New York City Marathon draws thousands

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Participants in Sunday's New York City Marathon have begun to crowd prominent tourist haunts, the New York Times reported Saturday.

The main difference between the athletic guests and the usual variety of tourist has been their 'you-can't-miss-me' clothing and their insistence on running to various destinations.

The appearance of thousands of athletes descending on a New York City primed for major competition is a dream of Mike Moran, one of the officials behind the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics.

The marathon, a 26.2 mile, five-borough celebration that unfolds before millions of spectators each year, helps prove to members of the International Olympic Committee that the city is ready to play host to the Games, Moran said.

"They're very cognizant of how it comes off," said Moran, a senior communications counselor for NYC2012.