SPORT / SPORTS
Prelazak preko Verazano mosta (Njujork) Crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (New York)
Maraton znači grad I Čikago i Njujork deo su prestižne seri- je „World Marathon Majors“, uz Berlin, London, Tokio i Boston. Ali njihova po- sebnost je u načinu na koji oslikavaju grad. U Čikagu osetite miris jezera i ve- tar sa Mičigena, u Njujorku ritam ulica i multikulturni šum publike. U oba sluča- ja maraton je mnogo više od sporta. Za trkače je to prilika da se upišu u isto- riju. Za gradove to je način da pokažu svoju gostoljubivost, energiju i razno- likost. A za gledaoce to je inspiracija – dokaz da je čovek sposoban za mnogo više nego što misli. A MARATHON MAKES A CITY Both the Chicago and New York races are part of the prestigious World Mara- thon Majors series, which also includes Berlin, London, Tokyo, Boston and Syd- ney. But the uniqueness of these rac- es can be found in the way they depict their city. In Chicago one can smell Lake Michigan and feel the wind blowing off it, while runners in New York feel the rhythm of the streets and the multicul- tural murmuring of the crowd. In both cases, the marathon represents much more than a sporting event. For the runners, it represents an oppor- tunity to inscribe themselves in histo- ry. For the cities, it is a way for them to show their hospitality, energy and di- versity. And for the spectators, it is a source of inspiration – providing proof that humans are capable of much more than they think.
Maraton se održava prve nedelje u novembru i privlači profesionalne takmičare i amatere iz celog sveta. Zbog popularnosti trke, učešće se uglavnom bira putem sistema lutrije The marathon is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world. Because of the popularity of the race, participation is chosen largely by a lottery system
Festival through five worlds
If Chicago is synonymous with course speed, New York is synonymous with spectacle. The city’s first marathon was held in Central Park in 1970 and included just 127 participants. How- ever, more than 50,000 runners to- day flood the streets in the first week of November, and they are cheered on by more than two million people. The start line is on Staten Island, and crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge represents one of the most emotional moments in athletics. With a sea of people wearing colour- ful t-shirts and Manhattan visible in the distance – it is a sight that evokes admiration among both runners and spectators. Next comes Brooklyn, with bands on every corner, followed by Queens, with spectators cheer- ing in twenty languages, then the Bronx with its hip-hop beats and, fi-
nally, Manhattan, where Central Park marks the race’s culmination. The New York Marathon isn’t mere- ly a sporting event – it is a social phe- nomenon. More than 165,000 people registered for the 2024 race, seek- ing the privilege of being part of the world’s biggest race. Another inter- esting detail is that the NYC Mara- thon is always held on the day that marks the end of Daylight Saving Time. Runners literally get “an ex- tra hour in bed”, which seems like a small cosmic gift to many. Celebrities are also regular guests here: Edward Norton ran the mara- thon for charity, Alicia Keys said that the crowd carried her the last few miles... For all of them, but also thou- sands of anonymous runners, the feeling is the same: New York won’t let you quit.
108 | Trčanje » Running
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