On Sunday, the worldwide running community lost an institution: Vic Navarra, a FDNY lieutenant who organized the NYC Marathon's start for 26 years, died at his home in Staten Island. He was 55 and had been battling sinus cancer. Navarra, a lifelong runner, fell into the job of organizing the NYC Marathon's start when he couldn't run (a rib injury from responding to a fire) in 1980, when he wanted to help out and he......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a person struck by a train at 14th St. and 8th Ave. in Manhattan, a shooting on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn, and a shooting on Houston St. in Manhattan. Yet another reason to celebrate: today is the 110th anniversary of Richmond County joining us as the 5th borough of NYC. The Staten Island Advance features a picture of a general store with a wooden Indian in front of it......

Ted Corbitt passed away yesterday, costing NYC one of its own icons of long distance running. The 88-year-old died from a respiratory condition related to separate cancers that outdistanced his life as a pioneer of racing. Ted Corbitt was a former and founding president of the NYC Road Runners Club, an Olympian, and a champion of ultra-marathon running. While the NYC Marathon is regularly won by Kenyans and other African runners, Corbitt established himself all......

More than 100 bands, of all different genres, took the city streets yesterday to serve up sonic inspiration for marathon runners. There were reportedly up to 4 acts per mile, we passed by one of them in Brooklyn and thought it was a terrific idea -- it even made us pick up our pace a bit on our way to get a latte. The NY Times reports on how the idea has grown, turning......

The medical examiner's office said the autopsy of top long distance runner Ryan Shay is inconclusive. Shay collapsed during the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Saturday in Central Park and died shortly after. The ME's office said, "We want to take a closer look at the heart tissue," and will probably come to a conclusion in a week. His father had revealed his son was diagnosed with an enlarged heart at age 14, and Joe......

Yesterday, there was excitement over the U.S. Olympic Men's Marathon Trial being held in the heart of Manhattan and top three finishers Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Brian Sell qualifying for the 2003 Olympic team. But the event was also tragic: 2003 U.S. Marathon champion Ryan Shay suffered an apparent heart attack 5.5 miles into the race and died. Witnesses described that shortly after 8AM, Shay seemed to fall during the course near the......

Just a day before the running of the NYC Marathon, the U.S. Olympic trials for the men's marathon were marred by an untimely death today. 28-year-old Ryan Shay died while competing in the Olympic trials in Central Park, just a few miles into the 26.2 mile race. Shay collapsed at the 5.5 mile mark of the race and was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital where he was declared dead. The cause of death has yet......

The ING New York City Marathon is just a mere 25 days away on November 4. The day before the marathon, the New York Road Runners Club is hosting the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for the Men's Marathon. The NYRR has created a blog with videos and commentary called Chasing Glory. Today, there's a video of Abdi Abdirahman, the three-time U.S. 10,000 champ. Of course, this past Sunday's Chicago Marathon raised a number of......

The Post reports that a woman running on the West Side managed to escape from a man who tried to rape her this past Saturday morning. According to the police, Jason Washington grabbed the 24-year-old woman from behind around 7AM. He then "fondled her and dragged her to an empty doorway near 12th Avenue and 58th Street." Luckily, a loud truck "startled or distracted" Washington and the woman ran away and called 911. Washington, who......

In a little more than two weeks, the ING NYC Marathon will take place. It's a little too late to sign up to run (unless you run for a charity - more here), but there are ways to get involved. One is to volunteer at the start of the race. Since the race starts early, volunteers are needed to help out at the start of the race in Staten Island - they will "help set......

I keep hearing people talk about training for the marathon, I'm wondering what are some good places to run. Not 26 miles or anything, just some fun places or some good running resources. New York is a great place to run, whether you are a beginner or veteran. Not only can you explore the city in a whole new way, as this Brooklyn runner is doing, but it's something that you can do on......

Gothamist has never been one for long distance running, but this weekend is the 36th New York City Marathon, and we're kind of excited. Sunday's 26.2 mile race features more than 37,000 participants and will span the 5 boroughs of New York City. While the marathon itself is in its 36th year, Sunday will be the 30th anniversary of the 5 borough race, which is detailed in a NY Times article today. Also today, the......

Can there really ever be too much of a good thing? Apparently when it comes to that barest of essential ingredients for survival - water - the answer is yes. According to the NYTimes, the ING NYC Marathon organizers are recommending a limit to the amount of the stuff runners should be gulping as they trot along in the race which takes place this year on Sunday, November 6th. Reportedly 1% of the 35,000 runners......

The Daily News reports that the NYPD has apprehended one of the teenagers who attacked a runner in Central Park Thursday night. The fourteen year old was part of a group of teens, about six to ten in total. In fact, Kim commented about the attack yesterday in our comments section and explained that he didn't believe the iPod was the main reason why he was attacked: it sucked (I'm the victim in the story......

As the 35th annual ING NYC Marathon approaches on Sunday, runners (including Gothamist) are getting anxious for weather forecasts. A hot day like last year can mean tough times for runners as they deal with dehydration and heat exhaustion. Cold weather can mean rethinking race wear for warmth but also being able to shed that gear as the day gets warmer. Rain, sun, wind, every type of weather mother nature can throw at us......

Now that spring is here, I'm thinking more about running. How do I apply for the New York City Marathon? Robin, Astoria With rain in the forecast this week, it might seem a little early to be thinking about November. Still, anyone who wants to be one of the 35,000 runners to traverse the five boroughs this fall will have to act fast. Interest in one of running's premiere events runs high, so the New......

Okay, Gothamist has to give it up for the Diddy. P. Diddy's entry is going to bring more attention to the (ING) New York City Marathon that the New York Road Runners Club knows what to do with. We're not sure if this is a good or bad thing yet (Pros: Supporting great causes, showing that running can be for anyone; Cons: Takes attention away from the top runners and turns the event into......

The New York Road Runners Club is contemplating taking on ING as a sponsor of the New York City Marathon. Part of the motivation may be J.P. Morgan Chase's withdrawal as a major sponsor; another may be to increase the purse and attract more talent. Gothamist always thought that New York was in the top marathons in the world: Boston more prestigious as its runner have to qualify, but New York City is New York......