2023-11-05 20:07:46
3-minute read
NEW YORK − Spectators lined up early Sunday morning for a front row view of the world’s biggest marathon.
At Central Park South – the last lap of the New York City Marathon – the rock music was pumping and crowds were gathering behind the barricade to cheer for their loved ones.
They came with cowbells, pom poms and big signs with slogans like “I love NY Marathoners” and oversized photos of their favorite runners. Everyone seemed to be drinking coffee, smiling and cheering. It was like a giant block party, but with a lot of out of towners and people asking directions.
Many fans brought dogs or babies – or both – to help cheer for the over 50,000 athletes who were running in the five-borough-race.
The New York Police Department was out in full force and barricades kept streets blocked off, making access to various parts of Central Park difficult. Police checked spectators’ bags at various points but that didn’t deter people from chatting with them to ask directions and seek advice on best viewing spots.
Alexander Willard Junior, a retired accountant from South Orange, stationed himself behind the barricade at Central Park South where he clapped and cheered for the wheelchair racers as they neared the finish line.
“A friend of mine ran in the marathon five years ago and I came to cheer him on,” he said. “I enjoyed that experience so much, I’ve been coming every year since even when I don’t know anyone.” This year, he’s rooting for everybody, he said.
As if to prove that point, he turned to a man coming down the route who was wheeling himself by his arms. “You’re almost there!” he shouted reassuringly. “You got this!”
The crowd cheered along with him.
A mile away, inside the winding roads of Central Park, Ashley McGrath of Little Silver, stood near a sign that said, “One mile to go.”
McGrath, a yoga teacher, said she was waiting for her friend of 20 years whom she went to college with. “We played on the same lacrosse team and kept in touch all these years,” she said. When she comes running through the winding path, she said, “I’m going to cheer so loud. I am so proud of her.”
As the first runners burst towards the finish line, a roar erupted from the crowd. Everyone held up their cellphones to capture the moment. Then they stared in awe at Tamirat Tola who set a record time in the men’s pro division with his 2:04:58 finish.
Hellen Obiri of Kenya, took the title in the women’s division with 2:27:23.
Mia Rabinowitz of Tenafly said that when she heard it was the marathon this Sunday, she knew she couldn’t miss it. Although she doesn’t know any of this year’s runners personally, she is proud of them nonetheless. As she watched the athletes near the finish line to rousing cheers from the spectators, she said it is easy to feel emotional.
“When you think about all of the months of training and the effort that went into this moment, it’s very inspiring. It almost make me feel like crying,” Rabinowitz, who says she runs in her spare time, said that after attending the marathon as a spectator, she feels motivated to start training herself for next year’s marathon.
Denise Rodriguez from Bergen County held up a massive sign with her friend’s photo on it accompanied by the phrase, “You can do it all day long” as they waited for him to come barreling through the last few minutes of the course. “He’s a real health junkie and he trained very hard for this,” she said about her friend, a Bergen County detective.
“Training for this was a huge priority for him. He never told us his target time but I’m sure he’s going to be in the first wave of runners,” she said. “When we see him, we’re all going to scream. Hopefully, we don’t distract him.”
Afterwards, they meet up at the finish line, they are all taking him out for a celebratory event in honor of his athletic triumph, she said.
Everyone in the group seemed confident that he won’t be too tired after running the 26.2 mile course to party.
Middle East conflict
Although the event was largely calm, the Middle East Conflict made its presence felt. Two clusters of Israel supporters near Columbus Circle waved Israeli flags and held up signs with photos of the hostages taken by Hamas into Gaza on Oct. 7.
Among them were Michael Ronen of Tenafly, who was draped in an Israeli flag. He said he’s cheering for several Tenafly runners and hopes to participate in next year’s marathon. But this year, he said he was there to spread awareness about the hostages, who are running out of time. He held up a big sign that said, “Hamas Leader: ‘Women, Children and Elderly Must die in Gaza to help our fight against Israel.’ “
“My son and his girlfriend were at the rock concert in Southern Israel that terrible night and miraculously escaped. They ran for three hours but their friends were killed and other were taken as hostages. I want people to know who Hamas is – they are Nazis,” said Ronen.
1699224615
#giant #block #party #spectators