Will you make history at the 2008 NYC Marathon?

On November 2nd, New York City will be set abuzz by a stampede of people wearing crotch-hugging shorts and sweat-soaked T-shirts, all adorned with numbers that range from one to around 38,000. Their feet will march to the beat of a wide variety of iPod playlists, and their bodies will be pushed to their limits for 26.2 miles. These determined runners will be competing in a race that's as much a test of physical endurance as it is one of their will. In less than 23 days, thousands of men and women from around the world will hit the streets for the New York City Marathon.

But before looking to the future of this world renowned event, let's take a quick look at its past, shall we? Here are a few milestones from the history of the New York City Marathon.

1970. First Central Park Marathon sees 55 people complete the race after all runners paid only a one dollar entry fee.

1972. Six female entrants sit for first ten minutes of race in protest against the AAU's insistence on their starting early.

1976. Dick Traum is the first physically-challenged athlete to complete a marathon.

1978. Grete Waitz wins her first of nine NYC Marathons and sets a world record of 2:32:30

1979. The Marathon appears in a television broadcast.

1981. Gun no longer used to signify race start in tribute to John Lennon, who died a month prior.

1992. Fred Lebow completes his first NYC Marathon with Grete Waits while in remission from brain cancer.

1994. German Silva takes a wrong turn at mile 26, but still emerges as the victor.

2000. Official wheelchair division established.

2004. Britain's Paula Radcliffe beats Kenya's Susan Chepkemei by four seconds.

2007. World record breaking 38,524 finishers.

(Source: Metro Sports New York)