43,741 Runners Stormed NYC For Marathon Sunday

Yesterday's 40th running of the ING NYC Marathon saw over 40,000 people traveling across the five boroughs to clock in 26.2 miles of running, walking, handcycling, and more. Besides the men's and women's race winners Meb Kelflizighi and Derartu Tulu, there were other champs:

• In the men's wheelchair race, Kurt Fearnley of Australia won (for the fourth time in a row) with a time of 1:35:58, just ahead of Krige Shabort who had the SAME time. In the women's race, Edith Hunkeler won with a time of 1:58:15 for her fifth NYC marathon win since 2004.
• Locally, on the women's side, NYC resident Buzunesh Deba finished with a 2:35:54 (seventh overall in the women's race), Serkalem Biset Abrha had a 2:37:20 and Catha Mullen had a 2:43:13. On the men's side, Bronx resident Mohammed Awol finished with a 2:19:31 (19th in the men's race); Kassahun Kabiso had a 2:24:43 and Dan McGrath had a 2:25:05.
• Celebs were also running for causes. Actor Edward Norton running for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, finished with 3:48:01; speedskater Dan Jansen had a 3:41:43 while hockey Hall of Fameer Pat LaFontaine had a 4:27:08—both ran for ING's Run For Something Better; actor Anthony Edwards, running for Shoe4Africa, had a 4:08:20; and singer Alanis Morisette, also running for the Masai Wilderness Conservation Trust, had a 4:28:45 and told the NY Times, "The crowds were adorable and hard core."

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the marathon. The lottery application process for next year's marathon opens up at noon! And New York Road Runners Club president Mary Wittenberg said this of the NY Times' article that was critical of plodders, "A marathoner is a marathoner regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day’s effort, be it fast or slow. It’s all in conquering the challenge."