Media Day

November 1, 2011 2 Comments

Today was such a fun, exciting day! For almost 3 hours, my mom, my son, AJ, and I were able to experience what it (almost) feels like to be an elite runner or a VIP running the marathon during race week.

The other individuals participating in the Foot Locker 5 Borough Challenge (FL5BC) and I were invited to the NYC Media Center – a bustling hub of reporters, camera crews, and workers. We were to meet with the media, take some photos, receive our race-day credentials, and go over last minute details for Sunday.

After a brief summary of this year’s FL5BC theme, the other 4 runners and I were introduced to members of the media and asked to discuss why we were selected to represent our respective borough. (Here are our stories )

Explaining how running helped get me through my deployments to Iraq

The 5 participants of the FL5BC posing for some photos!

My mom, AJ, and I

Next, we were asked to do one-on-one interviews with any media outlet that may have wanted to ask us specific questions or take photos of us running.

Interview with reporter from Staten Island Advance

Interview with Voices of America

Lots of cameras

Little run

Meeting (and being interviewed by) Carrie Tollefson

While Mommy was being interviewed, AJ was having a blast exploring every inch of the tent!

Happy to have so much space

After a few hours of interviews and running I was exhausted!! I’m amazed that celebrities and/or elite athletes do this so often.

I was honored to finally meet Mary Wittenberg, the President and CEO of NYRR and the Race Manager for the NYC Marathon. Talk about a dream job!!

Meeting Mary

Right before we walked out the door, we bumped into Bruce Beck, the weekday sports anchor for WNBC, and the reporter who will be interviewing the 5 runners after the marathon on Sunday. Of course, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity for a photo!