Inspiration Part 2: All Are Welcome

Widely acknowledged as the pioneer event that transformed the marathon into an accessible event for the masses. The New York Road Runners (NYRR) and co-founder Fred Lebow literally created the marathon boom in the US and influenced the rise of other major marathons around the world.

Never had a running event bring 38,000 runners (check out the picture of the bridge below), 2 million spectators, media coverage, and the largest melting pot of a city together in a single day. The race has grown so big that many will agree that it's not as accessible in the true sense of the word. Every year nearly 100,000 entries are received but only 40,000 are accepted. It's high entry fee and other costs (NYC is an expensive place) also contributed to the negatives.

But that doesn't stop people from trying their luck in the annual lottery. Such is allure of NYCM. Below is a photo report of an Achilles Track Club (ATC) member who set off on the race at 6am (4 hours before the mass start). The ATC are allocated a certain number of slots for the marathon. The ATC was established by Dick Traum in 1983 to encourage disabled people to participate in long-distance running with the general public.

To read the articles, click on the thumbnails below.