The Marathon Returns to a City Eager to Celebrate It

Runners, organizers and spectators are preparing for New York’s first marathon since the onset of the pandemic, another milestone in the city’s long journey of recovery.

The first time that Kailyn Castro was supposed to run the New York City Marathon, in 2019, she broke her ankle.

The injury was physically painful and emotionally bruising, but Castro found a silver lining: She could run the following year and be part of the marathon’s 50th anniversary.

Then the 2020 race was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting her marathon goal further out of reach. So when Castro, 29, finally crosses the start line in Staten Island this Sunday, it will be an emotional stride culminating one lengthy journey and starting another.