It’s race day in the Big Apple.
Approximately 50,000 runners are expected to toe the line on Sunday morning and trek 26.2 miles around New York City’s five boroughs for the annual marathon.
Forecasts point to an ideal day for running as temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s at the start of the race and reach a high of 62 degrees in the early afternoon.
The morning starts off at 49 degrees around 7 a.m. as the temperature reaches 50 degrees just in time for the starting gun, according to Fox Weather.
As the runners make their way through the five boroughs, the temperatures will be ideal for running.
“Sunny skies, light wind, should be perfect,” Fox Weather Meteorologist Stephen McCloud told The Post.
“If temperatures are a little bit cooler, around 45 degrees, it’s found that runners run faster and have a faster overall time,” McCloud added. “Coolish type weather favors runners.”
Scattered showers can be found in the area, but the majority of the race will see mostly sunny skies.
A slight breeze and a partly cloudy sky will favor the runners throughout the day.
NYC Marathon start times
The 52nd NYC Marathon kicks off with the Professional Wheelchair Division at 8 a.m. followed by the Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities 22 minutes later.
The elite groups follow next with the Professional Women’s Open Division at 8:40 a.m., and the Professional Men’s Open Division starting at 9:05 a.m.
The general groups then begin their turn at 9:10 a.m. with Wave 1, with each subsequent group starting every 35 minutes until 11:30 a.m.
NYC Marathon Course
The New York City Marathon starts at the base of the Verrazano Bridge on Staten Island and runs into Brooklyn, where race enthusiasts will trot for 13 miles through various neighborhoods until they reach the Pulaski Bridge and cross into Queens.
Runners are in Queens for less than three miles before they reach the Queensboro Bridge in Long Island City to cross over the East River to get into Manhattan.
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Once in Manhattan, the course takes the runners to 1st Avenue for a grueling four-mile straight away up to the Willis Avenue Bridge and Willis Avenue in the Bronx for a quick mile and a half u-turn before going back across to Manhattan via the Madison Avenue bridge.
Runners will then trek down to Central Park, where they’ll be met with a steep incline between miles 23 and 24 before making their way around the park and for mile markers 25 and 26.
The final sprint comes as they traverse West Dr. and cross the finish line just northeast of Tavern On The Green.
Defending NYC Marathon champions
Last year, Kenya’s Evans Chebet won the men’s race with a time of 2:08:41, becoming only the third person this century to win both the Boston and NYC Marathons.
He defended his title in Boston in April, but won’t be doing so in New York on Sunday as he pulled out of the race last month.
On the women’s side, Sharon Lokedi crossed the line at 2:23:23.
Lokedi, 29, is looking to defend her title as she goes up against Boston champion Hellen Obiri and 2021 Olympic gold medalist and 2021 NYC winner Peres Jepchirchir.
Celebrity NYC marathon runners
Many celebrities flock to NYC to take part in the world’s largest marathon, as stars across entertainment and sports take in the sights — and the miles — of NYC.
Former Today Show hosts turned lovers Amy Roback and TJ Holmes are taking their NYC half-marathon experience and testing out the full marathon following the announcement of their new podcast.
Hometown athletes will be represented throughout the race.
Stanley Cup Champion and former Islanders big man Zdeno Chára will compete with Team New Balance during his first NYC marathon.
Samantha Judge and Emily Rizzo, wives of Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo compete for two charities.
Grammy and Tony Award winner Patina Miller, US Olympic Bobsled gold medalist Steve Mesler, YouTuber Casey Neistat, singers Lara Dreyfuss and Harry Hudson, actor Nev Schulman, actor Luke MacFarlane and The Bachelor/Bachelorette stars Matt James, Zac Clark and Joe Amabile are all set to compete in the event.
