Competitor.com, recently published 45 reasons why we love the New York City Marathon. The New York City Marathon started as the Central Park Marathon in 1970, when runners would run the 26 miles around the park. What started as a local event has now grown into more than 50,000 competitors annually, the New York City Marathon is the largest in the world. Last year, the average finish time was 4:34:45. All told, more than 1.3 million miles will be run across the five boroughs on marathon morning.
The Wheelchair division started in 2000, born out of a lawsuit from disabled athletes, the wheelchair competition at the marathon has grown to become one of the best in the world. “You race New York and they don’t see us as any different,” says Tatyana McFadden, a serial winner of the wheelchair race.
The course is the ultimate humblebrag, incorporating all five boroughs since 1976. Some New Yorkers live in the city for years and don’t even make it to neighborhoods that marathoners conquer in a single morning. Finishing the race at least once will solidify a high five at any New York City bar for years to come.
To read all 45 reasons as well as to view pictures on why we New Yorkers love the NYC Marathon, click here.