Race Week At The New York City Marathon: Thursday

The many signs strewn about Central Park leave no doubt that it's race weekend in the Big Apple. Photo: Mario Fraioli

The stands by the finish line were empty on Thursday, but will be filled by thousands for Sunday's race. Photo: Mario Fraioli

The vantage point with roughly 100 meters to go in the New York City Marathon. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Nearly 45,000 runners will cross this finish line on Sunday. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Left-to-right: Eight-time Olympic speedskating medalist Apolo Ohno, Olympic softball player Jennie Finch and hockey legend Mark Messier take the stage at Thursday's pre-race press conference. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Through a partnership with Timex, Olympic softball player Jennie Finch will start last and try to pass as many runners as possible in Sunday's marathon. Timex will donate $1 to the NYRR youth program for every runner she passes. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Apolo Ohno takes questions from reporters at the Thursday press conference. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Legendary commentator Toni Reavis gives his expert analysis in the morning pre-race show. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Russian Galina Bogomolova is making her NYC Marathon debut on Sunday. Her personal best is 2:20:47 from Chicago in 2006. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Mary Keitany, who won the London Marathon earlier this year in 2:19:19, is one of the favorites for Sunday's race. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Ethiopian Buzunesh Deba, who lives and trains in the Bronx, has two marathon wins under her belt this year. She's hoping to make it three on Sunday. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Buzunesh Deba, right, is joined by her husband and coach, Worku Beyi. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Portugese runners Jessica Augusto and Ana Dulce Felix will look to work together in Sunday's race. August is running her first NYC Marathon, while Augusto dropped out of last year's race. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Kenyan Caroline Rotich, fourth at the Boston Marathon in April and eighth here last year, should shake things up in the women's race. Photo: Mario Fraioli

Great Britain's Jo Pavey, 38, is a relative marathon rookie, but has run 2:28 and proven she knows how to run well on a big stage. Photo: Mario Fraioli

This year's Boston Marathon champion, Caroline Kilel, will be worth keeping a close eye on in the women's race on Sunday. She said on Thursday her form isn't as good as it was in April. Photo: Mario Fraioli