NYC with MEB: Brooklyn
This week, Coach Ben and I will be sharing our tips on running through Brooklyn, which takes up nearly the entire first half of the marathon course.
I love running through Brooklyn. The energy is incredible — from the other runners, from the crowds, and from the music. It’s early enough in the race that you’re feeling fresh and there’s a lot of great opportunities to connect with everyone around you. I love high-fiving spectators and giving the thumbs- up to the crowd.
But all that fun and energy brings a challenge! Watch episode 3 of NYC with MEB to see more.
There’s so much to see and enjoy in Brooklyn, and it’s over before you know it. Enjoy the energy, but resist the urge to run too fast. Remember your training and stick to a comfortable pace. In 2009, the year I won this race, I had a moment when a pacer for Jaouad Gharib (who had just won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics the previous year) started to pull away from the pack. My initial instinct was to pick up the pace and follow him, but thanks to some advice from a friend I held back, which was one of the reasons I had the strength and energy to break the finish line tape in Central Park.
We’ll see you next week at the Pulaski Bridge and the halfway point of the TCS New York City Marathon!
Check out previous episodes of the NYC with MEB video series:
Episode 2: The Start
