NEW YORK—The New York Road Runners, organizer of the annual New York City Marathon, earlier this week unveiled a manifesto, with some of the tag lines reading “Run to be strong,” and “Run out of excuses,” and “Run off dessert.”
Another tag line, “Run for the kids,” takes on new meaning for marathon entrant and softball legend Jennie Finch, who just gave birth to her second son in June.
“I go back to being a young girl and there’s nothing like just running—going outside and running [and] being active,” said Finch, who will begin the event dead last, earning the New York Road Runners’ (NYRR) youth programs $1 for each participant she overtakes.
“It’s not everyday you get to run through all five boroughs,” she said. “I’m excited to pound the pavement of New York.”
Olympic gold-medalist Apollo Ohno and former New York Rangers hockey captain Mark Messier will join Finch on Nov. 6. The two athletes ruminated about training, pre-race anxiety, and competition at a press event on Thursday at Central Park.
“This race is about the people: the people of New York, and people coming out and supporting it,” said Ohno, who is running because of a challenge from Jared of Subway fame, and hopes to finish as close as possible to three and a half hours. “You want to gain more awareness for people to put more running into their life in some shape, way, or form, and just get America more healthy.”
Messier, who turned 50 this year, is running for two charities, the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, and the Tomorrows Children’s Fund.
Last year a total of $30.8 million was raised for charity, at over $1 million per mile. This year, 7,700 entrants will race for one of 210 charities.
