Some 50,000 runners from more than 125 countries and all 50 states will descend on the city Sunday morning for the 49th annual NYC Marathon, bringing the thrill of competition and a snarl of traffic to the Big Apple.
As usual, this year’s marathon runs through all five boroughs. Wheelchair participants will start the race at 8:30 a.m. Sunday – ahead of professional women at 9:10 and professional men and the first wave at 9:40.
What’s the route?
Runners will begin in Staten Island by the Verrazzano Bridge and make their way up Brooklyn through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Clinton Hill, Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
They’ll then cross the Pulaski Bridge for a brief jaunt through Queens before crossing into Manhattan at 59th Street. The final leg takes runners up First Avenue and briefly into The Bronx via the Willis Avenue Bridge — and down Fifth Avenue to the race’s Central Park finish line.
What’s the prize for winners?
First place men and women will get $100,000 each. Second place will get $60,000 and third will get $40,000.
Additional prizes are awarded for specific subcategories. The top three runners over age 40 will get $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. The top American runner wins $25,000, as does the top wheelchair-using participant.
Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa took the top men’s prize in 2018. Kenyan Mary Keitany won the women’s competition. Both defending champs are running again on Sunday.
Who else is running this year?
New York Giants football legend Tiki Barber recently told Page Six he’s been waking up at 4 a.m. daily to practice for the 26.2-mile run, which he hopes to finish in 4 hours, 20 minutes and 25 seconds or less to match his record from October’s Chicago Marathon. He’ll be joined by fellow Big Blue alum Jason Sehorn.
“I have no idea of what to expect when I get out there and run,” Sehorn told Page Six. “My longest run so far is 19 miles and that will be my longest run until I can run a marathon.”
The 2019 NYC Marathon also includes 70-year-old Allan Weitzman and his 11 nieces and nephews, 50-year-old recovered drug addict Alonzo Harris and 65-year-old paraplegic veteran Terry Vereline – who’ll be participating with the help of a robotic exoskeleton.
What’s Sunday’s weather?
53 degrees and mostly sunny.
What NYC roads will be closed?
If you don’t need to drive or ride the bus in New York City on Sunday, don’t. A full list of street closures — which begin at 1 a.m. on Sunday and will last until 7 p.m. — is available .