New York Marathon

Boo posted my race results in the office e-Group. He wrote "One of ours made it in New York! Rosan completed the grueling New York Marathon yesterday. here is her time as she went through the various milestones. I say it is quite an achievement, powered by sheer guts and determination on rosan's part as she trained relentlessly for the event even in the face of a problem she has with a heel spur she had to overcome just weeks before she had to leave for new york..."
It was a very humbling experience. I was going well until I injured my left knee at the 30km mark. I remember stepping on a plastic cap (one of the gels) which sort of made me off balance. On the 23nd mile, I was already limping and had to stop at the Medical Unit where one of the doctors wrapped my knee. On the 25th mile, I was handed a foil blanket since it was getting cold. It was a very looong mile, I thought I would end up crawling since walking was becoming unbearable.
The race was indeed DIFFICULT. But I must say, I love the new york crowd who kept cheering us on to continue running offering food, water and even music (bands were playing at every corner).
A volunteer group called Achilles Heels (established in 1983 to encourage disabled people to participate in long-distance running with the gneral public) invited me to walk w them. Keke, from South Africa whose upper left-side is half paralyzed, was doing the marathon with his trainer Dennis (an Achiles Heel volunteer from South Afrca, shoe designer) and an american volunteer called Ernie. Their company really helped. Talking got my mind off the pain and Dennis told me to swing my arms which helped me walk faster. I crossed the finish line arm-in-arm with my adoptive 'team' and other Achilles Heels volunteers.(that's me in purple arm-in-arm in the photo).
Thank God I finished this race!

Event Information:
Event: The ING New York City Marathon
Runner: Rosanna Kristine Cruz
Location Time Pace/mile
5km 0:34:26 11:04
10km 1:11:13 11:27
15km 1:48:00 11:35
20km 2:26:35 11:47
Half-Marathon 2:36:09 11:54
25km 3:12:20 12:22
Mile 16 3:21:33 12:35
Mile 17 3:35:10 12:39
Mile 18 3:52:45 12:55
30km 4:03:56 13:05
Mile 19 4:09:23 13:07
Mile 20 4:24:53 13:14
Mile 21 4:42:06 13:26
35km 4:55:47 13:36
Mile 22 4:59:48 13:37
Mile 23 5:27:05 14:13
Mile 24 5:51:54 14:39
40km 6:13:42 15:02
Mile 25 6:17:02 15:04
Mile 26 6:38:41 15:20
Finish 6:43:21 15:23

#94 in the Poland Springs 5-miles Kick-off race

Despite jet lag and warnings to taper off, I joined the 5-miles (or 8-km) Poland Springs Marathon kick-off race this morning. My bib number was # 94. Man, its a major fluke! I made a mistake of putting my pace down to 6 min per mile; duh - dyslexic--i meant 6 min per kilometer; because of this, I placed in the first corral (#1-999) among champions and elite runners. I loved my spot though because I was next to the stage and saw everyone from Mayor Bloomberg's rep, the Poland Spring (sponsor) exec and an actor who sang the national anthem (and ran too and will run next Sunday).
There were 8,000 runners (40,000 are expected in the marathon). Of course, everyone was overtaking me including the runners with numbers 2000 (2nd coral), 3000 (3rd coral) and so on. I think the Philippines' race organizers should learn from the Americans. The whole 5-mi course was so organized with volunteers cheering us on, visible signs per mile, water stations with lots of water and portalets stationed along the way. I didn't push myself since I'm still jet lagged with the nagging fear that I won't be able to walk after. I should actually be resting and saving my legs for the big day.
Saw Jeremy Pivens in "Speed the Plow" on broadway yesterday afternoon. He plays the same Entourage character in the play - neurotic, fast talking producer. The play just opened Thurs and got raving reviews in the New York Times. Will check out Miller's "All my Sons" sometime this week which stars Lithgow, Wiest and Katie Holmes.

celeb sighting in New Yawk

My first day in New York last June 19 found me walking up to the Lulu Lemon outlet in the upper west side. I'm a fan of this Canadian-wear especially for yoga. As I was queueing to pay, I was intrigued by the guy behind me. First, he was the only guy in the store (note: for me Lulu Lemon, is a female store --well, I guess in Manila). Second he was wearing a leather jacket and it was quite hot outside. I gazed down to check his merchandise - he had in his arms several boxes of boxers shorts stacked together (mental note that Lulu Lemon carried boxers).. then looked up again at his face and stared since he really looked familiar... then, the boxes that he was trying to balance fell on the floor. That's when I realized it was Lawrence Fishburne! Hello! Gosh, didn't even help him collect his boxes. I was more like hyperventillating; more star struck. Dumb. Should have gathered up the courage to talk to him or at least have a picture taken with him. I'm sure that he wouldn't mind since he spent some time in the Philippines filming Apocalypse Now. He played the 17-year old boy Clear Miller in the movie. I could also say that am a fan of Morpheus, etc. He's the star in the one-man broadway show called "Thurgod" (photo taken on West 45th St.).

Other celeb sightings but onstage were Marisa Tomei in "Top Girls"; but missed Tony winner Deanna Dunagan in "August: Osage County".