On February 1st, 2020 I applied to run in the New York Marathon. 2020 was their 50th anniversary.
Truth be told, it took me a while to decided to run the New York Marathon. As I had to get over a whole bunch of internal financial objections that were continuously running through my mind. As a non-citizen, the marathon is very expensive, the entry fee alone is $358.00 USD ($480.00 CDN). Plus airfare, accommodations, etc., etc.
While I was filling out my registration form internally I said to myself, “I really want to be drawn so that I can run in this race. After all, it is the freakin’ New York Marathon. But if I am not selected then please, please let something better show up for me!”
Bit of background regarding my entry, my current and past running speeds do not qualify me for an automatic entry into the NY marathon. You need to be able to run 42.2 km in less than 3 hours to qualify for an automatic entry into the marathon. Which meant the least expensive alternative for me was to enter into the drawing process.
On average they have 100,000 people entering a draw for approximately 15,000 positions.
So, my chances of being selected were better than the winning lottery but still fairly improbable of ACTUALLY being selected.
I even put it out there on to social media and asked people for their good thoughts and positive vibes. It was heartwarming to receive so many wished of “Good luck or I have my fingers and toes crossed for you.”
The draw was held on February 26th, 2020.
I had only been awake a little while that morning before I check my email Incase I was one of the first ones selected. (A guy has got to dream! :)) Unfortunately, I wasn’t selected 🙁
I kept checking my email throughout the morning, and at 1:32 pm my heart skipped a beat I got an email from the TCS New York City Marathon. I was a bit nervous but I quickly opened up my email to the following email.
Yes, of course, I was disappointed when I was not selected. After a few minutes of disbelief. I sent copies of the above email to various friends and family members stating my disappointment.
My oldest sister, Glenda gave me about 10 minutes to wallow in my self-pity, before responding with, “What’s plan B?”
I didn’t really have a plan B.
So I nonchalantly replied with, “Victoria?” A marathon I had run three years previously. Seconds later Glenda responded with, “How about PEI?” It was on her bucket list of places to run she later told me.
Excitedly, I jumped on to my computer and looked up the PEI marathon info. It was in the right time period for my proposed marathon training schedule. I looked up airfare to PEI, it was about the same price as flying to New York was. I looked up accommodation prices and it was generally 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of New York. PEI was a place that I have always wanted to go to and the icing on the whole cake was that my Sister Glenda was going to run it with me if I went.
To make this even better, my sister Shery is trying to schedule time off her work so that she can come run too. She will probably do a 10 km run or a 1/2 marathon (21.1 km).
So I asked for, “This or something better.” I definitely got, something better!
