In July we saw two tragedies in our area during triathlons only one week apart. First there was the death of a 32-year-old man in the New York City Triathlon on July 20. The following week 52-year-old John Hobgood of Princeton Junction, N.J., died in the New Jersey State Triathlon.
The New York City Half-Marathon is not only energizing for the 10,000 runners participating, but also for the spectators. Spectators experience the heartbeat of the city during the course, which begins in Central Park, winds through Times Square and finishes downtown with a view of the Statue of Liberty, July 27.
Not only will spectators experience the 10,000 runners pounding the streets of Times Square, they can participate in the Times Square Sing -A-long, one of several interactive crowd opportunities. Lyrics are displayed on a giant video camera, and runners and spectators belt out classic songs led by four hosts.
The New York Half-Marathon features 11 bands with beats from rock, jazz, pop, Motown, and electricana at sixteen different entertainment locations. And if participants and runners want to get their grooves on, at 42nd Street and West Side Highway, the race also features Samba New York!, where dancers are decked out in Brazilian costumes.
Cheering creates a healthy appetite, and a complimentary breakfast is available at mile seven at Seventh Avenue at 57th Street, near Carnegie Hall. Fresh waffles are offered at mile 12, on the West Side Highway at Harrison Street, as an extra boost for the cheering squads as runners head into the last leg of the race.
To take advantage of this tour of New York City, plan out a route or schedule a place to sit beforehand. To map out a route to cheer go to http://tripplanner.mta.info/ or view the course map at http://www.nyrr.org/races/2008/nychalf/pdf/course_spectator_map.pdf
Recent deaths make people wonder if they should keep running. 
