Marathon Week Begins with Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff!
[Gallery] [Video]New York, Sunday, October 25—Marathon week officially began today with the Poland Spring™ Marathon Kickoff in Central Park. The 5,300+ finishers enjoyed perfect fall weather for this five-miler. For many, the race was a final tune-up for the ING New York City Marathon, but everyone got a kick out of crossing the world-famous ING New York City Marathon finish line.
And now, it’s officially Race Week—and the festivities this year are more exciting than ever. It will be the marathon’s 40th running, and it boggles the mind to realize how far the race has come. The inaugural running, in 1970, featured a field of 127 runners (only 55 finished) and recycled bowling trophies for the top finishers. More than 40,000 people from around the world are expected to finish this year; the top performers will share a prize purse of $800,000.
Join in the excitement all week long. The complete schedule will be updated throughout the week, so keep checking back. Here, a few highlights:
Runners of the Future Benefit, Wednesday, October 28, at the Museum of the City of New York, is an opportunity to join Paula Radcliffe, Marilson Gomes dos Santos, Joan Benoit Samuelson, and other luminaries to celebrate NYRR’s youth programs. Purchase tickets.
The ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, October 29-31, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Hall 3E, on 11th Avenue at 35th Street, is a mandatory visit for most entrants. Free and open to the public, the expo includes hundreds of vendors and scores of product samples, the Marathon Store Presented by ASICS, loads of activities, and answers to your last-minute marathon questions. All marathon entrants must visit the expo with a valid photo identification to pick up their marathon materials. Visit on Thursday if at all possible to avoid the Friday and Saturday crowds.
Notable appearances at the expo this year include:
Thursday: Top NYC-area coach John Henwood and runner Abbi Antablin
Friday: American standouts Abdi Abdirahman and Magdalena Lewy Boulet
Saturday: Two-time New York City Marathon champion German Silva (1994-95) and A Race Like No Other author Liz Robbins
Continental Airlines® International Friendship Run, Saturday, October 31, will be a colorful spectacle celebrating the diversity of the marathon, which draws entrants from more than 100 countries. Entry is complimentary for international marathon entrants; friends and U.S. entrants may purchase tickets.
Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner, Saturday, October 31, will feed more than 15,000 marathoners at Tavern on the Green; tickets must be purchased in advance. Poland Spring Presents the Marathon Fireworks will take place above the marathon finish line at 7:30 p.m.; no ticket necessary.
Marathon Monday Store, November 2, 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Tavern on the Green. Sales of limited-edition finisher’s shirts and caps, medal engravings, official souvenirs, and copies of The New York Times will be available.
Online Resources:
Athlete Alert: This service, sponsored by Time Warner Cable, allows anyone to register (starting October 26) to receive athlete updates on race day via e-mail.
Join In. Take Part. So many ways to get involved, whether you’re running the race or not.
Spectator Guide
Pick the Champions Enter for your chance to win a Toyota Prius.
Virtual marathon Have friends and family register to run two Virtual Running Events and they will share the magic of race week with you.
News and bios of the race’s top entrants
Apply for 2010 The application will open Monday, November 2.
