Many world-class runners were competing, but in terms of the field events the standard was poor.

Participation also reached a new high that year, as over 30,000 runners competed in the mass race.

More than 2,000 runners from 12 states competed in ideal weather.

Irish runners only compete two seasons a year while Americans run three and usually for a track club in the summer.

At least 33 - maybe 36 - long-distance runners from 16 nations competed.

Some runners compete to run the same marathons for the most consecutive years.

She is best known as a long-distance runner competing mainly in the marathon.

That's an impressive increase in entrants since the first race 11 years ago, when 3,000 runners competed.

In recent years, however, its popularity has waned; only 374 runners competed last year.

He is committed to marathons, six or seven a year, when most elite runners compete in only two.