The New York Marathon ran this weekend.  Surprisingly, the winner was an American; in fact, Eritrea-born Meb Keflezighi is the first American citizen to win the marathon since 1982 (the year after I was born).  However, with an estimated 42,000 runners in the marathon this year, not all of them are hardcore professionals.  There are also a lot of goofy people who show up to get attention and publicity.  Here’s the 25 best costumes at this year’s ING New York Marathon.

I can’t imagine anything harder than running a marathon, unless it’s running a marathon in a big rubber monster outfit.  I wonder just how many of these costumed heroes give up halfway through their runs, and how many of them manage to stagger across the finish line, soaked in sweat and trailing a stream of ragged spandex tights, crepe paper, and tattered cape behind them.

Image: Monica Muller

Tags: marathons, ING New York Marathon, marathon costumes, best costumes at the New York marathon, unusual images, costume races

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