“I’m just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line,
‘Cause I’m in a New York state of mind.”
–Billy Joel
Some people from out of town really do like to hop on a bus and ride around the Big Apple experiencing all the sights and sounds of our nation’s most famous metropolis.
Others, like some from Bucks County, have a different way of taking in all the hustle and bustle and they don’t need any motorized vehicles to do it.
We’re talking about the 50,000-plus runners who will take to the New York City streets this Sunday as they traverse all five boroughs on foot in a matter of hours.
It’s an image to behold as the field makes its way from the starting line on Staten Island, over the Verrazzano Bridge, then into Brooklyn, Queens and finally Manhattan.
By the time they reach the finish line in Central Park, it’s the completion of an amazing 26.2-mile journey and probably good for a photograph or two in the computer file or old-fashioned scrapbook.
Newtown’s Tony Pereira will be competing in his sixth New York City Marathon. He’s completed the six Abbott World Majors challenge, including London, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, Boston and New York City.
From the enthusiasm in his voice, you can tell the New York City Marathon is most likely his favorite.
“Just running through the five boroughs is unique right there,” Pereira said in a telephone interview. “The second thing I like about New York is the people, the crowds. It’s priceless.”
On a good weather day, it’s estimated that as many as two million people line the course route to watch their favorite runners, possibly including family members, do their thing.
“Before you die,” Pereira said with a laugh, “you have to experience the New York City Marathon. There’s nothing like it.”
New Britain’s Nancy Smith has also completed the Abbott Majors and finished New York City in 2016. Like Pereira, she found the whole experience a memorable one.
From her perspective, it’s easy to see why marathon runners want to try New York at least once.
“I think it’s the big city appeal,” said Smith, who completed her New York race in 3:46. “You start on the Verrazzano and you just run through all of New York. It’s like a sight-seeing tour. It’s pretty awesome.
“Everybody has energy going over that bridge. They’re just ready to go. My race, we had a beautiful day. It’s on a Boston level. I don’t think any of the other majors have the appeal that New York does.”
Other Bucks County runners competing in New York this year include Jim Larson, Jin Lee, Jim Maze and Marco Giallella.
New York is a particularly challenging marathon because of all the bridges, the turns, the crowding (especially in the early going) and, of course, the distraction of all the noise and so forth.
“The first couple miles up and over the (Verrazzano) bridge is tough,” Smith said. “But everybody is pumped at that point. A lot of people stop and take pictures.
“That part really didn’t bother me. It was going over the Queensborough (59th Street) Bridge. That was a little challenging. After that it’s fairly flat (upper Manhattan). Then you think you’ve got it made but then you get into Central Park and it is not flat.”
For Pereira, NYC has become almost an annual rite of autumn.
“The view from the top of the Verrazzano is priceless,” he said. “You look to the left and you see the New York skyline, Statue of Liberty. You look to your right, you see the all the boats gathered in the harbor. It’s just an amazing experience.
“When you get into Central Park and hit mile 24, that’s near the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the sea of people, you just go with the energy at that point. It’s fascinating, very emotional. You realize you’re ready to finish one of the most difficult but fun marathons in the world.”
>Race calendar
Saturday
Langhorne American Legion Veterans’ Day 5K, 9 a.m., Langhorne. Contact www.runsignup.com
