Around mile 7 in Brooklyn, runners and spectators filled the streets for the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course of the New York City Marathon.
Around 60,000 runners from nearly 140 countries took part in the 26.2 mile race, which starts on Staten Island and ends in Central Park.
Spectators lined the route in Brooklyn, cheering for runners as they passed. For many, the crowds are part of what makes the New York City Marathon distinct.
The Manjarrez family wore matching shirts to support a runner named Gabby, who was running her first marathon.
“My brother here Jose and I have done long runs with her, 20 miles, 16 miles, 14 miles, and Will is her boyfriend, so we are all here supporting her,” Jaime Manjarrez, her father, told NY1.
Lacey Klumpp, who traveled to NYC from Denver for the marathon, ran to raise money for Team Reeves, a charity that works towards curing spinal chord injuries.
Her dad, Jeff, has been paralyzed since she was 4 years old.
He got emotional telling NY1 what it meant to be able to watch her run the marathon with Team Reeves in her honor.
“She had a dad on her arm with a heart around it. Just to watch her do, all that she has done, the training. Everything’s just been amazing,” he said.
Other spectators come to the marathon sidelines to cheer on runners they don’t know.
Braulio Sierra, a New York City Marathon spectator, said he has watched the race from the same spot for the past 30 years.
“It’s nice to see diversity, and it’s one of those moments where the world comes together, people from all over the world,” Sierra said.
Steven Gendek, who was visiting the city from Australia, did not plan his trip to New York City around the marathon, but because he was in town, he said he had to experience it.
“What a wonderful time, and seeing people coming along first here with the wheelchairs and the hand cycles,” Gendek said. “Everybody cheering, it doesn’t matter who you are, does it? It brings everyone together, and that’s a wonderful spirit.”
Music was also part of the scene in Brooklyn. The Hell or High Water Band has performed at mile 7 since 2008.
Thomas Wipf, a guitarist in the band, told NY1 the band starts early, when wheelchair and hand cycle participants come through, and plays until the sweeper bus arrives around 1:30.
“We like to be there for that crowd certainly because inspiration matters,” Wipf said. “The folks at the end and the folks at the beginning are here for a whole lot of reasons. And the folks in the middle — we just love the crowd.”
The marathon also drew younger spectators, including Anna, who said she wants to run a marathon one day.