I've run the NYC Marathon every year since 1990 and intended to continue until I finally won it (I just need to shave an hour and a half off my time). Unfortunately, since 2000 I have only been able to get in three times (2003, 2005 and 2008).  So instead of New York, I ran the following marathons:

• In 2000 I ran a marathon in Montgomery County, Maryland called The Marathon in the Parks.
• In 2001, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Virginia and Washington, DC.
• In 2002, I repeated the Marathon in the Parks. 
• In 2003, I did run the NYC Marathon (there's a rule that if you're turned away three years in a row, you're guaranteed an entry). 
• In 2004, I ran the Baltimore Marathon. 
• In 2005, I was lucky to get in the NYC Marathon again. 
• In 2006, I ran the Richmond Marathon. 
• In 2007, I ran the Columbus Marathon since my son was a junior at Ohio State University.
• In 2008, I ran two marathons...Columbus Marathon again and the NYC Marathon.

I'm up to 13 NYC Marathons.  Eventually, I hope to get into 15 NYC Marathons and then I'll be able to get a guaranteed entry.

Please e-mail your comments to andysheldon@yahoo.com.

Make sure you see the descriptions of each race. Go to the race index.

Besides my page, check out

• TriCharlotte.Com NYCM Page (this page is terrific for pictures and good advice)
  
• Joe Osborne's page
• Huw Keene's webpage about the 2000 marathon.

By the way, if you think running 26.2 miles is a little nutty, check out this Washington Post article about a 3100 mile race