More Magazine Marathon + Half-Marathon[Story] [Race Photos] [Event Photos] |
 The 2008 More Magazine Marathon + Half-Marathon drew 7,000 entrants from across the country and around the world, including these entrants from (l-r) New Jersey, Maryland, and Colorado. |
 In an event that celebrates females running together, many women entered as members of teams, their colorful gear brightening a damp, chilly Central Park. |
 They’re off! The marathon—the only 26.2-mile race in the world exclusively for women over 40—and half-marathon started together on the park’s East Drive. |
 What could be more inspiring than a sendoff wave from women’s running legends (l-r) Kathrine Switzer, Grete Waitz, and Lynn Jennings? |
 Former supermodel Kim Alexis, an eight-time marathon finisher, high-fives runners as they stream across the starting line. |
 Half-marathoners begin their 13.1-mile journey. Women register with a partner, and although the pairs are not required to run the race together, many choose to do so. |
 The marathon, contested over multiple loops of hilly Central Park, is a true test of running mettle. |
 Many women opt to walk the half-marathon distance; the slower pace allows them to savor the experience. |
 Spectators along the course waved Thunderstix in support of their special runner and the thousands of other participants. |
 The clever shirts worn by Lisa Pollard (left), 35, and Karen Reibel, 41, play on the fact that one-half of each of half-marathon pair has to be over age 40. |
 Pace team leaders, carrying balloons for easy identification, ran at a steady pace. Running with a pacer is an excellent strategy for reaching a finish-time goal. |
 Still smiling after who-knows-how-many miles, Diahann Malcolm, 50, of Briarcliff Manor makes her way toward the marathon finish. |
 This fan showed both spirit and creativity with her support poster. Mothers and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, sisters, nieces, partners, and friends—this event welcomed them all. |
 New York Flyers teammates and half-marathon partners Emily Altman, 45, of Manhattan, and Shingpui Chow, 38, of Brooklyn finished together in just under 2:04. |
 Caitlin Tormey, 24, surprised the winning half-marathon team of Susan Loken, 44, and Jody Hawkins, 41, with a sprint finish. Though Tormey grabbed the individual win, Loken and Hawkins took the partners title—the first pair of over-40 runners ever to do so. |
 Stephanie Hodge, 42, of Long Island City and the New York Harriers, won the marathon in 3:01:50. She called it the greatest moment in her running career. |
 Lynn Bradley, 31, of Sunnyside, NY, and “Mum” Sarah Bradley, 60, of Glasgow, shared a finishing time of 2:09:48 and collected a morning’s worth of fond memories. |
 In its fifth year, this race is all about celebrating the health, fitness, and camaraderie of women. |
 Wilma Loayza (left), 52, of Jackson Heights, and Deborah Gonzalez, 53, of Manhattan, finished in 2:51:15 and 2:51:16, respectively. |
 WABC Channel 7’s Heidi Jones, 35, shows off her finisher medal. Jones finished in an outstanding time of 1:40:28; her partner was NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg, 45. |
 Though the weather was gray, the mood couldn’t have been brighter in Central Park. |
 Their race finished, this quartet just kept right on walkin’. |
 The race medal is a well-earned honor and will be a treasured keepsake for these two half-marathon finishers. |
 Post-race refueling was simple at the South Beach Living foods from Kraft booth. Until next year! |
