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TCS New York City Marathon - NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K - In Cold Rain, a Warm-up Through City Streets ©New York Road Runners
TCS New York City Marathon – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K – In Cold Rain, a Warm-up Through City Streets
After months of preparation, tens of thousands of runners from all over the world are ready to run the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday. Today, just over 7,400 ran the Dash to the Finish Line 5K.
Sunday’s pro field is full of world-class talent, but the stars came out today too and put on a show despite cold, rainy conditions. Former Princeton University All-American and 2012 Olympian Donn Cabral was the men's winner, in 14:24. The first woman across the line was Gwen Jorgensen, also a 2012 Olympian, and USA Triathlon’s 2013 Olympic/ITU Female Athlete of the Year.
Thousands of others followed them through the streets of NYC and Central Park. Some of this year’s marathoners enjoyed a final shakeout and a chance to cross the famed finish line a day early, or ran with loved ones to share the experience. Other runners embraced a unique opportunity to run down the middle of Manhattan streets and take in iconic sights like the United Nations, Grand Central Station, and Radio City Music Hall. And many NYRR members moved one step closer to realizing future TCS New York City Marathon dreams.
Thiago Rodrigues Benelli and Diana Yarmovich are co-workers who both ran today as part of NYRR’s 9 + 1 program to gain guaranteed entry to next year’s race. Yarmovich was inspired by Benelli to take on the challenge, and today they realized how close they are to their goal.
“Next year will be my first marathon, and I know I’ll need to be focused, so today it was fun to just run and get the finish-line experience,” Benelli said.
“I’m too competitive with myself to stop and take pictures but I wanted to while running by Grand Central and then up Sixth Avenue with all the lights. It was something I’ve never experienced,” Yarmovich said.
Runners from around the world brought flair and flavor today. One group from Scotland showed support for Walk the Walk for breast cancer by completing the Dash in bras, including Jim Robertson, who arrived in New York with his wife, Gill, just last night.
“It’s a nice stretch after the plane ride,” he joked. “It’s a fantastic city. We’re just really looking forward to enjoying all this.”
While most of the group will be running NYC for the first time tomorrow, the organization’s founder, Nina Barough, has crossed the finish line at Tavern on the Green 18 times.
“These guys don’t know what’s ahead of them. It’s a big surprise,” she said.
“We’re hoping it’s quite flat,” Robertson was quick to reply.
Today he got his first glimpse of the climb to the finish line, but let’s not spoil the rest for him. He’s got less than 24 hours until he finds out for himself.
Source: New York Road Runners
