The marathon is a test of both body and mind, an arduous journey of 26.2 miles that challenges every runner’s physical endurance, but, as legendary coach Joe Vigil says, the true distance lies in “the nine inches above the shoulders”. It is a powerful reminder that mental strength often proves to be the decisive factor.
Elite runners, like Dakotah Lindwurm, recognise that while physical conditioning is crucial, the mind’s ability to navigate the gruelling miles can make or break a race. “The limiting factor is often our brain,” Lindwurm asserts, underscoring that a marathon is as much a psychological battle as it is a physical one.
For me, a veteran of the New York City Marathon and 36 marathons worldwide, each borough of New York City offers more than just physical milestones; they awaken a wealth of memories, associations, and reflections, transforming the race into a deeply personal journey. Breaking the elusive 3-hour mark—the holy grail for marathon runners worldwide—is always on my mind, adding an extra layer of drive and challenge.
Starting on Staten Island, I feel the privilege of unity as thousands gather at the starting line. It’s a place that evokes the polished ambition of Wall Street, launching the journey with a sense of anticipation and exhilaration. Crossing the Verrazano Bridge into Brooklyn, I encounter a grittier New York, where the raw spirit of icons like Robert De Niro and Mike Tyson seems to resonate in the air. Brooklyn’s neighbourhoods and crowds reflect resilience, reminding me of the unbreakable will that defines New Yorkers.
Queens brings a change of pace, its suburban atmosphere evoking a quiet nostalgia that calls to mind the melodies of Simon & Garfunkel. As I run through Forest Hills and Flushing Meadows, I am transported to a gentler era, a time when life felt slower and filled with quiet moments. Here, the marathon’s intensity eases slightly, allowing me to revel in the simpler rhythms of the city and reflect on the comforting middle-class Americana that this borough embodies.
The Bronx jolts me back to the present with its pulse of urban energy, the legacy of Black culture, and the echoes of Harlem’s art, music, and defiance. In this part of the race, my mind conjures thoughts of the Harlem Globetrotters, Soup Kitchens and Spike Lee’s cinematic storytelling, and Elvis’s “In the Ghetto”. The vibrant street art and diversity in fashion remind me that New York’s soul isn’t found in polished facades but in neighbourhoods where strength and creativity grow from adversity.
Finally, I enter Manhattan, where the city’s towering skyscrapers and bustling streets symbolise ambition and creativity. The “penis-like peninsula” is where business and art meet, exuding a distinct power. Running up Fifth Avenue toward Central Park, I reflect on the lives of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon and Martin Scorsese, icons who embody the spirit of this part of New York. Central Park welcomes me as an oasis amid the urban sprawl, and I feel the presence of ghosts from my own past, particularly memories of my ex wife Janet from a cherished visit in 1987.
In this marathon of body and mind, each mile holds a distinct experience, shaping not only my physical journey but also my inner narrative. The boroughs become a colourful canvas, sparking mid-race musings that touch on culture, resilience, and personal history. For me, the New York Marathon transcends the physical feat of covering 26.2 miles. It’s a mental odyssey through layers of personal history and broader cultural reflections, coloured by the city’s multifaceted soul. Completing each marathon reaffirms that the race is less about crossing a finish line than about weaving together life’s experiences, memories, and meanings—mile by mile, step by step, heartbeat by heartbeat.
And as I approach the finish line, I can’t help but humorously wonder, “Queen Victoria, are you watching?”—as if the final 0.2miles, legend has it, were added just to give her a better view!
