Birmingham Post reporter Emma Brady has experienced her American dream – she’s run and completed her first New York Marathon.
She was in the city at the time of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks and has a great love for the ‘Big Apple’.
Emma was one of more than 3,500 Brits taking part in the event and had tackled almost a year of training in preparation.
An early wake-up call for the popular run saw her queuing for competitor buses at 6am, and once the starting gun had fired, it took a further seven minutes to get as far as the start line.
She said: “The mood was euphoric, as Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run blasted out from a Tannoy system, already there were tears in my eyes – not a good sign.”
Well-wishers along the way ensure everyone feels welcome, waving banners and shouting good luck messages.
Emma said: “Aside from my love of New York, what marks this event out from other races is the welcome entrants receive.
“And that was evident as I plodded along 92nd Street into 4th Avenue, when I heard my first “Go Emma, you can do it” and it wouldn’t be the last.
“The six-mile stretch along 4th Avenue was packed with supporters, vital as the sun began to bear down as temperatures reached 72F by midday – and I had never seen anything like it.”
She ran her fastest two miles through Central Park, and although she was slipping away from her target of 4h 30, she knew all she had to do was press on to the end.
She said: “With arms outstretched I crossed the line at 3.07pm – having run 26.2 miles in 4 hours 50 minutes and 17 seconds.
“As a volunteer placed a huge medal around my neck I shed a few more tears as I realised my own American dream.”
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