VIPs

A wealth of celebrities, luminaries, and city officials participated in the celebration of the 40th running of the ING New York City Marathon. On marathon Sunday, the world watches New York City, and these VIPs helped put on the show. [Complete Coverage]

Chairman of the NYRR board of directors George Hirsch (center) relaxed before the start of the last marathon he plans to run in the VIP tent with Beijing Olympic Marathon gold medalist Sammy Wanjiru (left), NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg, and two-time New York City Marathon champion Gérman Silva.
Mayor Bloomberg (right) had a cup of coffee with friends before the start of the race.
The Rudin family donated generously so that NYRR could stage the first five-borough race. The family presents the Samuel Rudin Trophy to the top finishers each year.
Nine-time New York City Marathon champion Grete Waitz was an elemental part of the 40th running celebration. The chairwoman of NYRR youth programs encouraged young runners at the Run with Champions on October 29, and she was also honored as a Marathoner of the Decades athlete at a media event on October 30.
New York City police commissioner Raymond Kelly gave Sammy Wanjiru a warm Big Apple welcome. Wanjiru was a special guest of NYRR president Mary Wittenberg; he toured the course in a police-escorted vehicle on race day.
Actor James LeGros did his part to support Shoe4Africa, a nonprofit that donates shoes to runners, raises funds for projects, and increases the awareness of important issues in Africa.
New York City councilman Robert Jackson (left) and New York State Senator and chair of the committee on corporations, authorities, and commissions Bill Perkins (right) pose proudly with a fellow Team for Kids member.
Olympic marathoner and American record holder Deena Kastor ran through the city streets, interviewing celebrities and charity runners for the WNBC 4 New York television broadcast.
Mayor Bloomberg waved from the coolest car on the course.
New York City councilwoman Letitia James shows her support for her borough of Brooklyn, the marathon, and Team for Kids.
The first woman to win Olympic gold in the marathon, Joan Benoit Samuelson proved that age has no limits: At the age of 52, she has never dropped out of a race, and she has never run over three hours for 26.2 miles. November 1 was no exception—she ran 2:49:09.
ER actor Anthony Edwards is the chairman of the board of directors for Shoe4Africa. “The big project in my life right now is raising money to build the first public children’s hospital in Kenya through Shoe4Africa,” said Edwards. “We use running as a medium to bring women together and empower women in Africa to run for health initiatives and AIDS education.”
Maasai tribesman Parashi Ntanin, dressed in traditional garb, raised $67,709 by participating in the race. Actor Ed Norton and singer Alanis Morissette ran the marathon on behalf of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust with three tribesman, including Ntatin.
Two-time New York City Marathon champion and pioneer of women’s running in Kenya, Tegla Loroupe (right) ran this year’s race in support of Shoe4Africa; she’s shown here with teammate Sarah Jones and Toby Tanser, the organization’s founder.
Governor Paterson watched the race’s finish with friends.
Chairman of the NYRR board of directors George Hirsch finished the marathon with help from running legend Bill Rodgers (left) and 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot (right). Hirsch, 75, easily won his age group in 4:06:14.