The numbers, we might know the winner, & drop-outs.

(I took this picture at mile 11 in 2009)

Lots of marathon stuff in the news this week in NYC.

Here are some fun facts about this year's marathon from the New York Road Runners:

• 127: Number of runners who toed the line at the very first New York City Marathon, held in 1970. Only 55 actually finished.

• 47,000: Number of participants projected to race in this Sunday's marathon.

• 38: Percent of those racers who are women.

• 84: Age of Joy Johnson, the oldest female entrant this year.

• 3,538: Number of entrants from Italy, the country with the most participants outside of the U.S. France and Germany rank second and third for foreign entries.

• 8,000: Number of event volunteers during Sunday's race.

• 2.5 million: Expected spectators along the course.

• 74: Number of UPS trucks that will take participants' bags from the start in Staten Island to the finish in Manhattan's Central Park.

• 18,000: Cans of Coors Light ordered for the pre-marathon pasta dinner on Saturday night, which will host 15,000 runners and their families.

• 4,500: Pounds each of rigatoni pasta and elbow macaroni to be served at the pasta dinner.

• 17,000: Pounds of clothing discarded at the start line of the race and collected for local charities.

• 368: Number of portable toilets positioned throughout the course, at more than 35 locations including every mile.

• 62,370: Gallons of Poland Spring Natural Spring Water available to runners.

• 32,040: Gallons Gatorade G Series Pro Endurance Formula along the course.

• 2,300,000: Paper cups used during the race.

• 60,000: Number of PowerBar Gel packets for runners at mile 18.

• 130,000: Amount in dollars awarded to the male and female runner champion (amount increases to $200,000 if last year's winner wins again).


Speaking of the female champion, Buzunesh is a friend in the Ethiopian running community. She is slated as a very real contender for 1st place on Sunday. The NY Times wrote about her here. So excited for her! The picture at the very top of this post is one I took of her running the marathon in 2009. Go back and look at it. Doesn't it look like she's sleeping? Resting comfortably? Relaxed breath? She runs like it's nothing at all. She seriously floats. So cool to watch.

Conversely related to Buzunesh winner is the Wall Street Journal article this week on those who drop out of the race. They say there will be around 15,000 no shows. An interesting read here.

Speaking of no-shows, my charity, Team for Kids has 1500 runners. They estimate that about 200 won't show on the race from injuries, or missing a plane, or work calling them in. Hope I'm not one of them! Gotta make it to the start!