The New York City Marathon has hosted runners of many skill levels since 1970.
Since 1970, the New York City Marathon has held firm as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. With a course that takes runners through all five city buroughs, the New York City Marathon draws competitors from across the globe. Every November, thousands of runners make their way to the Big Apple to experience the many facets of this road race.
History
The original 1970 New York City Marathon simply looped runners multiple times around Central Park. Only 127 runners started the inaugural race and 55 finished the marathon. With a new course design in 1976, more than 2,000 runners entered the marathon. The number grew to 9,000 in 1978 as people flocked to enjoy the scenic route of the marathon. Many events added to the popularity of the event. The 2001 race was held just two months after the September 11 World Trade Center attack, creating a sense of unity and normalcy in the city. The race hosted the USA Men's Marathon Championships in 2009. In 2010, more than 45,000 runners finished the race, a record at the time.
Applying
Anyone who will be at least 18 years old on the day of the race can apply for the New York City Marathon. However, due to massive numbers of entries, only a specific number will be accepted, and a lottery is held to determine successful applicants. As of 2011, the entry fee is $196 for U.S. residents and $281 for international runners.
Qualifying
Aside from the lottery, some applicants are given spots in the race based on other qualifications. Members of the New York Road Runners club have different options for qualifying. People who have completed at least 15 previous New York City Marathons also receive spots. Additionally, runners who complete other marathons according to a set time standard receive exemptions. For example, men ages 18 to 39 who complete a marathon in under 2 hours, 55 minutes qualify for the New York City Marathon.
Course
The course is one reason many runners are attracted to the race. The marathon runs through all five of the city's boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. This includes running over five bridges. The race starts near the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, where the course sees its highest elevation at more than 250 feet. The final mile of the course takes it back to its roots, as the race finishes in Central Park. Throughout the course, runners are taken care of with water, medical stations, bathrooms and even entertainment from a variety of music bands.
Fun Facts
The New York City Marathon website estimates that 2 million spectators line the course to watch the runners, and 330 million more watch via broadcast. Approximately 1.6 million cups of water are handed out to competitors along the way. More than 105,000 people apply to be in the race while more than $600,000 in prize money is awarded to top runners. As of 2010, the men's record of 2:07:43 was posted by Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia in 2001. The women's record stands at 2:22:31, run by Kenya's Margaret Okayo in 2003.
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