Antonio Tizapa, one of the fathers of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa, who disappeared on September 2014, ran the marathon in New York in order to give international projection to the group's demands for justice.
Tizapa hopes that his action will cause "more people to join the protests" and pointed out at the importance of "keeping the pressure on the (Mexican) government" so the missing students are found alive.
In light of the official version of the events, which says that the students are dead, many of their relatives think that they could be still alive and have performed many activities in different countries to call attention on the case.
Tizapa decided to run the marathon as a way to give the case international projection in one of the most prestigious sports events in the world. He also got volunteers to display pictures of the students along the marathon's route over the five boroughs of the city of New York, ending in Central Park.
Tizapa, a construction worker, finished the marathon in 3:44 hours, even when he has not been fully recuperated of an injury. "I was hurt for 20 days. I practically left training on the harder days," he said.