Runners celebrate finishing NYC Marathon: 'It's a special moment'

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- The annual NYC Marathon brings together runners from all over the world.

The first NYC Marathon was held on Sept. 13, 1970, in Central Park. 127 runners started the race and 55 finished it. On Sunday, more than 50-thousand runners said yes to the challenge.

An emotional moment for thousands of runners once they passed the finish line at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday. Noah Teachey couldn’t hold back his tears. He ran the 26.2-mile-long race in honor of his dad.

“It’s been a bad year. My dad died in January. I didn’t know I was going to be able to run again.  And I ran my best marathon here,” said Teachy.

This is the largest footrace in the world, bringing together runners from all over, like professional runner Clayton Young, who finished the race in just over two hours. 

“My girls are out here, my wife is out here, I have a lot of friends and families, I want to make them proud and make myself proud,” stated Young.

Participants ran through the five boroughs of the city, beginning on Staten Island, crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn and Queens, before entering Manhattan. PIX11’s very own Joe Mauceri doing it for the first time.

“As a kid who grew up in NYC to be able to experience all 5 boroughs and the crowd and the people, I never loved NYC more than I do right now,’ said Mauceri.

For Erica Enriquez, a third-time runner, it was all about empowering other females.

“We need more women. I have two daughters, so I am very inspired to push them and let them know women are amazing,” said Enriquez, who was also encouraging people to vote for the next president of the United States. “No matter what side you have to freaking to vote it is so important,” added Enriquez.

The NYPD and the FDNY racing against each other for the yearly mayor’s cup, a tradition for over three decades. The NYPD taking home the trophy.

And even though the marathon was hard for some runners, they just kept pushing, especially when the purpose of being here comes from the heart.

“My husband and I lost a child two years ago, so to be here to get through, it is a really special moment. I just want to do it for my family and for the people in New York,” said Luke Carron.

Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women’s race, finishing in 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 35 seconds. It was her first time running the New York City Marathon. Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands won the men's race in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 39 seconds.