Bigger and Better
Early-morning lightning, rain, and humidity couldn’t dampen the most successful race yet
New York, Sunday, July 27—More than 10,500 runners—an event record—awoke to the rumble of thunder and flashes of lightning in the predawn hours before the 7:00 a.m. start of the third annual NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE. At 5:30 a.m., the rain-slicked streets and threatening skies raised the question: Would one of the fastest-growing U.S. half-marathons be delayed, or even cancelled?
The weather calmed for an on-time start, and runners enthusiastically began the hardest leg of the journey, through the undulating hills of Central Park.
The notorious summertime East Coast humidity cloaked the atmosphere and prevented some from running fast times. For Colorado resident Brendan Reilly, who is the manager for third-place female finisher Yuri Kano, the thick air proved problematic. “Coming from Colorado, where it’s usually only 10 percent humidity, this weather is really tough to race in,” he remarked.
Such wasn’t the case for all; the well-acclimated Ben Brill of Manhattan achieved a 1:20:53 personal best. “I’m used to the humidity, so it really wasn’t a factor for me today.” First time half-marathoner Heather Carman of Manhattan approached the distance with caution; her longest previous race distance was a 10K. “The weather worked out perfectly for me,” she said. “Finishing ended up being easier than I thought it was going to be.” Today’s effort gave Carman the confidence to tackle her next 13.1-mile challenge—a race in San Diego that she will run with her sister.
To keep runners going strong whatever the weather, a dozen bands, cheering zones, and the largest showing of spectator support ever lined the streets—once runners left the leafy canopy of Central Park, they were welcomed onto the wide expanse of Seventh Avenue. The echo of drums and the sight of flashing neon signaled to runners that the toughest part was over, and that they could begin picking up the pace for the flat second half. Aside from the welcome sight of the finish line, nearly all runners crowned Times Square as their favorite part of the race. “‛It’s Raining Men’ came on at the sing-along [a karaoke-type cheering zone] when I was passing through, and I couldn’t help but sing along,” said Pam Wille. “This was my first NYC Half and I loved it—the bands were amazing and the people made me smile, which you don’t normally do when you’re running a half-marathon.”
Team for Kids (TFK), adult runners who raise money for New York Road Runners Foundation’s youth running programs, dotted the course with more than 200 neon yellow singlets. TFK member Jonah Blake, who joined the organization in May to train and support the cause at this year’s ING New York City Marathon, spoke of the merits of running for a charity. “Being part of the TFK group made the race,” he said. “As I ran past, people I didn’t know would scream, ‘go Team for Kids,’ and it makes me feel good to run for a justifiable cause where the funds go straight to the kids.”
Charity runners, first time half-marathoners, training marathoners, local celebrity Heidi Jones (a WABC-TV Channel 7 news anchor), and well-conditioned professionals combined to make the race a resounding success—99 percent of starters crossed the finish line in Battery Park. At the post-race awards ceremony, race director Mary Wittenberg, the president and CEO of NYRR, announced plans to alter the course to allow for additional runners. New York City Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba pledged to do whatever he could to expand the race. Only three years old, the NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE remains full of promise.
