A wonderful event celebrating the best NYC has to offer. It's the people. The runners, the spectators, the wanna-bes. If you want to look and see inside your soul, this event clearly will offer you the opportunity. You'll never believe what the human person and body is capable of doing, and this is the golden opportunity to see: The NYC Marathon.

I have run Chicago, Paris, Twin Cities and Grandma's. All these marathons are special in their own way. Chicago for speed, Paris of the city, Twin Cities for the scenery and Grandma's because it is flat and straight. But if you want to run through a truly great city of the world - run NY.

I read about runners complaining about lines, give me a break. Where else can you high-five Mexican, Columbian and Puerto Rican kids along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, and run through Old Europe in Williamsburgh, or be insulted by Italians in Bay Ridge. This is New York!! Then there is the slow quiet slog across the Queensboro Bridge to the cacaphony of the cheers up and down 1st Avenue in Manhattan through Spanish Harlem, the Bronx and then Harlem. Wow, what a place.

The marathon truly reflects NY, it is international, difficult, sometimes a bit chaotic - but that is NY.

If you have the courage to be changed - run the NYC Marathon at least once in your lifetime, and experience the greatest city in the world.

Marathon for 1990: I ran the NYC Marathon in 1990 and ran a Boston qualifing time of 3:39:30. Everything was in sync! My moment of truth, the expo - the best ever. The race was extremely well organized. The wait at Ft. Wadworth was a time to meet and talk to other runners, do warm-ups and even attend Sunday service. Other runners - helpful, but most of all the New Yorkers, this experience changed my attitude about New Yorkers. I never had so much encouragement in a race in my life. Every borough brought about a new experience - they cheered, they rubbed my calves, gave me oranges, even played a little dancing music.

I first ran the NYM in 2001, a very emotional year and I was glad that I had not cancelled after 9/11 like so many people. I enjoyed it so much that I went back again last year (2002). Regretfully I am nursing an achilles injury so will have to miss it this year.

Memories:
The highly organized bus shuttle from Manhattan;

Waiting at Fort Wadsworth for the start;

The voice of Sinatra singing 'New York, New York' at various points on route;

The support of the crowds, especially on First Avenue. I would go back just to run that part again;

The last mile in Central Park.

Do NYC 1x to say you did it. Then run Chicago and ask yourself why is NYC such a hassle? Chicago has more runners, same crowd support, and no 300-person lines for coffee, porta-potties, bagels, etc. Expo volunteers were brutal, and finish line was hurry up and leave. I guess this is all part of the NY experience.

I will get the caveats in first. Yes, you will wait in line. Yes, every event is crowded. Yes, the wait before the race is long and cold. But... forget about it... it's New York!

This race was without a doubt one of the highlights of my entire life. I had never been to NYC so what a way to see the city, all five boroughs, all in 4 hours! Best memories: seeing Manhattan from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (I gotta run THAT far?), the huge crowds in Brooklyn screaming their lungs out, over 40 bands along the course, the calm of the 59th Street Bridge and the wall of noise when I came off of it, the crowds lining 1st Avenue, my wife at mile 18 (love ya babe!), getting BACK into Manhattan, my wife again at mile 23, Central Park (don't underestimate the hills), getting BACK into Central Park, the 26-mile banner, the most famous finish line anywhere! One word of advice: take a old blanket with you to the Fort. It will feel mighty good! Before AND after the race! And actually the LONG walk after the finish sped up my recovery. I had very little soreness or stiffness after the race and even on Monday. Of course the excellent microbrews consumed on Sunday night may have had something to do with that.

Run this race. Not for time, but for the sheer enjoyment of an extremely special event. You won't be sorry.

I love New York!

For the rest of my life I will recall scenes from the race to inspire me. I've done Big Sur, Maui, Ave of the Giants, Marine Corps, etc., and this was the best. Coming from Calif., the cold was new, but not bad until after - the long walk to the UPS truck.

I would advise non-New Yorkers to plan their exit better than I did - cabs and crosstown buses may not run during the race, and the subway stops at the finish may be far from your hotel. It was not the race but the freezing trek back to the hotel after the marathon that hurt me the most.

But there are so many historical memories - the Queensboro bridge, which wasn't that bad - (try Catalina marathon), turning that corner into Manhattan, seeing Central Park.

Beware of old ladies with big purses who cross the street suddenly in Harlem. Take the ferry so you don't freeze in Staten Island for hours. And it's true that men relieve themselves off the top bridge, so if you are on the bottom bridge you might not want to have your head hanging out to gawk at scenery.

I weep when I think of Nov. 3rd, 2002. One of the greatest days of my life... thank you New York.. thank you all so much... what an amazing experience.. I feel privileged... Thank you to the people of NY.. THE BEST SPECTATORS IN THE WORLD. Folks, I know the bridges are tough... but do yourself one favor, and if you only ever run one marathon, make it this one... I can say no more. I was truly moved. Thank you to the good people of NY. This is the capital of the world.

The main obstacle of this race is the weather before the start. A comprehensive way of getting familiar with New York City as an unforgettable experience. A city within one of the larger continents of the world, North America holds such great expectations. An event with suspense, mystery, and intrigue. The Central Park climax offers an official sense of receipt.

An excellent marathon, the whole city was taken over by runners & supporters.

The course was good, though the hills in Central Park were a surprise!!