As athletes gear up for Sunday¡¯s New York City Marathon, falling world records have brought new attention to the distance event after a blockbuster year.

Ethiopian Tigst Assefa shattered the women¡¯s marathon record in Berlin in September, lopping more than two minutes from the previous best, with a time of two hours 11 minutes and 53 seconds.

Days later Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum beat compatriot Eliud Kipchoge¡¯s world record mark on the men¡¯s side with a stunning win in two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago.