as many as 50,000 finishers each year. "It's truly an experience to race a marathon there and take in the unique atmosphere in each of the boroughs and the way the entire city comes out to celebrate with the runners," said Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who has won three times.

History: The race began in 1970 with loops around Central Park but evolved in 1976 into the full-city, five-borough run it is today.

Key feature: Just after the halfway point, runners climb to cross the spectator-less Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. After crossing, they get a boost heading downhill on First Avenue to the cheers of thousands lining the course.

Scenic highlight: The race begins with runners charging over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, with views of New YorkHarbor and Manhattan in the distance.

Quotable: "Everything about New York I love," said Tatyana McFadden, the U.S. wheelchair standout who has won the race five times. "I think they are the best organization. They do a wonderful job. And I love to climb. I love to climb hills, so that's a really strong race for me."

Olympic

It is only every four years, the venues change, and the race is for only elites, but the fields are the best, and the chance to make history is unmatched.

History: It began in Greece in 1896, from the village of Marathon to Athens, with Spyros Louis, a Greek shepherd, the winner. The barefoot Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia won at Rome in 1960. The men's race has been won by Africans eight times, including