Running NYC Marathon before it was cool

Iconic Marathons as Boston, London, Berlin and New York are always high in the top picks of any runner. I have been blessed with the opportunity of running NY marathon in 2011 and -almost 2012 when hurricane Sandy prevented the event from happening.

NYC marathon has been around since 1970 with 127 runners -only one female runner among them- started the race. Four decades later the number of participant was almost 50 thousand and the ratio male to female was about 4 females for 7 males.  According to New York RoadRunners, in 1970 Fred Lebow and Vinve Chiappetta organized the first New York City Marathon with only 55 finishers. The course consisted on loops to Central Park cheered by a handful of running enthusiasts.

But with time, the Marathon grew in numbers both in participants and spectators.  In the figure below the number of participants at the finish line is showed. In red the number of female runners and blue the number of male runners.  The sink in the number of participants in 2001 is the direct consequence of the tragic events of 9/11. What is interesting is the apparent tendency to lower attendance starting 1999. After 2001 the participation has increased continuously being more accelerated in female runners, with the support of ING.

What powered such big improvement? What makes NYC marathon one of the most popular races in the world?

For one thing it is NYC! The most amazing city of the world can only have the most amazing marathon in the world. Starting in Staten Island with a plain sight of the Statue of Liberty while blasting Sinatra's "New York, New York" makes every minute of training and every mile of the trip worth it. Also New York Road Runners always outdoes itself in the logistics, coverage and publicity of the race so the marathon has become one everlasting experience.

In New York you can find a race every other weekend from 5K to ultramarathons. The culture of running is so close to the city's heart that a marathon is almost a natural goal to aim for once the running bug has is in you. When you are in the Big Apple, make sure you stop by Central Park or Prospect Park and you will see hundreds of runners from all ages, backgrounds and fitness level. This City is a Running City so the Marathon is not an isolated event but part of the live and the spirit of the City.

Coverage from the media helps to position the marathon in our collective memory. ABC and ESPN provide live coverage of the events with commentators and invited host to entertain the more than 580 thousand viewers from 2013 NY marathon, according to a press release from NYRR.

But as usual, starting an event like the marathon was not an easy task. The numbers increased at a low pace until 1976 when the course was changed and started covering the whole city.

A question that we can ask from the data is, when will the ratio male female reach 1? Assuming the tendency from the last couple of years will remain constant, that wont happen in the next 20 years at least. However the rapid grow of the number of participants will impose more critical challenges to the logistics of the event.

And Internet has also witnessed the interest of the world in the NYC marathon. Using Google's tool Correlate, comparative trends between the searches: "nyc marathon" and "ing new york " are shown. It is clear the periodic appearance of a high peak toward the end of the year, close to the date of the event and also a much more smaller peak in april after Boston Marathon.

"If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere" sang Frank Sinatra in a love letter to the Big Apple. And I would also say "If I can finish it there, I can finish it anywhere". New York will continue growing and getting more and more awesome. This race is to me the best first-marathon experience any runner could aspire.

Stick around for more stories from the numbers.

Put down the scissors!

Everyone has heard, at least once, about the dangers of running with scissors. Horrified parents screaming at kids that, unaware of possible accidents, sprint in the house holding what could be a lethal weapon.

Every runner no matter the pace, experience or goals wants to do BETTER: run faster than last week or break that personal record that has been always a source of pride or shred a few pounds.

The first runs are always tough because our body was not used to such stress. And every step will remind us of how angry our legs are with us for pushing our limit. But it just a matter of time that we start looking forward to the next run. As a matter of fact right after my first half-marathon, while desperately trying to rehydrate, I asked myself: "Why do I do this?! I will never EVER put myself through this AGAIN". A few hours later I found myself registering to my second race.

Just like everything else, improving your running is also a process. It requires patience, endurance and planning. Personally I like to plan my training based on the KISS principle: Keep it Simple Stupid. Which can also be  also put as Train Smart.

The amount information available on running and athletic performance is huge and a closer look at that fascinating topic generates millions of questions on the performance of the individual and the collective results in a race.

In this blog I will share some of my thoughts about running and training based on some facts gathered from races, personal experience and studies on the various matters of running.

And after all, running with facts wont make any one yield at you!