New York City

The New York Marathon attracts over 35,000 participants each year, all entering either the men’s, women’s or wheelchair participant categories. The race first started in 1970, has been run every year since, and is the world’s biggest annual marathon, narrowly beating London to the title on the basis of runners completing the course.

In 2007 Paula Radcliffe scored an amazing comeback victory at the race, leading the women’s race from start to finish and completing the course in an amazing 2 hours 23 minutes and 9 seconds. The men’s race was won by Martin Lel of Kenya in 2 hours 9minutes and 2 seconds who out-sprinted second-placed Abderrahim Goumri in sight of the finishing tape.

World-class athletes such as Lel and Radcliffe are drawn to the race not only by the $900,000 prize fund but also the global TV audience of almost 315million. Many of the amateur athletes, who make up the majority of the participants, compete to raise money for charity and to enjoy the thrill of running past the two million spectators that cram the 26-mile route.

The Marathon takes in all five boroughs of New York City, starting on Staten Island. Almost the entire first two miles of the race involves crossing the massive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge over the Hudson into Brooklyn, before turning northwards. After 13 miles the route then traverses into the borough of Queens, before entering Manhattan over the Queensboro Bridge. After four miles the route crosses into the Bronx, where runners cover just over one mile in the last of the boroughs to be visited before heading south back into Manhattan. The last stage of the race takes the runners through Harlem and finally into Central Park where they complete the last three miles of this gruelling race.

The race finishes in front of the famous Tavern on the Green, which provides a dramatic contrast of the foliage and vegetation of Central Park against the concrete jungle of the surrounding skyscrapers. The congestion at the finishing point is best described as crammed, and anyone thinking of watching the finish in person should avoid this area unless they can view it from one of the many overlooking windows or terraces of a nearby Fifth Avenue apartment block or Central Park hotel in New York.

And with residents are just as keen – if not more so – on watching the race than visitors, the whole day exhibits a fabulous ambience, and definitely offers one of life’s great experiences.

Related posts:

1. Meb Keflezighi To Run In New York City Half-Marathon | World-Track … Meb Keflezighi will return to the scene of his last victory to compete in the New York City Half-Marathon. The New York Road Runners announced Thursday that the 2009 NYC marathon champion will compete in the 13-mile race on March 21. … View full post...
2. New York City Marathon Magnificent Inspiring performances on November 4, 2007 contributed to a classic New York City Marathon. Run on a crisp autumn Sunday, a record 39,085 runners took their positions on Staten Island. The NYC Marathon began in 1970, a result of the vision of the New York...
3. Run the New York Marathon this Year If you’ve always wanted to travel to New York but have found it tough finding a proper excuse to spoil yourself, then for the dedicated holidaymaker something of a surprise awaits. The city that never sleeps actually offers up the perfect excuse to visit all...
4. New York is The Largest City in The United States New York City is the largest city in the United States and one of the worlds major global cities. Located in the state of New York, the city has a population of over 8 million within an area of 321 square miles, making it the...
5. ING New York City Marathon course video ING New York City Marathon course video ...
6. The Essential Guide to Running the New York City Marathon Product DescriptionThis practical “how-to” guide helps take the stress out of planning for the marathon. Readers will find sections on every conceivable aspect of preparing for-and enjoying-the big day, including: € How to Enter € Three 16-week Training Guides € The Top 14 Tips...
7. Student Tours Enter the Magical World of the Great White Way The most well known professional theater in the U.S., Broadway Theater District in New York City, is considered to represent the highest level of commercial theater in the world. For student group travelers interested in theater and performance, Broadway represents a world of exciting learning...
8. Get an Executive Office in the Capital of the World, New York City The Big Apple, the city that never sleeps or the capital of the world nicknames saying it all about New York. Whenever businesses are going global or need to have a prestigious address to impress, then a New York office is a “must have”. The...
9. Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York City’s World Trade Center ISBN13: 9780465017270 Condition: USED – VERY GOOD Notes: Product DescriptionA perspective on urban culture in the latter part of the 20th century through the lens of the World Trade Center. When the World Trade Towers in New York City were erected at the Hudson’s...
10. Crossroads of the World – Times Square, New York The most famous intersection in the world could be considered as Times Square which is located in Manhattan, New York. Located at the meeting place of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, West 42nd and West 47th Streets, Times Square is a highly commercialized place, attracting many locals...