You Wanna Run the NYC Marathon? Buckle Up, Buttercup! (Unless You're an Elite, Then You Can Just Breeze Through)
Ah, the New York City Marathon. A glorious, grueling test of human endurance that winds its way through the concrete jungle, past cheering crowds (hopefully not just tourists confused by all the spandex), and hot dog stands that taunt you with their greasy siren song (resist! you can celebrate with pizza later!).
But before you lace up your fanciest running shoes (because comfort is overrated, right?), you might be wondering: just how many crazies, I mean, enthusiastic runners take on this urban odyssey every year?
The Answer, My Friend, Is More Than You Think (But Probably Less Than You'd Guess)
The NYC Marathon is one of the biggest races on the planet, boasting a plethora of participants (that's a fancy way of saying a whole lot of people). In 2023, over 51,000 runners crossed the finish line, which is basically the population of a small town all high-fiving each other and muttering about sore quads.
Wait, 51,000? Isn't That Like, a Lot?
You bet it is! That's more people than can fit in Yankee Stadium...five times over! Imagine the pre-race jitters, the costume parade (because there's always that one guy in a full dinosaur outfit), the sheer logistics of getting that many people to the starting line without turning Manhattan into a giant human parking lot. It's enough to make even the most seasoned marathoner take a deep breath (and maybe chug a Gatorade).
But Here's the Catch: Not Everyone Who Starts Actually Finishes
The NYC Marathon is no walk in the park (although you do run through Central Park, so there's that). The course is 26.2 miles, which is roughly the distance between your couch and the fridge and back...a hundred times. Plus, there are those pesky hills in Brooklyn (they're small, but after mile 20, even a molehill feels like Mount Everest).
So, while over 51,000 people register for the race, the number of actual finishers is usually a tad lower. In 2022, there were almost 48,000 finishers, which is still a staggering number. But hey, some people have bad days, get sidelined by a rogue pretzel (those things are heavy!), or simply decide that watching the race from a bar with a giant beer is a perfectly valid strategy. No judgment here.
So, How Do You Become One of Those Glorious Finishers?
Well, my friend, that's a story for another day. But let's just say it involves a lot of training, a healthy dose of self-motivation (and maybe some pain medication), and the unwavering belief that you can conquer the concrete jungle, one sweaty step at a time.
