NEW YORK—The New York Road Runners, organizer of the annual New York City Marathon, earlier this week unveiled a manifesto, with some of the tag lines reading “Run to be strong,” and “Run out of excuses,” and “Run off dessert.”
Another tag line, “Run for the kids,” takes on new meaning for marathon entrant and softball legend Jennie Finch, who just gave birth to her second son in June.
“I go back to being a young girl and there’s nothing like just running—going outside and running [and] being active,” said Finch, who will begin the event dead last, earning the New York Road Runners’ (NYRR) youth programs $1 for each participant she overtakes.
“It’s not everyday you get to run through all five boroughs,” she said. “I’m excited to pound the pavement of New York.”
Olympic gold-medalist Apollo Ohno and former New York Rangers hockey captain Mark Messier will join Finch on Nov. 6. The two athletes ruminated about training, pre-race anxiety, and competition at a press event on Thursday at Central Park.
“This race is about the people: the people of New York, and people coming out and supporting it,” said Ohno, who is running because of a challenge from Jared of Subway fame, and hopes to finish as close as possible to three and a half hours. “You want to gain more awareness for people to put more running into their life in some shape, way, or form, and just get America more healthy.”
Messier, who turned 50 this year, is running for two charities, the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, and the Tomorrows Children’s Fund.
Last year a total of $30.8 million was raised for charity, at over $1 million per mile. This year, 7,700 entrants will race for one of 210 charities.
Messier hopes to clock in under four and a half hours, and said he has had to “stretch not only physically, but mentally,” and was surprised about “the meditation part of the running, [which] has been very therapeutic.”
Youth Races
Children got a small taste of the marathon yesterday, with races held in Central Park as part of the kickoff events. After racing a quarter-mile or one mile, they clustered in groups, playing water bottle catch, taking photos, and enjoying lunch.
““It was fun and exciting because of all the teenagers and the little kids trying to run,” said 10-year-old Edrima, who attends P.S. 21. “The hard part was keeping our pace.”
“The hard part was starting,” said 9-year- old Chernor “because people were pushing us.”
Eight-year old Seyla Alverez put her hand on her rib, saying, “It hurts right here.”
All in all, however, the kids seemed to be in good spirits after the races, enjoying the beautiful sunny day in Central Park.
NYC Marathon Prep
These events are part of the lead up to the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon, which draws runners and spectators from across the world.
Plenty of fluids, signs, and medical assistance will be available along the route, which begins on Staten Island, crosses over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, heads north to Long Island City, traverses the Queensboro Bridge, turns north again at First Ave., crosses over the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx, goes along East 138 Street, back into Manhattan, turns south at Fifth Avenue, snakes through Central Park, bottoms out at the park’s southern edge, and turns north on Park Drive, finally ending around the intersection of Park Drive and 68th Street.
More than 47,000 participants are expected, chosen from almost 143,000 applicants. They are competing for over $650,000 in prize money, including $130,000 for the male and female runner champions, or $200,000 if a previous champion wins again, as Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain did in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
Professional athletes participating come from a bevy of countries besides the United States, including Ethiopia, Mexico, Kenya, Great Britain, and New Zealand.
The Wheelchair Division starts Sunday’s proceedings at 9 a.m, followed by a Handcycle Division and Ambulatory Athletes with Disabilities, and then Professional Women. Then there will be three separate starts, starting in 30-minute intervals.
The opening ceremonies for the race will be held on Friday night in Central Park, and Saturday will feature “Dash to the Finish Line,” a new benefit race for the Central Park Conservancy that is open to everyone.
