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Have you ever dreamed of running a marathon? Completing the 26.2 miles required to complete a marathon has been called one of the most challenging physical and mental feats a person can accomplish. If the answer is yes, one marathon in particular stands out above them all, the New York City Marathon.
The marathon is run every fall, usually in early November. The course will lead the runners through the five boroughs that make up New York City, with entertainment and water stations provided throughout the course.
To begin, runners will cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island, probably after waiting for at least a half an hour to get moving, and cross into Brooklyn. In recent years, the contestants have received a computer chip to place on their sneakers to record the exact time of the start.
The Verranzano Bridge is the largest suspension bridge in North America at 13,700 feet in length. The runners will then spend nearly a third of the race, or 12 miles, in Brooklyn, which is the most populated borough. The runners will see the former home of the Dodgers and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where music will be blaring, as they head through Brooklyn. The next milestone will be the Pulaski Bridge. The bridge will take the runners into Queens, the largest of the five boroughs. At mile 15, the runners will ascend the Queensboro Bridge, and land in Manhattan, heading due north through the city. At mile 20, just when most runners really start feeling their fatigue, they will cross the Willis Avenue Bridge and enter the Bronx. The incline here has been many a runner's "wall." After just one more mile, the runners cross the Madison Avenue Bridge and begin the final leg through Central Park to the finish line, which lies at the Tavern on the Green. Throughout the park there will be music and fanfare to welcome the runners to the finish.
Not only is the marathon one of the most scenic and festive, but it is also one of the best organized, with aid stations and safety a careful consideration at every mile.
To begin, mile markers designate each mile completed for the convenience of the runners.Water is available at the start of the race and at every mile beginning with mile three; there are usually over 1.5 million cups worth of water at every aid station. Gatorade is aivalable at every two miles. In addition, there are sponge stations, massage tables, power gel zones, poland spring hydration centers, and medical aid stations strategically placed throughout the race.
No need to panic, there are also toilets provided at about every 4.5 miles of the race.
And as far as entertainment goes, music and fans will abound. The streets are usually lined with spectators. In New York, the marathon is a day of great pride and jubulation. In fact, there are usually over 30 live bands along the course, including rock bands and high school bands to keep the runners motivated.
If you are interested in running the marathon, make sure to look into registration, as it is usually done by a lottery, and not everyone is assured a spot on the starting line. Last year, over 30,000 ran the race, including representatives from nearly every country in the world.
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