John Tomac’s las few minutes of preparation for his first New York City Marathon didn’t take place on the starting line, but in line for the bathroom.

Tomac says “I was waiting in line for the bathroom when everyone moved forward and 10,000 people surged toward the start,” Tomac said. “It took me a minute or so to get to the starting line. When I got there, a guy dressed like a viking was a couple of people over.”

Tomac not only lost the viking, but passed Lance Armstrong and his contingent.

“I felt bad for him because he had a camera crew a foot from his face,” Tomac said. “He was completely surrounded, sucking on motorcycle exhaust fumes. He looked like he was hurting.”

According to posted results, Tomac finished in the top 25 of runners from New Jersey.