New York’s marathon of chaos and charm awaits Hassan and Kipchoge | New York City Marathon

New York Marathonlike the city he captures every autumn, it is as vast as it is vibrant; as loud as it is chaotic; and more than terrifying.

No marathon is easy. But an air of unpredictability hangs over the five boroughs, with contenders humiliated and favorites disappointed as they embark on a challenging 26.2-mile ride through the city.

“I'm very scared,” Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who has won the London, Chicago and Sydney marathons, told reporters on Friday. Throughout her life, she said, people have told her that New York, where she will be racing for the first time, is “really tough.”

Hassan will headline Sunday's race alongside Eliud Kipchoge, often called the greatest marathon runner of all time, who will also be making his debut in the city. Both ran the Sydney Marathon, which Hasan won just nine weeks ago.

New York is no place for world records or elaborate race plans. On the first Sunday in November, a blank canvas is stretched around the world's biggest stage. Expectations in front of a group of 55,000 runners quickly fade into the background.

Some World Major marathons, such as Chicago and Berlin, are known for their flatness and speed. New York, with five bridges along the route and an undulating finale through Central Park, is a completely different beast.

This time Fiona O'Keeffe wasn't interested in chasing records or breaking times. “This fall I just wanted a really competitive race,” she explained in an interview. “Racing is the fun part of what we do.”

So, early Sunday morning, O'Keefe will stand in line among Staten Island's crowded elite with an open heart. “Anything can happen on race day,” she said.

When it comes to running a marathon, few people know it better. In February 2024, O'Keefe won the US Olympic Trials with a score of amazing debut this raised high hopes for the Games last summer. She was forced to leave However, about a mile into the race in Paris; A scan later revealed a stress fracture of the femur.

“It's just interesting – I've had some really tough experiences and then obviously my Olympic experience was pretty rough,” O'Keefe told the Guardian. “So I guess I've seen both sides of the coin now.”

“This sport is simple,” she added. “I really love running. And I'm so grateful to the people who have supported me through it all. So [I’m] kind of just leaning towards that side, more than focusing on what it could be.”

The road back lasted almost 15 months. Training with the Puma Elite running team in Raleigh, North Carolina, O'Keefe didn't want to return to the marathon until she was back in her best shape.

“I expect it to be a tough race, but I'm really happy about it,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out and how it unfolds and seeing what can happen if I just keep putting myself into it and trusting myself when those moves actually happen.”

O'Keeffe and Hassan, who won the Sydney Marathon just nine weeks ago, will face stiff competition in the elite women's field. Former champions Sheila Chepkirui, Sharon Loekdi and Hellen Obiri will also take to the line. The strong American lineup includes Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidl, Emily Sisson and Suzanne Sullivan, who recently had strong performances at September's World Championships in Tokyo.

The men's team, led by Kipchoge, also features a host of contenders, including former champions Abdi Nagyie and Albert Korira; 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Benson Kipruto; and Alexander Mutiso, who won the London Marathon last year. Americans Hillary Bohr and Joe Klecker will also make their marathon debut.

“I've always thought that being in the stadium and running a running race is the most important thing in our sport,” said Britain's Patrick Dever, who has previously focused on the 5,000m and 10,000m and will make his marathon debut on Sunday. “But once you’ve been to these big marathons, you realize how spectacular they are.”

Dever, who like O'Keefe trains with Puma Elite, is preparing for longer distances. “You're just there for such a long period of time, so you just have a lot more time in your own head to talk yourself out of it or stay calm,” he said. “The biggest thing I've tried to work on on these long runs is just not panicking in my head if something doesn't go right.

“I feel like I'm fully prepared, going into the race knowing it probably won't be good the whole distance. There will be times in the race where I'll probably want to quit. I feel like you just have to deal with it and just try not to pay attention to how you feel at any given moment.”

New Yorkers will come out with a bang, amplifying the highs and softening the lows as tens of thousands of runners—from first-timers and fundraisers to big dreamers and distinguished veterans—march through the city.

Kipchoge has two Olympic titles and 11 world marathon titles and remains the only person to have run the distance in less than two hours. He rules New York amid speculation he is preparing to retire from the elite marathon and made a “big announcement” after the race.

“I want to experience, I want to go through it,” Kipchoge told reporters. “I want to actually see two million people lining up around the track. I want to walk all the bridges in New York, the best places in New York – actually see with my own eyes how people are waving. This is the best city where everything is here.”