New York, New York

Whether you are running your first one or your fifth, cheering the runners as they go by on First Avenue or telling yourself that next year you ARE going to be out there with them, if you are in New York City this Sunday, it is pretty much impossible to avoid the ING NYC Marathon.

The 26.2-mile course covers five bridges and five boroughs. More than 90,000 runners applied. On Sunday, some 37,000 runners fortunate enough to gain entry spots in one of the world's greatest races, will gather in Staten Island for the start of the New York City Marathon.

This is one of the best events in the city and First Avenue is the place to be. As runners have told me and the 2006 Spectator Guide describes, the most electric moment of the marathon prior to the finish comes on the Manhattan side of the Queensboro Bridge, when the competitors come off the ramp and are welcomed by the boisterous, cheering throngs that line First Avenue. Race veterans describe hearing the roar of the crowd from the bridge before even actually seeing the fans, then riding an adrenaline boost all the way up First Avenue, which is packed with energetic crowds estimated at nearly one million people.

This year promises to be as exciting as ever, with participants including cyclist and seven straight Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, supermodel and Buffalo native Kim Alexis, famed chef Bobby Flay, and Olympic gold medal gymnast Shannon Miller.

The NYC Marathon is directed by Mary Wittenberg, the first female race director of a major international marathon, the president and CEO of the New York Road Runners, and a fellow Mount Mercy alumni.

About 3,000 runners will also be racing to raise $10 million for charity. Last year, almost 1,000 runners raised $4 million for the marathon's two official philanthropic organizations, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Fred's Team and the NYRRC's Team for Kids, whose goal is to get all New York City children running as part of their school day. The money generated this year is expected to be almost triple the amount in 2005.

Best of luck to all the participants, and if you can't join us for the festivities on First Avenue, you can apparently still track Lance Armstrong or your favorite runner on your computer!