| The New York City Marathon, which is | | | | Shockingly, many runners finish the race in |
| organized by the New York Road Runners, has | | | | under three hours, despite the 8.5 hour time |
| been an annual event in New York City since | | | | limit. These people are usually super-elite |
| 1970. It is held on the first Sunday of | | | | runners, and have spent many years training |
| November, and has a participant cap of 37,000 | | | | for this, the world's biggest stage for |
| runners. The vast majority of the | | | | runners. |
| participants are chosen by lottery, as the | | | | |
| demand far exceeds the number of runners the | | | | Over the years, the race has come to be known |
| course can accommodate. | | | | as one of the most prestigious races to |
| | | | compete in, finish, and especially, win. The |
| Beyond the lottery system, officially | | | | record for fastest female win is held by |
| recognized running clubs are each given two | | | | Paula Radcliffe of England, who finished the |
| spots for members who do not win a spot in | | | | race in 2 hours and 23 minutes. The male |
| the race via lottery. Members of the New York | | | | record holder is Paul Tergat, who finished in |
| Road Runners who meet the official | | | | 2 hours and nine minutes. In 2000, two new |
| qualifications are also allowed to | | | | divisions were added - the wheelchair |
| participate in the marathon. As you can see, | | | | division and the hardcycle division. These |
| membership has its privileges. | | | | were some of the biggest changes made to the |
| | | | race over its lifespan. |
| To complete the race, runners must be in | | | | |
| extremely good condition concerning their | | | | While it is a difficult race for even |
| strength, endurance, and aerobic abilities. | | | | seasoned runners, the event attracts the |
| The New York City Marathon is a 26.2 mile | | | | world's finest runners, as well as |
| course that covers all five boroughs of NYC. | | | | celebrities. Some of the most well-known |
| The race starts in Staten Island, which | | | | people to run the marathon include cyclist |
| closes the Verrazano Bridge for the event. | | | | Lance Armstrong as well as Governor Mike |
| The runners then head through Brooklyn, | | | | Huckabee. Both finished the race, though they |
| Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and then back | | | | did not win. |
| to Manhattan for the big finish in Central | | | | |
| Park. Many runners find the most grueling | | | | The New York Marathon is something that many |
| part of the race to be the stretch leading | | | | runners train for years, or even their whole |
| between Queens and Manhattan, with the climb | | | | lives, to enter and win. Despite the |
| to the Queensboro Bridge considered to be | | | | competition for a mere spot in the race, much |
| almost universally the most difficult part of | | | | less the competition once the runner is in |
| the race. Despite the length and complexity | | | | the race, many people set different goals for |
| of the race, it also has a time limit: 8.5 | | | | themselves when competing. Many enter with |
| hours. | | | | nothing more than a goal of "to finish the |
| | | | race," as the 26-mile race is nothing to |
| In the earliest days of the marathon, it only | | | | shrug off. It is a grueling course, and |
| attracted a few hundred people and was run | | | | November weather in New York City can be |
| around Central Park. As is the case with many | | | | unpredictable - even cold - for the runners. |
| events, over the years, it grew both in terms | | | | |
| of participants, as well as the actual | | | | As you can see, the New York City Marathon is |
| distance of the race itself. The race is | | | | a prestigious event with a long, rich |
| officially the largest marathon in the world, | | | | history. It is safe to say that this |
| and is broadcast on television. It is | | | | marathon will be around for quite some time |
| estimated that over 300 million people watch | | | | to come, and it should be interesting to see |
| the race every year, as it is the most elite | | | | what the future holds for this race and those |
| running event in the world. | | | | who participate in it. |
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