“Estamos bajo la lluvia, pero no importa” en Race to Deliver
The Race to Deliver is special for many reasons. The event—a four-mile race for adults and activities and short dashes for kids—raises awareness for God's Love We Deliver, an organization that for more than 30 years has cooked and delivered meals to people in the New York metropolitan area who are living with severe illness. Traditionally held the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Race to Deliver kicks off a season of giving thanks and giving back to our communities. This year's Race to Deliver was the 26th annual.
Along with good spirits, there was a good amount of rain this morning inCentral Park, but the weather didn't dampen the enthusiasm of runners, volunteers, New York Road Runners and God's Love We Deliver staff, spectators, and parents cheering for their kids. "We're in the rain and that's totally all right. The mission is what's critical," said Brandon Bryant of God's Love, who was on hand to support Team Love, a group of about 20 God's Love volunteers who ran today. God's Love will deliver about 8,000 meals on Thanksgiving, and it delivers 1.8 million meals annually to more than 7,200 people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves.
The first runners across the finish line today were William Harden of North Brooklyn Runners for the men in 21:21 and Victoria Kingham of Central Park Track Club New Balance for the women in 22:36.
For quite a few of today's finishers, the race was their ninth of 2019, meaning that they fulfilled the nine races requirement of the 9+1 program for guaranteed entry to the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon. A line of thrilled runners formed at the 9+1 bell as each one stepped forward to ring the bell, have a friend capture the moment, and thrill to the knowledge that they'd be on the starting line in Staten Island on November 1, 2020.
"I got it today—this was my last race!" said Carola Kruithof, who moved to NYC from the Netherlands a year ago and can hardly wait for November 2020. "It’s a great program that you have the possibility to enter the marathon guaranteed. I loved the races all year—this is the only one that was raining!"
For Nicole Lastres, another of today's newly minted 9+1 qualifiers, ringing the bell today was especially sweet. "God's Love is a great organization that gives back to New York," she said. "I've volunteered with them, so it's nice to be here for my final 9+1 today. I did the marathon three weeks ago, and now I'm ready for next year!"
The rain couldn't even discourage scores of kids ages 2-11 who ran the Rising New York Road Runners at the Race to Deliver. Some parents accompanied younger children, while others—along with NYRR staff and volunteers —cheered from the sidelines and at the finish. Learn more about Rising New York Road Runners' free racing and programs and register for upcoming events!
Want more racing fun this season and in 2020? Check out upcoming races today!