The ING New York City Marathon, is undoubtedly one of THE Big City Marathons, it has the masses and has experienced
the quality fields in the years gone by.
The course is not known as a course for fast times even though
the Men's winning time is 2:07:43. The course over the years
has produced its surprise winners, as well as the greats, Grete
Waitz is but one [9 time winner].
View previous New York City Marathon editions
Build up News 2007
Ndereba, Dryer, Hladyr and Tomescu-Dita for New York 2007
dos Santos, Prokopcuka Back to Defend New York Titles in 2007
NEW YORK - Two-time defending champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia and last year's surprise champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil will both return to defend their titles at the ING New York City Marathon 2007 on Sunday, November 4, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO and race director Mary Wittenberg.
History of the New York City Marathon
The first New York City Marathon, in 1970, had 55 finishers
and a total budget of $1,000. From this humble beginning,
the race has grown to become a weeklong, worldwide celebration.
On the guest list: 30,000 athletes, 12,000 volunteers, thousands
of city employees, more than two million spectators lining
the course, and tens of millions more television viewers around
the globe, all celebrating friendship, sport, and human potential.
In 1976, to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial, the marathon
moved from Central Park to the streets of New York City’s
five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx,
and Manhattan. In the months, weeks, and days leading up to
the first five-borough race, nobody was exactly sure WHAT
would happen. Even Frank Shorter, who had won the Olympic
marathon gold medal in 1972 and the silver in ‘76, admitted
he only showed up to see if the police could actually clear
the streets. They did, and Shorter joined 2,089 others on
a tour of New York City, eventally finishing second to Bill
Rodgers.
source NYC marathon
