From an Olympian to a 45-race veteran: the hopes of New York Marathon runners

On Sunday more than 50,000 runners will run a 26.2-mile route from Staten Island to Central Park. The New York City Marathon is seen as the toughest world major for a reason

New York is a city built on detours. Even the most straightforward journey can turn on a dime - be it an unexpected road closure, unreliable subway, or the unorthodox navigation of a cab driver - into a protracted, often painful, expedition.

The city's marathon is no exception.