ING New York City Marathon Could See Record Numbers This Year

Nearly 50,000 runners are signed up to run the annual race through the city’s five boroughs.

A record number of runners are expected to take part in this year’s ING New York City Marathon.

With registration closed, about 48,000 participants are signed up to race. That includes 19,000 runners who were slated to run the 2012 race before it was canceled because of Hurricane Sandy. Only 4,500 or so slots were available for the registration lottery, and New York Road Runners said about 33,000 applications were received.

The 2011 New York City Marathon had 46,759 finishers, making it the largest marathon in history. This year’s race, scheduled for Nov. 3, could surpass that number.

People that chose to roll over their spot in the 2012 race were guaranteed a place in the 2013 event, although they had to pay the entry fee.

The 2012 race was slated for a week after the hurricane left a path of destruction in New York City and its surrounding areas. NYRR officials initially announced the race would go on, but they changed their mind at the last minute after re-evaluating their decision and being criticized in the media.

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To view images from last year’s New York City Marathon Race to Recover, click here.