Nearly 10,000 Women Raced at Emotional and Inspirational Eighth-Annual More Magazine | Fitness Magazine Women's Half- Marathon in Central Park

NEW YORK, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck hosted the eighth-annual More Magazine | Fitness Magazine Women's Half-Marathon in Central Park on April 3rd. More and Fitness magazines in partnership with New York Road Runners, welcomed nearly 10,000 runners for the biggest women's-only half marathon in the country.  Hasselbeck also participated in the race, running her first half marathon with her own Team Nogii to raise money for Celiac Disease research, an autoimmune disease from which she suffers. Hasselbeck finished with a time of 1:44:32.

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First-place winner, Sheri Piers, 39, of Falmouth, ME completed the hilly course in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 27 seconds winning the inaugural "Meyerhoff" trophy named in honor of the race's 2010 champion Sally Meyerhoff, who died in a cycling accident last month.  Sally's sister, Samantha Meyerhoff, 21, ran the race in honor of her sister, and finished in fourth place at 1:26:30.

"Every mile, I thought about Sally," said Samantha. "I knew she would want me to keep pushing harder. This race was amazing."

Second place winner Laura Rodriguez, 31, of Bronx, NY, finished with a time of 1:25:53, followed closely by Jesse Mizzone, 25, of Jersey City, NJ, who finished third at 1:26:07.

Fitness Editor-in-Chief Betty Wong ran the race for the fifth time in a row and finished with a personal-course-best time of 2:00:39.  "Someone etched "Become Your Dream" in chalk along the race course and I know so many runners really took that advice to heart," said Wong. "Having Sam on the course running for Sally and almost 10,000 amazing women racing for their dream made this year's race incredibly emotional and inspirational."

Runners represented 48 states and 18 countries, and they raised over $100,000 for charitable partner, Hole in the Wall Gang, a nonprofit center serving children and their families coping with cancer.  

Biggest Loser contestants Cherita Andrews (Season 9), Nicole Brewer (Season 7), and Tara Costa (Season 7) also participated in the race.

The 2011 More Magazine | Fitness Magazine Women's Half-Marathon was presented by Lady Speed Stick and Athleta, with product sponsors Duane Reade, Oakley, Silk Soymilk, Skechers, Thomas' Bagel Thins and Tonalin.

SOURCE More Magazine/ Fitness Magazine Women's Half Marathon