NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE Event Gallery

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With a world-class field leading the way, the second annual NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE started in Central Park at 7:00 a.m. under surprisingly cool conditions.	Impeccably organized start corrals afforded all 9,960 runners a clean, unobstructed start.	NIKE provided several pace teams to help runners achieve their half-marathon race goals.	Soon after exiting the park onto Seventh Avenue, the course passed Carnegie Hall, where spectators at the first of three NIKE Cheering Zones urged the runners on.
The mild, sunny weather drew many spectators out to the streets of Midtown, despite the early hour.	Heading south toward Times Square, the route passed many New York institutions, including the world-famous Carnegie Deli.	Even the top-seeded runners couldn’t fail to notice the dazzling lights of Times Square, the crossroads of the world.	In a slight course change from 2006, the route veered left from Seventh Avenue onto Broadway for several blocks.
It wasn’t easy for the runners to rein in their enthusiasm during the thrilling middle miles of the race.	Fans waited patiently to cheer for their particular runners, and in the meantime offered support to thousands of others.	A right turn onto 42nd Street took the runners past Madame Tussauds, Dave & Buster’s, and other attractions.	Bright lights, big city!
Running through the normally jam-packed streets of the city was cause for celebration for New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike.	The Toyota Hybrid Turn to the Finish at mile 9 showcased the company’s Prius, and a lively samba band complete with vividly costumed dancers welcomed runners to the West Side Highway.	Nearly 10,000 runners took part in the second annual NYC Half-Marathon Presented by NIKE.	Happy to have plenty of water and Gatorade Endurance Formula along the course, one runner shows her gratitude to the hundreds of race-day volunteers.
The hot, humid conditions of race week gave way to an ideal 70-degree race morning, and the sun shone brightly as runners raced for home along the West Side Highway.	Spanish runners Admin Francisco Diaz Jimenez, 41 (left), and Manuel Estevez Dieguez, 33 (right), finished together in 1:32:17.	WABC weekend evening weather anchor Heidi Jones hosted a half-marathon training blog on 7online.com and completed the race in a fantastic 1:32:42.	Many spectators and volunteers intensified their support by beating Toyota cheersticks.
Some 200 Team for Kids runners, who raise funds to support NYRR-sponsored youth running programs, celebrated their awesome effort.	Finishers were all smiles at the post-race festival in Battery Park.	Rachel Sergeant, 29, of North Babylon, NJ, grinned in celebration of her 1:35:06 finish.	The top 10 male finishers gathered for a group photo after the race.