NYC Half Marathon preview: 'Very grueling physically'

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Three days before the highly anticipated United Airlines NYC Half, some runners shared their journeys to prepare for the big day with PIX11. 

For Susannah Scaroni, wheelchair racing is more than just a sport. She’s found a purpose in becoming a para-athlete after her life took a turn at the age of five in a devastating car crash.

“I sustained a complete spinal cord injury, and that just means that I have pretty much no feeling or use of my legs right where they start,” Scaroni said.

She’s used a wheelchair ever since, but she's stayed resilient and not let her condition stop her from shining. Throughout her life, she’s become a Paralympian, winning bronze and gold medals. She won the championship title in the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon and is a two-time champion in the United Airlines NYC half, which she’s competing in this Sunday. The para-athlete said she has been training around the clock.  

“Very grueling physically, but your body adapts to training,” said Scaroni. 

The 13.1-mile race will kick off at the Brooklyn Museum before runners make their way over the Manhattan Bridge and eventually end at Central Park. 

Twenty-five thousand participants, including Olympian Clayton Young, will compete for championship titles. He came from Utah to try his hand at the title.

“Lots of running, miles, and workouts, and training, and doing all the little things to be ready for this race,” Young said. 

Runners from eight city agencies will also run in this year’s race and will be competing for the Commissioner’s Cup. The NYPD took home the gold last year, and they’re ready to defend their title.

“It’s a friendly rivalry,” said Tania Kinsella, first deputy commissioner of the NYPD. “We just love the friendly competition between our partners. May the best agency win.”

Times Square will be closed to traffic for the race, marking the only time, other than New Year’s Eve, that the plaza is closed to traffic.

There will be many road closures, including parts of the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn and part of the FDR in Manhattan. You can find the full list of road closures here.