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

The New York Marathon, like the city it takes over each fall, is as vast as it is dynamic; as noisy as it is chaotic; and more than a little intimidating too.

No marathon is easy. But an air of unpredictability persists across the five boroughs, with hopes humbled and favorites frustrated, as they embark on a challenging 26.2-mile tour of the city.

“I’m really scared,” Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who won the London, Chicago and Sydney marathons, told reporters on Friday. Throughout her life, she says, people have told her that New York — where she is about to run for the first time — is “so hard.”

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

New York City is not a place for world records or meticulously crafted race plans. On the first Sunday in November, a blank canvas stretches around the world’s biggest stage. In front of a peloton of 55,000 runners, expectations quickly fall apart.

Some major global marathons, such as Chicago and Berlin, are known for being flat and fast. New York, with five bridges along the route and a hilly finale through Central Park, is a different beast altogether.

Fiona O’Keeffe wasn’t interested in chasing records or beating the clock this time around. “What I was looking for this fall was just a really competitive race,” she explained in an interview. “Racing is the fun part of what we do.”

So, early Sunday, O’Keeffe will line up among a stacked elite field on Staten Island with an open mind. “Anything can happen on race day,” she said.

When it comes to the marathon, few people know better. In February 2024, O’Keeffe won the U.S. Olympic Trials with a stunning debut that raised high hopes for last summer’s Games. She was, however, forced to abandon about a mile into the race in Paris; scans would later reveal a femoral stress fracture.

“It’s just interesting – I experienced the very high level of the trials, and obviously my Olympic experience was quite difficult,” O’Keeffe told the Guardian. “So I think I’ve seen both sides of the coin now.”

“Sport is simple,” she added. “I really love running. And I’m very grateful to the people who have supported me through all of this. So [I’m] I kind of lean into that side, more than dwelling on what it could have been.

Nearly 15 months later, the road back has been long. Training with the Puma Elite Running team in Raleigh, North Carolina, O’Keeffe didn’t want to return to marathon running until she was back to her best.

“I expect it to be a tough race, but I’m excited about it,” she said. “I’m excited to see how this plays out and how it plays out and see what can happen if I continue to stick with it and trust myself when these moves happen.”

O’Keeffe and Hassan, who won the Sydney Marathon just nine weeks ago, will face strong competition in the elite women’s race. Former champions Sheila Chepkirui, Sharon Loekdi and Hellen Obiri will also be there. A strong American contingent includes Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidl, Emily Sisson and Susanna Sullivan, who are coming off a strong performance at September’s world championships in Tokyo.

The men’s field, led by Kipchoge, also includes many contenders, including former champions Abdi Nageeye and Albert Korir; Benson Kipruto, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist; and Alexander Mutiso, who won the London Marathon last year. Americans Hillary Bor and Joe Klecker will also both make their respective marathon debuts.

“I always thought that being in the stadium, along with track racing, was the most important thing in our sport,” said Britain’s Patrick Dever, who previously focused on the 5,000m and 10,000m and will make his marathon debut on Sunday. “But after being around these big marathons, you realize what a spectacle they are.”

Dever, who like O’Keeffe trains with Puma Elite, has prepared for the longer distances. “You’re there for such a longer period of time, so you have a lot more time in your head to get through it or stay calm,” he said. “The biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on during these long races is not to panic a little bit in my head if things don’t go well.

“I feel like I’m fully prepared for the race, knowing that I definitely won’t feel good throughout the course. There will be times in the race where I probably want to quit. I feel like you just have to be OK with that and try not to pay attention to how you feel at any given moment.”

New Yorkers will cheer in droves, amplifying the highs and softening the lows, as tens of thousands of runners – from newbies to fundraisers to big dreamers to distinguished veterans – parade through the city.

Kipchoge has two Olympic titles and 11 world major marathon titles and remains the only person to have completed the distance in under two hours. He is running in New York amid speculation he is preparing to withdraw from the elite marathon, and made a “huge announcement” after the race.

“I want to experience it, I want to live it,” Kipchoge told reporters. “I really want to see the two million people lining up around the course. I want to pass all the bridges in New York, the best places in New York – actually see, with my eyes, greeting people. This is the best city, where everything is here.”