Joan Benoit Samuelson Known as one of the pioneers of women’s running, Joan Benoit Samuelson is the only American woman to have ever won an Olympic gold medal in the marathon (1984 Los Angeles). Joan’s marathon gold medal accomplishment was made even more amazing by noting that 17 days after agonizing knee surgery, Joan won the 1984 Olympic Trials to qualify for the Los Angeles Games.

Joan also won the 1979 and 1983 Boston Marathons, as well as the 1992 Columbus Marathon. In 1985, Benoit was named winner of the Sullivan Award as the outstanding U. S. amateur athlete of 1985, when she set an American record of 2:21:21 in the Chicago Marathon.

According to Runner's World Magazine, Joan Benoit Samuelson is "the greatest American marathoner in history."

The New York Running Company is located in the Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center (59th & Columbus Circle) across the street from the 26-mile mark of the New York City Marathon.