By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Manhattanite Maggie Guiney ran her sixth marathon Saturday, one of thousands of locals who took part in the 40th annual ING New York City Marathon.
The former collegiate All-American from Boston College, who's originally from New Jersey, was a little disappointed in her 2:54 finish, but she still enjoyed the run.
"I didn’t have an on day," said Guiney, 28, who also runs for the New York Athletic Club and works as an assistant vice president of investment management for Real Estate Capital Partners. "The great part about a marathon is that no matter what your time you are still proud you finished it.”
Twin sisters Catha and Caroline Mullen, 22, also run for the NYAC.
“I took it out pretty conservative," said Caroline Mullen. "But the end was still tough, especially miles 18-22 and 26.”
Competition is instinctive between the sisters Mullen. but Catha, running in her second New York City Marathon, finished ahead with a 2:43 time. Caroline ran the race in 3:05.
“The bridges were tough," Catha Mullen said. "I slowed down a bit on the uphill and would catch back up to the pack on the downhill.”
The sisters plan to race again next year.
“After this being my second NYC marathon I can't imagine not running the race," said Catha Mullen.
New Yorkers watching the race finish in Central Park were witnesses to history as Meb Keflezighi snapped a 27-year championship drought for American men. He battled Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot in the final miles of the race to eventually take the victory with a time of 2 hours, 9.15 minutes.
On the women's side, Derartu Tulu, 37, of Ethiopia upset race favorite Paula Radcliffe, of Great Britain, for the win.
Tulu won the 10,000-meter gold medal in 1992 and 2000 and placed third in the marathon the last time she ran the race in 2005. Tulu returned to racing after giving birth to two children and adopting another four, the New York Times reported.
Radcliffe warned against making finish predictions in a pre-race interview with the paper.
"I think always in the marathon, you have to be prepared for the new person," Radcliffe told the Times. "Somebody who nobody has thought about, but going to go out and run well."
Keflezighi, 34, finished second in the 2004 and earned the silver medal in the Athens Olympics, but he had never won a major marathon.
Several celebrities battled among the runners. Actor Edward Norton ran with a group of three Maasai warriors to raise awareness for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust which protects healthy ecosystems in Africa, according to the Daily News.
Actors Anthony Edwards, James LeGros and Sarah Jones ran for Shoe4Africa Charity, which is raising funds to build a hospital in northwest Africa, the News said.
Guiney said the top male runners helped motivate her.
“My favorite part was when the men’s elite group passed," she said. "Turned out my best mile. “
