1 NOV 2009: NEW YORK MARATHON

The ING New York City Marathon® continues to be the most important International marathon in the world - it will be barely seconds after you first arrive in Manhattan that you realise why: the place positively buzzes!

New York is an experience not to be missed - it really is the most complete marathon: a classic course through the 5 New York Boroughs crossing the impressive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start and the Queensboro Bridge at 15 miles, sensational views of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, then the incredible lift from the crowds when you enter Manhattan. From Brooklyn to the Bronx, this is a journey through all of the ethnic variety that makes New York unique. 

The bridges are spectacular but, along with the hills in Central Park, they mark this out as being a tougher marathon route than London. For most runners though, the hills are a small price to pay for the fantastic support from hysterical crowds - particularly in Brooklyn, along First Avenue when you reach Manhattan and in Central Park. 

YOUR GUARANTEED RACE ENTRY

2:09 Events are an official Travel Partner of the ING New York City Marathon® and have an allocation of Guaranteed race entries that are available to runners taking a travel package with us.

Your race entry fee includes the following:

• Entrance to the ING New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo
• Race t-shirt & poster
• Entry to the Continental Airlines International Friendship Run
• Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner & Fireworks Presented by  Poland Spring
• Post-Race Party
• Results Magazine
• GUARANTEED ENTRY TO THE ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON®
• Entry fee: £250

Timing is with ChampionChip and a credit card will be required from all runners by the New York Road Runners to be held as security for the hire of the chip. A fee of US$35 will be taken from the card only if YOU KEEP the chip at the end of the race.

New for 2009: Private bus to the start. To make life easier for our runners we will have private buses picking up at each of our hotels and taking you straight to the start on Staten Island.

THE RUNNER'S WORLD ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON® EXPERIENCE

Once again we are offering you the best package to this incredible event. Runner's World will be able to support you through your training in conjunction with Keith Anderson at FullPotential; you can attend an exclusive info and training day near Richmond Park, London and will be able to meet up with the Runner's World Staff in New York.

Enjoy the following benefits:

• Training advice from when you sign up.
• Training day in London in September
• Group recce run to see the last mile and the finish in Central Park with London Marathon winner Mike Gratton (Friday before the race).
• First class hotels, Virgin Atlantic flights and all transfers (when arriving off the group flights indicated below)
• The staff of Runner's World at the hotel in New York to answer your questions.

FAMILIES & CHILDREN IN NEW YORK

New York is a wonderland for youngsters and if the children are under 12 years at the time of the tour they just pay for the flight as long as they share a room with two adults (based on a room with two double beds in the Crowne Plaza Manhattan Times Square Hotel - adults pay the twin room price).

PARTNERS, FAMILY & FRIENDS

If you are travelling with non-runners you need not worry about them on race day as they are invited to join us at our spectator spot on First Avenue between the 16 and 17 mile points. We walk as a group from our hotels and from there it's a short walk up to Central Park where they can see you come through at 25 miles near Central Park Zoo then on to the re-union area on Central Park West.

They can also buy a ticket for the International Friendship Run, which is a fun run from the United Nations building to Central Park on the Saturday, as well as the Barilla Marathon Eve Dinner so they can join you at the Tavern on the Green for the traditional carbo-loading meal and feel part of the excitement.

SINGLE TRAVELLER

To keep the costs down we can twin sole travellers with another person on the 2:09 Events tour of the same sex staying in the room for the same duration.  Twin to share runners pay the Twin Room price instead of the Single Room price - this is a considerable saving as you are effectively sharing the cost of the room.  

Why not train for New York on our Algarve summer camp.

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

FLIGHTS

We have booked flights on a group basis with Virgin Atlantic from London Heathrow; these flights will be tied in with bus transfers to the hotel. We can quote for Regional flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast with the ING New York City Marathon® official carrier Continental Airlines and with Delta from Manchester plus other Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on request, but transfers will not be possible on any variations from the designated group flights below.

Outbound Flights:

Wed 28 Oct:    LHR/JFK         VS3                 0930/1330

Wed 28 Oct:    LHR/NEWARK   VS1                 1600/2015 (For Westin Htl only)

Thu 29 Oct:      LHR/JFK         VS3                 0930/1330

Thu 29 Oct:    LHR/NEWARK   VS1                  1600/2015 (For Westin Htl only)

Thu 29 Oct:      LHR/JFK         VS45               1400/1750

Fri 30 Oct:       LHR/JFK         VS3                  0930/1330

Fri 30 Oct:       LHR/JFK         VS45                1400/1750

Fri 30  Oct:      LHR/NEWARK   VS1                 1600/2015 (For Westin Htl only)

Return Flights:

Mon 2 Nov:     JFK/LHR         VS4                 1810/0635 (next day)

Mon 2 Nov:     JFK/LHR         VS46               1945/0750 (next day)

Mon 2 Nov:     Newark/LHR    VS2                2125/0905 (next day - Westin Htl only)

Tue 3 Nov:       JFK/LHR         VS4               1810/0635 (next day)

Tue 3 Nov:      JFK/LHR         VS46               2000/0740 (next day)

Tue 3 Nov:      Newark/LHR    VS2                2125/0905 (next day - Westin Htl only)

Wed 4 Nov:     JFK/LHR         VS4                1810/0635 (next day)

Wed 4 Nov:     Newark/LHR    VS2                2125/0905 (next day - Westin Htl only)

You can extend and return on the following flights - however we can not offer airport transfers for departures after Wednesday 5^th November.

Thu 5 Nov:       JFK/LHR         VS4                 1810/0635 (next day)

Fri 6 Nov:        JFK/LHR         VS4                 1810/0635 (next day)

Sat 7 Nov:        JFK/LHR         VS4                 1810/0635 (next day)

Sun 8 Nov:       JFK/LHR         VS4                 1810/0635 (next day)

EXTENDED STAY & UPGRADES

If you would like to stay on in New York later than the last return date shown or fly on to another destination in the USA, or require Business or First Class seats please call for a quote.

Itinerary in New York

Oct 28: First group arrivals in New York. Meet & Greet at New York Airports by 2:09 staff.

Thu 29: 10am - Meet & Greet with 2:09 Events staff at your hotel. Afternoon/evening group arrivals. Meet & greet at airports and on arrival at hotels. Race registration open until 8pm.

Fri 30 Oct: 07.45 Leave hotels and meet at Columbus Circle at 8am for group recce run around the finish area in Central Park. Afternoon/evening group arrivals. Meet & greet at airports and hotels. Race registration open until 8pm.

Sat 31 Oct: 8am Leave hotels for walk to the United Nations for the International Friendship Run. 10.30am Meet & greet 2:09 staff at your hotel. Official Pasta Party (various times). 5pm Race registration finishes. 7pm Finish Line Fireworks display. Halloween Parade at Greenwich Village.

Sun 1 Nov: 06.30am Private buses depart from our hotels for the start. 9.30am Spectators walk to First Avenue to watch the race at 17 miles then independently walk up to Central Park (5mins) to watch at 25 mile point and meet at reunion area on Eight Avenue. Informal gathering in the hotel bars (some of the charities will arrange private post race parties). Official NY Marathon celebration party.

Mon 2 Nov - Wed 4 Nov: 2:09 staff supervise coach transfers from hotels back to airports.

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

WESTIN HOTEL NEWPORT JERSEY CITY****Jersey City, NJ

For the first time we are using a hotel that is not in mid-Manhattan and the reason for this is that this brand new 4-star hotel gives good value for money along with easy access into Manhattan. The Path train willl take you from outside the hotel to Greenwich Village in one stop and just 5mins, to Wall Street or 34th Street near Macys in 15mins, and onto the entire Subway system making the entire city accessable very quickly. The cost on the Path Train is $2 per journey or you can buy a season ticket for unlimited journeys to and from Manhattan.The trains run 24hrs a day so you can enjoy a night in the city or a Broadway Show and return to the hotel easily.

The Holland Tunnel is close to the hotel for easy taxi journeys into the Financial District and the Lincoln Tunnel is easily reached so that you can reach Times Square in 15 to 20mins. Newark Airport is 11 miles away with a rail link to the hotel.

Most rooms have views across the Hudson River to the fantastic Manhattan skyline and the rooms all have bathrooms en suite, hairdryers, air conditioning, colour TV and wi fi. There is a magnificent Broadwalk along the Hudson River with a wide range of restaurants and is great for running. Nearby there are further restaurants and shops in Hoboken, a preserved area of Jersey City with classic 'brown stone buildings' along a pleasant high street while there is a modern Shopping Mall just behind the hotel.  

Continental Breakfast is included in the Westin package. See how easy it is to get into Manhattan on the Path Train.

Clients staying at the Westin Newport must fly into Newark Airport.

NOVOTEL TIMES SQUARE****Broadway and 52nd Street

This very pleasant modern 4-star hotel is located right on the corner of Broadway and 52nd Street, an ideal position midway between Central Park and Times Square. The hotel has a lift to the lobby on the 7th floor, which insulates you in an area of calm above the bustling street. Here you will find a pleasant bar and the Cafe Nicole with views across Broadway and Times Square. 

All rooms have bathrooms en suite with hair dryers, air conditioning, in room safe and colour cable TV.  The rooms are a moderate size and very comfotable, all have sound proofing allowing for a quiet nights sleep despite being in New Yorks busiest area.

Room only basis.

CROWNE PLAZA MANHATTAN HOTEL ON TIMES SQUARE**** Broadway between 48th & 49th Streets

Right in the heart of Manhattan and Times Square Theatre District, the Crowne Plaza Manhattan is the perfect location for Marathon weekend. Walking distance from Central Park, race registration, Maceys and the Empire State Building, yet slap bang there in the bright lights, hustle and bustle that is Times Square. 

The hotel has a restaurant overlooking Times Square's bright lights, a cosy bar and quiet morning coffee shop overlooking Broadway as well as an indoor pool and excellent gym. This modern hotel has a busy lobby area, but once in the lift and up to the guest rooms it is transformed into a quiet haven above the busy streets now way below with sensational views across Manhattan.

All rooms have bathrooms en suite with hairdryer, air conditioning, coffee maker, in room safe and colour cable TV.

Room only basis.

ESSEX HOUSE HOTEL*****Central Park South (59th Street) between 6th and 7th Avenues.

The Essex House Hotel is one of the landmark hotels overlooking Central Park - in fact it is located on the marathon route within the last half mile of the race. All of our standard rooms are spacious with bathrooms en suite and offer comfort befitting a 5-star property. Park view rooms with one king-size bed suitable for couples are available on request at a supplement. 

Taken over by new owners in 2006 the hotel has been going through a refurbishment and all rooms are now completely redecorated. The hotel has a spa and health/fitness centre, sauna & steam bath and also features the Ducasse's Restaurant, with award winning cuisine, and, of course, the superb location puts the restaurants and bars of Broadway a few minutes stroll away.   

All of the rooms have bathrooms en suite with hairdryer, independently controlled climate control, high speed internet access, Entertainment centre with TV and DVD's available, in room safe.

When you arrive at JFK Airport we will transfer you by private bus to the hotel (when arriving on the group flights listed below only) but when you depart from your hotel we have booked a limousine service from the hotel to return you to the airport.

Room only basis.

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

PRICES

Travel Deposit £250 (will be taken off your balance)

Race Entry Fee £250 (in addition to the Travel package prices)

*Child price covers children aged 2 to 11 at the time of return travel. Infant rate for 0-u2yrs on dates of travel. Price is based on child sharing a room with two adults - adults pay the twin room price.