Olympians Strive in NYC Marathon
Sunday's New York City Marathon was a record breaking event, and i dont mean just in the number of attendees or the fact that course records were all but abolished. The event was highly publicized and thanks to a few big time names, raised alot of money for alot of great causes.
Among the big timers were 8-time Olympic speed skating medalist Apollo Anton Ohno, six-time stanley cup champion Mark Messier, and two time Olympic softball gold medalist Jenny Finch.
All three of these athletes made their contribution to their cause and did it in style.
Ohno raised $26,000 for Special Olympics from Subway, simply by finishing the race in under 4 hours. And as Ohno, 29, says, “This actually hurts my short-track training, but the toughness you can gain from this crazy marathon is applicable.” For Ohno the cause was more than just a minor set back in his short track training, and seeing as he has close to 3 years to go before he sets foot on the Olympic stage again. I guess you could say he has a little time to spare.
Finch started her race in a bit of a different fashion. She started the race dead last earned $1 for the New York Road Runners youth programs from Timex for every runner she passed throughout the race. “The energy on the streets is amazing,” Finch said.
Finch finished in 4:05:26, unofficially raising about $30,000 for the charity. “So many people running with so many different causes.”
Messier had even yet again a different cause to run the daunting 26.2 mile New York City course. Messier ran for two causes, Tomorrow's Children's Fund and Answer the Call, which supports the surviving family members of 9/11 first responders.
Messier was not the first of his stanley cup mates to take a stab at the Marathon. Two of his former teammates Mike Richter and Adam Graves from the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers also had ran the race in the past. Messier finished in a time of 4 hours, 14 minutes, 21 seconds. "“I just got filled up with inspiration,” said Messier.
Other notable runners include Ryan Sutter, former Batchelorette contestant who finished in 3:17:58, Mario Lopez, 4:23:30, and former Manchester United goalie Edwin van der Sar who wrapped up the race in 4:19:16.
