An exclusive interview with Vincent Chiappetta, co-founder of the New York Marathon
When the first New York Marathon occurred in Central Park back in 1970, 126 athletes attempted the several loops but less than half of those entires actually crossed the line.
Fast-forward just over five decades and the Big Apple plays host to over 50,000 runners, who will try their luck over 26.2 miles across the city’s five boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island). It is the largest marathon in the world.
At the tender age of 87, co-founder of New York Road Runners, and the marathon itself, Vincent Chiappetta is still going strong.
He’s been running for 71 years and his passion is unrelenting and unwavering.
Over the past 52 years the New York Marathon has seen hundreds of thousands people cross its finish line while, on average, two million people now also tune in on TV.
Vincent Chiappetta in his running days (VC)
Chiappetta, who grew up loving running due to a dislike for team sports at college – was determined that New York host a race which would inspire generations to not just achieve their goals but get fit and healthy. He also helped take distance running out of track and field and into a separate entity.
Alongside Fred Lebow, who passed away from brain cancer in 1994, the pair went about establishing a looped course in Central Park – it was initially going to be at the Yankee Stadium – before in 1976 they were granted access to the city’s five boroughs.
He can’t quite believe how far the race has come.
“When I started it we wanted people to get into better shape and they did,” Chiappetta says. “It’s amazing how many people have enjoyed doing it and tell others about it. It’s fabulous.
“We ran the longer distances and we wanted to use running as a tool for fitness as we knew how good it was but the perception was different. I remember one man thought that he’d die if he did a marathon but he ended up doing it in 2:36! We changed the whole world with what we did.
“What’s great is we run through every borough and the people love it as you can see on a map where you’re going. All the neighbourhoods, with different backgrounds, come out and support the athletes.”
New York Marathon in 1970 (Getty)
Chiappetta was instrumental in getting women running on an equal basis in run. It’s perhaps fitting that only women have ever set world records in the race. Beth Bonner was the first after clocking 2:55:22…
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