This is a gem, and Jeff Benjamin, senior writer for RunBlogRun, reminded me of this wonderful exhibit. Many hadn’t seen it, so I thought we would repost it! Enjoy!
Original post: October 29, 2015.
Jeff Benjamin has been texting me for the past week, reminding me about this story and where he would like the pictures to be placed. This looked like a wonderful event, and Jeff, as one of our most enduring writers and observers for RunBlogRun (before that, American Track & Field and American Athletics), captured the excitement and the history of the event.
Be sure to see the exhibit if you can!
The NYC Marathon: The Great Race Exhibit
NYRR Co-Presidents Mike Capiraso and Peter Ciaccia, photo by Jeff Benjamin
By Jeff Benjamin
On October 29, 2015, the New York Road Runners played host to a gala of friends and supporters at the Museum of the City of New York. The event? The first ever exhibition showing the historical growth of the New York City Marathon. This evolution, which was begun, according to Race director and New York Road Runners Co-President Peter Ciaccia, “by a small group of dedicated nutty runners”, began with the first race through 4 1/2 loops of Central Park involving around 55 finishers. The exhibit then shows how this off-beat event went truly mainstream, as the race changed in 1976 into the 5-borough extravaganza with 50,000 participants running this upcoming Sunday.
Alberto Salazar, photo by Jeff Benjamin
The exhibit, which runs through (pardon the pun) March of 2016 and was curated by Sean Corcoran, first welcomes the visitors to life size portraits and informational boxes of some of the iconic champions. But one must also pass the life size image of Fred Lebow, who, as NYRR President, created his vision of the first NY marathon in 1970, and then helped make reality the idea of the Five Borough event, beginning in 1976.
Katherine Switzer, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Gary Muhrcke, winner of first NYC Marathon, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Alongside Lebow, on both sides of the wall were some of the champions as well, including Bill Rodgers, Paul Tergat, Women’s pioneer Kathrine Switzer, Alberto Salazar, German Silva, along with other parts of the living history of the New York City Marathon. Visitors then entered a room which displayed a plethora of photographs taken by both professional and amateurs through the 35 year history. Runners of all abilities, volunteers, event makers and the different neighborhoods were all displayed, celebrating how, in NYC, all comes together every year for the race. Alongside one wall was a chronological time-line showing key events which took place in the Marathon’s growth and legacy.
Alongside this collage of photos was a series of real great short video segments of races past, as footage was shown of Rodgers and Olympic Champ Frank Shorter from the 1976 contest, along with the victories of Waitz, Silva (which included the infamous “wrong turn”), Radcliffe, Salazar, along with the most dramatic victory of all- New Zealander Olympian Rod Dixon’s come from behind victory over Geoff Smith, in the rain-soaked 1983 race.
The NYRR has always been known for trying to balance the relationship between the competitive athletes and the recreational runner. In this exhibit, both facets have been very duly noted. If one is looking for inspiration in this upcoming New York City Marathons, or you’re looking to connect with old friends from years past, albeit symbolically, then this exhibit is worth the visit!
Cool-Down- Alongside Peter Ciaccia was NYRR Co-President Michael Capiraso, who ran his 25th NY Marathon on November 1. “I was already told by both Peter and George Hirsch (NYRR Chairman) that I have to run under 4 hours so I can continue to work on the race!”, he jokingly said.
George Hirsch is hosted an event at the exhibit on Halloween (October 31, 2015), called “Winning the NY Marathon.” Bill Rodgers and German Silva will be joining him–further info–
Senior Writer Jeff Benjamin has written for almost 40 years for RunBlogRun! The Former President of the Staten Island AC & was the 5th man scorer for his 1982 Susan Wagner High School NYC XC City Championship team. Also a member of the College of Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame for XC, Jeff is also a retired NYC DOE history teacher. Some of Jeff's subjects have included Sebastian Coe, Eamonn Coghlan, Matt Centrowitz, Billy Mills, Joe Newton, Tom Fleming, Bill Rodgers, Abel Kiviat, Frank Shorter, Rod Dixon and Carl Lewis as well as Book Reviews and articles covering track meets and races primarily in the Northeast U.S. and beyond.
Jeff has also covered Track & Field events at the 1996, 2016 & 2024 Olympic Games as well as the 2022 World T&F Championships in Eugene, Oregon. A noted T&F historian and chronicler of the athletic achievements of Jim Thorpe, Jeff helped with the restoration of Thorpe to the official IOC 1912 Record Books.
In 2023 Jeff was honored with the awarded the prestigious James Dunaway memorial award for excellence in Track and Field journalism by the Track and Field Writers Association.
NYRR Co-Presidents Mike Capiraso and Peter Ciaccia, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Alberto Salazar, photo by Jeff Benjamin
Katherine Switzer, photo by Jeff Benjamin
