Armstrong prepares for NYC marathon

Right around the corner from Trump Tower, Lance Armstrong jogged across Madison Avenue during rush hour, dodging a police motorcade speeding to the

United Nations, a bicyclist delivering Chinese takeout and two women in heels scrambling for the bus.

A crowded, hectic setting in midtown Manhattan, much like what he'll see in 6 1/2 weeks when he runs his first New York City Marathon. He thinks he can finish within one hour of the winner, and has done 6 1/2-minute miles in training.

But for all 26.2 miles?

"It's been harder physically than I expected," the seven-time Tour de France winner said Wednesday. "Just the pounding. The aches and pains associated with running. My hips, joints. Running is an impact sport, certainly as opposed to cycling."

"The longest run I've done, I think is 13," he said. "I better do a longer one soon. Probably not a bad idea."

The Nov. 5 race will certainly help Armstrong raise awareness and money for his foundation and cancer research. It will come a month after an important date in his life: Oct. 2 will mark 10 years since he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Armstrong is ready for something that will last well past the marathon — questions about whether he ever used performance-enhancing drugs.

"I've sort of prepared myself to deal with it for a long time," he said.

And could he envision a time when people will stop asking?

"Probably not," he said.

Drug use has been a hot-button issue in all sports, especially cycling of late. Recent Tour de France winner Floyd Landis tested positive for elevated testosterone and suspended American cyclist Tyler Hamilton is facing a new doping investigation.

Last week, Frankie Andreu and another former Armstrong teammate who spoke on condition of anonymity told The New York Times they used an endurance-booster before the 1999 Tour de France, the first of Armstrong's seven victories. Neither rider tested positive and both said they never saw Armstrong take any illegal substance.

Armstrong, who's often said he's the most tested athlete in the world, has never tested positive for drugs. Before he retired from cycling, he was subject to tests at any time — his manager said testing officials once showed up at the home of Armstrong's then-girlfriend, Sheryl Crow.

"I get lumped in with all of the stuff that happened," Armstrong said. "I mean, if something happens with.

Marion Jones or Barry Bonds or Floyd Landis or Tyler Hamilton, I get lumped into that."

Bonds, closing in on Hank Aaron's career home run record, has repeatedly denied taking steroids. A federal grand jury is looking into whether Bonds lied to another grand jury that was investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

"I have to say I understand what he's going through," Armstrong said. "I think there's probably more of an association just because of the BALCO stuff and the grand jury testimony.

"Barry is more — it seems from the outside — he's a tough character," he said. "He's not gone out of his way to try to fix the situation or make friends there."

Armstrong, instead, has vehemently refuted each allegation, either in the press or the courts.

"My impression is that people, or fans, or people potentially on the fence, they like it when you come out and fight. They like it when you say, 'No, no, no, you got it wrong, this is what is right' and you lay out the facts, again," he said.

"It's like our approach has been with these bozos that try to get sideways. We sue 'em," he said. "And we win every time."