Coronary heart disease—often simply called heart disease—can lead to a heart attack. A heart attack happens when a cholesterol-rich plaque bursts and releases its contents into the bloodstream. This causes a blood clot to form over the plaque, totally blocking blood flow through the artery and preventing vital oxygen and nutrients from getting to the heart. A heart attack can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, some 40,000 runners sweated their way through the New York City Marathon, which winds through the city’s five boroughs. Contestants included elite runners from around the world, celebrities, and plenty of weekend warriors.
To inspire future generations of runners, we’ve assembled some of the most memorable photos from marathons past.
« A stream of runners flows across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the 1994 marathon.
