NNew York is a city built on detours. Even the most straightforward journey can turn into a lengthy, often painful expedition in the blink of an eye – be it an unexpected road closure, an unreliable subway or a taxi driver's unorthodox navigation.

The city's marathon is no exception.

When the sun rises Sunday, more than 50,000 runners will flock to Staten Island with the goal of reaching Central Park. While the most direct route to the finish line would cover just over 16 miles, it would require winding over 26.2 miles through the city's five boroughs, across five bridges and a variety of roads There are rolling hills in front of the runners.

The New York City Marathon is considered the hardest marathon in the world for a reason.

Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia and Hellen Obiri of Kenya, who each won a year ago, are back to defend their titles. They will face stiff competition: other previous winners returning to the fray include Evans Chebet, Albert Korir and Geoffrey Kamworor in the men's; and Sharon Lokedi and Edna Kiplagat for women.

A A number of American hopefuls are also taking part, including Paris-returned Olympians Conner Mantz, Clayton Young and Dakotah Popehn; CJ Albertson arrived just weeks after a strong performance in Chicago; and 2018 Boston Marathon winner Des Linden returns for a fifth time.

But the pack of the world's largest marathon is as wide as it is deep. The former champions and Olympians taking on this route will also lead a legion of runners – including novices, fundraisers and octogenarian veterans – on this complicated journey.

The Guardian spoke to four athletes preparing for Sunday's race.

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MAt the start of the race, as the elite climb the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and the highest point on the course, Linden takes a quick glance to the left. “I always take a moment to enjoy the view of the city,” she said. “It’s just spectacular.”

As you wind through each neighborhood and experience each individual community, “the streets are closed so you can be downtown and have a parade and do this city tour,” says Linden, a two-time Olympian.

The bridges are steep, but the ability to walk across them – and take in the views – is “very special,” she adds. New York “is the center of the universe, especially on marathon weekend.”

Linden, 41, represented Team USA at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics. She has run in Boston eleven times and in New York four times. This time the goal is a “same-day finish,” she says with a smile.

The hot favorites, including some of the dominant artists in Paris this summer, might be “a little too rich for me at this point in my career,” she admits. “I still enjoy racing and love it, but at this point I don’t necessarily have anything to prove.”

But you never know how the race will turn out. “Anything can happen,” says Linden. “We’ll see how it turns out.”

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Connie Brown, 80, has run this race more times than any other woman: 44 times. She has been training for her 45th birthday for months.

She remembers crossing the finish line for the first time in tears as her hope that she would make it gave way to the realization she had. She remembers the live bands, the funny signs and the kind words that have helped her get to Central Park so many times since.

And she remembers celebrating the early years by dancing the night away, including a post-race party at a Broadway nightclub.

Brown has run through New York through heatwaves and showers, under sunshine and lightning – the latter more likely to hit a building than a person, she told herself as it crashed overhead – and past throngs of cheering spectators.

Days before she was scheduled to fly to this weekend's race, personal circumstances forced Brown to stay home. in Sarasota, Florida. She still plans to run a marathon on Sunday, setting off around 3 a.m. to beat the heat.

At this stage, the venture is “part of who I think I am,” she says. “I am the person who runs at least one marathon a year.”

Over the decades, “running gave me confidence,” Brown says. “Anything you set your mind to – setting a goal, making a plan, implementing it – you can do. If you can do that, you can do anything.”

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Thousands of runners travel around the world to compete against New York. Nate Kahaiali'i, 33, flew nearly 5,000 miles from Hawaii.

When the teacher and his neighbors were evacuated last summer when wildfires hit Maui, he assumed he would return soon. Kahaiali'i picked up a few odds and ends, not realizing that what he chose would be all that was left of his house.

Like so many others, he lost his home.

Among the small collection he had saved was his trusty pair of bright orange Nike Vaporfly running shoes. For him, they have become “in a certain way symbolic” of his hometown Lahaina.

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Wearing them, as he will on Sunday, is “a way for me to honor the community but also represent it,” says Kahaiali'i, who raised nearly $7,000 (and more) for reconstruction has collected the words “Lāhainā Strong”.

“The biggest hope — whether they buy the T-shirt or not — is just to keep Maui in people’s minds,” he says. “It’s been a year, but there’s still a lot of work for many families out here in Lahaina.”

Kahaiali'i, who teaches health, also hopes his marathons inspire his students, who call him Mr. K. “Every time I come back they ask, 'Did you win?' Did you win?'” he says. “I say, 'No, I'm not.' The fast'.”

He plans to wear his Vaporflys in all six major marathons in the world. With four to go, “they’re still in pretty good shape.”

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Concepcion Gonzalez, 65, had never even run a mile before this summer. She is about to run her first marathon.

For years, Gonzalez — who has lived in New York for more than three decades — has sat in the stands cheering on her daughter Teresita and son Luis.

She watched as hundreds of people of all abilities and from all walks of life crossed the finish line. “I saw people who looked like me and I thought I could do it one day.”

Gonzalez is under no illusions that it will be easy. “Everyone goes through hard times,” she says. “People fall down. You can stand up. I too can embark on this journey.”

For many who take it on, this course is less a race and more a feat of strength; more a test of endurance than speed. But she is prepared.

Gonzalez, who will compete on Sunday alongside Teresita, 29, and Luis, 32, is looking forward to seeing her city from a new perspective. “Being from New York City, I’m proud to represent New York City,” she says.

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bRown, who first ran New York in 1978, has plenty of advice for newcomers. “Don’t eat anything you haven’t eaten before” the night before, for example. Also, don't worry too much about getting a good night's sleep. And if one of your knees feels strange, “think about your other knee.”

Linden recommends treating the first two miles—a steep climb up Verrazzano and a sharp descent—as a warm-up exercise and not worrying too much about pacing. “Really, it’s great,” she says, “because New York is just a 24-mile marathon if you take these two with you.”

On the other hand, when you reach Manhattan in the second half, try not to put too much pressure. The crowd is “just electric,” says Linden, “and you’ll feel like, ‘I have to win because they’re so crazy.’ But you still have a long way to go.”

“Just soak it all up,” Brown adds. “Don’t miss anything,” she says. “Don’t be so focused on yourself and so focused on your running that you don’t see the neighborhoods and the people who are there.”

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Some people run New York to show the world. Others want to show themselves.

As the marathon times of the elite get faster and faster, those at the front are racing against the clock. But the majority of runners who walk through The five districts are running for something.

For some, this marathon is a strenuous physical test. Others face the mental challenges that arise when the body is pushed to its limits. Many, if not most, will be forced to deal with both.

No matter what journey brought them here; whether it is the first time or the 45th; whether they are a few thousand miles or just a stone's throw from home; About 50,000 will gather in the early hours of Sunday with the same basic goal.

Central Park awaits.