When 35,000 athletes turned out on Nov. 7 to dash across five boroughs for the city’s 35th annual marathon, one of them was also running for East River Park on the Lower East Side as part of the second annual ING-sponsored “Run for Something Better” race within a race. (As if running 26.2 miles weren’t enough!)
Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands ran for East River Park — and finished with a time of 2:28:21, making her the top winner for “Run for Something Better.”
Four professional female athletes competed not only to win the marathon but also against each other to win money for their hometowns and for a city park in an ING-steered collaboration with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Whichever runner won, her park received the largest portion of the more than $100,000 donation. In addition to East River Park, runners also competed for Corporal Thompson Park in Staten Island, Keith L. Williams Park in Queens and Macomb’s Dam Park in the Bronx.
Last year, the 30-year-old Kiplagat came in third in the marathon and won the first “Run for Something Better” race. The proceeds from her win last year went to McCarren Park in Brooklyn, which is already enjoying the benefits. ING contributed money to the park’s $1 million renovation, which includes a synthetic-turf soccer field and a rubber running track.
Australian Benita Johnson, Deena Kastor of the United States and Madai Perez of Mexico competed on behalf of the other three parks.
