Over 40,000 runners train and prepare for months to complete the course of 26.2 mile that includes a whole tour of the five boroughs.
People from all over the world enter and participate in this annual marathon, from a wide variety of runners with age, disabilities and race.
The marathon dates back to 1970. Runners and spectators are equally involved in this wide and long event that lasts the entire day.
The 16th mile of the New York City Marathon was the last step of Haile Gebrselassie's storied career.
The world-record holder announced his retirement after dropping out of the race on a day that signaled the rise of a new Ethiopian star. Countryman Gebre Gebremariam won the men's title in his marathon debut.
Kenya's Edna Kiplagat was another surprise winner, while Shalane Flanagan, making a marathon debut of her own, became the first American woman in two decades to finish second.
Trying to complete the 26.2 miles was rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena, who jogged the tunnels while trapped underground.
Gebrselassie pulled out on the Queensboro Bridge with a right knee injury. Gebremariam was behind him in the large lead pack and encouraged him to keep going.
"I can't, Gebre. You have to move," Gebrselassie urged the younger runner. "You have to reach them."
The 26-year-old Gebremariam became the first man to win New York in his marathon debut since Rod Dixon in 1983. The 2009 cross-country world champion pulled away from Kenya's Emmanuel Mutai in the 24th mile to win in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 14 seconds.
"Even I told to my wife, 'I can finish this race, but I can't win,"' Gebremariam said. "When I saw in 19 or 17 miles, you know, I can win. We are forward and I saw the pace and listen to my body too, so I can win."
His wife, Werknesh Kidane, is an elite distance runner herself and also planned to make her marathon debut in New York. But she had to pull out because of injury and watched the race back in Ethiopia with their two young sons.
"So maybe next year she'll come and she'll win too," Gebremariam said with a smile.
Another Kenyan, Moses Kigen Kipkosgei, was third. Defending champion Meb Keflezighi of the United States finished sixth.
The 31-year-old Kiplagat won her first major marathon title in 2:28:20.
Flanagan, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, was 20 seconds back. Kim Jones in 1990 was the last American woman to finish in the top two.
Kenya's Mary Keitany, also making her marathon debut, was third.
More than 45,000 runners started the 41st edition of the race through the city's five boroughs.
THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON ROUTE
Start: Verrazano Narrows Bridge
Bridge to 92nd Street
92nd Street to 4th Avenue (some runners take 92nd St to Fort Hamilton Pkwy to 4th Avenue)
4th Avenue to Ashland Place (some runners take 4th Av to Flatbush Ave)
Ashland Place/Flatbush Avenue to Lafayette Avenue
Lafayette Avenue to Bedford Avenue
Bedford Avenue to Nassau Street
Nassau Street to Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Avenue to Greenpoint Avenue
Greenpoint Avenue to McGuinness Boulevard
McGuinness Boulevard to Pulaski Bridge (Brooklyn-bound side)
Pulaski Bridge to 48th Avenue
48th Avenue to Vernon Boulevard
Vernon Boulevard to 10th Street
10th Street to 44th Drive
44th Drive to Hunter Street
Hunter Street to Crescent Street
Crescent Street to Bridge Plaza South
Bridge Plaza South to Lower Level Queensboro Bridge
Lower Level Queens-bound Queensboro Bridge to 59th Street Ramp
Exit 59th Street Ramp to First Avenue
First Avenue to Willis Avenue Bridge
Willis Avenue Bridge to E. 135th Street
135th Street to Alexander Avenue
Alexander Avenue to 138th Street
138th Street to Morris Avenue
Morris Avenue to 140th Street
140th Street to Rider Avenue
Rider Avenue to 138th Street
138th Street to Madison Avenue Bridge
Madison Avenue Bridge to 5th Avenue
5th Avenue to 124th Street
124th Street to Mt. Morris Park West
Mt. Morris Park West to 120th Street
120th Street to 5th Avenue
5th Avenue to 90th Street
90th Street to enter Central Park East Drive
East Drive to 59th Street/Central Park South
Central Park South to Columbus Circle
Enter Central Park West Drive
Central Park West Drive to Finish Line at Tavern on the Green
More information of the New York City Marathon can be found at the links below
For road closures Information: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/road_closures.htm
For the entire schedule: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/schedule.htm
For any additional information: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/index.htm
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