| Individual inspiring performances on November 4, | | | | from the struggles every competitor faces and the |
| 2007 contributed to a classic New York City | | | | fact that some entrants do not finish there were |
| Marathon. Run on a crisp autumn Sunday, a record | | | | other concerns. |
| 39,085 runners took their positions on Staten Island. | | | | A day earlier, in New York, the U.S runner Ryan |
| The NYC Marathon began in 1970, a result of the | | | | Shay, 28, collapsed and died at the 2008 U.S. Olympic |
| vision of the New York Road Runners, who continue | | | | Team Trials Men's Marathon. This resonated with the |
| to stage it. The initial race was contained to Central | | | | runners as they learned of this tragedy in their |
| Park. This evolved into the present course, which | | | | running fraternity. |
| runs through the five boroughs of New York. There's | | | | Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa could not race in the |
| a buzz throughout these locations each year in the | | | | wheelers division. He had the misfortune of having his |
| weeks leading up to the event. | | | | chair not arrive on the flight to New York. The world |
| This year's race saw Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain | | | | record- holder watched the race from the sidelines |
| emerge as the winner in the women's division. Martin | | | | instead of participating. |
| Lel of Kenya was the men's winner. Edith Hunkeler of | | | | Marathons, in general, are a test of the human spirit. |
| Switzerland won the women's wheeler division; Kurt | | | | To run 26.2 miles and have enough kick at the end |
| Fearnley of Australia won the men's wheeler race for | | | | to fight off a competitor is an accomplishment. In the |
| the second year in a row. | | | | case of the New York City Marathon, it's an even |
| Paula Radcliffe's story is particularly noteworthy. She | | | | greater accomplishment. The prestige and surrounding |
| lives in Monte Carlo and on January 17 of this year | | | | hype contribute to its ability to play on the runners' |
| she gave birth to a baby girl there at the Princess | | | | emotions. Add to that the high-caliber athleticism of |
| Grace Hospital. Less than ten months later, Radcliffe, | | | | the contestants and you have a dramatic script |
| 33, crossed the finish line in New York as victor in | | | | already in place. Once the players take the field, an |
| this race. A late race explosion of energy propelled | | | | intriguing story develops every year. |
| her ahead of Gete Wami of Ethiopia. Wami had taken | | | | In a race that ends in beautiful Central Park the |
| the lead earlier from Radcliffe. Radcliffe's winning time | | | | electricity is apparent. That's why it captures the |
| clocked in at 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 9 seconds. | | | | imagination of runners worldwide. In 2006, 93,000 plus |
| The men's race had no lack of drama itself. Martin Lel | | | | applications came in for the race - much more than |
| battled step for step with Abderrahim Goumri well in | | | | the slots available. |
| to the last stage in Central Park. Lel's strong finishing | | | | This year's race was no exception with throngs lining |
| power led him to a 12-second win over the | | | | the streets. The weather cooperated as did the |
| Moroccan. His first-place winning time was 2 hours, 9 | | | | staff and volunteers of the New York Road Runners. |
| minutes, and 4 seconds. | | | | From Staten Island, through Brooklyn, Queens, and |
| In the women's wheeler division, Edith Hunkeler, 35, | | | | the Bronx and then to the thrilling finish in Manhattan, |
| broke her previous record for the course in a time of | | | | the marathon continues to inspire. |
| 1 hour, 52 minutes, and 38 seconds. It was a | | | | Runners worldwide, as well as 2 million spectators and |
| wonderful comeback for her; having severely crushed | | | | estimated 315 million television viewers look forward |
| her leg in a racing accident in 2006. | | | | every year to autumn in New York and the |
| Kurt Fearnley, 26, won the men's wheeler race in a | | | | November running of the New York Marathon. |
| time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 58 seconds. He broke | | | | European runners in the New York marathon this |
| the course record in New York City in 2006. | | | | year included Paula Radcliffe who lives in MOnaco, |
| The New York City Marathon was not without | | | | Paula won the women's race just ten months after |
| heartfelt emotion and disappointment this year. Aside | | | | having a baby girl. |