By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/ Producer
CENTRAL PARK — Over 5,000 runners participated in New York Road Runners first half Marathon of the season over the weekend.
Justin Scheid won the men’s race with a time of 1:08:04 and Caroline Lefrak won the women’s race with a time of 1:16:52.
One unique runner was Jonathan Huang who ran the 13.2 mile, two-loop course with a pair of running shoes that have no sole, just padding to protect the skin.
“My last 4 miles were fast because my feet didn’t feel like lead,” Huang said.
Katie Austin was using the race as one of nine that would qualify her for next years ING New York City Marathon.
“I like the course it went by pretty fast,” Austin said, before admitting: “I didn’t like the hill the second time around, it was kind of brutal.”