Monticello Live

Will Whiting, a former Monticello resident, is shown crossing the finish line at the New York City mMarathon.

He completed the 26.2 mile race in 4 hours, 11 seconds.

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Former Monticello Resident to Run New York City Marathon

Posted October 27, 2009

Former Monticello resident, Will Whiting, hits the streets of New York City on Sunday morning in the 40th running of one of American’s greatest marathons. The ING New York City Marathon will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 1st.

The marathon route consists of 26.2 miles that weaves runners through all five New York City boroughs including Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. The ING New York City Marathon attracts a diverse crowd of contestants from world-class athletes to committed distance runners, and over 100,000 runners and walkers are expected to take part in the race on Sunday. There will be over two million spectators cheering on the participants along the streets of New York, while over 315 million people are expected to watch the race on live television around the world.

Although this will be Whiting’s first time to compete in the ING New York City Marathon, he is no stranger to distance running. He has competed in other marathons and half-marathons around the United States, and he is looking forward to crossing the finish line in New York’s Central Park.

“I fell in love with New York when I lived there briefly out of college,” Whiting said. “It is one of the greatest cities in America, and it will be a thrill of a lifetime to cross the finish line in Central Park.”

While he admits the run will be an adventure he will never forget, he is also running for a very special cause. Whiting will be one of a few runners representing the Pat Tillman Foundation, and he has been raising money to support the work of the Tillman Foundation in the weeks leading up to the race. The Pat Tillman Foundation was established in 2004 following the death of the former NFL star who sadly lost his life while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Inspired by the distinguished life and legacy of Pat Tillman, a professional athlete, military hero and a man of strong character and kindness – the Pat Tillman Foundation seeks to create a community of scholars dedicated to improving their own lives, the lives of their families and their country by creating a spirit of service.

“I have been very lucky over the last year to work closely with the Pat Tillman Foundation on several projects and initiatives,” Whiting said. “Pat was a man of great character and an amazing athlete. It will be a special honor to remember Pat and his legacy as our team completes the race on Sunday.”

Although the marathon will be a challenge, Whiting is looking forward to the experience. His love for New York and his passion for running should be a perfect combination for a successful marathon.

“I run marathons because I love challenges and I love to run,” Whiting said. “I am most appreciative of the support I have received from my wonderful family, amazing friends and even some complete strangers in this challenge. I am also especially grateful to some very close friends who will be with me and cheering me on in New York as I run on Sunday.”

Whiting will be wearing bib #58996. The ING New York City Marathon will be broadcast live on NBC nationally from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST as runners make their way towards Central Park and the marathon finish line. He will be providing live Facebook updates and Twitter tweets from the course, and he will be wearing his favorite Livestrong Yellow jersey. Whiting is the son of Bill & Mary Whiting of Monticello, and he is a 2005 graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 2:19 am and is filed under Sports Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.