Exclusive | Meet the last-place NYC marathon finishers: I will roll, I will crawl

In the city that never sleeps, these runners refuse to quit — even after midnight.“Last place” doesn’t sound like something to celebrate.But at one iconic event, coming in last can feel like winning: the TCS New York City Marathon.The race officially closes at 10 p.m., but its final finishers can cross the line well after dark — sometimes close to midnight.What does it feel like to be the very last person to cross the New York Marathon finish line?The Post spoke with four runners about their determined treks to claim the race’s final finisher medals.When spectators shouted “Congratulations!” to Teresa Hui as she walked along thesidewalk wearing her race bib in the 2025 marathon, she had to clarify: “There’s no medal around my neck, so I’m still in it.”The 45-year-old actor and singer from Brighton Beach has completed 18 New York City Marathons since her 2006 debut.

Over the years, the race, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year since expanding to five boroughs, became the emotional anchor of her autumn.But chronic pain from a cascade of physical conditions eventually reshaped her journey.

Today, Hui tackles the grueling 26.2-mile course with the aid of a cane, steadily bringing up the rear.Last year, she was the penultimate runner to cross the finish line.Hui reached Central Park just before midnight, roughly 15 hours after crossing the starting line on Staten Island.

The grandstands had thinned and most of the 50,000 entrants were already asleep, yet the tail end of the race held its own vibrant energy.“All these folks are still there.They’ve got their glow sticks, and there was a walking DJ,” she said.

“Your goal is never to be a final finisher… but anything can happen.”“The marathon is in my blood.It’s in my DNA.

It’s what gives me joy,” Hui told The Post.Though not athletic as a child, she took up distance running in college, dropping her pace until she clocked a personal best of 4 hours and 34 minutes ...