Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1970 -- except in 2012 (Hurricane Sandy; cancelled) and 2020 (COVID-19; virtual event) -- the Big Apple has hosted the New York City Marathon, an annual 26.2-mile race that now takes runners through all five boroughs of New York City. According to the New York Road Runners website, "the first New York City Marathon, organized by New York Road Runners, took place on September 13, 1970, in Central Park, with an entry fee of $1 and a budget of $1,000. Of the 127 registered runners, there are 55 finishers. In 2006, the New York City Marathon joined the Boston, Chicago, London, and Berlin marathons to form the World Marathon Majors; Tokyo was added in 2013. ABC-TV aired the New York City Marathon for the first time in 1981; its national broadcasts continued through 1993. In 2013, NYRR signed a multiyear deal with ABC-TV and ESPN for coverage of the New York City Marathon. Financial services company ING became the first title sponsor of the New York City Marathon in 2003. In 2014, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) becomes the New York City Marathon's title sponsor."