Image via Wikimedia: MTA

The TCS New York City Marathon is officially kicking off this Sunday, November 6th. What began as a humble Central Park race with 55 finishers has now evolved into the world’s biggest marathon, spanning 26.2-miles across our diverse metropolis.

This year, 50,000 runners will traverse through the five boroughs, cheered on by more than one million fans who will line up along the course. For non-runners who want to watch the marathon, WABC-TV, Channel 7 will be broadcasting the citywide event as it unfolds from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. Pre-race coverage from Fort Wadsworth begins at 7:00 a.m. EST. Live streaming will be available on the ABC App and ABC7NY.com from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. Nationwide coverage will air from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST on ESPN2 and via the ESPN App. Nothing, however, beats watching it live.

Although there’s no spectator viewing at the start of the marathon on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, there are plenty of prime viewing spots spread out across the city, as recommended by the organizers of TCS NYC Marathon (see full route here). Be sure to check the status of subway service to plan your route!

10. Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (Miles 2-4)

Image via TCS NYC Marathon website

Catch the start of the marathon at this viewing location. After exiting the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, determined runners — still energetic and ready to go  — will race down Fourth Avenue, through the diverse neighborhood of Bay Ridge.

Once an Italian-American stronghold, the area is now home to a large Russian, Asian, and Middle Eastern population â€” giving both runners and spectators a taste of the diversity that awaits.