The first marathon in New York was held in 1970. It was participated by 127 runners who paid $1 of an entrance fee. Out of the total number of the runners, 55 competitors completed the race. The number of runners increased regularly year by year, with one exception in 2001 after the September 11 attacks. In 2009, about 40,000 marathoners took part in the event. The route went through Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan. Each year, the marathon attracts world-famous runners, who struggle for an award of over $800,000, unprofessional runners and as many as 2 million bystanders. In addition, disabled sportspeople take part in the marathon on handbikes. In 2009, Polish sportspeople participated and took leading places. Arek Skrzypiński was the third and Robert Nowicki the seventh.