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Photo: AP

Sports

Friends, colleagues mourn loss of Olympic runner

Alex Nunes and Ailsa Chang

Newlywed Alicia Craig lost her husband, the University of Notre Dame lost one of its more accomplished alumni, and a small town in northern Michigan lost one of its heroes when world-class runner Ryan Shay, 28, collapsed after running 5.5 miles in a race that could have qualified him for the summer Olympics. The Olympic hopeful was rushed to Lennox Hill Hospital and pronounced dead 45 minutes after his collapse. Shay died of a massive heart attack caused by an enlarged heart, according to news reports. "I love him and he was a great athlete," said Joe Vigil, who coached Shay for the last six years. "He has a passion for his sport. How could you not love an individual like that?"

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Photo: AP

Sports

Radcliffe wins comeback marathon

Alex Nunes and Ailsa Chang

British runner Paula Radcliffe made a triumphant return to marathon running Sunday, breaking away from a neck-and-neck race with Ethiopian Gete Wami to win the 2007 ING New York City Marathon. Radcliffe, the world record holder in the event and arguably the greatest female runner in the history of the 26.2-mile race, had not competed in a marathon in two years. Her return came 10 months after giving birth to a daughter. “I don’t think I had anything to prove,” Radcliffe said. “I think I was just enjoying being back, to be honest.”

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Photo: Divya Gupta

Sports

Ban on music devices in marathons: one issue, two debates

Divya Gupta

Earlier this year, the USA Track & Field, the national governing body for running, introduced a ban on the use of headphones and portable audio players like iPods at its official races. But enforcement of the ban has been difficult to implement, and it's causing controversy among marathon runners, who are divided about the use of music devices.

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Photo: Rhema Thompson

Health

Runners find new remedies for pain this year

Rhema Thompson

An advisory by the New York Road Runners warning of the possible risks associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, has marathon runners looking for alternative ways to soothe their aches and pains.

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Photo: AP

Sports

Lel sprints to victory only to take second seat

Aaron Scott

It was déjà vu as the two frontrunners entered Central Park. Moroccan Abderrahim Goumri hung on Martin Lel’s shoulder just as he had in April at the Flora London Marathon. And just as he had in London, Lel summoned the energy to sprint to the finish, leaving Goumri to dream of 2008. Yet Lel's victory was overshadowed by Paula Radcliffe’s triumphant return to the track and by the race-upsetting sprints of South African Hendrick Ramaala, who took third.