One of the world's most anticipated marathon events took centre stage at the weekend with some 50,000 runners from around 150 countries descending on New York City for its famed marathon. With a phenomenal run, it was Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola who won the race broke the course record while Kenya’s Hellen Obiri won the women’s open title in her second event appearance. 

Tola clocked a 2:04:58 to break a 12-year-old course record and win his first TCS New York City Marathon title. It marked his first victory at an Abbott World Marathon Majors event and was one of the largest margins of victory in event history.

Kenya’s Albert Korir, the 2021 champion, was the runner-up in 2:06:57 and Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata, who has placed in the top five in all four of his TCS New York City Marathon appearances, was third in 2:07:11.

In her third attempt at the distance, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri unleashed a kick in the final 400-metres to win the women’s race in 2:27:23. In doing so, she became the first woman in 34 years to win both the Boston and New York City Marathons in the same calendar year. 

Ethiopia’s Letsenbet Gidey was second in 2:27:29, followed by Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi, the 2022 champion, in third in 2:27:33.

A company that knows just how special the New York race experience is, is Marathon Tours & Travel (MTT) - the world’s largest specialist running travel brand. This November it celebrates 45 years since it first took runners to what is now the world’s largest marathon – the TCS New York City Marathon.

Founded by runner and adventure travel visionary Thom Gilligan, the NYC Marathon was the first event the company took runners to back in 1979. The iconic race grew out of a grassroots club event in Central Park, where just 55 runners crossed the line at the inaugural edition in 1970. 

MTT’s mission is to help runners reach their goals, whether that’s to race the Abbott World Marathon Majors or to compete in adventure and ultra events in much wilder destinations. The team created and manages the Antarctica Marathon® & Half-Marathon and the Madagascar Marathon & Half-Marathon, and two other unmissable events in its portfolio are the Patagonia Running Festival and the Amazing Maasai Marathon in Kenya.

Jeff Adams of Marathon Tours & Travel said: “We of all people know it’s a marathon not a sprint, and I’m super proud of the exceptionally talented team that since 1979 have dedicated themselves to offering runners and their travel companions extraordinary destination experiences while exploring the seven continents one stride at a time. We got our pacing exactly right and the business has deservedly enjoyed huge growth and success in this time.”

Marathon Tours & Travel is an official tour operator for the TCS New York City Marathon and only tour operators that are part of the official TCS New York City Marathon International Tour Programme have access to guaranteed entries. Get yours (without having to enter a lottery) when you buy the accommodation package with MTT.

For more information visit the Marathon Tours & Travel website.