Countdown to 40th Running of ING New York City Marathon
Lottery drawing one of several events celebrating National Running Day

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Posted Thursday, 11 June, 2009

NEW YORK - (June 3, 2009) - A field of more than 40,000, the largest in the storied history of the race, was announced for the ING New York City Marathon 2009 by New York Road Runners officials. The 40th running of the famed five-borough race will be on Sunday, November 1. For the second consecutive year, the marathon attracted more than 100,000 applicants.

Marathon rookie Jeff Mead, 35, of New York, and Anette Hagen, 45, of Virginia Beach, VA, who will be running just her second marathon, were the first two names selected in the U.S. lottery. Rounding out the first five selections were Jeffrey Dorn, 56, of Englewood, NJ; Peter Goldberg, 38, of New York and Kellan Flynn, 46, of Boulder, CO.

"Breaking the 100,000-applicant mark again, in the midst of a recession, speaks volumes to the importance in people's lives of running and achieving a major goal like New York," said race director Mary Wittenberg, president and CEO of New York Road Runners.

The first five names selected were announced on WNBC's Today in New York.

"As far as I'm concerned, the marathon is one of the best events in the city, not to mention that running 26 miles is a difficult test," said Mead. "To do the two together will be exhilarating and would give me a great sense of accomplishment."

"This is my biggest dream of all. My sister ran last year, and I was on the sideline in New York watching and cheering for her," said Hagen. "It was amazing to be there, but I wanted so badly to run myself. Now this year, it's finally my turn. This is just so exciting."

The lottery was one of several activities scheduled by New York Road Runners to celebrate the inaugural National Running Day, a nationwide movement to nationally and locally promote running as a healthy, easy and accessible form of exercise.

For more information, visit: www.INGnycmarathon.org

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