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14 unusual facts about New York City Marathon


Angharad Mair

After a challenge from a colleague, Mair ran her first full marathon in New York city in 1991, in a time of 3:29:00.

Fred Lebow

Fred Lebow (June 3, 1932 – October 9, 1994), born Fischel Lebowitz, was a runner, race director, and founder of the New York City Marathon.

George A. Hirsch

George Aaron Hirsch (born June 21, 1934), is a magazine publisher, a founder of the New York City Marathon, a candidate for United States Congress and a television commentator.

Iten

Alumni include Ibrahim Hussein, winner of three Boston Marathons and one New York City Marathon; Peter Rono, a 1988 Olympic gold medalist at 1,500 meters; Wilson Boit Kipketer, a 1997 world champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase; Matthew Birir, 1992 Olympic gold medalist at the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and David Rudisha, 2012 Olympic gold medalist and world record holder at 800m.

New York Road Runners

NYRR members are eligible for guaranteed entry into the ING New York City Marathon for a given year by completing nine qualifying NYRR-sponsored road races during the previous calendar year, volunteering for at least one race, and maintaining their membership during the marathon year.

Otis Livingston

He reported on the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, the U.S. Open Golf Championship, the Triple Crown, and the New York City Marathon.

Pamela Wallin

In 2001, Wallin, along with then-Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley, was one of the organizers of the "Canada Loves New York" rally for Canadians to show their support after the September 11 attacks (Manley ran in the New York City Marathon in 2001, a contributing factor to organize the rally).

Rick Sklar

He ran his first New York City Marathon in 1982, finishing 4 hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds; coming in 642nd out of 857 who finished the race in his age group.

Sarmad Tariq

By completing the race in seven and a half hours, he qualified to represent his country in ING New York City Marathon 2005 and made history for Pakistan by returning with a finisher's medal.

Siberian International Marathon

Directors of the Los Angeles Marathon and the New York City Marathon actively participated in the first few years of the Siberian International Marathon.

Stockholm Marathon

Thus distinguishing it from the majority of city marathons (London, New York, Paris) which take place on Sunday mornings, to minimise disruption to the city.

Triple marathon

The 3 suggested marathons are Thai Temples, London and New York, but these may be amended if the runner(s) have a desire to enter a particular race.

Victor Navarra

Victor J. Navarra (June 29, 1952 - December 30, 2007) was a retired New York City Fire Department lieutenant who coordinated the starts of the last 26 New York City Marathon races.

World Marathon Majors

It comprises six annual races (five 2006–2011, four 2012) for the cities of Tokyo (starting in 2013), Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City (2006–11, 2013–), a biennial race, the IAAF World Championships Marathon, and a quadrennial race, the Olympic Games Marathon.


Buddy Edelen

Edelen was the first American to hold the world record since 1925, and (excepting Alberto Salazar's 2:08:13 at the 1981 New York City Marathon, which later proved to be short) the last until naturalized American Khalid Khannouchi (originally from Morocco) broke his own World Record at the London Marathon in 2002.

Central Park Medical Unit

In addition to its three ambulances, CPMU also operates a rapid-response bike patrol, particularly during major events such as the New York City Marathon, the 1998 Goodwill Games, and concerts in Central Park (like the 2003 Dave Matthews Band Concert and the 2008 Bon Jovi Concert).

Darren Rovell

In November 2009, Rovell made controversial remarks in an article regarding an American athlete, Meb Keflezighi, the first American to win a New York City Marathon since 1982, by suggesting that he was a ringer.

Grete Waitz

It was in 1978 that her association with the New York City Marathon began; she was invited to run there by race co-founder and director Fred Lebow, and in her first appearance she not only won but took a full two minutes off the women's world record.

Robert de Castella

It was not initially known to be a world best time, because his time was 5 seconds slower than the time set by Alberto Salazar in the 1981 New York City Marathon.

Sian Williams

Williams, a recreational runner, suffered from hyponatraemia during the 2001 New York City Marathon and spent several days recovering in the hospital.