FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2014 TCS New York City Marathon Applications Number Over 134,000;
Entry Drawing Adds Runners to Field
Tata Consultancy Services to celebrate inaugural year as title sponsor,
kicking off official charity partner program by providing Team for Kids
fundraising donations to 26 lucky runners
New York, March 26, 2014-The 2014 TCS New York City Marathon, set for
Sunday, November 2, 2014, will feature a field of runners selected from
more than 134,000 applications, it was announced today by Mary Wittenberg,
president and CEO of New York Road Runners. An estimated 47,500 to 50,000
runners are expected to participate in the 44th running of the race, which
tours 26.2 miles of spectator-lined streets in New York City's five
boroughs.
"This is always one of the most exciting days of the marathon season," said
Wittenberg. "Tens of thousands of runners from around the world now start
to focus on their personal journey around New York City's five boroughs.
The race itself is only one day, but the experience-from physical training
to mental preparation to fundraising for some-is a journey that lasts for
months and is often an experience of a lifetime."
The TCS New York City Marathon brings together runners from around the
world and is made up of both guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries. Runners
received guaranteed entry through a variety of methods, which are detailed
here on the race website. Non-guaranteed entries were secured through
today's drawing. The application period for all entrants opened on December
2, 2013, and closed on March 18, 2014.
9,170 runners were added to the race field through today's non-guaranteed
entry drawing, selected from 77,087 applications. The selected runners
represent approximately 12% of non-guaranteed applicants.
Last year, 50,266 runners crossed the finish line of the 2013 New York City
Marathon, making it the world's largest marathon ever. More than 100
countries were represented, with runners from each of the 50 states
participating.
Official Charity Partner Program and Tata Consultancy Services Team for
Kids Sweepstakes
Today marks the launch of the Marathon's official charity partner program.
Runners who were not accepted through the drawing, and those who did not
apply during the application period, can still run the race by joining
NYRR's Team for Kids, which raises vital funds to support NYRR's free youth
running programs, or through an official TCS New York City Marathon charity
partner. Runners who have been accepted can also raise money for their
favorite charity-including Team for Kids, any official charity partner, or
the charity of their choice-by using NYRR's partner fundraising platform
powered by CrowdRise. More than $25 million was raised by charity runners
during the 2013 New York City Marathon.
As a kick-off to the charity partner program, and to celebrate their
inaugural year as the marathon's new title sponsor, Tata Consultancy
Services will provide 26 lucky runners with a Team for Kids fundraising
donation and non-complimentary entry in the 2014 TCS New York City
Marathon. Runners who were not accepted through the drawing and those who
did not apply during the application period can enter a sweepstakes to win
one of the Team for Kids entries.
"Our premier partnership with NYRR and sponsorship of the TCS New York City
Marathon allows us to engage with communities in the New York area and
across North America to raise awareness about health and fitness in a
unique way," said Surya Kant, President, North America, UK and Europe. "By
supporting NYRR's Team for Kids and the Marathon's charity running program,
we can immediately start to make an impact."
Tata Consultancy Services will fulfill each contest winner's $2,620
fundraising commitment to Team for Kids. Winners will only be responsible
for their own race entry fee. Winners will be able to add to the TCS
donation to Team for Kids by fundraising on their own. The winning runners
will be supported by the Team for Kids coaches and training program. On
race day, they'll receive VIP treatment and join in the camaraderie of
hundreds of Team for Kids teammates-all while running to make a difference
in kids' lives. The sweepstakes, which is now open to the public, will
close on Friday, March 28, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Winners will be notified on
Monday, March 31. Runners can enter the sweepstakes here and review the
rules and details here.
Social Media and Digital Engagement
The entire TCS New York City Marathon "Class of 2014," including those who
wish to run for charity, will be invited to engage in a variety of
celebratory social media and digital initiatives.
Applicants who have been accepted are invited to download an official TCS
New York City Marathon digital badge that they can personalize and share on
social media. Those who were not accepted and choose to run for charity
have the option to download a digital badge identifying them as a charity
runner. Runners who receive entry are also able to upload "Welcome, Class
of 2014" Marathon headers on their Facebook and Twitter profiles.
In coordination with the entry drawing, NYRR will launch an integrated TCS
New York City Marathon social hub on tcsnycmarathon.org which will run
through Marathon day. Runners will be encouraged to post on Twitter and
Instagram about their training, race-week experience, post-race thoughts,
and more using the hashtag #TCSNYCMarathon. The best tweets and Instagrams
will be posted on the site. The site will also feature a "Race Pace
Ticker," providing a running count of the number of tweets and Instagrams
about the Marathon.
About the TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the most popular and inclusive marathon
in the world, attracting the world's top professional athletes and a vast
range of recreational runners. The race began in 1970 with just 127
entrants racing four laps of Central Park. Today, an estimated 47,500 to
50,000 runners from around the world tour New York City's five boroughs,
starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and
finishing in Central Park. Participants include Olympians, top age-group
competitors, and many thousands who run for charity and to achieve their
own personal goals. Millions of fans cheer the runners from the streets and
watch the global television broadcast. The race is part of the World
Marathon Majors, an alliance of the world's six biggest marathons that
determines each year's top male and top female marathoner. The TCS New York
City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners, the world's
foremost community running organization, whose mission is to help and
inspire people through running. Tata Consultancy Services, a leading global
IT services, consulting and business solutions organization is the Premier
Partner of NYRR and is in the inaugural year as title sponsor of the TCS
New York City Marathon.
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