ASICS travelled to the 2008 ING New York City Marathon, to see how ordinary runners experience an extraordinary race.
It's a holy grail for runners all over the world: the ING New York City Marathon. "The most exhilarating experience I've ever had, and the toughest," as one lucky (and exhausted) finisher described it.
As proud sponsors of the event, we were present at the 2008 edition to capture the excitement of "the greatest race in the world". The experience of a lifetime running the ING New York City Marathon definitely counts as the experience of a lifetime.
From its modest beginning in 1970, when 127 runners ran a course looping around Central Park, the event has grown into one of the largest road races in the world with 38,000 participants, some two million spectators lining the course, and many more watching the event on television. But aside from the big numbers, the NYC Marathon is equally famed for its friendly community spirit. On race day, when participants need to be present at the start at 5:30 a.m., the atmosphere is one of camaraderie and anticipation. Everyone is excited and looking forward to the start. It's still some hours away, but for these runners the countdown has started...
The first magic meters
Bang! The first wave of runners is off to conquer their 42.195 kilometers, or 26.22 miles. The first big obstacle is the Verrazano bridge, named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor in 1524. But few runners will be pondering the historic significance of this bridge. The elation of the first magic meters subsides and runners settle into their pace. Now is the time to remember those race day tips! The race is starting for real...
Yes, you ran!
After Verrazano there are four more bridges to cross, as the course winds its way through all five boroughs of New York: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Once into Central Park, runners call on their last reserves for the final stretch to the finish line.
And then, as runners from all over the world pour across the finish line, there's the emotional release of the achievement of a lifetime. An exhilarated mix of laughter and tears, while some just can't believe they did it. They really ran the New York City Marathon. To borrow a catchphrase: yes, you ran!
The 38th edition of the New York City Marathon is over. As the reality of their accomplishment starts to sink in, all the long months of training have been worth it. Time for these runners to show off their medals and rest on their laurels.
Photos by Getty Images, used by permission.
