NEW YORK - Thousands of people made their way to Prospect Park in Brooklyn this morning for the New York City Half marathon.
CBS2's Leah Mishkin spoke to runners as they made their way to the start line.
It was cold - really cold - but adrenaline was pumping. You could feel the excitement in the air. Runners were ready to take their mark.
What do they use to fuel their journey?
"I'm usually having a banana and just peanut buttered toast. As someone coming from France I picked it up, peanut better, that's great," said runner Etienne Daubas. "I can't wait to start."
The race is 13.1 miles long and started in Prospect Park.
"Through Flatbush, over the Manhattan Bridge, down and through the Lower East Side… over the FDR Drive, through Times Square, and into Central Park," said race director Ted Metellus of New York Road Runners.
"It must be such a beautiful perspective of New York City, to see it this way," Mishkin said.
"It's New York City at its best. All the neighborhoods. All the sights. Parts of town you never get to see. No one walks over the Manhattan Bridge, so you get to see the East River, Downtown, the city. It's amazing," Metellus said.
There were 25,000 runners or so. Some faster, some slower, but all in this together.
Creative way of staying warm before the run
Tips for preparing for the race
First-time runner speaks out
New York Road Runners CEO discusses half marathon
Race director on "the one to run"
Limited access to Central Park around 59th Street
The New York City Parks Department says there will be limited access to the park from 59th Street. People are advised to enter the park north of 72nd Street on both the east and west sides of the park.
Race details and street closures
The race starts at Prospect Park in Brooklyn at 7 a.m. and ends in Central Park. To view the full course map, click here.
The following streets will be closed:
- Eastern Parkway From Grand Army Plaza to Franklin Ave
- Washington Avenue From Eastern Parkway to Empire Boulevard
- Classon Ave From Eastern Parkway to President St
- Union St From Classon Ave to Franklin Ave
- President Street From Classon Ave to Franklin Ave
- Sullivan Place From Washington Ave to Zenita Thompson Place
- Carroll St From Washington Ave to Franklin Ave
- Empire Blvd From Washington Ave to Bedford Ave
- Flatbush Ave From Eastern Pkwy to Ocean Ave/Empire Blvd
- Flatbush Ave From Grand Army Plaza to Atlantic Ave
- Flatbush Ave from Atlantic Ave to Manhattan Bridge
- Manhattan Bridge (Upper Level) From Brooklyn to Manhattan (Lower East Side)
- Canal St From Chyrstie St to Allen St
- Allen St (Pike St/Slip) From Canal St to South St
- South St From Pike St/Slip to Entrance Ramp onto FDR at Montgomery
- FDR Drive from Montgomery St to Exit 9 - E 42nd St
- FDR Drive: Exit 5 - E Houston St/Williamsburg Bridge
- Exit 7 - E 20-23rd St
- Exit 8 - E 34th St/Midtown Tunnel
- Exit 9 - E 42nd St to 7th Ave
- 42nd St From 1st Ave to 7th Ave
- 7th Ave From 42nd St to Central Park South
- 43rd St From 7th Ave to 6th Ave
- 44th St From 7th Ave to 6th Ave
- 45th St From 7th Ave to 6th Ave
- 46th St From 7th Ave to Broadway
- Central Park South From 7th Ave to Grand Army Plaza
- Central Park West From 59th St to 72nd St
For more details, including the timing of the street closures, click here.