NYRR New York Mini 10K Celebrates the Women’s Running Movement in NYC
At 35th anniversary, women’s road racing is stronger than ever[Photos] [All Coverage]
New York, Saturday, June 9—At this year’s 36th annual NYRR New York Mini 10K, the top 10 finishers hailed from nine different countries. The diversity of the field showed just how far women’s road racing has come over the past 35 years. Established as the Crazylegs Mini Marathon in 1972 by NYRR president Fred Lebow and women’s running pioneers Kathrine Switzer and Nina Kuscsik, the first Mini drew 78 women to the start in New York.
“What this race has spawned around the world has been tremendous,” said Switzer. “Already, 57 percent of all runners are women, and I think we’ll continue to see that number grow.”
This morning, 5,000 women toed the line in warm, humid conditions. The air was filled with excitement and camaraderie as numerous well wishes were exchanged at the start.
As 2007 World Cross Country champion and three-time defending Mini champion Lornah Kiplagat, 33, of the Netherlands, blasted away from the field in the first mile on Central Park West, thousands of women followed, each with her own individual reason for running.
“I run this race every year,” said Andrea Valentine, 54, of Jamaica, NY, who finished in 1:09:53. “It was the first race I ever did, back when I started running two years ago. It’s so exciting to run with all women.”
Kiplagat, though she ran the entire race on her own, well ahead of the field, also embraced the camaraderie and special spirit of the world’s original women-only road race.
“I am once again happy to win this race,” said Kiplagat. “Our friends at NYRR and all those around kept me going. Today was humid—it wasn’t easy and the competition wasn’t easy either.”
Kim Smith, 25, of New Zealand, made her Mini debut this year, and surged in the second half of the race to finish second in 32:18. Smith holds multiple New Zealand records, and pulled in a 15:15.22 finish in the 5000 meters at the recent Reebok Grand Prix.
“This was probably the best road race I’ve had so far,” Smith said. “Running in New York is always fun.”
Mara Yamauchi, 33, from Great Britian, finished third in 32:21, ahead of Benita Johnson of Australia (fourth, 32:21) and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia (fifth, 32:26).
“In a race like this, there are a lot of hills, so at the start I just started at my own pace,” Yamauchi said. “So I was surprised to be at the top of that second group—I felt like an imposter. But, I felt strong and so I kept going.”
Year after year, participant numbers in the Mini remain strong—more than 3,500 finished this year. For some, it’s a sentimental attachment—they wouldn’t dream of missing the Mini, no matter what their fitness level. Others love the challenging course and the world-class field. All relish the chance to advance the cause of women’s road racing.
“I don’t think Fred Lebow or Kathrine Switzer would have dreamed that, 36 years later, 100,000 women would have run this race,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
Kiplagat’s impressive Mini record (wins in 2006, 2005, and 2003) inspires both elite international and local runners.
“Lornah is an amazing runner,” said Smith. “And it would almost be like suicide to go out with her.”
Yamauchi concurred: “Lornah goes off fast and she carries on fast. She’s amazing.”
Fans lined up for Kiplagat’s autograph at the awards ceremony, and a cheery Kiplagat delivered words of encouragement and support to the race participants.
“I’m always thankful when I come back here and get stronger,” said Kiplagat as she received her $10,000 prize. “What keeps me strong is all of you women. For me, they say ‘congrats,’ but I have no job and no kids—and all of you do. So congrats to you.”
