This year's race sold out in three weeks. Women who were lucky enough to snag a spot flooded the Florida Grapefruit-sponsored Health & Wellness Expo on Friday and Saturday to pick up their numbers and do some last-minute shopping.
Sponsors such as Oakley, Athleta, Birkenstock and Jenny Craig were selling products and giving away samples. In addition to doing skin care analyses on site, Aveeno also provided free skin cancer screenings in Central Park on race day.
EatingWell magazine hosted the Runners' Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. Women and their families fueled up on healthy fare while listening to live music and motivational speakers.
The morning of the race, The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck tells her fellow competitors that she’s excited to “run with such strong women and kick some asphalt!”
As the largest women’s-only half-marathon in the country, the More/Fitness Half-Marathon draws tons of male fans. Even Steve Schirripa of Sopranos fame was spotted in the crowd.
Race participants raised more than $100,000 for charitable partner Hole in the Wall Gang, a nonprofit, summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer.
Local running sensation Alemtsehay Misganaw, 31, outran the course record of 1:14:40 to finish in 1:13:25, taking first place. Three-time U.S. Olympian Jen Rhines, 37, who led until mile 11, was not far behind at 1:14:05 (also beating the previous course record).
This was Hasselbeck's second straight year participating in the More/Fitness Half-Marathon. She bested her 2011 time by more than four minutes, finishing in 1:40:05. She ran in support of Team NoGii to raise money for Celiac Disease research, as well as Team Red, White and Blue to support America’s war veterans.
Wong ran the race for the sixth year in a row and finished in 2:01:44. “This year’s race was fantastic! Running 13.1 miles with such strong and supportive women is an inspiration. Their cheers and smiles keep me motivated all the way to the finish line, and I can’t wait to do it again next year!”
