a particularly cruel climb along Fifth Avenue when your legs have already had enough.
But the atmosphere? Absolutely incredible.
And despite having to dig very deep at times, I finished feeling incredibly proud of myself.
Race Morning – That 4.15am Alarm!
One thing nobody really prepares you for with the New York Marathon is quite how early your day starts. My alarm went off at 4.15am, and by 5am I was leaving the hotel to walk towards Central Park to catch the bus out to Staten Island.
The journey took around an hour and a half, but it was a beautiful morning. Chilly, clear and with that lovely sense of anticipation you get before a big race.
Once I arrived at the start village, I found a spot in the pre-start area and just chilled out until it was time for my wave.
Eventually, it was time to head towards the corrals. It was busy, but everyone was in great spirits, chatting away and getting ready for the challenge ahead.
At 9.10am, we were off!
And what a start.
Almost immediately, we were running up onto the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with spectacular views across New York.
As if that wasn’t enough, police helicopters were flying alongside us, with the crews waving as we crossed the bridge. Honestly it was like being a movie !
How cool is that?!
It was one of those moments when you realise you’re actually running the New York City Marathon.
Although that first bridge was also a pretty good indication that New York wasn’t going to make things easy for us!
Brooklyn – Now THIS Is How You Support a Marathon!
Coming off the bridge and into Brooklyn was absolutely brilliant.
After the relative quiet of the bridge, suddenly you’re hit with this enormous roar from the crowds. The streets were packed with people cheering, shouting encouragement and generally having the time of their lives.
The atmosphere was electric.
And then there were the signs. Honestly, New Yorkers have a brilliant sense of humour!
A few of my favourites:
“You look hot when you run”
“You run this city better than the government”
“Give me your number, I’m single”
“AI can’t do this!”
“Pain is temporary, Strava is for every!”
The support was phenomenal, and you couldn’t help but smile and soak it all in.
I also managed to spot Sunny at around 13km, which was lovely. Seeing a familiar face amongst thousands of spectators always gives you that little extra boost.
Brooklyn really delivered.
Halfway – The Pulaski Bridge into Queens
After winding our way through Brooklyn, the next big landmark was the Pulaski Bridge, taking us across into Queens at around the halfway point.
Another bridge, another incline!
By this stage, the warm weather was becoming more noticeable, and I was beginning to appreciate just how demanding this course was going to be.
New York isn't just about a few big hills. It's the constant changes in elevation, the long stretches of climbing and the bridges that interrupt your rhythm.
And there was a particularly challenging one still to come.
The Silent Climb of the Queensboro Bridge
Wow. Just wow.
At around mile 15, you begin the long climb over the bridge from Queens into Manhattan. And honestly, it seemed to go on forever.
The incline was relentless, and unlike the streets of Brooklyn, there were no crowds cheering us on. Just thousands of runners, the sound of footsteps and quite possibly a few people questioning their life choices.
Myself included!
It's amazing how different a marathon can feel when the crowds disappear. One minute you're being carried along by all that incredible energy, and the next it's just you, your legs and the road ahead.
This was definitely one of those moments when I had to dig deep, focus and keep pushing forward.
And I was very pleased to see the end of that bridge!
Manhattan – The City Comes Alive Again
Coming off the Queensboro Bridge and onto First Avenue in Manhattan was fantastic.
Suddenly, the noise was back!
The crowds were out in force, cheering, shouting and creating the most incredible atmosphere. After that tough climb, it was exactly the boost I needed. And even better, I spotted Sunny again at around 27km!
He'd somehow managed to navigate his way around New York to see me for a second time. Anyone who's tried to follow a marathon runner around a major city will know that's practically an endurance event in itself.
The support throughout the race was genuinely incredible. New Yorkers really turned up for their marathon, and it made such a difference, particularly as the course became more demanding.
The Bronx – 10K to Go, Time to Lock In
As we continued north through Manhattan, the next challenge was the Willis Avenue Bridge, taking us into the Bronx at around mile 20.
By now, we were approaching the final 10km, and this was where things really started to get tough. The warm weather, the bridges and all those long inclines were definitely taking their toll.
My legs were tired, and I knew the final stretch wasn't going to be easy. This was the point where I really needed to lock in.
No more thinking about how far I'd already run. Just focus on what was ahead, keep moving and get the job done. I always say at this point, only 2 park runs to go !
After making our way through the Bronx, we crossed the Madison Avenue Bridge, taking us back into Manhattan for the final push towards Central Park.
And just when you think you've conquered the worst of the hills, New York has another little surprise waiting for you.
Fifth Avenue – Seriously, Are You Trying to Kill Us?!
Next came Fifth Avenue.
Now, you'd think that after running more than 20 miles, the organisers might take pity on you and give you a nice, gentle run towards the finish line.
Absolutely not! Fifth Avenue has a long, gradual climb with around 100 feet of elevation gain. On paper, that might not sound particularly dramatic. After running 35km? It feels like climbing a mountain! Seriously, New York, are you trying to kill us?!
The incline just seems to keep going, and by this stage, every little hill feels about ten times bigger than it actually is. This was probably one of the hardest parts of the entire race for me. My legs were tired, I was tired, and I really had to dig deep.
But I kept reminding myself how much training I'd put into getting here.
Sometimes running a marathon isn't about pace or finishing times. It's about finding that little bit extra when your body is telling you it's had enough.
And that's exactly what I had to do.
Central Park – Surely We're Nearly Done?!
Eventually, we made it into Central Park.
You'd think that would mean the hills were finally over.
Not quite!
The course takes you through the park, back out onto Central Park South and then, at around mile 26, back into the park one final time.
And yes, there's still an uphill stretch towards the finish line.
Of course there is!
By this point, I was completely focused on one thing: getting across that finish line.
I was tired, my legs were heavy, but I knew I was nearly there.
Just keep going.
One foot in front of the other.
The Finish Line – Sorry, Sunny!
Apparently, Sunny was there cheering me on as I approached the finish.
After successfully spotting him twice during the race, I managed to miss him completely at the very end! Sorry, Sunny!
I was so focused on getting to the line that I didn't hear a thing.
But crossing that finish line felt incredible.
I'd done it.
My third World Marathon Major completed!
And I was genuinely, genuinely proud of myself.
New York, You Were Incredible
Looking back, New York was one seriously hard marathon.
Even though Sydney has more elevation gain, I found New York incredibly demanding. The five bridges, the long inclines, the silence of the Queensboro Bridge and that final climb along Fifth Avenue made it a real test.
And let's not forget the warm weather!
But what an experience.
The crowds were phenomenal, the atmosphere was electric, and the support from complete strangers was something I'll never forget.
And of course, having Sunny there supporting me along the way made it even more special.
Am I proud of myself? Absolutely.
Two World Marathon Majors in just nine weeks, both on challenging courses, and two completely different but equally unforgettable experiences.
I've learned so much from both races, particularly about the importance of mental strength when things get tough.
I didn't find New York easy. Far from it. But I kept going, pushed through those difficult moments and crossed that finish line knowing I'd given it everything.
And that feels pretty special.
Would I recommend the New York Marathon? One hundred per cent.
Would I recommend they remove a few of those hills? Also one hundred per cent!
Things I'm Loving This Week ❤️
🏅 That New York Marathon medal – Another one for the collection, and this one was definitely earned.
🗽 The people of New York – The crowds, the signs, the cheering. You made the experience unforgettable.
❤️ My support crew – Especially Sunny, who managed to find me twice along the course and once more at the finish, even if I didn’t notice!
👟 My running journey – Three Majors down, more adventures to come. And still absolutely loving this crazy sport.
