A woman in costume as "Lady Liberty" was at the kick-off to the New York City marathon on Friday doing something familiar, welcoming people from across the world to the city.

“I’m excited to be celebrating the marathon and welcoming so many spectacular people from around the world,” Lady Liberty said.

What You Need To Know

  • People from more than 150 countries gathered at the finish line to walk in the marathon’s "Parade of Nations"

  • More than 50,000 people will run the 26.2-mile course across the five boroughs ending in Central Park

  • The marathon begins Sunday at 8 a.m.

People from more than 150 countries gathered at the finish line to walk in the marathon’s “Parade of Nations.”

“There’s a lot that’s dividing us internationally, so when you see everyone from around the world come together with this very specific and intentional cause, and to cheer each other on, that’s spectacular,” Lady Liberty said.

She may not be jogging, but she will root for people from the sidelines, like Harlem resident Anthony Tucker.

“Running was something that I discovered helps keep me balanced and keep my mind at ease and calm,” Tucker said.

Tucker began running during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man gunned down while running in Georgia, is one of the reasons Sunday will be Tucker’s second marathon.

“I ran in honor of him, and when I was running, I was crying, I was cursing, I was purging all the frustration and anger I had pent up,” Tucker said.

More than 50,000 people will join Tucker in running the 26.2-mile course across the five boroughs ending in Central Park.

Runners picked up their bibs at the Javits’ Center early Friday as the clock winds down to race day.

“It going to be a day a celebrating how much you’ve done, and how much you’ve accomplished,” said Queens resident Wan Park.

As people proudly represent their country, one country not at the parade that will not be acknowledged is Russia.

With multiple wars and conflicts going on across the world, Lady Liberty said she’s glad there’s one thing able to bring people together.

“It was amazing to see a multitude of flags. It was amazing to see how excited everyone was,” Lady Liberty said.

The marathon begins Sunday at 8 a.m.

The MTA asks the public to use mass transit due to all the planned road closures.