These are words you almost never hear after a marathon: "Three-and-a-half hours flew by in five minutes. I didn't feel tired at all."
But those are the exact words of Lloydminster runner Dr. Nekky Jamal, after completing the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
"It was the experience of a lifetime," he added.
Considered one of the world's greatest marathons because of the size of the crowds, the vibe on the course and the incredible gathering of nearly 60,000 runners - the New York City Marathon is a bucket list race.
Sitting in the Toronto airport on Monday afternoon while traveling home after crossing the finish line in New York's Central Park on Sunday, Jamal was still riding the runner's high!
"It was hundreds of thousands of people cheering you on. It was incredible," continued Jamal when asked for his impression of running through the five iconic New York neighbourhoods in the 42.2KM race.
"The crowd propels you forward. I have never experienced that before. The DJs on the side (of the course) and the bands (on the course)... and then you would hear hundreds of thousands of footsteps (of runners) going up a bridge."
According to the New York Road Runners association, two million spectators lined the route on Sunday.
And while Jamal finished in 3:38, the 42-year-old dentist became emotional when re-living the miles on the course on Sunday with his close friend Mikey Dubz. The pair travelled together to New York for the bucket-list experience.
"We are brothers," said Jamal, catching his voice as it began to crack. "He's my homie. It was awesome."
The experience has also left Jamal hungry for his next marathon challenge: "I want to do a faster course... my goal is sub 3:30 next year."
FINISH LINES: The NYC Marathon set a global record with 61,146 finishers... A staggering 153 countries were represented in the field of runners... Italy led the way with the highest-number of non-U.S. finishers... Danil Farkash is the oldest male finisher at the age of 90... Sharon Kerson, 84, is the oldest female finisher.
[Photo: Jamal (left), Dubz (right)]
