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Of course, nothing big will happen until 2027.

At that time, the Yonkers Marathon, which has a history second only to Boston, will be held for the 100th time.

This year’s 95th will take place on Sunday, the day after the popular Riverfest in downtown Yonkers, following two years of COVID-related cancellations.

Riverfest, a music/vendor gala, sometimes attracts over 25,000 people, and even more should be nearby for Hudson’s annual Mayors’ Cup at Yonkers Paddling & Paddling Club .

It’s been around forever since the marathon, last held in mid-October 2019, has attracted huge numbers of fans since jumping onto the fall calendar. rice field.

time has passed new york times Nearly 20,000 spectators were reported for the second Thanksgiving race in 1908.

But overshadowed by Boston and New York, shunned by its difficulties, and with times too close to New York to attract marathoners and not being widely advertised, city officials hope are gone. I’m in. , saved only by the approaching 100th birthday.

There were 201 participants in 2017, including recent additions to the marathon, half marathon and 5K.

However, in 2018, schools and local businesses also participated, and the number of runners approached 1,000. Only the crowd of spectators was thin, except for the cheering families.

Citing other competing races, the absence of COVID and new dates on Sunday’s calendar, the city’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commissioner Steve Sanson is hopeful but slightly conservative is.

He said he expects about 700 to 900 runners overall, including last-minute race day registrants. (Registration at the Waterfront Library takes place from 6am to 7:30am, with the full, two-loop marathon and one-loop half starting at 8am and the 5K starting at 8:20am.)

“Everything is slowly coming back. Everyone is rushing back and trying to get involved again,” Sansone said.

One is Bill Dennison, a resident of 35 years.

When I’m not paddling or biking, I’m often seen running, but when I mention the wear on my 75-year-old knees, aside from running at Yonkers, this is soft grass like a baseball field. described as taking place almost exclusively on the surface of

He lost the track, but has participated in five or six Yonkers races since he started running about 15 years ago. He joked that he was a marathoner because he is well aware that the first marathoner, Phaidippides, ended up not doing well.

This year, Dennison’s wife, Rona Shapiro, a 5K veteran, will also do half.

Dennison’s goal is to beat the 2019 Age Group 1st time of about two and a half hours.

2019 race images:Yonkers Marathon held.View videos, photos

2018 race return:Yonkers Marathon returns: Race attracts nearly five times as many runners as last year

Haggerty Sports Column:Yonkers Marathon requires schools and clubs to run to attract more participants

“You can’t avoid hills,” Dennison said, noting that the grade is 10-12% followed by another big climb (after a bit of easing).

“Basically up North Broadway to Hastings,” Dennison noted.

Age has helped him in terms of being a mid-pack runner when he was younger.

“I don’t consider myself a fast runner, but I’ve developed endurance as I’ve gotten older.

But medals aren’t his driving force.

A fan of sports history, he likes to be a part of something that has been going on for a long time. The marathon was started in his 1907 and the following year’s Olympics Johnny Hayes, who won his marathon, won the Yonkers title.

“I think it’s very unique. It’s a marathoner’s marathon,” Sansone said. “You have to expect the unexpected at Yonkers.”

Sansone said the marathon, which once had about 1,500 participants, got a boost a few years ago as it was at various times a U.S. Marathon Championship, an Olympic qualifier, and a Boston Marathon qualifier.

That remains the Boston qualifier, but beyond that, Sansone believes there’s plenty of room to grow.

“We’re going to put it back together,” he vowed.

When asked about possible date changes, he said, perhaps even to the Labor Day weekend schedule, “I’m totally all for originality and experimentation.

But even on any given day, Sansone’s eyes are already glancing at the 2027 calendar.

“I think it’s been an absolutely wonderful tradition for decades….if it’s the 100th time, it’s going to be a blast,” he said.

Nancy Haggerty covers cross country, track and field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, women’s lacrosse, and other sporting events at The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy and @LoHudHockey.