This weekend, New York City will host its 47th annual Marathon. With a record number of finishers at last year’s event, the New York City Marathon is now the biggest and most popular marathon in the world. Held annually on the first Sunday of November, the event has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1970. Back then the race consisted of a four-lap course around historic Central Park, whereas today the course takes runners from Staten Island and through the neighbourhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx before they cross the finish line in Manhattan’s Central Park.

During the 26.2 miles, the runners pass through all five New York boroughs, run across five of its deceptively hilly bridges, all the while experiencing the city’s rich cultural diversity and soaking up its legendary atmosphere. Over two million spectators are expected to line the course this Sunday to support the runners, and to cheer them across the finish line. The race is rich in history, records, and fun facts, and in this blog, we take you through some of our favourites in numbers!

1

Dollar was the entry fee for the first-ever New York City Marathon in 1970.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

9

Victories by the late, great Grete Waitz. She won New York nine times between 1978 and 1988; and holds the record for the most number of times that any runner, male or female, has won the New York Marathon.

34

Miles is the average distance run per week by a New York Marathon finisher.

40.6

Years old was the average age of participants at last year’s race.

127

Runners crossed the start line in 1970. Of these 127, only 55 runners crossed the finish line.

220

Tubs of Vaseline are expected to be used by the runners on Marathon day.

350

Official charity partners utilise the marathon as a critical fundraising platform. A record-breaking $36.1 million was raised by charity runners at last year’s Marathon.

358

Dollars is the entry fee for international runners.

14,400

Bananas are to be handed out between miles 20 and 23.

51,388

Runners completed the Marathon in 2016. This set the record for the highest number of finishers at any marathon worldwide.

62,000

Gallons of water will be available to runners throughout the course.

98,247

People applied in February to run the 2017 Marathon. This was a 20 percent increase on 2016.

$100,000

Prize money to be awarded to each of the winners of the men and women’s elite races.

2:05:06

Course record for a male runner. This was set by Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya in 2011. Defending New York Marathon Champion, Ghirmany Ghebreslassie, fancies his chances to break the course record this weekend, after clocking the third-fastest winning time in history at last year’s event.

2:22:31

Course record for a female runner. This was set by Margaret Okayo of Kenya back in 2003. Will this be the year that her 14-year old course record is broken?

Mary Keitany will definitely be one to watch, after having won the London Marathon back in April, and breaking the “Women Only” marathon record in doing so. Records aside, Keitany is also looking to win her fourth consecutive NYC Marathon.

So whether you're taking part of simply watching it, enjoy the spectacle of one of the world's greatest marathons this weekend!