Crowds of people have already begun to descend upon New York City in preparation for this coming Sunday’s ING New York City Marathon. In existance since 1970, runners from all over the world have been taking to the streets of New York in hopes of winning the marathon and collecting the top cash prize. Yearly, over two million spectators line the streets to cheer on runners as they embark on the 26.2 mile race through the five boroughs.

As I walked to work this morning it was apparent that the particpants have already started to arrive and are warming up on the streets of Manhattan in anticipation for Sunday. This will be the first Marathon Sunday in a very long time that I will not be lining up along First Avenue to greet the runners as they come across the 59th Street bridge and head up the east side on their way to the Bronx. Over the years it had become a tradition among my friends to gather in the city for brunch and then to walk over to First Ave to check out the runners and then head to Central Park. Every year the weather varies so some years we would come wearing hats and gloves, clutching hot chocolate or coffee and other years we are standing there in jeans and t-shirts. It was always a great time and a perfect reason to round everyone up to enjoy the city. This Sunday though, we will leave the cheering to the rest of the New York as we have other plans. Good luck everyone….we are rooting for you!