The New York City Marathon began in 1970 as a race four times around Central Park. In 1976, Fred Lebow and the New York Road Runners Club, the world’s largest running club and the race’s sponsor, decided to invite top runners from all over the world, and to run the course through all five New York boroughs. About 30,000 runners compete in the race, and over a million New Yorkers turn out to watch and cheer the runners on. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary