By Ben Fractenberg and Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporters/Producers
Manhattan — A field loaded with professional athletes, a Chilean miner and tens of thousands of amateur runners wound its way through Manhattan Sunday, displaying a determination that inspired 2.5 million spectators packed onto city streets.
"Hopefully, I'll be able to do it someday," said Amy Baldwin, 37, as she watched the pain and ecstacy of competitors passing through Harlem.
"It's just amazing, the effort they have to put into this," said Don Down, 45, from upstate New York.
"It's just wonderful to see the determination."
Watching the more than 45,000 competitors were hundreds of thousands of spectators who lined First Avenue as the runners headed up to the Bronx, and Fifth Avenue as they made their way to the Central Park Finish.
Leading the way was Gebre Gebremariam, 26, from Ethiopia, who amazed ING New York City Marathon watchers by winning the first marathon he's ever run.
As he crossed the line in two hours, eight minutes and 14 seconds, he became the first rookie marathoner to win the event in 27 years.
In the women's race, Kenyan Edna Kiplagat crossed the line in two hours, 28 minutes and 20 seconds.
Just 20 seconds behind her was American Shalane Flanagan.
Way behind them, runners crossing the line described very personal reasons for taking on the challenge.
Broadway actor Rory O'Malley, who acted in Broadway's in Dream Girls, was running to highlight marriage equality.
"I think a lot of people think this fight for civil rights is impossible, but I thought running 26 miles was impossible," he said at the finish line.
Another runner, NYPD community affairs officer Sean Rooney, 40, ran in memory of a friend who died in 9/11.
Sunday's race was his seventh New York City Marathon.
"I say every year I'm not going to do it, but there's always an itch," he said.
Brad Weiss, 36, who sells advertising for the New York Daily News, ran his 19th marathon on Sunday, his 10th in New York.
"There's something indescribable about the high you get from running," he said.
"If I could put it in a bottle and give it out, [I would.]"
Chris Halbal, 45, who grew up watching the marathon with his father on the Upper West Side, decided to volunteer for the marathon after his father's death. Nine years later, he's still volunteering for the marathon, handing out medals to finishers.
"This is a primo spot," he said in the medal section on Sunday.
"People start breaking down — everyone's got their reason for running...If you don't get emotional [watching it], you're not human."
Liz Kim, 34, a lawyer from the Upper West Side, ran her first marathon Sunday.
"I think every New Yorker should do this once," she said.
"It's such a unifying experience, all these strangers cheering for you. It makes you think the world could become a better place."
Chilean miner Edison Pena, who was trapped underground for 70 days, pulled off another feat of endurance by finishing the marathon in five hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds.
Pena kept sane in the mine by running six miles a day through a labyrinth of tunnels.
After the marathon, he said, "Running a marathon and being trapped in a mine are two very different experiences.
"I felt great in the marathon . . . felt great with all the support I was getting. In the mine, I ran alone."
ING has posted the results of all racers in this year's New York City Marathon, searchable by name, bib, team and other categories, on their website.
