A RACE LIKE NO OTHER:
26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York

In my first book, I bring the famed New York City Marathon to life, capturing the day's festivities mile by mile. Each chapter is a mile on the course. I tell the stories of the determined competitors—from a cancer survivor, to a recovering alcoholic, to a grandmother, to four professionals — through the prism of the unforgettable 2007 race. Infused with rich history of the event's legends and its colorful neighborhood characters, A Race Like No Other provides a curbside seat to the first Sunday in November. I breathlessly carry the reader from the start on the towering Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the triumphant finish line in Central Park.

Select Reviews

“Robbins, a sportswriter for The New York Times, has packed her book with scrumptious details…If the written word still has any force, then this book could take on talismanic power, like the medal or the Mylar cape that every finisher receives.”
— New York Times Book Review

“Robbins nails the race, painting a broad, impressionistic portrait of what I consider New York's greatest day.” 
— Wall Street Journal

“Robbins’s absorbing book...finds its stride....A Race Like No Other gets closer to this marathon than an avenue railbird, and it leaves impressions not fleeting, but lasting.”
— Sports Illustrated

“Lace up your sneakers and take a run like no other. Liz Robbins has written a poignant, fast-paced profile of a world-class event that is more than just a sports story. It’s a rare view behind the city scenes and an inspirational look into the souls of athletes – from the pros to the plodders – revealing why they are so driven and yet so human. A heart-pounding read from start to finish.”
— Sally Jenkins, Washington Post Columnist

“Robbins conveys an intimate sense of the physical demands the race places on the body, all the while building suspense-though we know the winners-that’s the equal of a good action movie. A quality piece of journalism from start to finish.”
— Booklist (starred review)