Euphoric pain, that’s the emotion some 50,000 experienced after running through the five boroughs on Sunday in the TCS New York City Marathon.
Photo by Dean Moses
Euphoric pain. That’s the emotion some 50,000 people experienced after running through the five boroughs on Sunday in the TCS New York City Marathon.
Crossing the finish line in Central Park, runners roared with excitement and flexed with elated pride, some even kissing the finish line itself. Others collapsed to the concrete ground, passing out and needing to be wheeled away while grimacing in agony. This is the duality suffered by participants from all 50 states and 150 counties when making the 26.2-mile trek.
The race began at the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, with runners headed into South Brooklyn and then past the Barclay’s Center hitting mile eight.
Thousands of spectators lined the streets along Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, holding signs and cheering on the leagues of runners passing by.
Lilah Raptopoulos, a Brooklyn resident, planned to run the marathon but was benched due to an injury; however, she made sure to show up for her boyfriend, who was participating in the event.
Raptopoulos is a firm believer that marathon day is the “best day in New York City.”
“It’s so emotional,” Raptopoulos said. “You get to feel like everybody is rooting for the same thing. Everyone is on the same team. It’s really beautiful.”
For Jennifer Warmath, the marathon has cultivated a sense of community, which is why she keeps coming back every year to support the athletes.
“It feels like a really beautiful moment where everyone comes together regardless of your background or what you do,” Warmath said. “[I’m] just impressed with this physical feat that all of these people are able to accomplish. And just the crowd cheering on strangers, and it feels really good.”
After garnering some momentum, the runners entered Queens, until they reached the Queensboro…
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