2:56:51 gave me three minutes and eight seconds to spare.
The number I cared about was 2:59:59. I had run Chicago in 2:56:31 four weeks earlier, but New York was still coming. I wanted to run my first New York City Marathon under three hours.
My race preparation continued right up to the night before. I had paid for a race-pacing app and realized I still needed its unlock key. I emailed the developer and said I was running at 9 a.m. I hoped the key would arrive by then.
The course started on Staten Island, crossed all five boroughs, and finished in Central Park. The New York Road Runners finisher list recorded 2:56:51 for me, a pace of 6:45 per mile.
That put me 885th overall, 828th among men, and 191st in my age group. It was my first NYRR marathon and my first New York City Marathon.
It was also twenty seconds slower than Chicago. That part did not matter much. Both times started with a two.
Two days later, I put a gathering on the calendar called “Chris's marathon thank you drinks.” The invitation said I was buying drinks for the people who had made a special impact on my last year of running.
My legs still needed their own plan. By Wednesday, my quads were sore, though my hip felt good. My coach kept running off the schedule until Sunday and added swimming for aerobic work without more pounding.
The marathon was done. Sunday was the next time I was supposed to run.