2011 New York Marathon Results: Why Celebrities Must Stay Away from Marathons

The New York Marathon is a melting pot for everyday people and celebrities to get together in order to show off their athletic prowess and, in the case of the celebrities, make sure that someone is taking notice of what they are doing. 

In this day and age of reality television and paparazzi sitting in bushes waiting for anyone who might have been on the big or small screen at some point in their lives, the most high-profile marathon in the world is a great way to gain exposure and get your name out there again. 

In this year's race, there were at least 15 celebrities and athletes running for various charities, including Jennie Finch, Mark Messier, Apolo Anton Ohno, Christy Turlington Burns, Shonda Schilling and Mario Lopez.

They donated money they earned to various charities of their choosing. It sounds like a good cause, and for the most part it is. 

I have been called a cynical man, with which I can't disagree, but if they really want to do something for charity, why don't they just donate the money to the charity of their choice and to the race itself, then be done with it? 

There is no need for them to parade themselves around in this race because all that anyone will want to talk about is what they have done. 

How many people paid attention to the women's wheelchair race, which was won by American Amanda McGrory? She also set a course record by finishing with a time of 1 hour, 50 minutes and 24 seconds.

It is an amazing feat, but a majority of the headlines, not on sports websites, are going to be about famous people.

Marathons are the one time of the year that regular people get the chance to do something extraordinary and feel like celebrities or athletes do every single day of their lives.

But because celebrities need the good public relations and a forum to get their name out there, they have to enter in these races. 

Don't get me wrong: I love that most of them donate money to charities, but they don't have to run in a race to do that.