“Gets closer to this marathon than an avenue railbird, and it leaves impressions not fleeting, but lasting.”
—Sports Illustrated
The New York City Marathon is considered one of the nation’s—and the world's—premier sporting events. A reporter for the
New York Times, Liz Robbins brings the color, the history, the electricity of this remarkable annual competition alive in
A Race Like No Other. Centering her narrative around the fabled 2007 running, Robbins captures all the intensity of the grand event, following the runners—both professional and amateur—along 26.2 grueling miles through the streets of New York, from the starting line at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the finish line in Central Park, and offering fascinating portraits of marathon legends like the race's charismatic founder, the late Fred Lebow, and nine-time champion Grete Waitz. The
Wall Street Journal raves: “Robbins nails the race, painting a broad, impressionistic portrait of what I consider New York’s greatest day.” No other book captures the excitement of the New York City Marathon like
A Race Like No Other.
The New York City Marathon: 26.2 grueling miles across five bridges and through five distinct boroughs, accompanied by the cheers of two million fans and propelled by the unique motivation that churns inside every participant.
New York Times reporter Liz Robbins brings the famed New York City Marathon to life, capturing the day's festivities mile by mile. She tells the stories of the determined competitors—from their friendships and rivalries to their adversity and redemption—through the prism of the unforgettable 2007 race. Infused with rich history of the event's legends and its colorful neighborhood characters, A Race Like No Other provides a curbside seat to the first Sunday in November, breathlessly carrying the reader from the start on the towering Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the triumphant finish line in Central Park.
"One of the world's great races finally has its own biography, and it's as wacky, entertaining, and beguiling as the Big Apple itself. If you had no interest in 'running New York' beforehand, this book will definitely change your mind."
