It’s the moment 55,000 runners envision on marathon Sunday in the city, through all the training and through all five boroughs: finally getting to Central Park and crossing that finish line. 

“The energy in New York, it exceeds all other majors,” said John Felsenthal, who ran his fourth marathon Sunday and his first in New York City. 

“Super, super happy,” said Max Kiralyfi from London. “A tiny bit sick.”

“My quads are very sore, not gonna lie,” said Felicia Pasadyn, who ran her third marathon and her first in New York. “But I’m doing OK. I think I can walk it off a little bit.”

For some, it’s a new feeling. 

“First marathon, like ever,” said Jessica Warner-Judd from Manchester. “My first ever one, and I wanted it to be in New York.”

Others decided to come back for more. 

“This is my fourth major,” Felsenthal said. “And decided I was just not going to take myself too seriously and I just showed up and just PR’ed.”

Some were running with something to prove. 

“I am over the moon because I heard this was a very slow course so I thought in no world could I break 2:37, which is Olympic trials, but I just made Olympic trials — US Olympic trials,” Pasadyn said. 

“I was diagnosed with epilepsy last year,” said Warner-Judd. “I probably had about two years where I haven’t been racing as much, so to come back and do that, it was just so nice to prove that I can still run and still be competitive.”

Others ran for someone they love.

“Some people from work were raising money for cancer, and my dad passed away from it a couple years ago,” Kiralyfi said. “And I grew up running with him, so I hope he’s super proud and I definitely felt his energy around the course.”

But all of them credited the New York City crowd for helping them get to the finish. 

“It’s truly indescribable,” Pasadyn said. “It felt like any pain you were feeing in your legs or arms, just taken away — you’re just tingling with joy because of how much support there is.”

“You can’t even hear your music because the crowds are so loud,” said Brendan Lally, who’s from Dublin and now lives in Rockaway Beach. 

“I think New York just shows up,” Felsenthal said.