POST MARATHON - Part One

With the race completed and achieving a respectable time I could relax. After ten months training and fundraising to get to New York it was mission accomplished. The relaxation started with the Marathon Tours group getting together at a roof top bar not far from our hotel. We had drinks, nibbles and a chance to catch up with other athletes to see how their day went. 

James Carrick, Eve and Terry - Post Marathon Drinks

We arrived at the venue on time and almost had the place to ourselves. Other people in tour group started to arrive later. The trek from the finish line back to the hotel is not easy, either a long walk on tired legs or cramming into over crowded public transport. With my early start and relatively quick race and with my helpers we got back to the hotel with time to spare for a shower and tidy up. One of the athletes that was there earlier was James Carrick, the only other Achilles competitor from NZ. James is visually impaired and was hoping for a good time. James and his guide both found the race more difficult than expected though. Like myself they found the Queensboro Bridge tough along with the last 5km up 5th Avenue and through Central Park. After not too many drinks and some tasty nibbles and some more conversations we headed back to the hotel, my early start at 3:00am was catching up on me.

Hassenfeld Childens Hospital

Monday, the day after the marathon, was scheduled to be our last full day in Manhattan. However after talking with my cousin Karen it seemed to make more sense to head down to their son Sean and daughter-in-law Sarah's house in Atlantic Highlands. This location is about a 40 min ferry ride south from Manhattan. A great location for a young family with parents who need to keep in touch with work places in the city but work from home when their presence is not required. We therefore packed up, arranged storage of the racing chair at hotel and got the doormen to order a taxi big enough for the wheelchair and our luggage. Arrangements all took quite some time and even after a swift taxi ride from the hotel to the ferry terminal we unfortunately missed the first ferry to Atlantic Highlands. The wait for the next ferry wasn't too bad. While we were waiting I went to get some money from an ATM which happened to be in the lobby of the Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, hence the interesting way they park cars. While in the lobby I took the chance to get out of my chair to check my left front castor that wasn't functioning well. I disturbingly found that a bearing had totally collapsed. The castor was still marginally serviceable so I headed back to the ferry terminal. The trip on the boat was pleasant. There was a nice smooth sea and we got to see the Statue of Liberty while having cold beer from the bar.