From the elites leading the way to the festive conclusion of a long trek for the final finishers, the 2024 New York City Marathon is a welcome excuse to become its own annual Super Bowl of running — during an action-packed week.

And with more than 2 million spectators lining the course, the record 55,646 finishers trekking the five borough snapped Berlin's short-lived 54,280 mark that was set in September.

Along the final 5k stretch of Sunday's race, an uphill tour to Central Park, back to the streets and then a return to the park for the final 800m was raucous in celebration. But the energy pouring from both sides of the street was the right combination of mental fuel and togetherness that propelled each runner through the year's last major.