Grete Waitz New York-bound

Norwegian marathon star Grete Waitz, running the race of her life against cancer.
The nine-time winner of the New York Marathon has been undergoing cancer treatment since January, and now needs to go through chemotherapy.
Waitz says she's optimistic about her chances for winning her battle against cancer, and that she's grateful for her prize. Money raised at the Chamber dinner will go to charity, and she'll also spend time working with budding Norwegian athletes who are in New York as part of an exchange program she's worked to set up. "I love New York, but after a week I tend to get tired," she said. "It's a city with so much energy."

Grete Waitz will undoubtedly be remembered as the pioneer in women's marathoning as well, most probably, as the patron saint of the New York City marathon.
Winning the New York City marathon an unprecedented nine times is no mean feat, then to set a new world record on 4 occasions is simply unbelievable.
As a barrier breaker she became the first woman athlete to break 2Hr 30min.
Waitz came from a background of track and cross country before she went on to make her name in the marathon.

The race proved to be a turning point for Waitz' career. She would return to New York and win an unprecedented nine times, in '78, '79, '80, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86 and '88. She set world records in '78, '79 and '80.