Manhattan —

The ING New York City Marathon gets the world’s attention: The 26.2-mile race attracts two million spectators and three hundred million television viewers from around the globe.

The audience most excited about the race, though, is the families and friends of the runners, who have traveled long distances to see their loved ones cross the finish line. The marathon’s co-founding organization, New York Road Runners, hosted NYRR 5, a five-mile race for runners’ families and friends. It gave marathon participants a chance to cheer on their most devoted fans two days before the main event.