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CNN Sunday Morning
New York City Marathon Gets Under Way
Aired November 03, 2002 - 11:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: This week's close elections are not the only races we're covering. Thousands of runners, 30,000, in fact, are competing this morning in the New York City Marathon. Runners will be making their way along a course that runs through Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan of course, ending in Central Park. And our Charles Molineaux is one of the runners and he's on the phone with us.
And Charles, you cannot be running and talking at the same time.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm getting all these funny looks from people around me. I don't know why that could be. Imagine, being in the middle of the marathon talking on a cell phone. I'm actually coming down the downhill side of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge into Brooklyn right now, which is very close to the beginning of the race. I'm eager -- I'm looking forward to the point we have these crowds of people shouting, "Welcome to Brooklyn."
WHITFIELD: Well, fantastic, Charles. Well, I know you're trying to keep your pace so you can talk at the same time. Where are you about in that pack, do you think?
MOLINEAUX: Oh, I would I'm probably right in the middle at the moment. There's plenty of faster runners that have yet to pass me. So yes, the records for the marathon is something like two hours, five minutes for the men, about 2:15 for the women. If I'm really lucky and if I trained, well, better than I think I trained, I'm hoping to do it in less than four hours, so we'll see.
WHITFIELD: Well, that's impressive enough because it's 26 miles and some 385 yards. And you know I know it would take me a good 24 hours perhaps to complete it. So even if you do it in -- somewhere in between two and four, that's impressive.
MOLINEAUX: Well, a few years ago, I wouldn't have imagined doing this in anything but a car, but you never know. You get persuaded. You got athletic friends. You want to do something to increase your fitness and in hopes here, I am.
A lot of excitement this time around too. We've got about 101 different countries here. Mayor Bloomberg actually made quite a big deal about the fact that 40 percent of the runners are from outside the United States. So it's got some excitement attached to it as well.
WHITFIELD: Wow! And among some of the familiar faces out there running, Marla Runyan (ph), who's legally blind. She's among those in the pack. And I don't know if you've looked around out there, but our own CNN managing editor, Charlie Moore is somewhere in the pack with you, too. Did you know that?
MOLINEAUX: Yes, he and I actually spent a couple hours at the starting line before things got under way together. They had entertainment and, of course, the usual bagels, bananas, power bars and Gatorade. And yes, he -- we all went in different directions. I think he's a much stronger runner than I.
WHITFIELD: Wow! So how's it feeling out because I know you got quite a nip in the air? Jacqui just filled us in there.
MOLINEAUX: Oh yes!
WHITFIELD: Very much winter.
MOLINEAUX: I just finished the run over the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge and I was mighty glad I still got this Hefty bag over me. That's the ad hoc windbreaker, almost the official uniform for the marathon. I'll get rid of it in a few minutes, but it is pretty brisk. It was actually brilliantly sunny earlier and now it's clouded over and you realize, oh, it is in the low 40s, isn't it?
WHITFIELD: Well, I have a feeling you'll be warming up soon, Charles. Well, good luck to you and enjoy that race.
MOLINEAUX: Thanks, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And maybe we'll see you on the other side, yes.
MOLINEAUX: Oh yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, good luck, take care.
Oh, that's pretty amazing. Charles Molineaux, our own very -- CNN intrepid reporter, out there taking on the New York City Marathon. And, of course, we'll try to talk to him when he finishes the race, maybe in about four hours, as he said.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 3, 2002 - 11:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: This week's close elections are not the only races we're covering. Thousands of runners, 30,000, in fact, are competing this morning in the New York City Marathon. Runners will be making their way along a course that runs through Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan of course, ending in Central Park. And our Charles Molineaux is one of the runners and he's on the phone with us.
And Charles, you cannot be running and talking at the same time.
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm getting all these funny looks from people around me. I don't know why that could be. Imagine, being in the middle of the marathon talking on a cell phone. I'm actually coming down the downhill side of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge into Brooklyn right now, which is very close to the beginning of the race. I'm eager -- I'm looking forward to the point we have these crowds of people shouting, "Welcome to Brooklyn."
WHITFIELD: Well, fantastic, Charles. Well, I know you're trying to keep your pace so you can talk at the same time. Where are you about in that pack, do you think?
MOLINEAUX: Oh, I would I'm probably right in the middle at the moment. There's plenty of faster runners that have yet to pass me. So yes, the records for the marathon is something like two hours, five minutes for the men, about 2:15 for the women. If I'm really lucky and if I trained, well, better than I think I trained, I'm hoping to do it in less than four hours, so we'll see.
WHITFIELD: Well, that's impressive enough because it's 26 miles and some 385 yards. And you know I know it would take me a good 24 hours perhaps to complete it. So even if you do it in -- somewhere in between two and four, that's impressive.
MOLINEAUX: Well, a few years ago, I wouldn't have imagined doing this in anything but a car, but you never know. You get persuaded. You got athletic friends. You want to do something to increase your fitness and in hopes here, I am.
A lot of excitement this time around too. We've got about 101 different countries here. Mayor Bloomberg actually made quite a big deal about the fact that 40 percent of the runners are from outside the United States. So it's got some excitement attached to it as well.
WHITFIELD: Wow! And among some of the familiar faces out there running, Marla Runyan (ph), who's legally blind. She's among those in the pack. And I don't know if you've looked around out there, but our own CNN managing editor, Charlie Moore is somewhere in the pack with you, too. Did you know that?
MOLINEAUX: Yes, he and I actually spent a couple hours at the starting line before things got under way together. They had entertainment and, of course, the usual bagels, bananas, power bars and Gatorade. And yes, he -- we all went in different directions. I think he's a much stronger runner than I.
WHITFIELD: Wow! So how's it feeling out because I know you got quite a nip in the air? Jacqui just filled us in there.
MOLINEAUX: Oh yes!
WHITFIELD: Very much winter.
MOLINEAUX: I just finished the run over the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bridge and I was mighty glad I still got this Hefty bag over me. That's the ad hoc windbreaker, almost the official uniform for the marathon. I'll get rid of it in a few minutes, but it is pretty brisk. It was actually brilliantly sunny earlier and now it's clouded over and you realize, oh, it is in the low 40s, isn't it?
WHITFIELD: Well, I have a feeling you'll be warming up soon, Charles. Well, good luck to you and enjoy that race.
MOLINEAUX: Thanks, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And maybe we'll see you on the other side, yes.
MOLINEAUX: Oh yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, good luck, take care.
Oh, that's pretty amazing. Charles Molineaux, our own very -- CNN intrepid reporter, out there taking on the New York City Marathon. And, of course, we'll try to talk to him when he finishes the race, maybe in about four hours, as he said.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
