New York City Marathon returns for its 50th edition

The tree-strewn pathway near 67th street in Central Park lay dormant this time last year. The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was closed to runners, and the spectators that usually line the streets of the city’s four other boroughs were shuttered inside, protecting themselves from the virus that raged globally.

Things are still far from what they were, but Sunday, during the 50th running of the New York City Marathon, one piece of normalcy will return to both the city’s communities and the running community at large.

Granted, the race is a little bit smaller than usual — cut down to 30,000 runners instead of the 53,000 than ran in 2019 — but there will be running, and cheering, and a few winners, too. Last year was only the second time the race had been canceled — the other being for Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

"I’m really looking forward to coming out and being able to compete again with everybody because we didn’t have a chance to have this race last year," said Sally Kipyego, the Olympic silver medalist who came in as a runner-up in 2016. "I’m just really happy to be here and excited to compete and to be able to join in the community and what it represents. This is a historic event, this 50th anniversary is a big event and a historic milestone for the marathon. And so, I’m just really happy to be here."

She’s not alone in the sentiment, though things will run a touch differently this year to account for the continued presence of COVID-19. There will be five waves of runners, to allow for greater distancing athletes. Runners will be allowed their own hydration belts to avoid crowding at water stations. And either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required for entry.

Additionally, since other major marathons were moved to from the spring due to the pandemic, the field is more wide open than it would generally be. Elite runners talked of the quick turnaround and heavy training schedule, and some, like 2019’s women’s winner, Joyciline Jepkosgei, and Tokyo silver medalist Brigid Kosgei, have opted out to focus on the London Marathon.

"It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be preparing for the New York City Marathon," said Molly Seidel, who earned bronze in Tokyo and is the United State’s best hope for a win. "I think originally when we signed on to this, we thought, ‘Oh, three months? That’s so much time.’ And then with everything that happened at the Games — the emotional and physical toll coming off of that — it took a little bit longer to get back into the swing of things. But then I really got that excitement, readiness to train. And so I’m pumped and excited to go out. It wasn’t necessarily the ideal build, but I felt we got in some really solid work."

She was also excited about another prospect: The fervor that comes with the marathon, and the fans that line the streets as the runners go about their 26.2 miles.

"The last time we had spectators at a marathon was [U.S. Olympic] Trials and that was such a cool thing," she said. "Even though we did get supporters in Japan, it was very low-key and a lot of golf clapping. So I’m really excited because you really get a momentum from the people around you. This is the first time my family will have seen me race since the Trials, and they’re all coming out. Those are the things that I’ve tried to focus on. Using that energy that my mom and my dad are going to be here. I’m pretty excited for that."

Other favorites in the women’s field include Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir, who took gold in Tokyo.

For the men, look to Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, a four-time Olympic medalist, making his New York City marathon debut, and Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie, the half-marathon world record holder, also making his debut. Tokyo silver medalist Abdi Nageeye should also factor.

"This is a dream race to run in New York and not only now but after the Olympics, I’m very excited and it can’t be better than that," Nageeye said. "My preparations have been very good, I’ve been in Kenya for the past two months with training and now ready for New York as we know the city very well. Running in New York, the crowd is everything; the city, the history, the people, running in the race and how people watch the race is different and relaxed. The people are excited to watch the race and are vocal when watching the race."

Finally, after a long year of silence.

By Laura Albanese

laura.albanese@newsday.com@AlbaneseLaura

Laura Albanese is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. She's been covering MLB since 2014 after starting at Newsday as an intern seven years earlier.