The New York Marathon’s 50th anniversary welcomes the greatest-ever lineup of winners for the first time and adds to the track’s legend

Nearly 60,000 runners from more than 140 countries participated on 1 November.new york city The marathon begins in Staten Island and passes through five major areas along a 26.2-mile course, finally reachingCentral Park . This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the route in five districts. Not only did it set a record for the largest number of entries in history, but the route was also adjusted for the first time in 15 years.sweden Andreas Almgren won the men’s championship in his first full marathon, while Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s championship for the second time.

As a marathon runner who became a “halfway monk”, Almgren worked as a financial analyst and data scientist. In his early years, he focused on middle and short distance events. In 2024, he missed the Paris Olympics due to a stress fracture. He later quit his job and became a full-time athlete and planned his own training. Completing the 26.2 miles at this year’s New York Marathon was her first challenge.

A year ago, Almgren was just a spectator at the New York Marathon. He first watched the race at the eighth mile in Brooklyn, and then ran to Central Park to feel the atmosphere at the finish line; That night, he decided to make his marathon debut at the New York Marathon the following year. A year later, he ran again on the same roads as the lead runner. Entering the final mile of Central Park, Almgren overtook his rivals and won the race in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second. Not only did he run the third fastest time in men’s New York Marathon history, but he also became the first Swedish runner to win the event.

The women’s team winner was also decided in the final stage; 2024 champion Chepkirui overtook compatriot Helen Obiri about 150 meters before the finish line and finished second in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds. The official number of finishers this year has yet to be announced by the New York Road Runners Association (NYRR), but the number of starters exceeds previous years.

Chinese runner Tang Lingqiao ran the New York Marathon for the eighth time this year and served as the official pacer for the second time, leading runners toward the goal of completing the race in 3 hours and 10 minutes. He said the New York Marathon has many bridges and ramps, which are a test of physical strength and rhythm; As the race progresses, the number of runners keeping pace behind him gradually decreases.

Tang Lingqiao started running marathons in 2016. Over the past ten years, she has shifted from chasing personal achievements to helping others achieve their goals and gaining a greater sense of accomplishment from it. And she also believes another benefit of running is valuable community connections. “Especially in a big city like New York,” runners can make friends with like-minded people and find a sense of belonging and warmth.

56-year-old Liu Song made a special trip from California to New York to compete this time. Originally he had to complete the race in 3 hours and 50 minutes. However, the numerous ramps and bridges in New York City, as well as the intense sunlight of the day, made the race more challenging than expected. After running 30 kilometers, he had to start walking for a while at the water station to adjust his condition. As a former student of Nankai University, she said candidly, “If there were no gas stations in Nankai, I probably would have given up.”

After entering Manhattan, there were huge crowds of people on both sides of the track, and the constant cheering made her “heart beat faster” and ultimately supported her completing the race in under four hours. Liu Song said that she was so nervous and tired during the race that she could not look closely at the scenery along the way. It wasn’t until she walked to the subway after the race, wearing a warm robe, and strangers congratulated and encouraged her along the way, that she truly felt the excitement of the New York Marathon.

Liu Song said that he used to be an ordinary office worker, but when he started running marathons, he became “unlimited energy.” Running not only allowed her to make many friends, but also inspired those around her to get involved. “The marathon changed my life.”

Another Chinese runner, Chen Bangrui, ran the New York Marathon for the second time and set a new personal best time of 2 hours and 57 minutes. He, who works in the financial industry, said the biggest benefit from running is relieving work stress; He now trains seven times a week and is seriously dedicated to the sport. Friends said his focus, self-discipline and enthusiasm for running impressed and inspired those around him.

When the New York Marathon was established in 1970, the track revolved only around Central Park; It was first expanded to the fifth district in 1976. That year, 2,090 people started and 1,549 people finished. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the five-borough route. Organizers also made detours in the South Bronx section for the first time in 15 years to minimize the impact of diversions and road closures on nearby residents.

The finish line of the New York City Marathon will remain open until 10 p.m. Even if a runner can’t maintain the minimum pace and has to turn onto the sidewalk to proceed, staff and volunteers will be there to provide assistance along the way. After nightfall, there were still people running and walking across the finish line, and there were still people stopping at the finish line to cheer them on. Just as New York welcomes all kinds of people from all over the world, the city’s marathons too cheer on every runner who reaches the finish line with the same tolerance and enthusiasm.