About 60,000 runners will start Sunday's New York City Marathon, 50 years after the race first ran through all five boroughs, according to AP.

The 1976 race had just over 2,000 runners, including only 88 women, AP reports. Nearly half of this year's field are women, the outlet reports. The marathon began in 1970 and spent its first six years looping inside Central Park, AP reports.

Bill Rodgers won the first five-borough race and is the only man to win the event four times, AP reports. "I remember everything distinctly, it was so intense," Rodgers said. The race left the park to mark the nation's 200th birthday and lift a struggling city, the outlet reports.

Runners from more than 140 countries will compete, AP reports. Kenya's Benson Kipruto returns to defend his title after beating Alexander Mutiso last year by three-hundredths of a second, the outlet reports. Kenyan Hellen Obiri set the women's course record last year in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds, the outlet reports. "First and foremost on Sunday the goal is to win," Obiri said.

Runners will take a slightly changed route in the Bronx near Mile 20, the first course change in 15 years, AP reports. Wheelchair racer Susannah Scaroni will seek a third straight title nearly three months after giving birth, the outlet reports.

What we know: About 60,000 runners will race Sunday on the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course.
What we don't: Who will win. Only AP has reported this so far. NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.