A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York - Softcover

"Robbins, a sportswriter for The New York Times, has packed her book with scrumptious details...If the written word still has any force, then this book could take on talismanic power, like the medal or the Mylar cape that every finisher receives." -- New York Times Book Review "Robbins's absorbing book...finds its stride...A Race Like No Other gets closer to this marathon than an avenue railbird, and it leaves impressions not fleeting, but lasting." -- Sports Illustrated "I found this fabulous history of the New York City Marathon fascinating because Robbins brings to life the incredible pressures runners are under, as well as explaining their training methods and introducing us to their intense rivalries and friendships...Whether you're a runner or a couch potato, this will make you at the very least want to watch the marathon, armed with a sense of what each and every mile means to the thousands of competitors who run them." -- Penthouse "This book brings the race alive, detailing the running of the 2007 Marathon through the stories of the runners themselves...You won't stop reading 'til they've crossed the finish line." -- Best Health Magazine "Robbins, who covers sports for the New York Times, offers a vivid, winning portrait of the New York City Marathon, now the largest in the world with nearly 40,000 participants. Taking the 2007 race mile by mile, Robbins profiles each of the principal elite runners, including their training regimens and personal stories; describes each mile's particular features; limns a large cast of supporting characters, from an aid-station volunteer to a gospel choir that performs inspirational music for the marathoners on the eighth mile; and gives an good overview of how the event is organized. Along the way, Robbins conveys an intimate sense of the physical demands the race places on the body, all the while building suspense-though we know the winners-that's the equal of a good action movie. A quality piece of journalism from start to finish." -- Booklist (starred review) "If you can't make the trek from Fort Wadsworth to Central Park, and can't get there to watch it in person, this new account of the world's biggest marathon is the next best source of inspiration." -- The Advocate "An engrossing, edifying and moving chronicle of a day in the life of the marathon and its participants...[Robbins] is a master of her craft: she deftly combines historical fact with creative interpretation, statistics and time-splits with detailed description...A Race Like No Other is a satisfying read for many reasons, not least because Robbins' writing is fluid and engaging, and she offers an unprecedented inside look at the storied event." -- BookPage "Whether you have run the New York City Marathon or not, or even any marathon, you will likely be inspired and encouraged by the stories in A Race Like No Other." -- Boulder Daily Camera "Lace up your sneakers and take a run like no other. Liz Robbins has written a poignant, fast-paced profile of a world-class event that is more than just a sports story. It's a rare view behind the city scenes and an inspirational look into the souls of athletes - from the pros to the plodders - revealing why they are so driven and yet so human. A heart-pounding read from start to finish." -- Jeremy Schaap, New York Times bestselling author of Cinderella Man and Triumph "Lace up your sneakers and take a run like no other. Liz Robbins has written a poignant, fast-paced profile of a world-class event that is more than just a sports story. It's a rare view behind the city scenes and an inspirational look into the souls of athletes - from the pros to the plodders - revealing why they are so driven and yet so human. A heart-pounding read from start to finish." -- Sally Jenkins, Washington Post columnist, author of The Real All-Americans and co-author of the New York Times bestselling It's Not About the Bike "One of the great pleasures of running the Marathon for me was being among the masses of people. Thousand of personal stories drive runners to compete in New York each year. With the touch of a gifted storyteller, Liz Robbins brings to life the faces in the crowd, and draws the reader right into this amazing race." -- Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist, author of Best Seat in the House "One of the great pleasures of running the Marathon for me was being among the masses of people. Thousand of personal stories drive runners to compete in New York each year. With the touch of a gifted storyteller, Liz Robbins brings to life the faces in the crowd, and draws the reader right into this amazing race." -- Grete Waitz, nine-time winner of the New York City Marathon "One of the world's great races finally has its own biography, and it's as wacky, entertaining, and beguiling as the Big Apple itself. If you had no interest in 'running New York' beforehand, this book will definitely change your mind." -- John L. Parker, author of Once a Runner and Again to Carthage

When 39,195 competitors thunder over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to begin the thirty-eighth running of the famed New York City Marathon, they experience one of the most exhilarating moments in sports. But as they cross five towering bridges and five distinct boroughs, carried 26.2 miles by their own indomitable wills, grueling challenges await them. "New York Times" sportswriter Liz Robbins brings race day to life in this gripping saga of the 2007 Marathon, weaving the unforgettable stories of runners into a vibrant mile-by-mile portrait of the world's largest marathon. If the women's race plays out like a mesmerizing chess game, then the men's race quickly turns into a high-speed car chase. South Africa's Hendrick Ramaala, eager to recapture glory at age 35, surges to lead the pack as Kenya's Martin Lel and Morocco's Abderrahim Goumri stay within striking range. While the professionals offer insight into the intense, often painful experience of being an elite athlete, the amateurs provide timeless stories of courage and obsession that typify today's marathoner: Harrie Bakst, a cancer survivor at 22, who is a first-timer; Pam Rickard, a 45-year-old mother of three from Virginia, who is a recovering alcoholic; and 65-year-old Tucker Andersen, who has run the race every year since 1976. Enlivening the history of the New York City Marathon with stories of such legends as the late Fred Lebow, the race's charismatic founder, and nine-time champion Grete Waitz, "A Race Like No Other" provides a curbside seat to the drama of the first Sunday in November.