It’s the crème de la crème of marathon races: The ING New York City Marathon. Runners from as far as Africa meet together in the Big Apple to compete in the world’s largest marathon. The event started in 1970 with 127 runners. For a mere $1 entry fee, these racers took to the course, which was initially four laps around Central Park. http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/about/history.htm As the event grew, changes to the course had to be made. Six years later in 1976, one of the race founders redrew the course to what it is today. The course runs through five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and finally Manhattan. http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrant_index.htm In the past 40 years, the event grew into the biggest marathon to date.

Because it’s such a coveted event, it requires a lot of planning, training, and focus to get to the starting line. Most of all, to get into the marathon you’ll need a little luck. The entrants get accepted based on a lottery-style entry. This means that when you apply, you’ll get placed into a drawing and then the entrants are chosen by chance. However, for an easy, guaranteed entry you can get sponsored for entry. Either way, you’ll never get bigger than the New York City marathon so get ready for the chance of a lifetime.

The first step to getting your way into the New York City Marathon is through the application process. Short and sweet, the application puts you into the drawing for the marathon entry. To fill out your entry form, visit the New York City Marathon website.http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrant_index.htm To fill the form out, you’ll need to register with the website and create a profile login. After the drawing, you’ll be able to check your profile to see if you’re in. In order to apply, you must meet the minimum qualifications, which are:http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/apply.htm

• You Must be at Least 18 Years or Older on Sunday November 7, 2010
• You Must Provide a Non-Refundable Entry Fee
• You Must Apply Prior to the Deadline to be Included in the Lottery
• You Must Meet the Qualifying Time Standards In Order to Be Considered

The qualifying time standards are available on the official New York City Marathon website.http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/apply.htm Your results must be certified online or the results will be null and void. After your times and application are submitted, you’ll find out whether or not you’re accepted after the lottery has commenced. When you visit your profile login, it will say ACCEPTED if you’re in. Don’t fret if you’re not accepted the first time, you can always run for a charity which will guarantee your entry.

If you don’t want to chance your luck with the lottery, you can run under a sponsor and be automatically accepted into the race. Running for a charity is the ultimate reason to get involved in a marathon. Not only will you transform the lives of others, but you’ll promote the organization allowing other to gain an interest and bring awareness to the cause. The marathon organization works with several reputable charities, including Team for Kids, NYRR Champion’s Circle 2010, and Fred’s Team.These charities are considered “Gold Level”, however they’re not the only ones that you can work with. There are also “Silver Level” and “Bronze Level” charities available, including Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Team in Training, and Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. It’s best to choose a cause that you feel passionate about. This will drive you to work harder to make a difference for the cause and in your race. There are a variety of charities, so take your time choosing the best one for you. Unlike a traditional race entry, you can’t transfer or defer your entry after it’s been accepted without the approval of your charity.http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/charities_index.htm

Whether you know someone suffering from a disease or just want to make a difference in the world, a charity entry can transform the lives of others.

Once you’ve been accepted, the forms are in, and the day is here, all that’s left is the race. If you’re traveling from out of town, turn to Anthony Travel, Inc. to handle your accommodations. This company is the official travel agency of the ING New York City Marathon. For this reason, they know where all of the best deals are in air fare, hotels, and transportation. As soon as you know that you’re accepted into the race, book your accommodations. You don’t want to wait too long as this is a big event and spaces book easy.

Because this course event goes through five different boroughs, you want to get to the event as early as possible. The race organizers promise that if you’re a participant you’ll make it to the start with ease and time to spare. However, you still want to be prepared to fight the crowds, traffic, and chaos.

The Race Schedule The race schedule for the event can be found on the website sometime around May or June. The schedule will dictate the dates, times, and locations for all race week events.http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrant_index.htm Be on the lookout for the schedule so you can plan your week accordingly. For most runners the New York City Marathon is like Rocky’s match with Apollo – the pinnacle of a marathoner’s career. When you turn your computer on, log in to your profile, and see those words ACCEPTED . . . rejoice. This is the biggest moment in your running career so don’t let it pass you by.