Ms Paterson (29), Lakes Leisure's community programme and recreation co-ordinator, told the Queenstown Times on Monday "excited" was not a strong enough word to use for the feelings building steadily for the past five months, aided by three separate New York-themed songs used as alarms on her iPhone.
"It's everything.
"At times I absolutely [panic] and think 'What am I doing? Why couldn't you just go to Fiji for a week and drink cocktails? ... why do I have to run 42.2km?
'"But then I get so excited - I imagine running through all the streets in New York surrounded by all the people.
"It's hard to explain - it's when you always wanted to do something and then suddenly, you're about to do it.
"I can't wait to be at that start line; and that finish line.
"I have crossed that hundreds of times in my mind ... I'm not going to win, but I'm going to win for myself.
"I have no doubt I'll be able to do the marathon, it's just about measuring my own expectations now."
All day on Monday Ms Paterson was bombarded with calls, texts and emails asking if she had "heard about Sandy".
"Sandy's my new BFF.
"[A friend] sent a text and said, 'I have no doubt you can run the 42km ... but can you swim it?
'"I don't care what the weather does. I just need that plane to land."
After landing in New York she would have one night's rest before taking part in the marathon opening ceremony, featuring a parade of nations.
Ms Paterson had been chosen as one of the New Zealand delegates.
The following day would be spent doing as little as possible before a "large steak" for dinner and an early night ahead of her 6am Sunday (11pm Sunday NZ time) call-time for the second of four waves of runners, wearing race number 27438 and aiming to finish the event in under four hours.
Ms Paterson said she had thoroughly enjoyed the many hours of training in preparation for the event, which "nine times out of 10 has been wonderful" and has seen her traverse 1583km to date.
At the outset, running 16km was difficult, causing her to wonder how she would triple the distance.
That was now a "piece of cake", she said.
"I don't know how that changed or when that changed, but suddenly 30km was just going out for a run.
"I would recommend running to anyone in the world - it's your own time and no-one can interrupt you."
Ms Paterson credited "the two Richies" - Alpine Health and Fitness manager Richie Heap and Funktional Fitness trainer Richie Lambert - for helping her with strength sessions and training programmes, while massage therapist Emily Cournane and her "devil thumbs" had ensured her legs had stood up well to the challenge so far.
Colleagues at Lakes Leisure had also been amazing, as was the unwavering support from family, friends and members of the public.
However, the most difficult aspect of the training had been the tapering period, with a 5km run yesterday her final outing before Sunday's race.
The only thing left to work on was her "finish line pose" which may be a "Maria von Trapp" jump with a heel kick to celebrate the realisation of a long-held dream.
Following the event, Ms Paterson, supported by her parents Neil and Shirley, of Winton, would spend time in the US, going to Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks basketball team; possibly an ice hockey game; going to Broadway; taking in the presidential election; visiting Boston and Washington DC; shopping and drinking cocktails as a pay-off for the months of sacrifice.
"Things are always sweeter when you have to make sacrifices for them."
However, it would be straight back to training on her return to Queenstown in preparation for Challenge Wanaka, which Ms Paterson has signed up to do with colleagues from Lakes Leisure.
Following that, she would set herself a new goal, she said.
"This has been my life for the past [185] days.
"When I come home I need to have something else to keep going forward."
