“I’m a racer. I just want to win the race” said the 3 times winner of NYC marathon, Paula Radcliffe. No wonder why she’s today favorite. Like every first Sunday of November and for the 40th year, NYC streets beats at the rhythm of runners’ footstep paving the macadam. This year, the bad economic outlook has made the committee rise the fee to $138 for members of the NY Road Runners, $171 for non-member, and $231 for those entering the international lottery ($13, $16$, $21 extra over 2008 edition). Yeah, that’s a lot of money to have the privilege to throw up your heart and soul after 42.195 km (about 26 miles).

Why this blog is posting about NYC marathon? are you wondering. Well, there are at least 3 obvious gradually stronger reasons. It’s NYC honey, one of the fashion capitals. It’s a worldwide event gathering different cultures and people as fashion does. Marathon female runners have model measurements. Paula Radcliffe is 5’8” and 119 lbs of pure muscles and bones and power. That’s no surprise when you know that running long distance burns calories more efficiently than any other sport, and make muscles slender. As a result, Radcliffe and like get a very minimal fat mass that reveals their elegant muscles. Calves, thighs, buttock, back, abs, chest, shoulders, arms and even neck look like iron-shaped. I love seeing their venous sharp hands, fingers and feet. I am in awe in front of those body, sculpted with hard work, endurance, diet, pain, tenacity, self-confidence, and ambition to go beyond their limits. Those recidivist winners can’t cheat on their body. I admire such discipline. I started running 8 months ago. I always wanted to love running. I’m a gym rat, but I didn’t like running.¬†Runners kept telling me it was freeing. The motivation went with my sister’s wedding. I wanted to sport gorgeous legs with my mini dress 4 months later. I hate looking at pudgy knees. I started with buying the dress to keep my motivation strong, and run on the treadmill at the gym. I got out when it got warmer. I felt it easier at the first outing than at the following ones. It went worse and worse over the first couple of months. It was hell. And then it got easier until the point I have been able to stop thinking “Oh god, how do people like running?” and start thinking “What I’ll do today”, “Don’t forget to call mom”, “And if I choose such angle for such subject on that blog”. I see a 4th reason. This post fits in the ‘Doing’ section I don’t really feed as much as I’d want.

British Paula Radcliffe, 36, won NYC marathon 3 times¬†in 2004, 2007 & 2008. She’s favorite today.

Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, 33, won 2005 & 2006 editions.

Kenyan Margaret Okayo, 33, won the NYC marathon in 2003 and 2001.

Kenyan Joyce Chepchumba, 39, won the 2002 edition.

Russian Ludmila Petrova, 41, won in 2000.

Grete Waitz, 56, is a former Norwegian marathon runner and legend. She won NYC marathon 9 times between 1978 and 1988. She doesn’t run marathons anymore. She’s widely known for having helped recognise female marathons and long-distance running races.

Like Rocky in Philadelphia, she gets her statue displayed at Walt Disney World, Epcot, FL

Kara Goucher, 31, is an american middle and long-distance runner.

Kerryn McCann were Australian. She died of cancer in 2008 at 41. She achieved a 7th place in NYC marathon 2002.

Kenyan born Lornah Kiplagat, 35, became Dutch citizen. She finished 3rd at NYC marathon in 2003 and 7th in 2006.

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Update 11/02/09

Annnnd the winneeeeeers aaare: Ethiopian Derartu Tulu, 37, in the female category (2:28:52), and American Meb Keflezighi (2:09:15) for male category. For both, it’s their first time victory at this marathon. Derartu Tulu is the first Ethiopian to win the race. It’s been 27 years that an American didn’t win. Paula Radcliffe arrived 4th.¬†Congrats to the champions.

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Author: Gaelle