Inspiring Vintage Photos Of The New York Marathon To Mark Its 50th Year

The start of the 1978 New York City Marathon on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, 1978

Norman Higgins gets support from the crowd in Central Park as he nears the finish of the first New York City Marathon in 1971.

The start of the New York Marathon in Central Park in 1975. Because of the number of participants, it would be the last time the marathon was run entirely in the park.

Runner Beth Bonner in Central Park during the first New York City Marathon in 1971

Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania crosses the finish line to win the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6, 1989. Ikangaa broke the course record with a time of 2:08:01. At the bottom right is Parks Commissioner Henry Stern.

Entrants in the forthcoming New York City Marathon during a press conference at Central Park on Oct. 19, 1978. From left: Jack Foster of New Zealand, Esa Tikkanen of Finland, Chris Stewart of Great Britain, and Massimo Magnani of Italy.

Protected spectators give a wet marathon runner moral support as he crosses the Pulaski Bridge from Brooklyn to Queens during the New York City Marathon on Oct. 23, 1983.

Bob Hall of Belmont, Massachusetts, pushes himself along in his wheelchair as he crosses the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan during the 26-mile, 385-yard New York City Marathon on Oct. 23, 1977.

A runner and friend at the first New York City Marathon in 1970.

Runners with family members at a race in the 1970s

Crowds of participants run across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at the beginning of the New York City Marathon on Oct. 21, 1979.

Volunteers at a water station place filled cups on folding tables at the 14-mile marker on Crescent Street in Queens during the New York City Marathon on Oct. 26, 1980.

Norman Higgins splashes himself with water after winning the trophy at the 1971 New York City Marathon.

Two runners at the 1978 New York City Marathon, which had 11,400 participants from all over the United States and 52 countries. The winner, Bill Rodgers, covered the distance in 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 12 seconds.

Fred Lebow, president of the New York Road Runners Club, cofounder of the New York City Marathon, gazes at a TV monitor in New York on April 25, 1980, that shows the finish line of the Boston Marathon at the time Rosie Ruiz claims to have finished the race. Ruiz is not in the picture, and her time was invalidated.

Bill Rodgers of the United States runs during the New York City Marathon on Oct. 21, 1979.

At the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon in 1970, Gary Muhrcke, #2 and affiliated with the Millrose Athletic Association, broke the tape after running the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours and 34 minutes.

Runners are passed by two bikers in the New York City Marathon.

Runners competing in the New York City Marathon near the finish line in Central Park on Oct. 21, 1979.

"Spectators" at the 26.2-mile New York City Marathon in 1970.

Grete Waitz of Norway crosses the finish line after running 26 miles in the New York City Marathon, on Oct. 22, 1978, and posting the fastest time ever for a woman.

Tom Fleming of Bloomfield, New Jersey, wins the fourth annual New York City Marathon in Central Park in 1973.

Bill Rodgers, a 31-year-old runner from Melrose, Massachusetts, is seen here wearing a crown of laurels he received after winning the New York City Marathon for the fourth time in 1979.

Runners recover in Central Park after competing in the New York City Marathon on Oct. 26, 1980.

Pedestrians study the results of the 1980 New York City Marathon posted on a window in the city.