00:08On November 1st, New York becomes the running capital of the world.
00:12Nearly 60,000 people will line up at the start of the New York City Marathon.
00:17And getting to the Star Line is a challenge of its own.
00:19More than 240,000 people from 160 countries applied for a place.
00:24So, what's getting everyone running?
00:26According to Strava, the largest platform for active people is a chance to connect.
00:31Participation in running clubs increased by 59% in 2024 compared with the previous year.
00:38And last year, the number of running clubs on the platform almost quadrupled.
00:42It's about finding your people as much as finding your pace, according to the same report.
00:46And in New York, amateurs get to race the same cars of some of the world's best athletes.
00:52Five boroughs, 42 kilometers, thousands of different reasons to keep going.
00:56It all started in 1970 with four laps of Central Park, 127 runners and the $1 entry fee.
01:03Only 55 people finished the race.
01:06In 2025, there were over 59,000 finishers.
01:10Now, 50 years after the route expanded across all five boroughs, organizers are aiming to raise $100 million for charity.
01:18The scale has changed, but for most runners, the goal is still beautifully simple.
01:23Make it to the finish.
