The NYC Marathon returned on Sunday after a two-year hiatus. From the fans to the finish line, these are the most memorable moments of the 50th running.
After a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York City Marathon returned on Sunday in all its glory — complete with packed crowds across the five boroughs, crisp but sunny autumn weather, celebrity participants and, of course, the best runners in the world doing what they do best. There was a smaller field because of virus restrictions, but those in the 50th running of the race more than made up for it. Peres Jepchirchir and Albert Korir, both of Kenya, won the women’s and men’s races. Jepchirchir became the first woman to win a major marathon in the fall after winning Olympic gold and Korir, who literally jumped for joy as he crossed the finish line, earned his first major title two years after finishing as the runner-up in New York. It wasn’t just the champions who won over the crowd (and the internet) on Sunday. Here are some other runners and moments from Sunday’s action you need to see. When Viola Cheptoo decided she was going to run her first-ever marathon in New York, she sent a group message to her family via WhatsApp to let them know. Her older brother Bernard Lagat, a former world champion in the 1500 and 5000 meters and a two-time Olympic medalist, was particularly excited by the news. «My brother was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Are you serious because I’ll be commentating [for ESPN] there!'» Cheptoo told Runner’s World last month. Cheptoo had typically done shorter distances, including competing in the 1500 meters for Kenya in the 2016 Olympics, and Legat himself had made a similar transition during his legendary career. But on Sunday, Cheptoo did something her sibling never did by making the podium in a major marathon. Cheptoo finished the race in second place and as she crossed the finish line, her proud brother looked on from the ESPN broadcast booth. Lucky for us, his reaction was filmed and it’s guaranteed to be the sweetest thing you’ll see all day. . @Lagat1500 ‘s reaction to watching his sister @V_legit finish 2nd in the #TCSNYCMarathon is everything. pic.twitter.com/UYdjtmrDEj — Chris Nickinson (@chrisnickinson) November 7,2021 When retired professional runner Shalane Flanagan heard three of the major marathons were being moved to the fall because of the pandemic and all six major marathons would be staged in a six-week stretch, she thought someone should attempt to run all of them. It didn’t take her long to realize that someone should be her. Despite retiring in 2019, Flanagan simply couldn’t pass up the unique opportunity. So she made time to train, in between all of her other commitments as a coach and mom, and began her globe-trotting journey in September. Setting a goal of sub-three hours for each race,40-year-old Flanagan had more than smashed that mark in the five races leading into New York — including when she ran Chicago and Boston on back-to-back days last month. But somehow she saved the best for last. The 2017 New York champion looked more than at home on the course and finished in 2:33:32, her best time of the stretch and 12th-fastest time among all women on the day.
