PHOTOS: Feeling the pain and joy of running the New York City Marathon

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A participant splashes water while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant splashes water while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

More than 50,000 people participated in the New York City Marathon this year. For many runners, by the time they crossed the Queensboro Bridge and entered Manhattan on First Avenue near the mile 16 point they were starting to feel the effects in their bodies and it was beginning to show on their faces. Here’s a look at how stressful it can be to compete in the New York City Marathon. (Yahoo News)

Photography by Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News

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Runners step on used water cups discarded on the street during the 2019 New York City Marathon, Nov. 3, 2019. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Runners during the 2019 New York City Marathon on Nov. 3. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner heads up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner heads up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner finishes a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner finishes a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner cools himself off with water while running up First Avenue just past the 16th mille point during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner participates in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner tries to ignore the pain as reaches the 16th mile point of the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner tries to ignore the pain during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A spectator holds up a sign supporting runners during the New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A spectator holds up a sign supporting runners during the New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner participates in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner participates in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Despite running 16 miles in three boroughs this runner smiles while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Despite running 16 miles in three boroughs this runner smiles while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A volunteers holds out a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A volunteers holds out a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Runners pass discarded cups on First Avenue during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon, Nov. 3, 2019 in New York City. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Runners pass discarded cups on First Avenue during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon on Nov. 3. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner gives two thumbs up during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner gives two thumbs up during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue, passing the 16-mile mark of the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue, passing the 16-mile mark of the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner wears a Superman costume while participating in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner wears a Superman costume while participating in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant carries a cup of water while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant carries a cup of water while running up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner grabs water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner grabs water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Spectators display a sign as runners race up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Spectators display a sign as runners race up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner drinks water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner drinks water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner cools himself off with water while running up First Avenue just past the 16th mille point during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner cools himself off with water while running up First Avenue just past the 16th mille point during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
This runner pours water on himself after reaching Manahttan in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
This runner pours water on himself after reaching Manhattan in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant folds a cup to take a drink of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant folds a cup to take a drink of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
The road ahead reflects in the sunglasses of a runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
The road ahead reflects in the sunglasses of a runner during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner grabs a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner grabs a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant runs up First Avenue during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner cools himself with a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A runner cools himself with a cup of water during the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant gives two thumbs up while running in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A participant gives two thumbs up while running in the 2019 New York City Marathon. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Runners make their way north on First Avenue during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon. Established in 1970, the annual race winds through all of the city's five boroughs. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Runners make their way north on First Avenue during the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon. Established in 1970, the annual race winds through all of the city's five boroughs. (Photo: Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

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