The 50,000 people who registered for the  44th annual New York Marathon were treated to difficult conditions, but an unforgettable race.

The already daunting 26.219 miles were made even harder for the enthusiastic runners as a result of adverse weather conditions – winds reached speeds of 20 to 40mph and temperatures hanging around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

#NYCMarathon runners have begun making their way around five boroughs. http://t.co/lnkWP0L39K pic.twitter.com/Uh2NL7i4ZQ

— NY1 News (@NY1) November 2, 2014

The difficult weather tested, but never discouraged, the participants of what has become one of the world’s biggest and most popular marathons. 

Given the conditions, it’s no surprise that there were no course record breakers to be found this year, with Geoffrey Mutai’s 2:05:06 time from 2011 and Margaret Okayo’s 2003 finish of 2:22:31 safe for another year.

32-year-old Wilson Kipsang from Kenya won the men’s race in two hours, 10 minutes and 59 seconds in his first appearance at the New York Marathon. Mary Keitany, also 32 and Kenyan, won the women’s race with a time of two hours, 25 minutes and seven seconds in a tense finale that saw her pass the finish line just 2.3 seconds faster that second-place runner Jenima Jelagat Sumsong.

Putting the competitive aspect of the race aside, the marathon saw some well-known participants take to the streets, despite the conditions. From elite pro athletes such as tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, actress Teri Hatcher, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to Chef Richard Blais and ex-New York Knick star Alan Houston, the race brought together people that would otherwise be unlikely to share a stage.

Whether you’re a pro athlete, celebrity or enthusiastic amateur runner, if you took part in the New York Marathon, a big well done from everyone here at Merrell!

Feeling inspired? Tie your laces and head outside to get your self ready for next year. Registrations for the NYC Marathon start on January 2015.